Business Archives - Page 3 of 29

The Modern Portraits Master Course, Five Courses In One

December 28, 2016 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher Leave a Comment

If you take a moment to think about it, Mario Masitti is right. Lighting, posing, editing, sales, and marketing are all topics that are critical for portrait photographers.

Over the last five years, Mario has taught photographers the in's and out's of portrait photography – both the craft and the business.

Five Courses In One

After making multiple individual courses available, Mario recently bundled them all up for you, the portrait photographer.

The Modern Portraits Master Course by Mario Masitti is a bit of a monopoly. You get Mario's take on Lighting, Posing, Marketing, Editing and Sales.

Go ahead and click the links above to explore each of the options. You'll notice that they are each marked at $94.99. But you can score the entire course – all five “modules” – for only $394.99 (and if you are quick, you can get 25% off that price when you use the code: NEWYEAR25.

Variety & Depth

I haven't seen anyone offer so much under one banner course. And, if there are such an options out in the interwebs, I suspect it costs twice or thrice as much.

Poking into some of the course material, I can tell you that the master course has a ton of visual examples; photographs from actual photo shoots with clients and links to videos, where Mario talks you through situations that you will encounter. Each module has its PDF ebook to go with it, so you never feel left out in the cold.

The Modern Lighting course, for example, includes a 56-pae PDF ebook, a 25-minute supplmental lighting video and two special bonuses.

Mario's Crazy Guarantee

This straight from Mario's website: “Every Sessions With Mario product is backed by a 100% Money Back Guarantee. If you don’t absolutely love the course, it’s on me!”

Feel more comfortable now buying Mario's The Modern Portraits Master Course

Mario's promise:

This Master Course was designed for portrait photographers looking to take their portraits AND their business to the next level – to shoot better images, edit faster, market smarter, and sell bigger. With no-frill videos, beautiful PDFs, and awesome challenges, the Master Course equips you with what you need to grow into a 6-figure portrait photography business and rock your next seasons in 2017!

Interviewing Mario

It was a pleasure to connect with Mario, especially to discuss this new venture called The Modern Portraits Master Course. Check out our chat below:

4 Tax Items to Take Care of Before Year End

December 27, 2016 by ShooDotEdit Leave a Comment

The end of the year brings with it the first thoughts of the upcoming tax season for small business owners. Tax season, in the early part of the year, brings with it a very unique paradox. By the time you sit down to look at your taxes for the year prior, it’s too late to do anything to better prepare your business for them.

I reached out to wedding photography editing company, ShootDotEdit, to share about this topic that sneaks up on business owners each year. Keep reading to learn a few important items to work on now to set yourself up for success once tax season is here.

At ShootDotEdit, we help wedding photographers with post production and share tips to assist in business growth. Some of the things you get to do as a photographer and business owner are thrilling and allow you to stretch your creative muscles. Other parts of your role as owner are unappealing for most, like the upcoming tax season. Taxes are probably the last thing you want to think about while you’re enjoying the holiday season, but they are a necessary part of your business. To make it as pain-free as possible, we’ve put together 4 tax items you should take care of before the year is over.

*Disclaimer: Tax laws very state by state. You should always consult a tax professional to get specific advice for your business.

1. Prepare for Estimated Tax Payments

One of the first items to take care of is to prepare for estimated tax payments. Since tax law varies, do your research to find out whether you need to make these payments, or if you are exempt. Most business owners must pay this, but knowing for sure can help in your planning. To prepare yourself, continue to research how much you will pay in estimated tax payments. This is one thing you do not want to be a surprise, so try to get as close as possible with the number you will owe.

2. Gather Contact Info

The next item to consider is to ensure you have accurate information for all contractors or employees. This includes their current address and phone number, so you can send them the proper documents when the time comes. Gather this information before the year is over, so you can avoid any complications or issues once tax season is here. Nothing is worse than having to worry about what to do when you accidentally send a 1099 form to the wrong address, especially when you have so much else on your plate.

