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:

  • How should you measure success in photography business today?
  • How the business of photography has evolved in the last five years
  • How Tony separates himself and Hoffer Photography from the competition
  • How to tailor your work specifically for each client
  • How to identify what your clients want
  • Do referrals coming from internationally well known photographers guarantee client bookings?
  • Note taking to document important details from client meetings
  • What happens during client meetings that see such a high booking rate for Hoffer Photography
  • The importance of online reviews from wedding sites and directories
  • Wedding photography reviews as reinforcement
  • Soliciting reviews from past clients
  • Changing the way you shoot to please your clients
  • How to give clients the best experience with your photography business
  • How to utilise slideshows during client meetings
  • Criteria for finding the right associate photographers for your business
  • Are associates required to sign contracts when joining Hoffer Photography?
  • How much are associate photographers paid?
  • Why do clients choose Tony’s associate photographers over him?

Tony Hoffer Photography Podcast

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:

  • How Tony manages to keep his website up-to-date with such a busy studio
  • Why Tony insists on blogging their weddings as soon as possible
  • Utilising blog posts as wedding press releases for an effective marketing strategy
  • Why Tony doesn’t like the idea of taking clients’ money at all cost
  • Re-evaluating what works in social media for photographers today
  • Word of mouth referrals is the best way of attracting and booking clients
  • Tony’s advise to photographers on how to build their clientele
  • Why using social media channels as a long term business strategy will not work
  • What is Hoffer Media?
  • Why you need to keep your commercial photography work separate from your wedding work
  • How Tony handles unhappy clients
  • The best thing Tony has done for his business

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.

Tony Hoffer Photography Podcast

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.

Tony Hoffer Photography Podcast

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.

kristen kalp

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!

In iTunes by Boston wedding photographer, Carl Heyerdahl in the USA on August 24, 2016

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!?

In iTunes by Durham wedding photographer, Darren “Daz” Mack in the UK on August 22, 2016

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.

Tony Hoffer Photography Podcast

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.

 

Tony Hoffer Photography 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. getting-started-facebook-ads-cover-400

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

Hoffer Photography

 

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Hoffer Photography

Hoffer Photography on Instagram

Hoffer Photography on Twitter

Hoffer Photography on Facebook

Hoffer Photography Workshops

Hoffer Media

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

Holly Gardner

17 hats

Foundation Workshops

ShotKit.com

Mark Condon Interview – Get Noticed Quit Work and Build a Photography Business

Goldhat Photography

Equipment:

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G Fixed Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras

Tony Hoffer Photography Podcast

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