Episode 008 - The Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast: Knowing Your Target Market & How to appeal to them

Originally released back in November 2013, I remember the recording of this episode quite distinctly. My guests and I all spoke for quite some time before even hit record. It seemed we all had so much to discuss. So much so, that the show ran over in a big way with the recording still running. So, it became something of a feature-length episode with 'bonus content' of sorts. We got through the main top of the day, which was knowing your target market, and then went on to discussing printing, calibration, wedding albums and so much more. So, if you're listening to this show today please do make sure you're sitting comfortably!

Here are the original notes from back in 2013:

For Episode 8 I am once again sitting around the virtual kitchen table with my guest photographers to discuss the matter of Knowing exactly who it is you’re aiming your services at –  Your Target Market.

As a wedding photographer are your marketing efforts aimed at a specific age-range, to men or to women? What about pet photographers, portrait photographers and headshot photographers? Does your approach, brand and website appeal to the people looking for you? Well, for this episode I’m joined by Simon Dewey, Neil Graham and Lel Hurst to find out what they do to market themselves towards potential paying clients.

Be sure to keep an ear out for the part quite early on in the show where Simon talks about seeking clients that are ‘Visually Educated’. That’s a phrase that really struck me; it’s not something I’ve heard before but all by itself sums up the exact kind of client I’m looking for.

In addition to the usual chat, we’ve also got some extended after-show chat about printing. We talk in more detail about ICC Profiles, Monitor Calibration, which print house to use and how to proof prints.

Sit back and enjoy this episode of Ready, Steady Pro! Click the link below to listen / download the podcast.

This Weeks' Topic

Knowing Your Target Market & How to Appeal to Them
BONUS CONTENT: Printing, Calibration, The importance of Albums, ICC Profiles and much, much more…

Today’s Little Gems

• Neil’s Gem for you this week was: Brett Harkness Training. Check out Brett’s YouTube Channel and Brett’s website for some great Off Camera Flash Video’s and more!
• Lel kindly shared: Digital-Photography-School.com – a great online, photography resource
• Simon wanted to tell us about Simon Middleton’s eBook: ‘Build a Brand in 30 days’. Check that out over on Amazon
• Michael’s Gem this week is a free, 20-minute video from TED: Adam Baker‘s talk entitled “Sell Your Crap. Pay Your Debt. Do What you Love”

Photographers on the show this week:

Lel Hurst
Michael Rammell
Neil Graham
Simon Dewey

Episode 006 - The Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast: Social Media. Are you doing it (Right)?

These days it can be hard (pretty much impossible) to run a business without some sort of social media presence and so it was inevitable at some stage that we dedicated a podcast episode to discuss it. For episode 6 we recorded another virtual round table discussion with some of my favourite photographers on social media. Rob Grimes makes his first RSP appearance, with Neil Graham and Tracey Christina returning to lend their thoughts to this mammoth-sized topic.

This weeks Topic

Social Media. Are you doing it (Right)?

Little Gems

• Rob’s Gem was his 'OODA Loop' – a graphical means to show the circle of improvement and maintenance of standards if you will. By continuously focussing on the things in the OODA Loop you’re surely on a path to success.

View fullsize

Rob Grimes' 'OODA Loop'. Click to Enlarge

• Tracey was kind enough to share the magic of PhotoMechanic fromCameraBits.com – a piece of software for Mac and PC that speeds up your culling and editing process no end. It’s available for just $150!
• Neil’s Gem today was Martin Bailey – the brains behind Martin Bailey Photography. Martin is a Landscape and Wildlife Photographer, eBook author and workshop leader & teacher. Check out Martin here and join the G+ Community too.
• Michael’s Gem for episode 6 was Rosh Sillars. Rosh is an SEO and Google Guru and is always on top of the latest SEO trends. If you’re looking to keep on top of your SEO then Rosh’s weekly podcast is a great, bitesize listen that will help you do just this.

Guests featured in this Episode

• Michael Rammell
• Rob Grimes
• Tracey Christina
• Neil Graham

Episode 004 - The Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast: To Specialise, or Generalise? That is the Question

5 Photographers coming together via Skype back in October 2013 to share their opinions on whether it's better to specialise in photography and choose one niche, or to generalise and shoot everything that comes your way. 