3. Catch Up on Bookkeeping

Another item on your list to take care of is to catch up on bookkeeping. During busy season, it can be difficult to keep track of all paperwork, invoices, and other information from your clients. Catch up on bookkeeping now to avoid stress and headaches around tax time. If you have not started on your bookkeeping, set a deadline to keep yourself motivated. You could also hire someone to take care of your bookkeeping if it is something you do not want to handle.

4. Plan Ahead

A final item to prepare before the end of the year is to think and plan ahead for any big expenditures you need to make for your business. This can include new gear, remodeling of your studio, or taking on a separate business venture. Keep in mind, some items can be counted as a tax deduction for this year. If you plan to make a large purchase of new gear, consider buying it this year to take advantage of the deduction when you file your taxes. The more you plan ahead, the easier it will be to know what you owe (and what you can benefit from on your taxes).

When you start with these items, you will have an easier (and less stressful) time with your taxes next year. What else can you do to prepare your business for next year? Our Guide, How to Grow Your Wedding Photography Business, contains 50+ pages of actionable tips and tricks to help you focus on what’s most important to work on in your business.

Download your free copy today!

Which Social Media Platform Should You Focus On For Your Photography Business?

December 5, 2016 by ShooDotEdit Leave a Comment

In the competitive world of wedding photography, social media is a fast and effective solution for you to find, attract, and book clients for your business. Because there are so many platforms available to you, which platform is best for you and your photography business? To help you discover which platform is best for you, I reached out to ShootDotEdit to provide insights into each social media platform.

At ShootDotEdit, we love to help you eliminate the stress of post production from your wedding photography business. In the bigger picture, though, we are here to help you grow your business, including how to maximize your social media presence. Let’s be honest – social media can be a very effective way to grow your business, but it can take a lot of time. There are numerous social media platforms, ranging from Facebook and Twitter to Instagram and Snapchat. Below, we share tips on how to tell which social media platform is best for your business, so you can focus your efforts on which one will have the biggest impact for you!

Consider focusing on Facebook if…

You know your target audience.

Facebook is a great platform for you to use to attract ideal clients to your website and blog. Of the advanced features Facebook has for business owners, one of the top features is you can set custom audiences to place specific content in front of your target audience.

Image Compliments of Custom by Nicole Photography

In the Advertising tab, choose the objectives for your campaign, including your ideal client’s age, gender, relationships status, and connections. Set the qualifications for your target market based on what you know about them. For example, do you find a lot of your ideal clients get married at vineyards? You can target your posts toward people who are engaged and like the Facebook Page of various wineries in your area. Facebook also lets you retarget your posts toward people who have already visited your website and blog. So, when one of your couples shares their blog post images from their wedding with all of their friends and families, you can use this traffic in Facebook for a future audience.

Does using Facebook in this way involve a learning curve? Yes, no doubt. Understanding who you want to reach can help you effectively utilize Facebook, and help direct what content you share with your audience.

Consider focusing on Instagram if…

You have a unique and recognizable style.

Instagram is an entirely image-based platform, which naturally lends itself perfectly to wedding photographers. Instagram is best used to showcase your unique and recognizable style in front of specific audiences.

Image Compliments of Custom by Nicole Photography

Because Instagram is so image-focused, the unique attributes of your style are on full display. When you share images on Instagram, you show potential clients what type of work you do and who you are as a photographer. Ensure you share the best and most unique images from your engagement sessions and wedding shoots. These are photos that are consistent to your style, and showcase your skills as a photographer. Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags [http://shootdotedit.com/2016/02/19-hashtags-you-need-to-use-on-instagram/] to place your photos in front of clients who are perfect for you. Hashtags allow you to target your unique images to specific audiences.

Consider focusing on Snapchat if…

You incorporate your personal life into your brand.

Snapchat is ideal for the photographer that incorporates their lifestyle into their brand. The platform is built on ongoing video stories for high levels of engagement. For the busy wedding photographer, it is ideal. The reason for this is because it doesn’t require you to schedule anything out in advance or create a content calendar.

Unlike Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Snapchat can be used effectively at your convenience. You can send individual messages to your followers, and also build stories with your videos and images. When you build a story, your videos and images are available for view for at least a day, meaning many of your followers can view it and get to know you more. Use Snapchat to share about the things you do outside of your wedding photography business, but relate to your target market. Going back to our winery example above, Snapchat would be a great platform to share your wine tasting adventures with your ideal clients!

