JT Spunk | Photography

Photography Marketing Success Secret #3 – Don’t Look For The Magic Pill

Have you ever wondered why some photographers are successful – even in tough times – while others are not successful – even in great times? What is it that separates the winners from those who are struggling? It almost seems like the successes are taking some special, secret “magic pill” that is causing them to become famous and successful no matter what.

But not true. There is no “magic pill” when it comes to photography marketing success.

So why are they successful? It’s not their photography expertise – although that’s important, of course. The real difference is their attitude and their actions. The winners have a great attitude, even when things aren’t going perfectly. They just keep going. They keep smiling. And they are very enthusiastic! (And that enthusiasm is contagious!) They are optimistic and encouraging. Everyone just seems to really like them, and respect them, and as a result, clients just seem to gravitate to them.

If you want to work with more people, and have those people be “warm fuzzies” – people who are happy, friendly, and love what you do – then be more “warm fuzzy” yourself. And get out there – take the action that the successful photographers are taking – meet other business people in your area. Speak at service clubs. Do radio trade outs. Get exhibits all over town. Write articles for the local papers and magazines. Success in the photography business requires you to do some things you might not particularly love to do, but if you have a proven plan, and work that plan, you will succeed.

So where do you get “the plan?” From someone who is where you want to be. Model that person, and do what he or she is doing, and you will find that you will end up where you want to be as well. But an important warning: Do NOT just copy or “model” anyone. Pick very carefully who you allow to influence you. Never take advice from someone who is not exactly where you want to be! Be ruthless about this. And, of course, never copy anything without permission. Build your business on honesty.

You just simply have to take action. You have to meet people. You have to become famous in your town. I call this the “power of presence.” Everywhere your target market goes in town, they see you, hear about you, or discover you because your exhibits and displays are where they are going in town every day.

So, how do you become successful in the photography business? Model a proven plan, and then work that plan like crazy. Just be sure it is a PROVEN plan. And don’t give up if things don’t work instantaneously. Our culture wants everything to be fast and easy and instant. Well, good photography marketing is none of those. It’s a steady, constant plan which builds momentum and ends up with you being famous, respected and sought after in your market area.

All the best,

Charles J. Lewis, M. Photog., Cr.

About the Author

Charles Lewis has created the ultimate guide – “The TOP 33 Photography Marketing Secrets” free E-Book reveals the secrets for getting hundreds of new customers – FAST – regardless of the economy, your town, or whether you work on main street or out of your home. Go here now:
Photography Marketing Secrets

NEW Quickshot 9m Mast Elevated Aerial Mast Photography $1,182.00

Marketing your photography business, guide & templates $80.00

SECRETS TO MAKE MONEY NOW! DIGITAL CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHY BEGINNERS MARKETING COURSE $39.97

Photographer’s Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business $7.92

Vintage Lens Tissue Photography Berlin Farmers Market New Jersey NJ Advertising $4.99

BUSINESS OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY marketing pricing album professional studio book $20.41

Cieli Di Toscana $12.98 Not content with the simplistic “crossover” formula, superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli has been pursuing alternative paths since he emerged as a vocal phenomenon in the mid-1990s: operatic classics and contemporary popular song. The singer’s last few albums have showcased his love for the former (including homages to his beloved Verdi: the Requiem and Verdi aria collection). But Cieli di Toscana (“Tu…

Hap Ki Do Instructional Video (Advanced Techniques) [VHS] $24.95 Master Choe takes you thru each step of the Hap Ki Do techniques. Clearly you are able to follow his step by step instruction of “how to do” the Hap Ki Do techniques. Master Hui S Choe is 7th degree Hap Ki Do and 6th degree Tae Kwon Do. Appointed instructor of kum-moo-kwan do jang in korea Hapkido Association. Appointed to teach martial arts to fort lewis military personnel. Author of Basic Hap…

Tooluxe 40279L 130-LED Rechargeable Cordless Work Light with Stand $49.95 Illuminate your work area with this rechargeable cordless LED work light. The work light features 130 LED lights. LED lights generate high light output with low energy consumption and minimal heat, and last for 100,000 hours. Long lasting 2000 mAh, 7.2 V lithium battery provides up to 3.5 hours continuous use on a single charge. Both 110V AC charger and 12V DC car charger are included. This work l…

Mflare 40423 Ultra Bright Tactical Luxeon LED Aluminum Flashlight Torch Baton $41.75 At 210 Lumens on the high setting, this is one of the most powerful flashlight on the market. The Luxeon Rebel 90 white LED is the latest version of such power LED with great white light output. This flashlight is about the same size as a Mag-lite with 3 D cells but 10 times or more brighter. It is a patented 1X to 4X zoom focus head. You can have flood light to focus beam. Luxeon is an American t…

Watercolor: Framing Without Glass $34.99 This is a wonderful way to add another dimension to paintings on paintings. Learn how to frame paintings on paper without glass. Watch five demonstrations mounting blank watercolor paper, a print, original artwork and problem solving. Watch how to protect and seal paintings with UV protection. Additional features, how to get the most authentic signature on dark backgrounds and creating a triptych….

