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Wednesday Wisdoms

Four Promo Types Every Photographer Should Use

A promo type that will work for one client may not work for another; that is why I use all four of these methods to get my promos out. 

Four Promo Types

  1. Mass email promo showing an individual project or a specific theme with one or more images.
  2. Mass newsletter email promos are a summary update sharing news with a collection of images. 
  3. One-Sheet promo is an attachment on a short email that does not need to be scrolled, creating a warmer, more personable email.
  4. Printed mailers or leave-behinds with the hopes of being easily saved by clients come in many shapes and sizes, designed to show off your work’s branded vibe. 

As you may notice, I did not include a PDF attachment on my promo list, as they can often be mistaken for dangerous spam materials when sent by strangers.

The Entrepreneur Myth That Holds You Back

The entrepreneur MYTH that can actually hold us back is thinking we must protectively do this alone! No, not true. I have teamed up with others for NETWORKING portfolio-showing events, and it’s a life changer. Instead of having this sole survival attitude, we can double down by hand-picking the right creative comrades, gaining success in numbers. 

Adopt the Agent Mentality: How to Strategically Learn from Losing a Job

What is your “agent mentality” improvement approach to losing a job? 

• What can you learn to do better

• What other skills do you need to add to your wheelhouse

• What are the strategic positives and negatives of how this went down 

• Were there options you wish you had tried

• Did you sell your technical skills properly, mirroring back what the client needed to hear 

• Where does this one fit in your statistical analysis in your overall directional trajectory

Let Your Business Ideas Brew and Grow for Your Next Year Ahead

New business ideas don’t always need to be specifically calculated; sometimes, we can let them brew just by setting our sights on who we want to be and what we have to offer. New ideas take some time, just by shifting our attitude of openness. Tell us, what is working for you, and where do you want to take this next year in your business?

What Happens When You Take a Break from Business Thinking

What’s it like to take a holiday from all those business thoughts we constantly stir around? 

Is it as simple as “taking a holiday”? Sometimes it’s all about knowing when to stop the thoughts and let the business shifts steer themselves. Share with us: what would you like to focus on?

Staying Sharp in a Demanding Freelance World Requires Regular Testing

Photographers, don’t let your busy, complicated life in the freelance world get you sidetracked from your pursuit as an A+ level long-term photographer.

Commit yourself to scheduled regular testing to explore and experiment, seeing how far your creative eye can take you. 

Testing is that golden nugget to take yourself to the highest level and make it last.

Avoid Production Scams and Protect Your Payments

WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS, as production usually requires us to move quickly. Anyone telling us to send a payment before their finances are no longer pending in our bank account is a risk. The best method is to use an experienced producer instead of image makers handling all the finances if it’s not our specialty.

TOP 10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS WITH ASKSTERNREP

TOP 10 SECRETS

TO SUCCESS WITH @ASKSTERNREP

  1. Create a cohesive body of work with a consistent style
  2. Know your niche and know your market. Who are your clients?
  3. Market yourself. Consistently and tenaciously, and in a way that is aligned with your brand and goals. 
  4. Know what you’re good at and delegate what you’d rather not do.
  5. Ask for help. There’s no shame in needing help or asking for it. 
  6. Be a good business person. Manage your time with discipline based on your priorities. 
  7. TEST outside your box. Be hungry. Hustle. Stay fresh with the times. Your portfolio should not just be the jobs you have shot, it should be the jobs you want to shoot. 
  8. Social Media. In these times, as a pro image creator, being on IG is a must, as your 2nd portfolio has its type of library. 
  9. Money. Know how to negotiate or have a rep help you.
  10. Enjoy it!

What Are You Thankful for in Your Career?

What are you thankful for in your work world? What is working/flowing well with your career? Maybe it’s about what ‘is flowing’ that we follow and grow towards in this next stage. Comment here on what you are thankful for in your career these days!