Consider focusing on Twitter if…

You probably shouldn’t focus on Twitter at all. :)

Twitter’s effectiveness to market personal service business’ like photography has always been questionable. It’s not that Twitter can’t work for your photography business, but more that it provides you less return for your time.

Image Compliments of Custom by Nicole Photography

If you use Twitter, make sure you link out to your other social platforms and (of course) your website and blog. With Twitter’s specific image requirements, it can be difficult to have your images displayed exactly how you envisioned.

Rather than including an image on your Tweets, link out to your Instagram or Facebook page for your followers to see the photo there. Not only do you give followers the chance to view your unique photography style, you also encourage them to follow you on those sites. Use this opportunity to also link out to your website and blog, so followers can see other examples of your past work.

There are benefits to each of the social media platforms, so it is important to focus on one that allows you to easily attract and create connections with ideal clients. Above all, focus on the platform where your potential clients are. If you receive the most interaction and bookings from Facebook, place the majority of your energy into the strategy for your Facebook business page. Or, if you notice most people visit your website and blog from Instagram, focus on a strategy to increase the number of bookings you receive from the platform. Discover additional ways to maximize social media for your business with our Comprehensive Guide to Social Media for Wedding Photographers!

Why A Signed Contract Beats A Gentleman’s Agreement

October 3, 2016 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher Leave a Comment

The Confession

Bear with me …

Confessing my screw-ups in public does NOT come easy at all. Yet, I have to do it.

I have two of them to offer you. Two quick lessons that will save you from a similar fate and will likely make you more money down the road.

Last week, I got myself into trouble. Real trouble. Business trouble, and not the criminal kind.

A vendor (let's leave his specialty out of the conversation for now) contacted me a few months ago about a date and an event he wanted photographed. He and I had had a gentleman's agreement. All was well and then he went on an extended vacation without exactly telling me when he would be back.

I held the date for him and then emailed him twice, attempting to confirm the timeline for the shoot. All I heard back were … crickets.

Then a frantic email arrived last week from him: “Seshu, why aren't you on the schedule?”

I was flabbergasted.

I had held the date as long as I could but I had another client call in during the time the vendor was away.

Business is business, right? So I booked the portrait session but made sure it was at the tail end of the same day (just in case I had to photograph the event anyway).

I told myself that I will be done photographing the vendor's event and then be able to make it to my own client's portrait session.

But that didn't sit well with the vendor. His expectations were different and because we hadn't discussed the details or put them down on paper, it was all very ambiguous to both of us.

And he got mad. Then I got mad. Well …

Don't Give Miscommunication A Chance

Ambiguity kills relationships. So, last Thursday after going back and forth on email about the snafu, miscommunication or what he perceived as me trying to “double book” (which I never do), we broke our ties.

Forever.

Ugh!

Yeah, I should have picked up the phone and just called the guy right? That's another lesson for another day.

It wasn't the the loss of revenue that has troubled me the most since the incident. What aches my soul is now his perception of me has changed … forever.

Good news travels fast and bad news, faster.

Where I Failed

In a world of amateurs, I failed to be the professional. I didn't produce a contract that spelled everything out for the vendor so that he knows what to expect – arrival times, departure times, the number of photographs (enhanced or not), delivery time for the final photographs and the delivery method etc.

Being a professional, I have learned, is about having agreements that everyone, well, agrees to. Having it in writing makes it legally binding, in the end helping everyone involved. Having a contract brings clarity and business peace for all.

Contracts are intended to set the bar of expectations and inform the clients of the photography relationship process. – Rachel Brenke

Rachel Brenke's Contracts

If you haven't heard of Rachel Brenke, she is a photographer AND a lawyer who publishes one of the most helpful websites called The LawTog.

To celebrate her birthday, this week alone, ALL of her contracts are on sale right now. If you don't have a contract specific to your situation, I would urge you to seek her's out.

It is awfully tempting to “Google” photography contracts and just swipe one from the Internet.

My advice: Do not do it.

