The Six Figure Photography Podcast With Ben Hartley: Photography Marketing | Improve Photography | Sprouting Photographer

Today's podcast episode is about a 4 letter word in the photography industry, Sales. I guess that's 5 letters. Regardless, most photographers shy away from learning how to sell... ...and that's a huge mistake. Not only are you doing yourself a disservice, but you're doing a disservice to your clients as well. Joining me to explore this topic further is GE Masana! GE has written two books on the topic of how to sell photography and we'll be discussing why you have a responsibility to sell to your clients as well as provide some practical tips on how to increase the sales in your photography business. What You'll Learn * The weird thing photographers do when emailing potential clients (stop this immediately) * The "jiu jitsu method" GE uses to overcome objections before they even come up * What to do when a potential client says "We'll think about it"     Resources Mentioned Boost Wedding Photography Sales When They Say That, You Say This! How to advertise and sell your wedding photography the easy way Fundy Software Elavon Sponsors Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums Tave - Use code “SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY” to get 20% off

Ever think about traveling the world and shooting weddings to pay for it? Well, today's guest does just that. Robert J Hill is one of the best destination wedding photographers in the world. His work has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mashable, and he was included in Junebugs "Best Engagement Photography of 2016" list. In today's episode, we talk about how Robert got started with destination weddings and some practical tips on how you can too. What You'll Learn * How to identify (and reach) your target audience * 3 essential travel tips for destination weddings * How Robert screens his couples to make sure they're a good fit     Resources Mentioned Robert J Hill Photography Robert J Hill Photography Instagram Robert's Thank You Page Sponsors Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

Joining me this week is Zach Prez from Photography Spark! Zach has a family of 5, a full time job and runs a website on the side that teaches photographers how to get more clients. Oh, did I mention he's also written over 12 eBooks for photographers? Mr. Prez and I talk about how to manage a  9-5  job while also trying to grow your photography business side hustle. What You'll Learn * Why people actually hire you (hint: it's not the quality of your work) * How to develop an exit plan from your day job * What you need to have in place before going full time     Resources Mentioned Google Keep Google Docs Business Planning Cookbook For Photographers Wedding Photography Pricing Calculator Photography Spark Sponsors Táve Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

SEO can be a very confusing topic for a lot of photographers. There's so much outdated and bad information relating to search engine optimization that it's hard to know what you should listen to and what you should ignore. To help set the record straight I invited Ben Turner on the podcast today. Ben is a professional SEO who has helped over 500 photographers improve their search rankings over the past 2 years. On today's episode, Ben and I talk about how search engines work and what photographers can do to increase their visibility online so that they can get more leads. What You'll Learn * How Google calculates who should be on the first page * The "backdoor" SEO approach you should be using if you're in a saturated market * Ben's strategy to boost online AND offline referrals (at the same time) * The 3 SEO sins most photographers make with their websites * The simple site tweak Ben makes to get higher conversion rates for his clients * What to look for when hiring a SEO company (and the 2 warning signs you should look out for)     Resources Mentioned The Complete, Always Updated Guide For SEO For Photographers Fuel your Photos Facebook Group (SEO For Photographer) Pinterest SEO For Photographers (Webinar) Blogging Course - 4 Video Series on Photographers Blogging For SEO 128 Blogging Ideas For Photographers Google Trends Google Analytics Google Search Console Google My Business Turner Web Services Fuel Your Photos Sponsors Táve Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

Joining me this week on the SFP podcast is Jide Alakija! Jide is an internationally renowned photographer with over 10 years of experience. His photography has been displayed in galleries around the world and most recently the Smithsonian has shortlisted his work for inclusion in the Smithsonian Institute Collection. In addition to client photography, Jide also hosts workshops and runs various mentoring programs in West Africa for underprivileged photography students.     Resources Mentioned Shutterchance Magmod - Use code "SFP" to get $5 off Alakija Studios Alakija Instagram Alakija Studios Instagram Alakija Art Instagram Sponsors Tave Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off your first year + an extra month added to your free trial if you use my referral link Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

