Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.
Tony Hoffer is one part of the duo or team at Hoffer Photography, based in Philadelphia and focussing mainly on weddings. These guys (Tony and his wife Amy) discovered photography late in life, found a love for it, quit their day jobs a year later and have been killing it ever since. Their “secret” is simple… to be successful as a photographer, make everything about your client.
Wedding photography prices start at $4000 and their clients are raving about them!
Here's a quote from Tony, something he said 5 years ago…
There are SO many people trying to be photographers now. Having a good vision and being artistic isn’t good enough any more. Run your photography like a business and you’ll have much better odds of making it – Tony Hoffer
I think his comments ring as true today as it did then and I'm looking forward to learning exactly what that means for Hoffer Photography.
Here’s some 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 episode where you can hear lots more content and we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed for and include:
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interview withTony, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.
The work drives everything. Focus on your work. Make it as interesting, as creative as you can and spend as much time as possible figuring out what your clients want. – Tony Hoffer
Plus, access to a members only Secret Facebook group where you'll connect with other members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take what you hear in each episode and put it into action. You will not find more friendly, more motivated and caring photographers online.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Tony 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 result of what you heard in todays episode.
I personally think that the first image the clients sees should be the image that defines what’s special about you – Tony Hoffer
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Tony or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
Kristen Kalp is selling off ALL her ‘stuff' in one bundle and SUPER CHEAP!
This is your last chance to take advantage of the Kristen Kalp giant sell off!
If you've been listening for any amount of time, you'll know my absolute favourite course / program from Kristen (because it's made me so much extra money) is her Sales Without Shame Course and it's included with this giant sell off she's having.
Once this sale ends, that's it… The courses and everything included in this bundle is being deleted for good.
Kristen isn't going anywhere, she's simply looking for a fresh start and that means out with these programs. The great news for us is we still get Kristen AND all her courses at a spectacularly low price of $247!
Here's the link to learn more, see what's included and grab a bargain – The BIG Kristen Kalp Sell Off
This all finishes on September 7 2016… Get in now if you want all this goodness!
So I'm road tripping down to Melbourne for the APPA's, & I thought what better way to start the trip than to listen to Andrew's podcasts. First one off the rank is Kristen Kalp. Man oh man, I f#%king love this woman!! – Pet Photographer Helen Trenerry
At the very least, if you don't purchase the programs from KK, go download “Go Your Own Way” before she takes it down from her site. The book is a life changer for your business and it's free.
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.
PLUS: if you let me know the key word or keyword phrase you'd like me to use to link to your page, post or site, let me know via email after leaving a review and I'll do what I can to make that work.
For example, If I were linking to my wedding photography page on my photography website ” Impact Images” and want to target the keyword phrase “Central Coast documentary wedding photographer” and left an iTunes review, I'd add something like this:
Thanks for the iTunes review by Central Coast documentary wedding photographer, Andrew Hellmich on August 12, 2016
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 most recent reviews for the PhotoBizX Podcast:
Amazing resource for photographers!
I recently came across this podcast through Mark at Shot Kit, and I can't praise it enough.
I listened to 4 episodes in a row on a long drive to a wedding recently, and I had to pull over halfway though to write down all the new ideas I had and how I wanted to implement them.
Not only is this incredibly helpful, it is also very inspiring and encouraging for photographers in this competitive profession!
Andrew is great, and I will definitely be giving the premium membership a try! A+++!
Boom. What You Waiting For!?
I subscribed to this podcast after I had listened to an interview with a photographer I admired. It is the best business decision I ever made.
After listening to the tips and advice given by the people in the industry, I have a much better understanding of what to do to help me succeed in business. From Website and google tips, to how to get the best from your photographs, this podcast has it all!
Not only that but the Podcasts are usually hilarious and so informative, Andrew is a great interviewer, Im pleased to now be a premium subscriber.
The NEW Photography Xperiment Podcast is live and available
Following the success and support shown by listeners after the experimental format of the recent interviews, the new Photo Xperiment Podcast has been launched and is available on this site and in iTunes now.
Interviews are underway and I'll be looking for new guests, not restricted to wedding and portrait photographers. If you have someone you think would be a good fit, let me know in the comment area below or email me, andrew@photobizx.com.
The idea behind these interviews is to get into the headspace of the photographer and find what makes them tick, what drives them, their thought process, philosophy on shooting and how they achieve what they do with their photography. So yeah, a little technique type content too.
