Tiffinbox

Inspiring Photographers

How To Make Your Photography Business Magnetic & Memorable

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As a business owner, marketing to the right clients is top most on my mind. I am sure you are thinking the same thing. Life is too short to be working with the wrong clients. Right?

Angela Pointon is a business coach and author based in Philadelphia. Her articles in Professional Photographer Magazine are the first ones I read because they are timely and useful. Not only does Angela have an MBA, she worked for an agency for a number of years seeing trends and crafting strategies for brands to have sustainable businesses. She knows what she is talking about and as a one-time photographer, I know she has our backs!

I spoke with Angela about her course, Magnetic Business Masterclass. It's one that I enrolled in when she first offered it last year. This next Monday, she will be kicking off another five-week run of the course for a very limited number of photographers who are serious about hand picking their clients and making a mark for themselves in this business.

Listen to Angela talk about Magnetic Business Masterclass. I put her in the hot seat to tell me what makes it special and unique.

If you don't have the time (make the time then) or you you believe in silver bullets to solve your business issues, don't bother signing up for this course. It's going to take some work, but one where Angela is ready to help you through. For those who complete Magnetic Business Masterclass, she is offering a special bonus where she will spend 30 minutes with you brainstorming and finessing your marketing material. I can't tell you what she charges by the hour, but that half-hour is pure gold!

So, tell me, if you decide NOT to sign up for Magnetic Business Masterclass, what would you do to make your business so attractive to the right potential clients that you have to create a waitlist? How do you stand out in your community? Share your tip below!

Business Planning Cookbook For Photographers

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In this world there are dreamers, planners and doers. For most of my life, I belonged to the first group. You can still find me spacing out. My kids sometimes have to come right up to me and shake me back into the present. Funny as that may be, I know I've lost a good amount of time producing work and growing a business.

While I have become better at planning and making to-do-lists, what stifled me in the past was not having a road map to run a photography business. What are steps one, two and three to get to step 10? I wasn't and am not now looking for any short cuts. I expect there to be a good amount of work involved but when things are fuzzy, most people tend to simply stop doing. This is perhaps the worst thing one can do for oneself, but starting and stopping and starting up again aren't anything new for me. It's how I've done things. Perhaps you are in the same situation?

What if there was the option to start and keep going? That's where the Business Planning Cookbook comes in. Angela Pointon of Steel Toe Images and Zach Prez of Photography Spark, two people I hold in high regard for their long history in helping photographers and business acumen, have teamed up to bring us a new and necessary resource for photographers who are serious about staying the course.

Business Planning Cookbook By Angela Pointon and Zach Prez

They begin with an exercise in defining your vision. Get the free PDF that walks you through your business vision statement. This resource also gives you an idea of what to expect in the Business Planning Cookbook; worksheets and videos to guide you every step of the way.

Here's what you receive when you buy Business Planning Cookbook:

  • Goal-setting guidance and direction for building targets for your business you’ll be motivated to hit
  • A crash course in writing a vision statement — one that challenges you to think bigger, reach higher, and achieve greater success
  • Serious focus to the business objectives and tasks that matter, reducing the distracting, ineffective stuff most photographers waste time on
  • A killer, proven formula for determining which marketing channels will work and inspiration for rocking your marketing and sales
  • A simple guide to financial goals and predictions that anyone can use to plan out their revenue and income, even if numbers aren’t your thing

    • Confused about how to run your business, stressed out about money or anxious about when the next client will come walking through the door? Consider buying the Business Planning Cookbook today.

    Special bonuses when you decide to invest in your business:

  • 12 videos to expand on key business topics
  • 10 worksheets to help you brainstorm, plan, and practice the lessons
  • Exclusive business planning community membership, led by Angela & Zach

    • It's on sale through May 20th for only $79. Isn't peace of mind worth that small price? Price bumps up to $99 after that date.

    Your Photography Business Doesn’t Need A Path

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    Angela Pointon is the founder of Angela Pointon Photography and Steel Toe Images, which offers advice and inspiring motivation for photography business owners. Angela's weekly email newsletter is packed with advice for photographers, which can be subscribed to for free here. In addition, she has authored multiple books for photographers, is a monthly columnist for Professional Photographer Magazine, blogs at Steel Toe Images and posts to Facebook, G+, Pinterest and Twitter.