Macro Photography $23.95 …

Carson Z-pix Digital Zoom Microscope $89.00 The Carson Optical zPix is a powerful digital zoom microscope that displays a magnified image right on your computer screen. Impressive 35x-165X magnification allows you to see details of ordinary objects you never knew existed, and you can additionally capture images with an onboard 640-by-480 resolution digital camera. This renowned device is as fun as it is educational for curious kids, and has…

Schumacher PP-2200 Portable Outdoor Power Unit $69.00 The Schumacher PP-2200 Portable Outdoor Power Unit is a portable electrical power supply designed to provide 12-volt DC power, as well as AC power whenever and wherever you need it. The unit contains one built-in DC power socket and two three-pronged AC power outlets fed by an onboard 400-watt power inverter. Additional features include: a 22Ah maintenance-free AGM lead-acid internal battery, bu…

Olloclip Quick-Connect Lens Solution (Fisheye Lens, Macro Lens, Wide-angle Lens)for iPhone 4 / 4S – OC-IPH4-FWM-R – Red $48.29 Olloclip Quick-Connect Lens Solution (Fisheye Lens, Macro Lens, Wide-angle Lens)for iPhone 4 / 4S – OC-IPH4-FWM-R – Red…

Dell 2709W 27-Inch LCD Widescreen Monitor $899.00 Go beyond high definition resolution with the 27-inch Dell 2709W UltraSharp LCD widescreen monitor, which delivers amazing 1920 x 1200 native resolution and provides 30 percent more onscreen space than a Dell 20-inch monitor. It also features a spectacular 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and lightning fast 6ms (millisecond) response time for wider, more accurate color detail, razor-sharp images and …

Creative E.v.i.l. Photography (Paperback) $18.35 When it comes to cameras, E.V.I.L. is good!  E.V.I.L. stands for Electronic-Viewfinder, Interchangeable-Lens–and it`s the most innovative, hottest, and stylish type of camera to hit the photography market in the past five years. Hip amateurs…

Marketing Fine Art Photography (Paperback) $49.44 In recent years as the field of photography has exploded, many photographers consider selling their work to make a profit and to help defray the high costs of equipment. But, many photographers don`t have the business and marketing knowledge required to successfully sell fine art photographs; and many of those who have tried have been met with disappointment. Until now, little information of value has been available. In Marketing Fine Art Photography, Alain Briot offers practical, up-to-date and field-tested marketing techniques from the viewpoint of a fine art landscape photographer who earns a living from the sale of his fine art prints. Briot teaches that by taking control of the selling process, you can increase your profits and, ultimately, direct your own destiny. Briot`s approach is based on offering quality not quantity; and offering something unique, rather than something that is mass-produced. Though directed toward selling fine art, this method can be applied to other products. After a series of trials and errors, Briot devised a marketing system that allowed him to get out of debt, pay for a state-of-the-art studio, and purchase his first home, all from the sale of his photography. Briot has taught fine art photography marketing to numerous students in seminars, through one-on-one consulting, and through his Marketing Mastery tutorial DVD. Topics include: Defining fine art photography Wholesale, retail, and consignment Knowing your customer Where to sell and how to price fine art Fundamentals of marketing and salesmanship Profitability and honesty in business Packing and shipping fine art Common marketing mistakes The unique selling proposition (USP)

Marketing Fine Art Photography by Briot, Alain Edition ILL, 1 $30.99 In recent years as the field of photography has exploded, many photographers consider selling their work to make a profit and to help defray the high costs of equipment. But, many photographers don't have the business and marketing knowledge required to successfully sell fine art photographs; and many of those who have tried have been met with disappointment. Until now, little information of value has been available.In Marketing Fine Art Photography, Alain Briot offers practical, up-to-date and field-tested marketing techniques from the viewpoint of a fine art landscape photographer who earns a living from the sale of his fine art prints.Briot teaches that by taking control of the selling process, you can increase your profits and, ultimately, direct your own destiny. Briot's approach is based on offering quality not quantity; and offering something unique, rather than something that is mass-produced. Though directed toward selling fine art, this method can be applied to other products.After a series of trials and errors, Briot devised a marketing system that allowed him to get out of debt, pay for a state-of-the-art studio, and purchase his first home, all from the sale of his photography. Briot has taught fine art photography marketing to numerous students in seminars, through one-on-one consulting, and through his Marketing Mastery tutorial DVD.Topics include:Defining fine art photographyWholesale, retail, and consignmentKnowing your customerWhere to sell and how to price fine artFundamentals of marketing and salesmanshipProfitability and honesty in businessPacking and shipping fine artCommon marketing mistakesThe unique selling proposition (USP)

