Comments on: Brand Yourself as an Expert Photographer http://blogs.photopreneur.com/brand-yourself-as-an-expert-photographer Marketing Your Photography Business Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:17:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: STANLEY WEISBART http://blogs.photopreneur.com/brand-yourself-as-an-expert-photographer/comment-page-1#comment-3703 STANLEY WEISBART Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:48:15 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=1024#comment-3703 SORRY TO DISAGREE WITH THIS NEWER VERSION OF ELMER GANTRY. I DO NURSERY SCHOOLS,SEVERAL IN A YEAR- I PRIDE MYSELF ON DOING HIGH-END SOPHISTICATED LIGHTING- AND NO GIMMICK POSES- JUST GOOD SOLID "BREAD & BUTTER" GLAMOUR LIGHTING" AND GREAT EXPRESSIONS- USING AT LEAST 4- LIGHTS- AND NO DIGITAL EVER! IT'S A LOVELY WAY TO MAKE EASY SALES. I MAKE LOVELY SALES- BUT DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO ANYTHING HE SAYS AS GOSPEL- MY VAST EXPERIENCE AS A FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL CHILD SPECIALIST PAYS OFF WHEN TWO WEEKS BEFORE I START ANY NEW SCHOOL- AT MY EXPENSE- I SPONSOR A ONE NIGHT "COFFEE & CAKE" INTRO TO MY WORK- AND SET UP FROM 16X20 THRU 30X40 IMAGES OF JUST WHAT I DO- WHAT-EVER THE COST- IT'S NOT AN EXPENSE- IT'S A WRITE-OFF INVESTMENT- AND I FOLLOW UP WITH A TWO PAGE PROMO ON HOW TO DRESS YOUR CHILD FOR A CASUAL SCHOOL PHOTO- I SPEND 4 MINUTES WITH EACH CHILD - I TAKE 4-IMAGES- AND I MAKE 4X5 PROOFS- IN TWO- THREE WEEKS - I SEND THEM HOME AND OFFER 4 PACKAGES STARTING AT $49.95 THRU $100.00 DOLLARS- I SELL ABOUT 60-65% AND ON THE LAST DAY OF THAT WEEK- I DO CLASS GROUPS- AND SELECT ONE POSE- THAT IS INCLUDED WITH THE OTHER PROOFS- I PRICE IT REASONABLE AND I MAKE SURE - THE QUALITY IS PLEASING. I AM A ONE MAN BANDSTAND- MY WIFE DOES THE PAPER WORK- I HAVE PERFECTED A UNIQUE LIGHTING STYLE THAT "PLAYS UP THE CHILD'S HAIR" IN FACT- I CALL IT "HOLLYWOOD THEATRICAL HAIR LIGHTING" AND IT'S EFFECT - BLOWS THE PARENTS AWAY- I USE TWO ONE HUNDRED WATT STROBES - ON A HIGH LIGHT STAND - EACH ON A BOOM ARM- AIMED FROM BEHIND AT THE TOP OF THE CHILD'S HAIR! NOT ONE OF MY SO CALLED COMPETITION EVEN BOTHERS WITH A HAIR LIGHT- AND OFFERS THE WORST INFERIOR DEAD LOOKING UMBRELLA LIGHTING- AND THEN COMPLAINS ABOUT POOR SALES! THAT'S A LAUGH! I DON'T HAVE A WEB-SITE AND WHEN I GET A SCHOOL INQUIRY- I MAKE A PRESENTATION- THAT SHOWS WHAT I DO, AND IT'S IMPRESSIVE, AND IT SELLS- I AM NOT SOME HOT SHOT - WHO BRAGS THAT HE TAKES JUST 1-POSE- AND SELLS BIG NUMBERS- I WOULD ARGUE THAT APPROACH ANY DAY! IN THIS SHAKY ECONOMY- EVEN THE "A-LIST" PEOPLE INSIST ON A PROFESSIONAL QUALITY PORTRAIT- "THE EL CHEAPO'S PHOTOGRAPHERS- DON'T WANT TO BOTHER- I'D MATCH MY NURSERY SCHOOL WORK WITH ANY BODY IN THIS COUNTRY- MY STUFF WILL NEVER WIN AWARDS- BUT IT MAKES A LOVELY LIVING, AND I GET MANY HAPPY PARENTS. STANLEY WEISBART THE OWNER OF FABULOUS FACES PORTRAITS SORRY TO DISAGREE WITH THIS NEWER VERSION OF ELMER GANTRY.

I DO NURSERY SCHOOLS,SEVERAL IN A YEAR- I PRIDE MYSELF ON DOING HIGH-END SOPHISTICATED LIGHTING- AND NO GIMMICK POSES- JUST GOOD SOLID "BREAD & BUTTER" GLAMOUR LIGHTING" AND GREAT EXPRESSIONS- USING AT LEAST 4- LIGHTS- AND NO DIGITAL EVER! IT'S A LOVELY WAY TO MAKE EASY SALES.