    You don’t need a plan or a path. I mean, really. You don’t. But, if you're in the photography business and you want to successfully compete, earn healthy revenue and achieve goals, then you actually should have an idea of where you're going. Here's what I mean…

    Photography Business Plan Sample - Angela Pointon

    Anyone (and I mean anyone) can start a photography business today. You've probably read about the insane low barrier to entry for the photography industry. And while this low barrier to entry creates a photographer, not a creative ass-kicker, it also creates a business owner.

    Assuming we eliminate the hobbyists out there, those photographers using a camera to earn money encompass a definitive universe of people. And within that universe of people, there are a small number that you actually compete with. If you serve a certain geographic area or a certain genre, then the others that also try to do that same thing are your competition. (By the way, your competition is also your clients that choose to “shoot it themselves” or not hire you at all.) But for now, let's focus on the small part of the universe that you actually compete with every day for dollars.

    What Sets You Apart From Them?

    My images are different.

    Yea, maybe.

    My clients love me.

    You're getting warmer.

    I've won awards.

    You're getting colder.

    I'm a better business owner.

    You're red hot.

    Running a successful photography business involves being a better business owner, marketer and also a better person. If you put yourself in your potential client's shoes, it's really hard to hire a photographer if they're a poor business owner and a really shitty marketer, isn't it? Even if their images are breath-taking.

    But you can gain competitive advantage for out-marketing and out-pathing and out-businessing (new words) the next guy or gal.

    A Photography Business Plan Can Set You Apart

    So many photographers launch businesses (daily) with absolutely no clear plan. They're not specific on what they're shooting. They're not certain of where they're going. They only know they're on a new road called photography.

    This presents an opportunity for you to one-up this trend.

    By creating a photography business plan, you're not merely laying out your plans for growth, revenue and success. You're planning your opportunity to more successfully compete as a business owner. And perhaps most importantly, you're positioning yourself and your business to be better, whatever that might mean to you.

    Download A Photography Business Plan Sample

    I wanted to create a photography business plan that made sense for my own photography business. If you've searched around for one, like I did, you found lengthy documents that are more appropriate for photographers looking to get bank loans. In other words, they looked like documents a banker would enjoy reading. They didn't, however, look like plans that would actually help a photographer compete and move forward.

    So I decided to just create my own photography business plan based on what I learned from being a customer of Gazelles at a past marketing agency. It includes the few things that photographers will find useful and it fits to just one page of paper.

    I wanted to make it accessible to other photographers, too. So I am offering it for download here. The best part about it is you get to name the price you want to pay for it. It has a suggested price of $27, but when you place it in your cart you can edit the price.

    Think you'll get tons more value out of it? Go ahead and make it more. Is your photography business budget just too tight? I totally respect that. Go ahead and make it less. No, seriously.

    Check it out here

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    How To Market Your Photography Business Using The Right Tools

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    Angela Pointon loves photographers and artists. She studied photography, but had a love affair with business and marketing. She decided to combine all three together when she started Steel Toe Images. She coaches and inspires photographers and other artists to kick major butt through her one-on-one sessions, blog, emails, workshops and her first book (coming soon), called “The Art Of A Photo Business: What Every Photographer Wished They Knew Before They Started”. Follow Angela on Twitter, Facebook or her blog.

    As many of you know, Seshu and I have been working on a four-part webinar series, titled Swift Kick: Four Things Every Photographer Should Know About Business.

    We know that many of you are just ending your busy season, and we cannot thank you enough for registering anyway. You've demonstrated your unbelievable passion for learning, growing and becoming more successful in your business. (I'll pause here while you pat yourself on the back… you totally deserve it, you rock star you).

    For those that have not yet registered, it's not too late! The entire series was recorded and includes three insightful webinars for you to watch at your leisure:

    1) Gut Instinct: how to use it to make the right decision in your business (by me, Angela Pointon)

    2) Discipline: how it can help you achieve your business goals faster (with Tamara Lackey)

    3) Branding: how branding can accelerate growth when done right (with Rosh Sillars)

    I've learned a ton through these webinars myself. Most of all, I've learned how much I love to support events that educate photographers and help them become better business people. The best part is that the funds we've raised through these events go to support this very website that we all enjoy so much, Tiffinbox.