Advertising Photography $48.44 If you are an aspiring or professional photographer looking to break into advertising, "Advertising Photography: A Straightforward Guide to a Complex Industry" will provide you with an honest and uncensored look at this highly competitive and lucrative business. While working in the advertising photography industry can be glamorous and financially rewarding, it can also be intimidating and difficult to break into, requiring networking savvy, financial know-how, and marketing and business skills on top of photographic talent. Advertising Photography strips away the glitz and presents a candid and complete picture with solid advice to newcomers. You?ll learn how to get your business started, including writing a business strategy, successfully negotiating a bid, what to expect during the shoot, post production and delivery tips, and how to properly invoice your clients. The book explores several business management styles supported by the real-world experiences of veteran advertising photographers, illustrated with stunning full-color images of the work that got them where they are today. By examining the methods and strategies used by those who have already made it in the industry, you`ll learn smart business practices to apply to your own work, giving you time to focus on the creative aspects of your craft, which is what will ultimately lead you to a successful advertising photography career. Learn from the experiences?good and bad?of those who have been there! -Practical how-to tips, information, and examples from each of the top genres -Learn how to get your business started, including writing a business strategy, licensing and copyright information, creating branding for websites and portfolios, insurance and legal issues, and more -Essential industry resources for estimating and invoicing software, professional organizations, marketing services, and creative consultants

Fashion Photography (Paperback) $40.13 Fashion photography is glamorous. Fashion photography is hot. Fashion photography pays well! Now is the time to get into fashion photography, and there`s no better way to learn all the tricks and tips of this trade than Fashion Photography. Insider Bruce Smith explores every aspect of fashion photography, from high-end couture and beauty for both editorial and commercial clients, to runway, swimwear, lingerie, and more, with full information on how to break into the business. Topics include equipment, styling, backgrounds, hair and makeup, locations, lighting, composition, directing models, Photoshop, prepping images for press, marketing, and much, much more. Interviews with Nigel Barker, Dirk Franke, Barry Lategan, and other top names give insight into succeeding in the field. Fast-track your career with Fashion Photography!

2009 Musician’s Atlas $30.19 This indispensable directory for music business professionals has been completely updated for 2009, with more than 15,000 U.S. and international contacts in more than 28 categories. These include club talent buyers, college and festival bookers, commercial and college radio programmers, promoters and publicists, film and TV music supervisors, distributors, marketing services, and other essential contacts. Highlights of this 10th edition include more than 800 new performance opportunities, song contests, CD compilation contacts, and e-commerce services.

6 Steps to Songwriting Success: The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs $10.8 What’s the secret to writing a hit song? It’s as simple as 1-2-3-4-5-6! Innovative, practical, and inspiring, “Six Steps to Songwriting Success” presents a surefire step-by-step approach to mastering the elements consistently found in hit songs. Author Jason Blume, a songwriter with the rare distinction of having had songs on the Country, Pop, and R&B charts simultaneously, has packed this book with such key aids as the three-step lyric writing technique used by the pros; lyric, melody, and demo checklists; and tools for self-evaluation-plus many other exercises that work. Blume’s warm, humorous style features motivational anecdotes and entertaining stories of how hit songs came to be written and recorded. Get “Six Steps to Songwriting Success,” and get on the charts!

A Clockwork Orange $17.95 Stanley Kubrick’s futuristic juvenile delinquency movie “A Clockwork Orange” (1971) is an adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ 1962 novel of the same title. Film and novel tell the story of an extremely violent teenager who allows himself to be subjected to aversion therapy (making him unable to indulge his violent and sexual impulses) so as to get out of prison; he then becomes the target of violent attacks and political manipulation which in turn culminate in the removal of his psychological conditioning. Drawing on new research in the Stanley Kubrick Archive at the University of the Arts London, Kramer’s study explores the production, marketing and reception as well as the themes and style of “A Clockwork Orange” against the backdrop of Kubrick’s previous work and of wider developments in cinema, culture and society from the 1950s to the early 1970s.

ADC Germany $124.2 ADC (Art Directors Club Germany) has been a source of inspiration for the constantly changing communication industry for more than 45 years. Creatives from the fields of advertising, the written word, images, design, editorial, photography, illustrations, radio, film and interactive media have joined forces in the ADC. Every year, the club organises Germany’s most important creative competition. The best contract work from the disciplines conventional media, digital media, dialogue marketing/promotion/media, design, editorial, spatial design, generic craft and holistic communication are judged by a prestigious panel and published in an elaborate yearbook.

Advanced Strategies for Marketing Art: Innovative Ways to Boost Your Art Career $16.96 Advanced Strategies for Marketing Art: Innovative Ways to Boost Your Art Career

Adventure Sports Photography: Creating Dramatic Images in Wild Places $35.99 Renowned adventure sports photographer Tom Bol shares his expert techniques & offers inspiration for all outdoor shooters. Tom is a veteran adventure sports photographer with over 20 years of experience, named one of “50 of America’s Top Visionaries” by National Geographic. This is a valuable reference for aspiring outdoor and sports photographers & offers the latest techniques to get those tricky shots! Tom Bol has done videos for Kelby Training & has the backing of the Kelby Media marketing