Photo Marketing Mentor

How comfortable are you with the spotlight?

Part of being a successful business owner is understanding how to embrace and leverage the media. Media be it radio, television or print is key to getting the word out to the community about your business.

As a photographer first and foremost you are a service provider to your local community whether you shoot portraits, product shots or local events and the community is your potential clientele base.

So it behooves you to reach out via the media. With that said I’d like to ask you a question. “When was the last time the local press did any type of story on you?” If the answer is “sometime ago -or- never” it’s time to take action towards changing that. How?

I’ll share a few quick steps with you today in this short article:

1. Shift your focus from “what you do?” to “who you serve?” Is it new moms, brides, local business owners? What kind of businesses or clients do you work with? Why? Because media outlets are interested in topics that affect the community at large (and more specifically their audience) be it listeners, readers or viewers.

When you shift your focus from service delivery -to- service you can come up with topics that will attract the attention of editors and producers.

2. What transformation do you provide? If your speciality is photographing brides for example then I’m certain you have a list of suggestions and recommendations that you could easily speak to for new brides shopping for a wedding photographer. Make of a list of suggestions or opinions and then turn those suggestions into benefits.

These are the things that interviewers love because your topic will be focused on the consumer and their needs, not solely on what you have to sell.

3. Embrace your inner expert. No matter what your photographic speciality if you’ve been working with paying clients within that speciality for any length of time you definitely have opinions, insights and comments to share. Your take, your spin, your view point is the key to your expert status, even if you don’t think of yourself as one.

If being viewed as an “expert” is too much to wrap your head around then consider viewing yourself as a specialist if that makes it easier for you. Remember, the media loves experts, which is just another way of saying people who love what they’re doing, who they serve and are good at it.

That’s what Wedding and family lifestyle photographer Me Ra Koh did on Oprah Winfrey’s protege Nate Berkus’s new show. Me Ra came on and shared with Nate’s audience how to take great back to school portraits. Just recently she was invited back to do more segments this time on how to take great couple shots. Click on the links in blue to watch the segment.

How embracing the media will help you grow your business?

If you’re out in the media sharing your valuable information with audiences it’s a natural progression that some of the people listening, watching or reading will contact you about your business and working with you. Contacts are prospects, prospects (if handled properly) become clients and customers.

What’s the next step?

Did you know that are dozens of opportunities everyday for photographers just like you to do guest spots on television/radio programs and in print? If you take the time to investigate the opportunities that are out there you could be doing interviews as early as next week.

Your Homework:

Commit to spending a few hours in the next week doing research on media outlets.

First, do a google search, for example: type in “your speciality + photographers interviews” so if you’re a wedding photographer you would type “wedding photographers interviews”. My google search led me to a website for brides planning their wedding and to an interview with wedding photographer Brian Marcus. Click on his name to be taken to the interview.

In the interview Brian talks about posing and colors, why a bride would want posed vs candid shots, black and white vs color or sepia. Even how the seasons of the year to the type of dress a bride selects affects the final images.

The interview included information on the photographers background and of course “the how, when and why” he does what he does and of course his contact information.

Now just think of how many hits this photographer will get to his website and how many more he will receive by just doing one of these interviews a week?

And the best part it didn’t cost him a dime, just some time to do the research, preparation and contacting the people who can feature him.

Second, look at your network of contacts. Do you know anyone who offers teleseminars where you could be a guest, or radio hosts where you could do a show? Of course you do, me. I host a program for photographers on Blogtalkradio.

As a matter of fact I’ve interviewed several photographers from wedding and fitness to portrait and lifestyle photographers. These interviews can be posted to your blog or website in the “About Me -or- Media Info” pages. In addition, you could and should include these in your media package or at least send links to them to other media producers to get more media opportunities.

It’s not where you start that matters, it’s that you start, that matters.

I have a lot more to say on this topic and I’ll probably put together a special tele-class in near future that will walk you thought the steps to get more media coverage and get more clients. If you would like to learn more about this please leave a comment in the comments field below and I’ll let you know when I set something up.

In the meantime I have a couple of things I want to alert you to on the topic of Embracing the media and your spotlight.

Tonight at 8 P.M. EST/ 5 P.M. PST colleague and client, Photographer Nikki Incandela will be doing a tele-seminar titled: Put Some Pizazz In Your Picture: What Your Image Says About You – visit the registration page to see the overview of the show’s topic. It’s totally free but more than that, listening to the interview will give you an opportunity to “study” how Nikki handles herself including how she leverages it to grow her business.

Then tomorrow at 11 A.M. PST/ 2 P.M. EST I will be doing an interview with Social Media guru Nan Ross on the Nan Ross show on Why 75% Of New Freelance Businesses Fail Within The First 12 Months. This will be the first time I’ll be on the other side of the mic and I’m totally looking forward to it. If you have an opportunity to listen in please join us.

Finally if you’re ready to get more tips to prepare yourself for embracing the media consider picking up my book: Eye On Marketing: 41 Days From Struggle And Confusion To Clarity & Profits and in particular read Day 23: “How Famous Are You: Raising Your Profile In Front Of The Lens” and Day 24: “3 Keys To Crafting A Press Release That Get’s Noticed”

I highly recommend adding my book to your marketing and business building toolkit not only to learn more about embracing the media but also how to package, present and leverage your talents.  So to read the reviews and learn more visit my book website at: http://www.eyeonmarketingsuccess.com/thebook

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Well it’s official – 2011 has arrived! I don’t know about you, but I’m very excited for this new year.

The beginning of a new year to me represents renewal, revitalization and an opportunity to start over.  A re-do -or- do over if you will.