    We Hope You'll Join Us!

    The last event in the series airs live on Wednesday, November 7th.

    Using The Right Tools To Market Your Photography Business By Skip Cohen

    THE RIGHT TOOLS with Skip Cohen
    Wednesday, November 7th, 8:30pm eastern/9:30pm pacific
    Register Here. 

    Learn from Skip Cohen what marketing tools are right for your business and understand how to use them to the best possible potential.

    What You'll Learn:

    If you think your business is awesome, but no one knows about it, that’s a problem. There are a ton of opportunities out there, so why are you struggling to get anyone to pay attention?

    During this session, Angela Pointon and industry-leader Skip Cohen are going to teach you:

    – How to get people to know who you are with a shoestring marketing budget
    – Why your competitors should be treated more like friends
    – A list of free things you can do to get your business rockin’

    This can’t-miss session will guide you toward the marketing ideas that work, and will help you cross some off that don’t or aren’t worth the money.

    What's The Cost To Attend?

    Registration is just $25 and includes three additional previously recorded events. More information on the additional events is available via this register link.

    The $25 fee is a donation to the website, Tiffinbox.org. Seshu and I have actually decided to donate ALL proceeds to a legitimate charity set to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. So won't you please register for this webinar series now?

    What Past Attendees Said:

    I just finished listening and wanted to tell you how great it was! Thanks! ~ Jennifer Gilbert Photography

    Your webinar came along at the right time because it's easy to get down about my work and my business. The information was clear, concise and more importantly, genuine. Thank you! ~ Lee Love Photography

    Live Q&A:

    We look forward to talking with you live during the event! We do open up for live questions at the end, so bring your thoughts along with you! Register Here

    Does More Discipline Equal A Successful Business?

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    Angela Pointon loves photographers and artists. She studied photography, but had a love affair with business and marketing. She decided to combine all three together when she started Steel Toe Images. She coaches and inspires photographers and other artists to kick major butt through her one-on-one sessions, blog, emails, workshops and her first book (coming soon), called “ A Swift Kick In The Pants: Business Smarts For Us Creative Types”. Follow Angela on Twitter, Facebook or her blog.

    When you're working by yourself for yourself, you're often left to your own (bad) devices. So how do you manage to pay attention, get stuff done and keep on keepin' on toward each one of your goals?

    Make yourself accountable to someone.

    If you’re anything like me, I value a bit of “nagging” in my life. I like when people ask me “what’s up with such and such for your business?”

    For me, running my business is a lot like going to the gym. When I go by myself, I might not get the most sweat-induced workout in. But, if I am working out with a personal trainer, I am damn sure I do what I am supposed to (or I risk disappointing that trainer!). The same goes for my accountability coaches. My coaches happen to be my husband (he’s tough!) and some of my business heroes that I’ve connected with over the past few months.

    Planning and perfection are just other words for procrastination.

    Know yourself. Are you going to plan the bejesus out of everything you need to do? Are you obsessed with getting things “just right” before you move on? Have you ever said, “but it’s not perfect, yet.”

    Some of us go over and over and over something so much that we get bored of what we’re working on and move onto the next thing before we even reveal anything to anyone. Being disciplined also means knowing when something is good enough to ship to the rest of the world.

    Want to find out more about being disciplined?

    Webinar Announcement with Tamara Lackey and Angela Pointon

    Tamara Lackey, an unbelievably successful photographer and highly disciplined business owner, is joining Angela Pointon and Tiffinbox for a live webinar on Wednesday, October 3rd from 8:30 – 9:30 PM EDT. We’ll be discussing exactly what it takes to be disciplined in your photography business. Register for this webinar, along with three others in the series, here.

    This webinar session is part of a series of four webinars, all available for just a $25 donation (all donations go to support Tiffinbox). This webinar series will sell out. Learn more here.

    Can’t attend live? Don’t worry. All registrants receive a recording of each webinar.

    Inside this webinar series you’ll get access to the brains and experiences of people who’ve worked with hundreds of businesses just like yours. In addition, the photographers speaking have published books, taught hundreds of photographers and have work featured in places like Vogue, O-The Oprah Magazine, Professional Photographer Magazine, and many more. Reserve your spot by registering immediately here.