This week's guest is Ian Weldon! Ian takes an uncompromising approach to his photography, and that unique approach to his art hasn't gone unnoticed. He's been included as one of the Best 100 Wedding Photographers in the World in both 2015 and 2016 and was named one of SLR Lounge's Best 150 International Wedding Photographers in 2016. Today's guest has a cool accent, so I don't feel like I need to say much more in terms of why you should listen to this episode. However, I will say that my main takeaway from talking with Ian is that you shouldn't be afraid to make the kind of work that you want to make. Ian's style is unconventional in the wedding world, and that style might not resonate with a lot of people - but for the people that it does click with he's exactly what they're looking for.     Resources Mentioned Ian Weldon Photography Ian Weldon Photography Facebook Outer Focus Blog Fujifilm X-Pro2 Professional Mirrorless Camera Sponsors Tave Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off your first year + an extra month added to your free trial if you use my referral link Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

Want to hear what pure charisma sounds like? Then look no further than the personality of today's SFP podcast guest, Scott Robert Lim. Scott is one of the warmest people I've ever gotten the opportunity to talk with. He has an infectious enthusiasm that makes it easy to see why he's been so successful throughout his career. Scott is a member of the WPPI Society of Excellence, has been an instructor on CreativeLive, and is regarded as one of the top photography educators in the country. In this episode, we cover a range of topics including how Scott transitioned his company into a luxury brand, how Scott gained confidence in his work when just starting out, and what it takes to achieve at a high level. What You'll Learn * The first step Scott took to establish himself as a luxury brand * Why the hardest obstacle to charging 10k per wedding has nothing to do with photography * The hidden factors potential clients judge you by     Resources Mentioned Scott Robert Lim Facebook Scott Robert Lim Instagram Sponsors Tave Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off your first year + an extra month added to your free trial if you use my referral link Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

What's your "IT" factor? Why do people buy from you instead of your competition? Joining me on the show today is Nik McArther who makes a living helping creatives discover what makes them unique and how to use those unique characteristics to advance in business. What You'll Learn * How to identify your "IT" factor * What EVERY photographer should be practicing in the mirror * The personality test Nik requires all clients take (this is really cool)     Resources Mentioned Epic Danger Blog Epic Danger Instagram How To Fascinate - I contacted this company and they gave me 100 free assessment codes for the SFP community to use! Use code “YOU-SFPP” to take the assessment test for free. Sponsors Táve Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

Bob Coates joins me on the show today to discuss different ways in which we can grow as photographers. Bob is a Panasonic Lumix Luminary and has been a professional photographer for more than 20 years! We'll be talking about the importance of formal education inside the professional photography world, how Micro 4/3rds fits into the current professional landscape and the value of having personal projects. What You'll Learn * The weird skill Bob attributes to helping him create better work * What happened when Bob completely transitioned to micro 4/3rds from a full DSLR setup * How having personal projects can further your photography career     Resources Mentioned Lightroom Presets Nik Collection Aurora HDR Macphun Creative Kit Successful Photographer Bob Coates Photography Sponsors Táve Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

Every business needs a website, but getting started can be confusing and hard. Scott Wyden Kivowitz joins me today on the SFP podcast to help shed some light on where photographers should be looking when it comes to all things web. Scott works at Imagely, which offers a range of web products made specifically for photographers. We'll be looking at all the options photographers have to choose from and go over the pro and cons of each. What You'll Learn * The difference between hosted and self hosted platform (and which one you DEFINITELY need to choose) * Critical components of successful websites * The MUST have Wordpress plugins for photographers     Resources Mentioned Abundance Workshop *** Early Bird Pricing Ends Tomorrow 8/18/16 *** Imagely - Use code "SIXFIGURE" for 3 months of free hosting Scott Wyden Kivowitz Timeshel Selphy Printer Nowvel Wix Yoast SEO Wordpress Plugin Canada Photo Convention Bryan Caporicci Gravity Forms Instant Article's Wordpress Plugin Google Page Speed Pingdom WP Rocket EWWW Image Optimizer JPEG Mini NextGEN Pro Maintainn Sponsors Táve Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off Miller's Professional Imaging - Use code "SFP25" to get 25% off signature albums