Episode 4 was the first time we had a guest from outside of the UK, as Mary Angelini from Chicago in the USA joined the conversation. Joining Mary as the other newcomer was Mr Jeff Hall from. Returning guests Lee Jones and Neil Graham made it 5 photographers in total to take on this topic.

Whilst some would say there is nothing wrong with wanting to shoot everything to gain maximum exposure, others may argue that specialising and shooting one niche is the best way to move your photography business (and skill set) forward. Then again what about the seasonality of some niche’s such as wedding photography? Should photographers shoot other things, say food, portraits or commercial, during the winter months to keep cash flow coming in? I’m really excited about this topic and am really looking forward to hearing the thoughts of my guests.

So be sure to take a listen to hear what my guests and I have to say on the topic.

This weeks Topics

To Specialise, or Generalise? That is the Question

Today’s Little Gems

• Jeff’s Gem for Episode 4 was Elliot Siegal’s book “Photographing Women: 1,000 poses”. A great read and of course, available on Kindle
• Lee Jones shared with us his new purchase – theWacom Bamboo Graphics Tablet that aids in precision and speed when it comes to post-processing
• Mary wanted to highlight the fantastic new video series from David DuChemin from Craft & Vision; “The Created Image Video Series Vol.1”
• Neil kindly shared the book ‘Tribes’ from Seth Goden – a very thought provoking read. Also available as an eBook through Amazon
• Michael wanted to share the very inspiring work by Brandon Stanton, who is known for the Humans Of New York body of work

Show Notes / Links

• Michael mentioned that Jerry Ghionis suggests Second Shooters shouldn’t be paid. Sign up to the ICE Society for free here to watch the web cast where Jerry says this
• ICE Society Affiliate Code
• The guys also gave a brief nod to the superb Cliff Mautner. Take a look at his work here
• Rob Grimes got a mention on today’s show. You can see his work here. I’m very pleased to say that Rob will be on Episode 4 in Late October too.

Guests featured in this Episode

• Michael Rammell
• Lee Jones
• Neil Graham
• Mary Angelini
• Jeff Hall

Episode 001 - The Ready Steady Pro Photography Podcast: Websites, Customer Service & Business Strategies

Originally recorded back in September 2013, this was the very first episode of Ready Steady Pro ever recorded and released. You'll notice that the opening track for this episode isn't retained in future episodes, but as a starting point I think we did quite well.

The point of Ready Steady Pro was always that it was being put together and released by people in the exact same position as those listening; that being that those tuning in are photographers spinning the two plates of a day job and a photography side-income with the long-term objective being to transition between the two.

I listen back now myself and realise just how far I've come, but that's not going to stop me from putting this early episode back out there. But please do be gentle! I'll be the first to admit that a number of my own opinions may have changed over the course of the last few years, but I see this as a natural progression and growth of myself as a person and a photographer.

This episode was never intended to be polished or perfect. As I always say it's better to start something and get it out there, rather than perfecting for so long that it never eventually gets out there anyway!

So, get comfy and enjoy the listen. If you're new to this brave world of photography and are trying to make a go of it in a professional capacity I hope that this early recording gives you hope and belief that with enough time, practise and filled pages in notepads, that you will get there too!

Topics Discussed

• Website, Branding & Image
• Customer Service – How to Liaise with Clients
• Business Strategy – What’s Yours?

Show Notes / Links / Takeaways

• Lee Jones uses Zenfolio for his website
• Michael Rammell hosts his website using SquareSpace
• Lel, Richard and Tracey all use WordPress for their sites
• Lel, Richard and Tracey each use the ProPhoto (WordPress Plugin)
• See Tracey Christina’s Stunning 365 Project on Facebook.   Part 1.  / Part 2.
• Le Hurst goes one day better…Here’s the 366 Project
• Zack and Jody Grey

Guests featured on This Episode

• Michael Rammell
• Lel Hurst
• Tracey Christina
• Lee Jones
• Richard Hardwick