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Photography business coach Bernie Griffiths of www.berniegriffiths.com will be a familiar name to regular listeners of the podcast. Bernie is portrait photography business coach based in Australia and services portrait photographers world wide. Following numerous requests for more content specifically aimed at photographers getting started in business or looking to make the jump from part time to full time, I chased Bernie up for his thoughts on how to make the successful leap to pro photographer.
In the interview, Bernie lays out the ten things you need to consider if you're serious about making photography a profitable business today. From mindset to pricing, to technique and selling… if you have't thought these things through before making the leap, you're in for a tough ride and more than likely, failure.
The beauty of what Bernie has to share is he has been in exactly the same position you are and is currently helping photographers at all levels, succeed in their businesses. At the time of recording, Bernie is booked solid and not taking any more clients. This guy is in high demand and knows his stuff when it comes to building successful portrait photography businesses.
If you're an experienced shooter and already have a profitable business, be warned, there may be things you hear in this interview you know you should be doing and keep avoiding. This could be the perfect wake up call!
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.
When you’re starting off, it’s okay to be not that expensive but you have to grow those prices as your business grows – Bernie Griffiths
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 Bernie, 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 Bernie 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.
Shoot, shoot, shoot. Just take heaps of photos. Get experience as well. The more you’re doing, the more you’re learning – Bernie Griffiths
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Bernie 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.
It is okay to have bad numbers because you can do something about them. If you don’t know you’ve got bad numbers, you’re just going to get in more and more trouble and probably your business will just disappear – Bernie Griffiths
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
ASWPP: Advanced Success for Wedding and Portrait Photographers
Success Secrets of a Professional Photographer by Bernie Griffiths
Epsiode 198: Bernie Griffiths – Facebook Ads and The Missing Link To Successful Sales
Episode 030: Bernie Griffiths – Photography Business Success Coach
Epsiode 136: Bernie Griffiths – A Challenge for You to Book More Portrait Photography Sessions
Crowd Funding Support page for Neil Bowlers Wife and Children
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and thanks to Bernie for coming on and sharing so much about his thoughts on the business side of building a successful portrait photography business.
Time is the most important commodity that you need to create a successful business – Bernie Griffiths
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
I always take a lot away from the interviews with Bernie. He has such an honest view of the business side of photography. I look forward to the day when I can get him in and helping me directly in my business.
Me too Shane! Bernie is always great to interview and I’ve only ever heard great things from his clients. I know you’ll love working with him when you get the chance.