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Great marketing takes time.

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“Great marketing takes time.”  Truer words were never spoken.

Successful marketing is a lot like successful farming; it starts way before you see the harvest. You can’t throw some seeds in the ground today and expect the ripe fruit in your hand tomorrow.

Master marketing guru, Seth Godin, laid it all out in his post the Seven Marketing Sins.

Impatience is at the top of Seth’s list for good reason. Humans have a tendency to be impatient (I know I am!) And sages have been cautioning us about developing patience for a long time. E.g., Aesop  advised that “Slow and steady wins the race” in approx. 500 B.C. (Yes…that long ago,!!!).

Remember all those musicians who quip in their Grammy acceptance speech that it only took 10 years for them to become “an overnight success?”  Most good things often take way longer to bear fruit than we initially expect. But it’s so sweet to eventually enjoy the fruits from the harvest that we’ve steadily tended.

Lots of Portfolio Reviews!!

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Next week, I will be part of the portfolio review teams of both The Palm Springs Photo Festival and the ASMP MSP Portfolio Reviews event. The PSPF reviews are Sept. 27-29 and the ASMP review day is Oct. 1st, 2021. Both events are being held virtually via Zoom.

You can register for any of the remaining review slots via accessing the above event links.

Note: for the PSPF reviews you need to sign up for 6 reviews. There are still reviewers available in all categories– but they’re going fast.

The ASMP’s event has a limit of three reviews/person and their registration is open until Sept. 27, 2021.

I always look forward to seeing some great work. I also love providing photographers with feedback that moves them forward in their careers, and, hopefully, sparking connections for them to my network of colleagues in either the commercial or fine art photography worlds.

See you next week?

Portfolio Reviews get a pandemic pivot

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There are two major portfolio review events happening this September.

ASMP Reviews and the PSPF Portfolio Reviews.

Both review events are great opportunities for photographers to connect face-to-face with those in the photo business that can help move your photography career forward.

Register for one or both events ASAP as slots are limited.

Both events are now going to happen virtually via ZOOM. (What isn’t happening via ZOOM these days?!?!?)

ASMP’s Portfolio Review event happens first on Sept. 3rd, 2020. Their registration deadline is Aug. 31. Registration link is HERE

The schedule of who is doing reviews at what time is on that link. Happy to report that I’m on the review team of both events.

The second event is the Palm Springs Photo Festival Portfolio Review (PSPF). Normally, the PSPF review events are held twice per year (in early May in Palm Springs, CA and again in mid-October in conjunction with PhotoPlusExpo).

This year PSPF’s reviews will also be happening virtually via ZOOM. Info on the PSPF Sept. 21-24 reviews is HERE

If you want to see when I’m reviewing at PSPF and the rest of the reviewers’ schedules go HERE.

You only get one chance to make a great first impression. Want some tips on how to make the most of your 20-minutes with a reviewer? I’ve got some tips HERE

Looking forward to meeting lots of new photographers and seeing some great work. And I’m really looking forward to the day–hopefully in the Spring in 2021–when we can all meet again in person and not just virtually!

 

“Marketing and Mindfulness” comes to Chicago on April 24th

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After last month’s successful keynote presentation in Dubai at the Destination Wedding Planners Congress, I’m returning to Chicago to present again to the Chicago Creative Coalition. My talk is part of C3’s three-part “Re-Presenting Yourself” business education series.

I will expand on the Marketing and Mindfulness talk I presented to C3 almost exactly one year ago in April of 2018. I’ll share more tips, techniques and strategies that every creative person should know about in the age of 24/7 distraction if they’re to get the best results from their marketing plans.

Colombia College will again be the host venue.

Event details and registration links can be found on the C3 web site: here

Thanks again to the Daylite team at Market Circle for logistical support.

Presenting my “Marketing & Mindfulness” talk in Dubai

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I’m delighted to report that on March 29, 2019, I will be one of 4 keynote speakers on the CAPTURE event track of the 6th annual Destination Wedding Congress being held March 27-29 at the Atlantis Hotel on The Palm in Dubai. Previous DWP highlights (2014-2017) can be seen on this page’s videos.

I’ve been invited to present my latest photography marketing talk: Marketing & Mindfulness. In this talk, I explain how photographers and other visual content creators must work on their “Inner Game” if they want to succeed in this 24/7, information-overloaded global economy.