On this week's episode of the Six Figure Photography podcast, we're going to be taking a realistic look at what it takes to build a successful photography business. Joining me today is Ryan Gandee of Gandee Photography. Ryan is a straight hustler. In under two years he completely self-taught himself wedding photography and went from charging nothing to consistently booking weddings for over $4,000. His intense work ethic and drive are truly inspiring and I'm excited to share his story because he is a great example of what you can accomplish when you want something bad enough. What You'll Learn * The simple change Ryan made to his branding to start attracting the clients he wanted * How Ryan was able to TRIPLE his rates since last year * The shortcut Ryan took to leap ahead of his competition and grow faster     Resources Mentioned Gandee Photography Tonic SFPP 21: Success Starts Here With Jen Rozenbaum Sigma 35 Art Sam Hurd Workshop Abundance Workshop Sponsors Táve Studio Manager - Use code "SIXFIGUREPHOTOGRAPHY" to get 20% off Millers Lab - Use the code "SFP25" to receive 25% off Miller’s Signature Albums

We're mixing it up this week! On today's episode of the Six Figure Photography podcast, I'm bringing on my intern to interview me! Her name is Abby Lewis and she has been interning with my studio for just over three weeks now. Abby is in the same position that a lot of you are in. She's in the infancy of her photography business and she's trying to figure out how to turn her passion into a sustainable career. This episode turned out to be a lot of fun and Abby asks some fantastic questions that I think all photographers will find value in. What You'll Learn * The #1 thing I would do if I moved to a new city and had to start over * The core values of my studio and how it shapes everything we do * 3 ways you can IMMEDIATELY differentiate yourself from your competition     Resources Mentioned Tave Fundy Album Software Themeforest Tonic Web Design ShowIt Cost of Wedding Pricing Calculator SFPP 07: 20 Simple Tips To Take Control And Get Better Shots On The Wedding Day

One of the core philosophies of Six Figure Photography is to deliver value. Not only to your clients and vendors, but also to everyone in life. I believe intensely that providing more value then you take is the secret to success and so does today's guest. Nate Grahek is a photographer, educator, tech maven, and entrepreneur. After seeing his own portrait clients reaction to the custom mobile apps he was building for them, Nate founded StickyAlbums.com in 2012 to let all photographers easily create custom branded mobile apps for each of their clients, grow their word-of-mouth referrals, and their business. In this episode, we're going to be exploring the topic of how exactly you can use photography to provide value to people as well as ways to use your skillset to diversify your income. What You'll Learn * How to secure vendor partnerships * Nate's strategy to build word of mouth campaigns * How to leverage existing assets to build business     Resources Mentioned Sticky Albums Sticky Apps A sample StickAlbum for a bride Pavlok Mike Rowe: Don't Pursue Your Passion. Chase Opportunity 7 Day Crash Course Start With Why - Simon Sinek TED talk ShootDotEdit Millers Lab

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't -- you're right." - Henry Ford This week's episode is one of my favorites of all time because I'm joined by the incredible Jen Rozenbaum. Jen has been a CreativeLive instructor, speaker at WPPI, she's part of the Wescott Top Pro Elite team, the Sigma Pro Team, featured in Rangefinder magazine, Good Morning America... ...the list goes on forever. Jen joins me on today's show to explore the deeper issues holding photographers back as well as talk about her personal belief system and how that's been critical to the growth of her business. What You'll Learn * Why growing your business starts in your head * How to combat fear of failure * What the curse of the artist is (and how to overcome it) * How creating a belief system can drive your business     Resources Mentioned Jeneration Boudoir Photography Studio Jenerations Boudoir Blog Fundy Storyteller Video You 2 by Price Pritchett You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Every year there seems to be more photography conferences and workshops springing up all over the world. As small business owners, photographers have to be extremely aware of where we're spending our resources. Are conferences the best bang for your buck when it comes to growing your business? I invited Jenna Lucia, a self-proclaimed workshop junkie and the founder of the HI on Life Photography Conference, to talk about the benefits of investing in these more immersive learning experiences and what she's learned from not only attending several workshops but also hosting her own conference. What You'll Learn * When is the right time in your career to attend a conference or workshop? * How to know when investing in gear no longer makes sense * What should you watch out before attending a conference? * The ONE thing you need to ask yourself before investing in a conference or workshop     Resources Mentioned Hi on Life Photography Conference Jenna Leigh Photography