I MAKE LOVELY SALES- BUT DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO ANYTHING HE SAYS AS GOSPEL- MY VAST EXPERIENCE AS A FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL CHILD SPECIALIST PAYS OFF WHEN TWO WEEKS BEFORE I START ANY NEW SCHOOL- AT MY EXPENSE- I SPONSOR A ONE NIGHT "COFFEE & CAKE" INTRO TO MY WORK- AND SET UP FROM 16X20 THRU 30X40 IMAGES OF JUST WHAT I DO-
WHAT-EVER THE COST- IT'S NOT AN EXPENSE- IT'S A WRITE-OFF INVESTMENT- AND I FOLLOW UP WITH A TWO PAGE PROMO ON HOW TO DRESS YOUR CHILD FOR A CASUAL SCHOOL PHOTO- I SPEND 4 MINUTES WITH EACH CHILD - I TAKE 4-IMAGES- AND I MAKE 4X5 PROOFS- IN TWO- THREE WEEKS - I SEND THEM HOME
AND OFFER 4 PACKAGES STARTING AT $49.95 THRU $100.00 DOLLARS- I SELL ABOUT 60-65%
AND ON THE LAST DAY OF THAT WEEK- I DO CLASS GROUPS- AND SELECT ONE POSE- THAT IS INCLUDED
WITH THE OTHER PROOFS- I PRICE IT REASONABLE
AND I MAKE SURE - THE QUALITY IS PLEASING.

I AM A ONE MAN BANDSTAND- MY WIFE DOES THE PAPER WORK- I HAVE PERFECTED A UNIQUE LIGHTING STYLE THAT "PLAYS UP THE CHILD'S HAIR"
IN FACT- I CALL IT "HOLLYWOOD THEATRICAL HAIR LIGHTING" AND IT'S EFFECT - BLOWS THE PARENTS AWAY- I USE TWO ONE HUNDRED WATT STROBES - ON A HIGH LIGHT STAND - EACH ON A BOOM ARM- AIMED
FROM BEHIND AT THE TOP OF THE CHILD'S HAIR!

NOT ONE OF MY SO CALLED COMPETITION EVEN BOTHERS WITH A HAIR LIGHT- AND OFFERS THE WORST INFERIOR DEAD LOOKING UMBRELLA LIGHTING- AND THEN COMPLAINS ABOUT POOR SALES!

THAT'S A LAUGH!

I DON'T HAVE A WEB-SITE AND WHEN I GET A SCHOOL INQUIRY- I MAKE A PRESENTATION- THAT SHOWS WHAT I DO, AND IT'S IMPRESSIVE, AND IT SELLS-

I AM NOT SOME HOT SHOT - WHO BRAGS THAT HE TAKES JUST 1-POSE- AND SELLS BIG NUMBERS-
I WOULD ARGUE THAT APPROACH ANY DAY!

IN THIS SHAKY ECONOMY- EVEN THE "A-LIST" PEOPLE
INSIST ON A PROFESSIONAL QUALITY PORTRAIT-
"THE EL CHEAPO'S PHOTOGRAPHERS- DON'T WANT TO BOTHER- I'D MATCH MY NURSERY SCHOOL WORK WITH ANY BODY IN THIS COUNTRY- MY STUFF WILL NEVER WIN AWARDS- BUT IT MAKES A LOVELY LIVING, AND
I GET MANY HAPPY PARENTS.

STANLEY WEISBART THE OWNER OF FABULOUS FACES PORTRAITS

]]> By: Angel Wynn http://blogs.photopreneur.com/brand-yourself-as-an-expert-photographer/comment-page-1#comment-2967 Angel Wynn Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:29:48 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=1024#comment-2967 Yes Rohn; Have any suggestions or tips for us "Specialty Photographers" who are experts in their subject matter rather than experts in photography per se? My passion is totally dedicated to Native America. I encourage any photographer to find a subject they truly love and become that specialist. This most definitely helps me ride the storms. Yes Rohn;
Have any suggestions or tips for us "Specialty Photographers" who are experts in their subject matter rather than experts in photography per se? My passion is totally dedicated to Native America. I encourage any photographer to find a subject they truly love and become that specialist. This most definitely helps me ride the storms.

]]> By: Jagdish Agarwal http://blogs.photopreneur.com/brand-yourself-as-an-expert-photographer/comment-page-1#comment-2925 Jagdish Agarwal Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:10:11 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=1024#comment-2925 How right you are. For over thirty years, I have promoted myself as the source for Images of India. We have survived for so long, in this tough market, only because of our speciality. How right you are. For over thirty years, I have promoted myself as the source for Images of India. We have survived for so long, in this tough market, only because of our speciality.

]]> By: Denver Engagement Photographer http://blogs.photopreneur.com/brand-yourself-as-an-expert-photographer/comment-page-1#comment-2903 Denver Engagement Photographer Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:45:45 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=1024#comment-2903 I thought it was funny you brought up david hobby's blog. He is by far on my top 3 blogs to read about lighting. I feel like in a lot of ways I became a pro because of him. Had I not learned how to light properly, I could never expect to have the kind of portfolio I do now. I can't imagine getting to that level with my blog, I feel like I still have a lot to learn before I would feel comfortable branding myself an expert, but maybe I'm just not thinking hard enough about what area I could be an expert in. I also like that you brought up the fact that writing a book, or even an Ebook can make you stand out by being able to say that you were the author of X. I thought it was funny you brought up david hobby's blog. He is by far on my top 3 blogs to read about lighting. I feel like in a lot of ways I became a pro because of him. Had I not learned how to light properly, I could never expect to have the kind of portfolio I do now. I can't imagine getting to that level with my blog, I feel like I still have a lot to learn before I would feel comfortable branding myself an expert, but maybe I'm just not thinking hard enough about what area I could be an expert in.

I also like that you brought up the fact that writing a book, or even an Ebook can make you stand out by being able to say that you were the author of X.

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