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Even with the global crisis, there are still things you can do to help your photography business. In this episode, I discuss a super fun, actionable way you can boost your photo business AND your local economy. Get ready for a fun project!...

Note: I  previously published the following post at SkipCohenUniversity.com, with the exception of the final step showing the Pro Photographer Journey Podcast logo. I wanted to republish it here so that you could have a behind the scenes peek at the making of our cool new podcast...

Photographers are easily some of the most creative people you know, but they are also some of the people who are most likely to need some inspiration every now and then. Just like every other artist, photographers in any niche will often find themselves lacking or in...

Though there are tons, and truly TONS, of things that photographers deal with and go through, there are some that are more common, prevalent, and frustrating than others. And while the reaction to these issues is even more important than each of the issues individually, how you...

Vulnerability, the word that gets a bad reputation but is essential for anyone who wants to start their own business. Being vulnerable is just like taking risks, and with no risk, there is no reward. When it comes to photography, there are certain risks that you have...

Running your own business clearly has its ups and downs. With all the stress and everyday busyness that can get you bogged down, it can be easy to forget how great you are at what you do. Reclaim Your Own Greatness You, like many other photographers, might...

It’s no surprise to you that most people don’t like being on camera. There are rare occasions when you work with someone who truly loves being on camera and having their pictures taken. If you do have a client like this, be sure to revel in the...

It’s true that when you envision something and you talk about that thing, the more likely it will be to come true. Tons of professionals use this method, so why aren’t you? No, this isn’t just about a visualization technique, but it’s more about learning and utilizing...

Photographers are a few of the small business owners that really do need to stick together. In fact, there are so many different niches in this art we call photography that everyone can really help each other out. Many businesses, big and small, have a referral system...

Marketing, the thing we need the most but might despise the most. It’s tough, complicated, and takes a significant amount of time and energy to do it well. Marketing ensures that your customers get their questions answered and it makes it easy for people to understand most...

Photographers are not magicians, but they are very important people in our society for a number of reasons. And for reasons that might not be completely obvious at first. Photographers are basically the timekeepers in our society. They invest their education, time, and energy into capturing some...

You spend so much time behind the camera that sometimes easy to forget that others want to see you in photos as well. Gone are the days of using selfies and Facebook profile photos as your headshot. It just doesn’t cut it anymore. As a photographer, you...

Let’s face it, nearly every photographer has been guilty of this at one point or another and you are probably no exception. We get roped into buy-ins, referrals, and all of the latest and greatest when it comes to our photography business, but by the end of...

As a new year greets us, there are likely many things you’ve been thinking of improving and goals you’re shooting for over the next year. And while this is the perfect time for making adjustments and improvements, you should also be taking time to reflect. To stop,...

As technology has changed and advanced, there are some aspects of businesses that have changed things forever and have made permanent differences in the way we run businesses. There are also things in the realm of business that come and go in trends, just like clothing and...

In the age of social media, one of the biggest issues with photographers of all niches is the sharp edge of comparison. Since it’s so easy to share your work, it is also very easy for everyone else too. As a result, many photographers fall into the...

As photographers, hiding behind the lens is usually our best place. This is when we do our best work, of course, but much of our outreach work needs to be online or in person, but in both realms, we are using our words and voices.  To get...

Running a photography business is so tough. It really is! That does not mean that you can neglect your personal life and health. You probably know someone who has let their business become their life and when that happens your life, and your business can start falling...

Though some of you are there and some of you are not there, the goal is usually the same for everyone. You all want to make it. And while that means different things to different people, there are some clear defining factors that will start to signify...

Let’s face it, your photos are what’s going to get you noticed. There’s no denying that. But here’s the other part of that, at what cost are you producing great photos? No, this isn’t all about money either. It’s about workflow and how you can start maintaining...

There are many elements of your website that are important in displaying your work, educating visitors, and building trust with future clients. That’s why your website needs to be up to date and looking great at all times. One of the toughest elements of building your site...

The social media crowd has gone wild lately. While it’s true there are certain algorithms and codes in place so that people cannot take too much advantage of social media. No person has more leverage than other in that regard, but why so much fuss? Truth is,...

There are tons of lists on the internet about the top 20 or top 40 tools that you can use to help make your business grow and expand and it can be overwhelming, to say the least. Instead of giving you a list of a billion tools...

It’s not all about passion. While there is definitely something to be said for being passionate about what you are doing, there’s more. There just has to be more. You grow up hearing the phrase, “follow your passion,” or “pursue your passion,” and while there is merit...

Photography, one of the greatest arts and there are a ton of benefits why doing any type of art is good for you. Think about the first time you picked up a camera. Remember that feeling? It’s likely a positive memory because it made you feel as...

