Todays guest is Australian artist Dan Cripps who funds his passion for art with portrait and commercial photography. He's had the successful and busy photography studio, he knows all the marketing  and sales tactics to have a massively profitable business but doesn't want it… it's not for him. In this episode, Dan shares how you can fund your art with a portrait photography business.

When I contacted Dan to come on the show, his reply intrigued me. He said in an email:

I’d be happy to have a chat with you, however, my business model would probably be considered atypical, flawed by design even! 

I’m not sure there would be much of value to your average portrait or wedding photographer seeking to elevate their business.

I have owned and worked in ‘successful’ studios and when I started this venture I deliberately chose not to follow those tried and tested paths.

This is not me being self deprecating, by the way, just wanting to be honest about my business model and the fact that I am deliberately not gunning for full calendars, big turnover or high average sales.

This could be at odds with what your listeners tune in to learn.

Dan, I could not be more interested to hear about how your making a living as a photographer. Welcome to the podcast….

I am fortunate to be able to finance the work I do for love (art) with work I love to do (portraiture).

Here’s some more of what we cover:

  • Dan's primary source of income
  • Finding clients to photograph and being easy to find
  • Social media as the main marketing thrust
  • Why Dan left the successful studio he owned for a simpler life style
  • The need to know what you want for and from your business before pursuing it
  • Why you should never pursue a business in photography solely for the money
  • Why Dan disliked his previous business despite its success
  • Dissolving a photography business partnership
  • Rebuilding a new photography business from scratch with the experience of having done it before
  • Less is more when setting up your own photography studio
  • The importance of knowing what you don't need when starting your business
  • How much Dan spent to set up his new studio
  • Attracting your first clients
  • Using Facebook as a marketing tool
  • “Dark posts” and why use them to advertise and promote your photography
  • The Facebook Power Editor
  • How up-selling works in Dan's business
  • How Dan finds the time to work on his artwork
  • The struggles to incorporate art into a daily routine

Dan Cripps 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 from where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:

  • What's involved when Dan creates his art pieces
  • What is the “end goal” in producing art pieces
  • Where you can find models for your fine art projects
  • Understanding Dan's business model
  • How and when Dan realised he wanted out of his previous business
  • The importance of having control of your business and make the necessary changes whenever you want to
  • Entering a photography business partnership, what you need to be aware of
  • Dan's complete workflow following a photo session
  • Where Dan finds inspiration for his art

Dan Cripps Photography Podcast

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you’d like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

I deliberately try and create a lifestyle that is going to be conducive to me being a happy person

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Dan or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.

If you’d like an easy way to show Dan your thanks, and support for the show at the same time, click the link to create a tweet and automatically show you’re listening: https://photobizx.com/tweet

Dan Cripps Photography Podcast

Part 2 – Bernie Griffiths and National Family Portrait Month

In part two of todays episode, I chat with photography business coach Bernie Griffiths on his upcoming and massive project – National Family Portrait Month.

Although this project is Australian based, Bernie shares how anyone can set up something like this to book portraits, improve their business and raise funds for a charity at the same time.

The beauty of this formula is it can be scaled from a national level right down to a suburb or small town depending on what you want to achieve.

 

National Family Portrait Month

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

Dan Cripps Website

Dan Cripps on Facebook

Dan Cripps on Instagram

Dan Cripps on Google+

Dan Cripps Awards Photos

Dean Mansbridge Podcast Episode

Facebook Power Editor

Photo Mechanic

Adobe Bridge

National Family Portrait Month

Bernie Griffiths Podcast Episode

Advanced Success for Wedding & Portrait Photographers

GimmeThatIt – Design and Branding Experts

Equipment

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 22.3 MP Full Frame CMOS with 1080p Full-HD Video Mode Digital SLR Camera (Body)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Elinchrom strobes

Linco Lincostore Studio Photography Photo Equipment White Softbox Umbrella Kit With 84″ Boom Stand Lighting Kit

Interfit INT484 36-Inch Octobox Softbox

Dan Cripps Photography Podcast

 My business needs to serve me, not the other way around – Dan Cripps

Thank you!

Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks Dan and Bernie for being awesome guests!

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