Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.
Mark Dohring from www.bentinmarcs.com is todays guest. He's an Adelaide based wedding photographer shooting film and says the secret to his photography business success has been building real and lasting relationships within the industry. This interview came about because Mark was recommended to me via an email from premium member Dave Pascoe who wrote…
If you’re ever looking for another interesting photographer to interview, Mark Dohring from Bentinmarcs is the guy mentioned by Paul and Kate Atkins of Atkins Pro Lab in their interview who shoots all their products.
He’s a film shooter here in Adelaide shooting mostly weddings, but he shoots medium format, 35mm, Holga, point n shoot and super 8 film at weddings.
He’s passionate, interesting and just an all round legend… plus a genuinely nice guy! He shot my family on film a couple of months ago and the images are just magical.
That was enough, I was sold and scheduled this interview.
On Mark's website, he says…
I spent my early days on Film & TV sets working with some of the industry's most prestigious filmmakers.
A chance encounter with an old friend saw me shoot my first wedding in 2008. Since then I have been fortunate to have my work featured both locally and internationally in print and online.
Following this interview, I came away feeling inspired to shoot, excited about the state of professional photography and wishing I had more people like Mark in my life. This guy has that special knack of making you realise just how good it is to be alive, a photographer, a creative and part of a such an amazing industry where we have a chance to support ourselves doing what we love while raising a family and having time to spend with your children.
I hope Mark and this interview has the same affect on you.
Here’s some more of what we cover in this interview:
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.
I always aim for the best. I’m always striving to do the very best that I possibly can. – Mark Dohring
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interview with Mark, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.
Plus special member-only interviews.
You'll also receive access to the members only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group.
You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.
Joining a Mastermind Group (encouraged by Andrew) has been incredibly valuable and fun, I look forward to connecting with my group members every week. Jina Zheng, Premium Member and Melbourne Children photographer.
And that's not all… you get a set of steak knives… I'm kidding!
Seriously though, that's not all. In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Mark shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in todays episode.
Money is not what motivates me, I'm not out there just to be a millionaire from photography. Really, it’s like the last thing that I’m thinking about. For me it's more a sense of pride in my work. – Mark Dohring
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Mark or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.
iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!
Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners means more interviews and ultimately a better show.
If you have left a review in the past, thank you!
If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.
Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast and email me your key words or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.
Here are the latest reviews:
Original, quality content – very helpful!
In iTunes by Conejo Valley portrait and headshot photographer, Karen Vaisman from USA on September 28, 2017
I listened to this podcast with great attention, printed it out and took notes. When I hear a speaker (influencer) who has social proof and online success I sit up and take notice to their methods. The original Linkedin ideas are worth noting – tho I'm unclear on how he actually implemented them. He asked for referrals in exchange for a free shoot but upper management is usually too busy to do such favors so I'd love to hear clarification on this. I loved the instagram ideas too. I plan on listening to many more of these podcasts. thanks for finding and interviewing such great talent!
Jam-packed with insightful information
In iTunes by Singapore Birthday Party Photographer, Weizhong on September 29, 2017
Totally enjoyed the conversations with the guests conducted by Andrew. The sessions were filled with lots of useful information for people looking to improve their photography and business. I like how the interviews flowed such that more specific questions were asked as they went along and that led to more insightful and valuable information!
Are you taking action like Simona
A big shout out to Leiden pet and portrait photographer, Simona Graszl for taking action and working on her business the way she is!
Here's some of what Simona shared via email with me earlier today:
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for checking up on me.
I am enjoying my membership to the fullest, I wish I would have more time to listen in the catalogue to more interviews, but multitasking is not my strength, so I can only listen to them while I travel.
Anyways, here are some things I have implemented into my business:
– I have run the Bernie style Facebook ad one time, and I had almost 25 shoots out of that. My sales average was not that high, but at that point I was also not doing ips, so I am hoping to see my numbers increase in the future. I see more and more photographers do the model call, so I think it’s losing originality a bit, unless you put a twist on it. I will most likely try again in the future.
– I am now setting up partnerships with different businesses in my area, I just had a meeting with a yoga studio yesterday, and they’re really excited to partner. They are even gonna let me use their studio as my photo studio whenever they’re not there, so I can say that’s already a win.
– I have started a few days ago 30 Days of Gorgeous, hoping to get some results out of that.
– I also joined a local mum group and through relationships I also got some costumers.
– I am trying to organise the Christmas shoot like Tony Bruce recently shared in his interview, for some extra income.
The podcast has been a great, great help to my success. I have my business for three years now, but never seen such results as the past few months, all thanks to the podcast. I think for people who have an art background is really hard to know how to market yourself and find costumers. I was typically one of those photographer who thought just because I take great photos, people will line up in front of my door. Listening to some of the interviews was and eye-opener that unfortunately in such a saturated market that won’t happen.
I still struggle with some things like pricing, and marketing, but I do think I am advancing and learning a lot.
Thanks for everything.
Cheers,
Simona Graszl
I just want to be known as a kind, caring and giving person. – Mark Dohring
If you want to create a business which you have associate shooters under, then I would probably say step away from your name – Mark Dohring
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Episode TPX18: Paul and Kate Atkins – The Real Fine Art Photography Printers
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and thanks to Mark for coming on and sharing so much about his business, marketing, tactics and strategies for todays episode.
It doesn’t matter on Instagram how many likes you get and it doesn’t matter how many followers you get. Build real relationships. That’s far more important and that’s what’s going to bring in the bookings. – Mark Dohring
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!
That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
Hey Mark.
A couple of things you mentioned in this interview I totally agree with. Film has a certain feel to it. I have been shooting film for at least 20 years, I moved to digital about 6 years ago but still have never stopped shooting film. I am seriously thinking about returning to film 100%. Like you, I cannot get excited about digital. I used to cart 2 Hasselblads and 2 35mm cameras around. I love your passion for film and it has inspired me to get involved with film again. I just have to come up with a business model I can work with.
Hey Christopher, thank you so much!! So good to hear you have a long history shooting film and the passion. When I made the switched to film I was really following my heart and luckily I landed on my feet as the business side of things especially money wasn’t the driving force. I did run my numbers to make sure I was in the ball park and as my speed in workflow got quicker my wage increased. I just shoot so differently with film which I find so enjoyable. Life is short and I want to be happy doing what I love. I am more present in the moment on a wedding day – which again for me is so much more enjoyable!! If I can be of any help please let me know. Enjoy!!!