We are all flooded with constant opportunities to distract us from properly utilizing our most important business assets: our time, our attention, and most importantly for artists, creating new work.

The CAPTURE track of the conference is brand-new to DWP this year. It’s the business development and marketing track geared to visual storytellers (photographers, videographers and drone operators). During the CAPTURE track, image makers will to learn how to create more effective marketing plans.

Many photographers will be attending DWP to have face-to-face networking opportunities with the dozens of top-tier international destination wedding planners. These are the people who want and need to hire the best visual storytellers who are located anywhere in the world.

Over 500 attendees are coming from 70 different countries. They represent all aspects of the destination wedding industry. Both destination wedding planners and many of the service providers the planners need to create extraordinary destination weddings. Some of the attending providers are representing the world’s top hotels, tourism boards, caterers, floral designers, etc., etc.

And what would a great destination wedding be without the absolutely essential services of my favorite folks…photographers and videographers?

I can’t wait to meet some of the many creative people coming from so many different parts of the world!

Special thanks go to MarketCircle’s Daylite team for logistical support.

Marketing and Mindfulness event on April 25, 2018 in Chicago

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The Chicago Creative Coalition, APA Chicago, and ASMP Chicago Midwest have invited me to present my newest seminar: Get Your Head Together to Get Ahead in Business: Marketing and Mindfulness. This event for those who are interested in stretching beyond any current limiting beliefs they have about marketing, themselves, and what’s possible in their business.

Anyone who’s ever obsessed over a situation –and wished they could stop thinking about it – knows the suffering that mental loops create. Here’s the good news: all of those negative states start in the mind (consciousness). That’s where they can be fixed. On Wednesday evening, April 25th I will expand one of the critical “tripod legs” of success that I covered in my other photography marketing seminar Rebooting Your Business Brain 2.0.

In this new seminar, I’ll be going over the components of  The Inner Game: Managing Your Mind. You will learn what makes up this primary leg of support. You’ll learn how you can get more stability in your business. I’ll help you understand why, in this hyper-connected economy, 24-hr. news cycle world we now live in, managing your mind has never been more important. It is a foundational base for increased productivity and creativity.

You will have a chance to both learn and then do. We’ll go over the what, when, and why. Then you’ll get to directly experience some of the mindfulness tools – so you can shift out of those less-than-effective thoughts.

I will also be showing some more traditional direct marketing tools and processes so you can build a focused plan to land the business you want.

The details:

Wednesday, April 25, 2018
7:00 PM Networking & Noshing
7:20 PM Program

Columbia College
Hokin Lecture Hall, Room 109
623 S. Wabash, Chicago
convenient to numerous El stations
metered street parking and various parking lots with evening discounts nearby

The registration link and more info: https://www.chicagocreative.org/marketing-and-mindfulness

October Photo Events

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LOTS going on this month!!

Starting with the webinar I’m doing tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 17th at 12:00pm EDT) with ASMP on “How to Create Presentations that Work” there are many photo business connection options for photographers this month.

I know many photographers who are headed to NYC next week for PhotoPlusExpo. Many will be attending seminars, but some will also be getting their portfolios reviewed. Those of us who do reviews at the Palm Springs Photo Fest at PhotoPlus Expo (open to all who register and pay) and at the ASMP booth (free for ASMP members with a $25 admin. fee) often lament that while most photographers are prepared for a face-to-face meetings, many are not. The webinar will hopefully help them be better prepared.

I’ll be at PhotoPlus the whole time it runs (Oct 25th-Oct 28th) and I will be doing reviews on Friday, Oct. 27th for both organizations. I am really looking forward to connecting with my consulting clients and old friends and colleagues. There’s nothing like hanging out in person with folks you don’t see but once a year.

I’ll also get to soak up some culture in one of my favorite cities. In addition to my annual visits to MOMA and the International Center of Photography, I’m going to check out a some fine art photography gallery exhibits.

Here are a couple I’ve bookmarked:

Julie Blackmon’s exhibition Fake Weather which opens Oct. 19th at at Robert Mann gallery  http://www.artnet.com/galleries/robert-mann-gallery/fake-weather/

and Steve McCurry’s The Importance of Elsewhere at Cavalier Gallery 3 W. 57th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019, USA which runs from Wednesday, October 18, 2017–Sunday, November 12, 2017 http://www.artnet.com/galleries/cavalier-galleries/steve-mccurry-the-importance-of-elsewhere/

One of the best parts I love about NYC is actually just wandering around and taking in the sights, sounds, tastes, and visuals. The fashion, the food, the unique expressions of humanity–on every corner.

