Is it time for you to give back? Is your heart calling you to use your talents to help others?
Our guest, Amina Mohamed, is here to talk about her non-profit called “Cameras for Girls” and her efforts to bring the art of photography and photojournalism to young women across Africa who likely would not otherwise have had the opportunity to explore it.
In 2018, she started an initiative with a mission to teach photography and business skills to marginalized females across Africa who endeavor to become journalists. She gives each of them a camera and has taught 47 young women in Uganda and 10 women online in South Africa– 65% now have full-time jobs. Truly amazing.
In addition to her volunteer efforts, Amina has spent fifteen years exploring her passion for photography while working in film and television as a producer and production manager on numerous movies and documentaries.
Amina is here today to speak to all photographers about how to proceed when you are called to give back and make the world a better place using your photography.
Here are some of her tips for getting started:
Figure out what you are talented at
And which segment of society you want to help
Don’t worry about registering for any “official” programs
Look for places to volunteer (but be careful about “voluntourism”)
Listen now to hear Amina’s amazing story and find out more about tapping into your inner volunteer!
This week on The Profitable Photographer Podcast we are thinkin’ OUTSIDE THE BOX with multi-talented artist and photographer, Carly Sullens. She helps us understand how to use the new tools in the current Creative Renaissance to create digital photographic art limited only by our imaginations.
Carly is an award-winning photographer, artist, digital painter, and educator.
With a master’s degree in art therapy, Carly studied painting, psychology, and art history in both undergraduate and grad school. She added photography to her repertoire several years ago. Eventually, she began to apply her painting training, turning photos into works of art. Her photographs have earned tons of awards, including “Image Excellence.”
Carly combines her painting and photography worlds by exploring how photographs can be deconstructed and transformed into a new reality.
She says, “The idea behind my work and what I teach is to push the artistic potential of photography and compose a new artistic image. Whether that be through digital painting or composite.”
In addition to art for the sake of beauty and exploration, Carly is also a trained art therapist, helping students tap into their own creative genius. “Art and symbolism speak to all of us in unique ways. To be more creative is to learn to sit with imagery, yours, and others and to listen.”
If you’re looking for a way to tap into your creative genius, Carly says:
Go within
Notice the patterns that show up over and over
Explore your emotions
And if you’re interested in taking up photo painting:
Choose the right photograph
Be sure the image has good highlights and shadows
Test your digital brushes
How you paint the pixels is up to your artistry
Focus on fundamental principles like perspective, form, and color
It’s never too late to learn a new skill and add to your artistic portfolio. You never know what potential you’ll tap into.
“Salesmanship begins when the customer says no”…today’s quote from a coffee mug by Sandra Bynton
This solo episode by me, Luci, you know…your hostess with the mostest…is all about how to deal with objections from your clients.
No matter how great you are at photography, marketing, attracting ideal clients, or planting seeds for eventual purchasing, you need to know how to handle those inevitable objections.
How? By having a strategy (and lot of responses in your back pocket) so you will have a great session and order you are really really happy about.
In this episode, I cover the following topics:
How to“Head um off at the pass”. I.E., anticipating and solving potential issues in advance.
The value of becoming the trusted advisor.
What to do first when someone asks a question or makes a comment that sets you back on your heels, or risks the entire success of the project.
How to use the“Feel, Felt, Found” tool that is like magic.
And I offer several responses to common questions like “can we order more later” or “do you sell digitals?”.
Don’t miss this one. It can make all the difference in the world.
And thanks a zillion for listening! Luci
Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs and Contact Info:
“You’re going to need a telephone and you’re going to need to know how to use it. I could make a better living with my cellphone and nothing else, than having a great camera, and a computer where I only communicate via email and text and such.”
Today, our hostess, Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas shares her best tips and strategies to set up your photography business for massive success.
Just as photography is an art, Luci believes that selling is an art. Likewise, just as photography is a skill, selling is a skill. That means anyone with the passion and tenacity to succeed in this industry has the opportunity to learn the skills they need to improve both their photography and ability to sell their work.
Luci invites us to set the goal of becoming a full-service photographer. Strive to be able to create an experience for the client in which, from their first interaction with you to the last, you deliver not only what they want, but also what they didn’t know they wanted.
In fact, full-service photographers are not just photographers. They are designers. They are clothing consultants. They are makeup guides. By embracing your role as a salesperson, you are also your clients’ trusted advisor.
You don’t need to be the world’s greatest photographer. Just being the best full-service photographer you can be gives both you and your client immense joy. They become raving fans of you, and you learn how to be a better photographer and business owner.
Listen in as Luci shares her checklist of nine things every photographer needs to do when establishing their new business and the rewards that await, as well as her five steps to onboarding a new client.
Key Topics:
Photography and selling as an both art and skill (4:09)
Creating a long-term win-win relationship with your clients (10:26)
Addressing misconceptions around selling (13:50)
Nine things you need to get started in this business (21:57)
Three rewards of having a strong photography business (36:50)
A big, exciting and maybe a little scary dream to have a successful, profitable and creative photography business doing exactly what you love for wonderful, grateful clients? Or do you want to bring your business to the next level of fun and profit.? If so, then this Podcast is for you.
For over 36 years, I have made a great living as portrait and wedding business, Luci Dumas Fine Photography, with no other source of income. No rich husband or lottery winnings, through the ups and downs of the industry and economy.
Now as a business coach with Insight Training for Photographers, I love love love to support photographers who want to do the same. This podcast is full of practical business info, and insights gained from my years in business, plus interviews with amazing people. My desire is to help you along on your joyful journey to success, however that looks to you.