If you haven’t already heard, a Facebook page is not going to cut it for your photography business. It’s a good start, of course, but once you are bringing in clients and have some experience under your best, it’s time to upgrade. There are a number of...

What’s the best way to get your work out there into the public? Well, there is no secret tip or hack to doing that. In fact, it’s almost grossly simple how you get your photography work out to the public. Are you ready for the secret? Get...

Lights, camera, action! Photographers are well known for what they do best; photograph. But what if we could do more to get noticed? Turns out, they can. Ever considered putting video on your website? Now, you might be thinking, “Why would I put a video on my website...

Photographers are pros as taking the alternate route in almost every situation. They find themselves shooting in crazy locations, take the long way home to snag the sunset at the right time, convincing close friends to pose for you and so on. You are a great example...

There are plenty of strategies and tools to use when starting your photography business. There will be free tools and paid tools that you can use to improve certain aspects of your business. However, it can be a little tiring to fight through the internet, the podcasts,...

One of the most valuable things you can do when you start your business? No, it’s not new gear. It’s not a brilliant website either. No, it’s not even a social media strategy that you need. You need a mentor. Finding a photography mentor is going to...

Being a photographer is about talent. You must have the talent, patience, and ability to make images great. This takes practice, research, education, composition, and technological skills to accomplish. But that’s not enough. You have to have the right mindset. The right mindset starts by making sure...

An online presence is an essential tool for your photography business, without a doubt, and these tools are simple and easy to use. They take some time and effort and maybe a bit of money if you want to boost your social media in some way. For...

Photography is important almost solely because your job is to preserve memories. Clients and customers come to us and trust us to capture a moment, an hour, or an entire day with an event that they want to remember forever. This is the number one reason why...

When you first start your photography business, it can be a little hard to nail down just one niche. Honestly, any person who needs any sort of photography is your ideal client when you’re new! However, as you start to grown and gain a strong portfolio, there...

Hopefully, you haven’t experienced this, but some of you may have. It’s the same trouble that lots of photographers find themselves in after their business starts to take off. Photographers are easily one of the hardest working groups of people out there, but they aren’t always good...

Having a website just isn’t enough anymore, although that can really set you apart from your competition, you need to step up your game even further. There are a few key elements that your website must do in order to attract the ideal customers you are looking...

Technology is your friend, although it might not seem like it all the time. It can be overwhelming and exhausting to think about because it seems like those who are best at using technology are already so far ahead. It can all be intimidating, it’s true, but...

Many of you are beginning photographers, but soon you will be well into your business. The years fly by when you start a business because you are engaged and start to miss the passing of time. This is mostly likely to happen when you live and breathe...

Being well-rounded is a part of being a good student, leader, and business owner. This applies to all photographers too, no matter what you think your niche might be. Being able to empathize and at the very least, understand what other niches and styles other photographers are...

Over the course of time, there have been plenty of tips for you to read, try, and act upon and there will be many more in the future. As photographers, it should always be a goal to continue to learn and make changes to your own business...

You’ve heard this one hundred times already, but still, right now, in this moment, there is a young or upcoming photographer working for free. It’s so hard to build your portfolio but there are some seriously problematic reasons why working for free in the beginning will hurt...

There are so many things to remember as a photographer that sometimes the simplest planning and organizational factors slip by our minds. Here’s one thing you may not have thought about, the preparation for a photo shoot is more important than the shoot itself. There are a...

Photography, like nearly all creatives fields, takes time and instinct to cultivate to get to the place where we feel successful. But what happens when we start to lose ourselves? You can probably think of a friend, fellow creative, or maybe even yourself, who has lost their...

There are certain things that all photographers need and there’s also a clear list of things that photographers do not need. Many photographers start to blur the lines of these two lists because they think they need something more than what they have or they get caught...

Photographers rival the top of the list of the busiest people and anyone who argues that fact is foolish and ignorant. In all reality, any entrepreneur is set up to be in for a very busy ride. Running your own business is really hard. There are so...

Many experts in the field of photography will either admit to making this mistake or remember a close friend or acquaintance who made this mistake: mispricing your business. Artists of all sorts are asked to work for free or for very little all the time but instead...

Think about how many people are in your town or city. Think about having a conversation with each of them. Even if you live in a town with few hundred people, imagining having a conversation with every single one of those people is still something that might...

Talking about money in any situation is tough. Talking about paying bills or spending money on large purchases will always be hard. The same is true for you, isn’t it? Talking about your own services, your art that you do for a living is really tough. It’s...

In this solo episode, I answer the most common questions I've been getting from podcast "Episode 128: The Definitive Guide to Throwing a Strategic Portrait Party". A strategic party can bring you income, clients, and credibility in your local community!...