Shoot me an email if you’re also going to be there and would like to connect.

Photography marketing class Aug 25-27

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When you know how to effectively market your photography, you’re more than halfway to achieving success in your photo business. As you well know, it takes more than good imagery to create a viable career in the photo business these days.

I will be teaching a 3-day photo marketing workshop at the Maine Photo Workshop + College from August 25th through Aug. 27th. This experiential workshop will be taught to a group of committed and proactive photographers. Join us!

Participants in this hands-on workshop will learn the foundations of effective photography marketing.

A few of the essential photography marketing skills they’ll learn are:

They will learn how edit their portfolio for the best online presence. That is, learn how to showcase your best images–ones that you are proud but also those that meet magnetically meet the needs of your potential clients.

They’ll learn how to create and implement a strategic marketing plan.

They’ll learn how to powerfully connect with and follow-up with their potential clients both online and in person.

They’ll learn how to effectively market their photography to just the right buyers for their photography.

This workshop is appropriate for both commercial and fine art photographers. There are essential presentation, sales, and marketing skills and tools you need to know in any photography niche.

Come join me in Maine for three days where we will focus on building your business. Instead of you working alone with trial and error over months and months, in this concentrated workshop you can get the focused attention and support you need. I’ve helped hundreds of photographers improve their business. I’d love to help you also move forward in marketing and selling your photography.

Imagine having clear and focused direction on how to find and connect with the people who would be most receptive to your work. Imagine learning how to think like and act like your own best rep or gallery dealer. I will pull back the curtain and show you the secrets to business success that every successful sales and marketing professional knows.

Most photographers were never taught how to do this. Generic cookie-cutter marketing plans just don’t cut it. What you’ll learn during this weekend will be tailored to YOU. You are unique. Your strategy needs to be unique as well. You need a plan that is based on your skills, abilities, location, and resources–no one else’s!

Trust me on that. I’ve helped many of my clients turn around sagging careers after they bought into a one-size-fits-all marketing plan. Get focused personalize attention in a synergistic group setting.

Come get what you need to grow your business!

Registration info is here.

And there’s the Maine in August and the lobster…  🙂

10% early-bird consulting session discount ends Jan.7 for Jan.17 & 18 Atlanta sessions

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When I am in Atlanta to present Rebooting Your Business Brain on Jan. 17, 2017, to the ASMP Atlanta Southeast Chapter,  I will also be available for one-on-one private marketing strategy/portfolio editing sessions. Sessions will be the day of and day after my “Rebooting Your Business Brain” seminar. The photo marketing seminar is being held at SCAD for ASMP Atlanta SE and others on Jan. 17th, 2017. Event info & registration is here

I’m offering a discount to proactive photographers who book a private session with me in advance. People often want a session with me after hearing my talk, so if you think you might…. act now as I’ve only 4 appointments available on Wednesday 1/18/17.

This is a great opportunity for any photographer who’s interested in getting focused and personalized custom feedback on any aspect of their portfolio and their related marketing efforts. Get answers to questions about your plan to get business in this rapidly evolving photography marketplace. Sessions are appropriate for emerging proactive photographers as well as seasoned professionals.

NOTE: Tomorrow(Jan. 7, 2017)  is the last day to snag a 10% early-bird discount on an in-person photo marketing consulting session in Atlanta. Next week the discounted price drops to a 5% discount.

Contact me directly to book a session.

 

Minneapolis Portfolio Review event on April 29, 2016

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On Friday April 29, 2016  I will once again be doing portfolio reviews at the third annual 612 Review-The Portfolio Review event which is being put on by the ASMP Minneapolis-St. Paul chapter.

I’ll be joining a team of Midwest-based art directors, art buyers, reps and others who’ll be reviewing photographers’ portfolios in 20-minute segments from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m at the same venue as last year’s event: the Minneapolis Community and Technical College in downtown Minneapolis.

The list of this year’s reviewers and their biographies can be found here.

Both year’s previous event were super well-attended and many photographers made many new business connections.

Register HERE on the ASMP MSP’s chapter web site.

Hope to see you there!

Carolyn Potts doing a portfolio review