WHO I WORK WITH

I offer products and services for professional photographers–and other like-minded souls in the creative services business.

Most of my clients and customers are creative people. Most work in the business-to-business world. They’re people who sell their creative expertise or vision to clients in the advertising, design, publishing or corporate worlds. Many of my clients are baby boomers who have been in business for at least 15 years. They are working professionals who were successful in their business before technology changed everything. They were running a business before there were fax machines–much less email!

Typically, my clients have become confident in making the shift to digital imaging technology but are not yet comfortable with–or confident in–using 21st-century digital marketing technology.

They know that marketing is not done the same way as it used to be. They want to know how to attract clients more consistently, avoid the price-lowering race to the bottom, and stay in business.

Do any of the following scenarios fit your situation?

You don’t have much marketing experience. Perhaps you had a rep for years but now they’ve left the business. You now do for yourself what they used to do for you. You only a vague idea how to best proceed. You don’t have a laid-out plan of attack. You don’t have an integrated strategy. You really have no idea which area you should focus on first when embarking on a marketing plan. Shoot new images? Build a better web site? Send out an email blast? Buy a trade ad? Order a snappy new portfolio case?

You have tried a lot of things to market yourself without much success. You’ve got a portfolio (even a number of versions), have done some mailers, bought some ad space, perhaps even have your first web site, but nothing is working very well. You don’t get the number of calls and appointments you used to. You know the business has changed– there’s a lot fewer assignments to go around–but you’re wondering “Am I doing all the right things and I just need to be patient?” or “Am I doing everything wrong?” Basically, what you’re really wondering “Is it just me? Is it time to do give it up? Or is it the whole industry?”

You have been in business at least 15 years and the clients who used to hire you have grown up and moved on. Some of them no longer work on print. In the past, you’ve adjusted for the fact that contacts always move on but now you feel that your old marketing approaches have totally stopped working. You’re wondering if it’s worth it to trying to reestablish yourself with the new and younger buyers. You’re wondering if that’s possible within your timeframe and budget.

You’ve never felt completely comfortable doing the marketing and selling of yourself. You’d much rather shoot–or create–not sell or look for assignments. Truth be told, you wish you could just do the “fun, creative, problem-solving” parts of your business without having to do any of that selling/marketing kind of stuff.

You have a successful business and you want to keep it going. You’ve been fairly successful in attracting a certain kind of client but there seem to be fewer of them who haven’t moved into using stock imagery. You want to prevent further erosion of your client base. You know SOMETHING has to be done and you’re willing to learn new approaches and strategies to marketing and selling your services.

If any of these scenarios sounds like you, please read on.
You’re in the right place. There’s hope and there’s help.

Who is most likely to succeed using my approach to marketing?

The photographers–and other creative people who I work with–typically share many of the following characteristics. If these fit you as well, you are likely someone I can help attract new clients.

High standards of excellence - “Good enough” isn’t. You are interested in being the very best in your field.

Very knowledgeable about your business – You strive to be a true expert and valuable resource to your clients.

Interested in making a contribution – It’s not just about money but about making a difference with those you work for.

Hard worker - committed to success – You are persistent and willing to try many things to achieve results.

Realize you can’t know everything – But you are willing to get assistance and expand your knowledge and expertise.

Willing to invest in yourself and your business - You know this is the best investment of all.

Committed to mutually supportive relationships - In business and life you realize that you can’t make it alone. You know that even an Olympic-winning athlete has a coach.

If you fit the profile above you can be successful in marketing your services.