You don’t have to do it alone. We’ve said that time and time again but we never want you to underestimate the power of a relationship. One method of marketing that most photographers don’t think about is reaching out to others that are not in your business....

Taking great images is good, but showing them off is even better. Making your portfolio pop is basically the equivalent to sharpening your resume. You have to do it when you get new work and you have to do it in order to score the best jobs....

They say the business life, especially in the beginning stages, can be lonely and dark. Though there is some truth to that, it doesn’t have to be that way. Contrary to popular beliefs and attempts, you can’t and shouldn’t do everyone on your own. Yes, we realize...

Portrait parties are not dead. They might seem awkward, and probably will be without good planning, but there are numerous reasons why you should consider a portrait party as a way to stimulate growth in your company. There are many factors that would lead you to consider...

As a business owner, many of us can attest to the feelings of elation as well as pure and utter fear. Business owners of any area or niche know the feeling and the range of emotions we go through on a yearly, weekly, or daily basis. However,...

Kickstart your photography business with a STRATEGIC portrait party! In this in-depth solo episode, I discuss how to throw a strategic portrait party that will seriously help you stand out from other photographers in your area. I did it for my business, and it can work for yours too....

Cold calling as a marketing strategy is not dead and although it seems a bit “old-fashioned” many photographers still use this method to connect with people. There’s something very direct about a phone call. A voice on the other line instead of a line of text in...

Photography is a lucrative niche and money starts slowly in the beginning. There are ways that you can control what you are spending and how much money you are making and making sure that you actually get to see some of that money at the end of...

While there are many benefits to being good at all aspects of your business, it’s almost impossible to control everything and be successful. Sometimes, we feel like we need to do it all, all the time; especially when we are in the beginning stages of our business....

There are a few ways that you can improve someone’s experience. Being a photographer, it’s easy to hide behind the keyboard and behind the lens, but when we start to understand the after a certain point, photographs are all the same thing. They are just photos, after...

Income, profits, gains, whatever you call them they mean money. Yes, money. The most elusive part of your photography business. No matter how much you seem to charge, you always flirt with that red area. It’s true. Photography businesses are hard to run, but how can you...

How often do you question what you are doing during the day? Never? A few times? All the time? How do you make sure that you aren’t wasting time? You start measuring your pursuits. Measuring and planning your pursuits is fancy terminology for making sure that you...

It’s easy to show off your work. Post it here, post it there. Social media has made it easier than ever to be seen by large volumes of people every day. Social media channels are a great asset for new photographers who might just be starting their...

Many photographers ask themselves this question a lot. There are so many niches to choose from, some more popular than others, that it can be hard to put yourself and your business into a certain box. It’s a concern of all photographers. They are always questioning if...

As photographers, we are a creative bunch of people. We love the idea of getting together with other photographers over a long weekend and shooting enough photos to fill a hard drive. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world of long weekends, rainbows, or unicorns. Photographers are...

Most photographers will scoff at those people who post images and hashtag “pro photographer”. It’s no surprise to you that people are exposed to thousands of images a day through TV, magazines, and advertisements but social media also plays a big role in the life of a...

There are plenty of types, niches, and avenues of photography these days. Senior portraits, weddings, family shoots, commercial, and more. Wildlife and nature photography is a growing avenue of photography and is one of the most difficult to undertake. When was the last time a mountain or...

We have all heard the “advice” from strangers, friends, and family: being a photographer isn’t a real job. It has been the same story told to photographers for years and we should be over that now, but it still seeps into the minds of young photographers each...

Photography has changed, there’s no doubt about that. But why? Why have things evolved to quickly and so drastically? Photographers used to be famous by mailing printed images in a big manila envelope to magazine editors and crossing their fingers. Now, it takes 1,000 likes, 1,000 Instagram...

You know the saying, right? Oscar Wilde said, “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” The same is true for you, you know. I bet if you asked some of the photographers in your circle that some of them didn’t even get their education in photography. Maybe...

Lots of photographers around the world at some time or another have found themselves taking or considering taking wedding photos. Wedding photography is a big choice and a big job. It takes time, planning, timing, practice, and a little luck to shoot an amazing wedding and shoot...

When you first start a business, no matter how big or small, there are some realizations you come to along the way that can be shocking, jarring, or downright exciting. These are all things on your journey to becoming a pro photographer that we have to start...

“What would you do if you doubled your client base tomorrow?” If your answer is, “I would be happy, but everything would just break.” Then this is for you. Business, the B-Word. Yes, this is the other half of your job title. You have a photography business....

Taking photos is pretty easy, editing photos takes a little time and energy, and uploading them is easiest of all. As professional photographers, the way we get images to clients has changed nearly as often as we change our lenses in one session. From flash drives to...