Foremost is the reason that those other contracts aren't guaranteed to have been written by a lawyer (much less seen by one for accuracy and veracity). Secondly, you have no guarantees that the lawyer has truly your best interests in mind.

This is where Rachel shines – not only has she gone through law school, she is a photographer who for years perfected her contracts.

So, you are probably wondering, if I knew about Rachel's contracts why I didn't use hers, right?

That was screw-up number two. And it totally stinks.

The Sale Ends Soon

Don't wait too long to snag Rachel's photography contracts. Whether you are a wedding photographer or a portrait photographer, there is something in there for everyone.

The sale ends on October 7th. Use the code: mybirthday20

Yes, I make a small commission when you buy using my link, but that's not why I am mentioning Rachel's contracts. She has helped hundreds of photographers and I believe she will be able to help you out too.

Would you want clarity and peace of mind versus confusion, chaos and lost opportunities? The choice is clear. Get the right photography contracts here.

As A Photographer Do You Transform People’s Lives?

September 19, 2016 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher 3 Comments

Transform: it's a single word, with deep implications.

Read on if you want to make a difference, and subsequently have that change you for the better and potentially, richer.

“Do you transform people's lives through your photography business?” When I first heard Steve Saporito pose the question, I didn't know what he was talking about. I admit, it felt a little woo-woo. After a week-long workshop with him, the light bulbs started going on.

I realized that most photographers wait to discover their clients at the photo session or at the wedding. In fact, I confess doing just that.

I would excitedly send out a questionnaire the second someone came knocking on my website for a family portrait session or wedding. As soon as I had hit “send”, I figured my job was done and all I needed to do was to just wait for their responses.

All I got back in return were … crickets. Frankly, the replies came but often only minutes before a session or not fully completed. It left me feeling helpless and slightly frustrated because I did not know my clients at all. We were completely out of sync from the get-go. Can you imagine the quality of their photographs? They were emotionally flat, almost absent. And that was my doing, not theirs.

I foolishly figured my branding, website and messaging had to change. Or, was it my portfolio? Or, did I have to up my social media game?

No, in all honestly, none of that mattered more than the experience I was providing my clients. And it was poor. Something had to give and that's when I approached Steve Saporito at his New Haven, Connecticut workshop. My photography business was in a critical condition. I had to make changes and fast.

Thanks to Steve, I experienced a mind-shift. What would happen, I wondered, if I took the time to get to know my clients in a meaningful way that helped them be seen, heard and loved by the people in their lives right now? Ahead of their session, our clients would have an opportunity to reconnect with their family in a way that makes the entire process of being photographed together a joyous event. That's where and when the transformation takes place. And the transformation isn't limited to just your clients. Indeed, you as their photographer experience it as well.

Ultimately, clients reward you for giving them this beautiful experience before their session and for the artwork that become a permanent anchor to their heightened emotions. The

Really, there is a lot more to this than a blog post can cover. If you get a chance to listen to Steve speak (podcasts or at conferences), don't miss out. A couple of weeks after attending his workshops again (yes, again) in New Jersey, I invited Steve to a Skype call that I figured wouldn't last more than 10 or 15 minutes. But here we are chatting about all of this for about 45 minutes. It's a good long listen, but I assure totally worth your time:

As a business coach out of Melbourne, Australia, Steve Saporito teaches photographers through his Empower & Effortless Premières workshops and education platform called Intuition To Succeed.

I want to thank my friends Jasen Arias and Mike Allebach for persuading me to attend Steve's workshop in New Jersey. Like a lot of you, I hummed and hawed about going. I conjured up all kinds of excuses. In the end though, my goal to know how to be fully present for my portrait clients, trumped all attempts to bow out.

Without hyperbole, let me tell you that Steve's workshops ARE the best business workshops I've ever attended. And, I will go back for more in the future.

If you are spinning your wheels and have no clue how to resuscitate your photography business, ping me and I'll let you know more about my experience at the Empower & Effortless Premières workshops. The next one in North America is going to be in Toronto, Canada, from October 5th through October 11th.

To quote Jasen and Mike, “Just put it on the credit card and go dude. You'll pay it off in no time.” So true!