These interviews will not focus on the business of photography – that'll be preserved solely for the weekly and unchanging format of the PhotoBizX podcast.
To hear these interviews in your podcast app, you will need to subscribe to the podcast – these interviews will not be delivered automatically if you're subscribed to PhotoBizX. Open your favourite podcast app and search “Photography Xperiment Podcast” or enter the feed URL, https://photobizx.com/feed/xperiment/ into the search field of your podcast app.
Last weeks episode featured a real documentary wedding photographer – Paul Rogers from the UK who left his job with the Times Newspaper in London to focus on wedding photography. Paul shares in depth details about working as a photojournalist for one of the worlds leading newspapers and how that experience has shaped what he does as a wedding photographer today.
Listen in to the interview to hear more about this talented photographer and his views on photography, the wedding photography business and whether or not it's all sustainable as a business – Paul Rogers Interview on The Photography Xperiment Podcast.
Zach Prez is releasing a new book… Perfect Facebook Ads
I received an email from Zach Prez (the SEO Cookbook guy) and he says…
Hey Andrew, I hope you are doing awesome. 
I'm launching a new ebook on Monday September 19 – 30 called Perfect Facebook Ads. It will have a launch price of $79 ($99 after launch).
The book material was written in partnership with an agency that runs ads for medium-sized businesses so the info in this guide is current, comprehensive, and will save readers thousands of dollars.
Your listeners can get a free 10 Page Sampler from the guide here: https://photobizx.com/zach
NOTE: I'm going to try for something special for Premium Members when the ebook is launched so hold off purchasing (if you plan to) till I can get something sorted for you.
A couple of workshops from previous interview guests
There are two workshops from previous guests that I think you should know about, both in the UK.
Anna Pumer is hosting the Kick Ass Photographers Workshop.
This is an alternative wedding photography workshop to get you out of your comfort zone, get you booking awesome couples and help you take super fun wedding photos.
It takes place in the south of France for three full days from 10-14 October 2016.
Full details are here: http://kickassphotographers.com
AND
Craig George is having a Business Reveal All Workshop
This workshop is not designed to be a theoretical event, it's not a mindset, it's how I run my business, how I shoot, the emails I send that convert enquiries into clients, how I charge and why, everything. I'm offering it all.
The full itinerary and course content details are here: http://www.craig-george.com/workshop
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Hoffer Photography on Instagram
Hoffer Photography on Facebook
Hoffer Photography reviews on Wedding Wire
Episode 168: Two Mann Studios – Careful Curation is the Key to Photography Success
Episode 103: Ryan Brenizer – Great Photography, Smart Business, 60 Plus Weddings Per Year
Mark Condon Interview – Get Noticed Quit Work and Build a Photography Business
Equipment:
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G Fixed Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening to the show and thanks to Tony for coming on and sharing his thoughts, views and ideas for running a fantastic (and successful) wedding photography business.
If you can deliver what your clients want, they’re going to be exceedingly happy with you – Tony Hoffer
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
Thanks so much for the inspiring interview! I love the idea of conforming each session to meet the clients needs and exceed their greatest hopes. I can see how this would most definitely lead to amazing sales as well as, even more importantly, leave the client feeling that you truly cared for what they wanted and be a walking, talking salesperson about how great you are.
Great read your comments Tessa and happy to hear how much you enjoyed the interview. Totally agree wth the added sales and super fans Tony is creating with his approach.
It’s nice to hear a different approach to the one I hear much more often about finding your style, sticking to it to attract your perfect client and repel the ones who don’t “connect” with your work.
Andrew, this interview was fantastic & so many takeaways!
The biggest one for me was my clients normally don’t share my blogs – even though they love their photos. I believe it’s as Tony mentioned by the time the ‘final’ images are delivered that post event buzz is gone.
Yesterday’s christening (yeah I know it was Father’s Day here in Aus) I posted photos as soon as the event was completed.
Guess what, Tony was spot on! The client & family shared the post & photos straight away!
Thanks again to both Tony for sharing so much & Andrew for doing what you do!
Cheers Mike
That’s so good Mike – the fact your post was shared as Tony suggested – not that you were working on Father Day. 🙂
Love it how you trial something they hear and it works so well! Thanks for sharing.
BTW – did you ever book or photograph the job where the client was combining a wedding with the Christening?