So with that said I’d like to ask you – “What are you committed to achieving in your business and in your life in 2011?”

For example: will you finally publish a book of your work this year -or- will you start developing a new body of work? Do you want have your first exhibition or finally take that long overdue photography workshop abroad?

As you ponder your answer – I want to share with you a brand new opportunity that I’ve arranged to inspire you to get focused and on track quickly.

It’s a **Brand New Teleseminar** the first of 2011 with my friend and colleague author and portfolio consultant Selina Maitreya!  The title of this new call is called: Get Clear – Get Focused And Make 2011 Your Year To Thrive! Wednesday January 5th @ 4 PM PST/7 PM EST

Selina is so totally committed to helping professional photographers get their new year off on the right foot that she has agreed to do this special 1-time only call exclusively to members of the Photo Marketing Mentor community.  And the best part is it’s totally FREE to attend!

All you need is a either a telephone or internet connection. No Registration Required! On the call Selina will be discussing topics from:

• How to define your visual story
• How to find markets interested in that story
• How to combat overwhelm when running your business becomes too much and much more.
• At the end Selina will be previewing her **brand new** program called Clarion Call 2011.
• As a bonus Selina will be available to answer questions about your business & Clarion Call.

If you’re a photographer committed to getting your new year started on the right foot this is the call you don’t want to miss.  So mark your calendars and  join us on: Wednesday January 5th @ 4 PM PST/7 PM EST hosted on Blog Talk Radio.  See you on the call!

PS: As a special preview bonus Selina has put together a series of 5 – Free Videos designed to jump start your thinking and help you get into action immediately.

As a matter of fact I suggest that you sign up to receive the 5-Free Videos today and while you’re watching over the holiday weekend take notes and/or jot down any questions you might have for Selina.

PPS: If you can’t make the call don’t worry, you can direct your questions to me and I’ll pass them on to Selina.  You can send your questions to: rodney@eyeonmarketingsuccess.com. -or- you can get your questions answered LIVE the evening of the call!

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THIS TELESEMINAR HAS CONCLUDED, BUT YOU CAN STILL GET THE REPLAY AND A SPECIAL BONUS, REGISTER BELOW FOR DETAILS

Success Traits Of A Working Photographer: What You MUST Know Now In Order To Succeed In The New Economy

In today’s market place finding a job, any job has  become a full time job in and of itself.  But what if the struggle you are experiencing wasn’t so much about WHAT you’re doing, but HOW you’re doing it?

Selina Maitreya author of How To Succeed in Commercial Photography and the best selling audio program The View From Here will discuss how real world photographers are defying the odds and not only only finding work, but regaining a new sense of confidence in themselves and how they’re presenting to the market place.

In her experience working with commercial photographers there are certain qualities that all successful photographers possess that keeps their calendar full where others are scratching their heads wondering where the jobs have gone and where the next one is going to come from.

This teleseminar has concluded but you can still get the replay and special bonuses

Registration Details Below

On this very special call Selina discussed:

• What it takes in order to succeed in this down economy
• What successful photographers do that most AREN’T
• The habits of a successful photographer
• Why mindset is so critical at this time
• What separates a photographer whose constantly booked from one whose struggling
• Simple shifts that you can implement TODAY to change your results
• Selina’s going to share several examples from Real Photographers achieving Real Results!

On the call Selina is shared a great deal of meaty content that will literally shift the way you’re thinking, feeling and ultimately acting.  Action (or the lack thereof) is the key ingredient for any successful entrepreneur.

By the end of this call you’ll leave with a new found focus and renewed interest in how you approach your work.

Be sure to listen to the very end because Selina is going to reveal a solution so powerful that once you possess it you’ll wonder how you got along without it.

This teleseminar has concluded but you can still get the replay and special bonuses, just enter your first name and email address to receive the info

Submit your first name and email address below to receive details and call in info:

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Breaking Into Photo Assisting 101: 10 Steps From Searching To Working w/Tim Olsen of APhotoAssistant.com

For many aspiring photographers getting a job assisting an established pro photographer is the first step towards making that dream a reality. For some, assisting has become their main source of income.  And many photographers choose to continue assisting for the duration of their careers while continuing to shoot their own personal projects on the side.

Regardless as to whether you want to use assisting as a stepping stone to your own studio or you just a want earn some extra money while building your book there are definite pitfalls and shortcuts that you’ll need to be aware of.  If this sounds like you and you’re ready to learn how to break into the world of professional photo assisting from a pro whose been there then you’ll certainly want to join me and my guest Tim Olsen.

Tim publishes one of the few blogs exclusively devoted to the subject at: http://aphotoassistant.com/

You should be able to access the broadcast on the day of the show using the player below.  But just in case it doesn’t work go to this link - http://su.pr/1QZ1Te and it will take you to the show page directly.  Remember May 20th @ 1 p.m. PST. (Due to a scheduling conflict the date for this show has been changed to Thursday May 20th)

If you have questions you’d like me to direct to Tim please leave them in the comments field below.

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Join me and guest Karen Sperling author of Painter for Photographers on BlogTalkRadio May 6th @ 1 p.m. PST.

If you’re a photographer who is curious at all about Corel Painter or learning how adding this skill to your tool box can greatly increase your income then you don’t want to miss this ’1 time only’ interview.

You should be able to access the broadcast on the day of the show using the player below.  But just in case it doesn’t work go to this link http://su.pr/2ZxmVZ and it will take you to the show page directly.  Remember May 6th @ 1 p.m. PST.

If you have questions you’d like me to direct to Karen please leave them in the comments field below.

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Topic: A Photographers Survival Guide For A Tough Economy
Guest: David Bean of VisualReserve.com
Listen to the replay:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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