Having great times with great friends.

I consider myself really lucky to have some fantastic friends who are involved with photography. One of my greatest mates is Emma Duggan. Emma kindly came and showed some of her stuff to the guys on the "shoot to sell course" at the start of this week. Here's a pic of me and Emma kindly taken by Ken Beck.

As well as being a fantastic photographer (getting far too good) she is one of the friendliest people I know. Never being afraid to talk to anyone and offer help if needed.

I spoke to everyone after the two days and they all said one of the highlights was meeting Emma and sharing some time with her. Check out Emmas Duggans' blog here, you won't be disappointed.

Here's another shot (taken by Emma) showing me with the guys on a break during the day. I had a fantastic time with all of you. I guess you are all far too busy putting in the action plan and creating a fantastic business to be reading this blog.

It was great to receive your e-mails and I too would like to thank you all for your belief in me and taking the chance to come and see how I do things. I think I will definitely be running this course again (in about six months), I'm guessing you'll all be very well established by then and will have doubled your turnover from last year!

One question how can being away for two days create a weeks worth of work? Did all my clients wait until I was away before they sent their orders through? Or is it that when you deal with things as they arrive it seems to take less time.

I'm the happiest man on the planet

The last two days have been an absolute blast! The shoot to sell course was great fun and i'm sure the photographers who came along will very soon generating some proper funds.

I'll add some more stuff (including a couple of pics) when i've had a rest but I wanted to include this e-mail that just landed in my in box!

Dear Martin

Speaking as someone who spent the last 37 years in a sales-based profession I just wanted to say that your presentation on marketing these past two days blew me away. I've been very fortunate in that since changing career to photography I've managed pretty well, but there is always room for improvement and I know enough to understand that I can't rely on repeat business alone. The idea, therefore, that I look at a marketing course that was specifically targeted at photographers was intersting enough for me to part with a reasonably large wedge of dosh. I'm really pleased I did though. At the risk of sounding like you've ghost-written this for me, I reckon that just two of the ideas you came up with will help me generate much more business and new clients. These alone will assist the growth of my business but when I use them in conjunction with your other ideas, I reckon business will explode. You can probably tell I'm really fired up. Well done, I thought I had seen it all. You're welcome to include my email address in case anyone thinking of taking a later course with you wants a recommendation. In fact I'd go so far as to say that you should open this to a wider audience than photographers alone as so many of your ideas as pertinent to other disciplines.

Excellent!

Kind regards

John


As John has offered here's his e-mail johndurrant@hello-photo.co.uk if you thinking of perhaps booking for the next shoot to sell it might be worth an e-mail. Don't get left behind!

Shoot to Sell

Over the last couple of days I've been putting the final pieces together in preparation for my "shoot to sell" two day course next week (23 - 24 April). I don't mind saying I'm really excited about the whole thing and can't wait to meet up with you guys who have already booked your places. Its going to be a massive two days so get lots of sleep and come with your engines burning.

I set about writing this course over a year ago when photographers began e-mailing me asking for help in marketing etc. I realised that for any entrepreneur there are three crucial areas that are necessary to be truly successful. The first is the talent to create whatever it is you are hoping to sell (in my case photography). The second is the ability to attract enough customers to make it financially viable and the third is the ability to ensure every customer receives a great sales experience.

I hear of so many talented photographers who struggle to pay their bills whilst others who are more mediocre appear to do incredibly well. Anyone who knows me will tell you, I always have time to try and help any other photographer (apart from the guy who keeps sending me his A level homework).

Shoot to sell has been written and designed to help out anyone who believes they have the drive and skill to make themselves a success.

There are still places available so if you think this could help you just drop me an e-mail martin@martinwilmottphotography.com or ring me on 01376 567995 and we can have a chat . I can't wait to hear of your success stories after having introduced a few of my methods.

Adobe CS3 Rip Off?

It would appear that photographers and creatives in Europe have been targeted as easy prospects.

Adobe released its new version of photoshop two weeks ago (CS3) which as most photographers know is the essential software and is a complete must have.

However it transpires that it is 190% more expensive in Europe than America. Considering it can be downloaded via an Internet connection how can this be?

Adobe have attempted to counter this criticism stating that the different languages in Europe mean it is in fact a different product. If that's the case why can't photoshop spell colour correctly? Or is it just a lie?

Photographers are being urged to sign the online petition here which Adobe are already beginning to panic about. If you don't appreciate being ripped off sign up and also forward on to anyone and everyone you know.

The 80 / 20 Rule of Business

I had an interesting e-mail this morning from someone who had signed up to my free photography tips. He had a problem with the fact I had sent an e-mail advertising my "shoot to sell course". The course is designed to help photographers who want to learn how to make money from photography as a business. It is personalised and reveals many of the methods I use every day.

It is common knowledge in business that 80% of trade will come from 20% of your clients, if you can concentrate on those 20% your business will benefit. I have no problem with the other 80% who like to receive my free tips, I wrote them to help people to take better photographs and I have received many thank yous from all over the world.

However when one of the 80% decide to complain about the stuff I provide for nothing, I act quickly (apprentice style) and fire them. I simply apologise and then delete them from the free tips ensuring they cannot sign up again. Please if you don't like the free photography tips I send then simply unsubscribe.

On the contrary here's a blog posting from someone else (in the beautiful town of Vancouver) who has a different opinion about the same information.

The overall lesson, you can't please everyone all the time so simply remove the ones who aren't happy from your business and let them bother someone else.

Saying goodbye to some new friends

All week I have had the privilege of meeting and working alongside some fantastic athletes from the USA.

A group of American Football players from all over the USA had flown into the UK for a visit and to play a couple of games against the local Colchester teams.

I know that some of the boys parents and relatives have been checking out this blog for more news so especially for them (and anyone else who may be interested) click here for a slide show of what the guys got up some of the time during the week. There is sound so make sure your speakers are on. I'll try and put the remaining images up soon.

Hope you like it. Feel free to comment

American All Stars

This week the colchester Gladiators American footbal team (who i'm heavily involved with) are playing host to a traveling American high school team of grid Iron stars. the players have been recruited from all over the USA and are amongst the best for their age groups.

I've just got back from meeting the American players at their first (official) practise at the college in Colchester. Some of the players were finding the weather a little challenging (cold) but as I explained if you don't like the weather in England wait half an hour and it will change.

From what i've seen they're going to give a fantastic display of Grid iron skills on the field and leave many of the Gladiators players with more than the occasional bruise.

I'm guessing that some of the players parents and families may be reading this to see if they can spot their loved ones so i intend to up load my images through out the week very soon. Keep an eye on this blog and i'll put a link to the images.

If you want to know more about the American All Star team and their game against the Gladiators on Friday the details can be found on the Gladiators blog by clicking here (there's also some more images from this morning).

Also the BBC were at the Gladiators training last week and there write up and video can be seen by clicking here. Any photographer out there who fancy coming along to take some action photographs under spotlight of these guys in action on friday will be more than welcome.