Helena Price was not a professional photographer at the start of 2013. Today she is shooting for some of the biggest brands in the world and is doing so by shooting her style of portrait photography and delivering “real life” photos that gel perfectly with the branding vision of her clients. Her prices have tripled since starting and Helena is riding the wave of photography business success; learn how you can go from from zero to high end photography in super short time.

In setting up this interview, I worked harder to get Helena on the show than any other previous guest. While trying to reach out, for the first time in my life I wasn't sure if I felt like I was a spammer or a stalker… or a combination of both! You'll hear in the interview this is the exact strategy that is getting Helena work all round the world.

Here's some more of what we cover:

  • Learn how Helena went from amateur photographer to having clients including Dropbox, Google, Microsoft, Nike and Samsung in 12 months from turning pro
  • Why Helena has chosen to handle her business all by herself including the shooting, bids/quoting, art directing, post processing and marketing
  • Helena had absolutely no idea she could have been a photographer for a living and was building a tech career because she thought that's what's she's supposed to do before making the jump to full time photographer – learn how she made the transition and found her niche
  • Helena had a meteoric rise to popularity that she attributes to landing on the Tumblr and Twitter's list of recommended photographers – learn how she got there
  • Why relationships and networking should be a major focus for every serious professional photographer
  • Why Helena has different pricing structures for different clients and how she comes up with a figure for her photography
  • A scrappy shoot will cost a thousand bucks per day. A bigger shoot costs whatever the producer will bid up
  • Her price range is massive. It boils down to asking questions up front as it's hard to tell how much a company is willing to spend.
  • Although Helena is mostly known as a commercial photographer, she considers herself  a portrait photographer
  • Fear is something that Helena still feels today when working for large clients – learn how she deals with that fear when on the job

Following this episode of the photography podcast, if you're not feeling inspired to shoot for the love of it, to chase your dreams and follow your passion, I'm afraid nothing will get you going. To think that Helena's clients now include the likes of Dropbox, Google, Microsoft, Nike, and Samsung and she wasn't shooting professionally 18 months ago… simply blows me away!

Helena Price Photography Podcast 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 implementable content from where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:

  • Why marketing is done 24/7 and although Helena isn't a believer of relying on the internet for work there's good reason for being there and being seen
  • Why being comfortable in business and photography is not a good place to be and how to keep pushing yourself
  • How to combine travel with work and the exact strategies Helena employs to set up shoots in any location she want to see and visit
  • What to say and how to deal with clients that return to see your prices have doubled or tripled since their last shoot
  • Strategies to book work and fit in with a clients budget without dropping your price
  • How to find the right price for your work in your niche

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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.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you'd like to ask 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 Helena your thanks, and support for the show at the same time, click the link to create a tweet and automatically let him know you're listening: https://photobizx.com/tweet

Send in your questions for Matt and Steve

In the last couple of episodes I mentioned I'll be having both Steve Saporito and Matt Ebenezer (of Matt and Katie Photographers) back  on the podcast to answer YOUR questions.

I've receive some questions but am looking for more. This is your chance to ask a photography business related question that specifically applies to you and your business. Do not miss this opportunity to hear two different points of view from two different experts in the field of photography.

Steve, better known as the Portrait Doctor is a working studio transformer who knows his stuff when it comes to turning a studio into a profit making machine.

Matt and Katie have been one of the most popular interviews I've done on the show and are working photographers and workshop hosts.

I'll collate the questions and ask both Matt and Steve the same questions on different episodes to get a different perspective from both. Neither of them will have heard the others answers. It should be fun.

Helena Price Photography Podcast Interview

The Resources Page

Remember the ever expanding resources page that has a listing of products, programs, hardware, books and directories mentioned in each episode of the show. If you’re looking for something that a guest has mentioned on a previous episode but just can’t remember who or what it was – you’ll find it listed in order on the resources page.

A voicemail message from Anais

You know that nothing makes me happier than hearing about your success and especially so if some of that success or progress has come from what you've heard on the podcast.

This week you'll hear a wonderful voicemail message from French photographer Anais Chain, living and working in New Zealand who has been implementing and seeing real results following what she's been hearing in the interviews.

You can see some of the changes that Anais has made and talks about in her message on her website: http://anaischaine.com

Helena Price Photography Podcast Interview

New Transcription service for your Video and Audio

Following some enquiries about the new audio and video transcription service I mentioned on the show last week, you'll find a new page on the website where you can order and get started with your own videos and easily have them transcribed to help with your SEO.

If you’ve been listening to the podcast for any length of time, you’ll understand the value of producing video for your website or blog to help separate yourself from other local photographers. It’s your chance to offer helpful and real advice to your potential clients and it’s the number one way for clients to see and hear the real you and for you to start building a connection not as easily built with words on a page.

You will also know that it’s much easier to rank for competitive keywords by using video if the search engines know exactly what your video content is about. For this to happen, you need the written words on your page and that’s where transcribing your video plays a big role.

If you’re unsure where to start with your videos, what topics to cover or equipment you’ll need (and it can be as basic as your smart phone) check out the following episodes of the podcast:

Gabriel Machuret – Episode 34

James Schramko – Episode 44

Tyrone Shum – Episode 8

To find out more about the transcribing service, head to photobizx.com/transcribe which is also accessible using the menu at the top of the page under the resources tab.

iTunes ratings, reviews and Shout-Outs

Each week before recording the podcast I check iTunes for any reviews and each week I'm excited to see what you've had to say about the podcast. This week I was blown away to see five fantastic reviews! Thanks you so much to:

Noel de Christian from Fort Lauderdale in the USA of http://www.noeldechristian.com who shoots head shots, male physique and dudoir photography.

DJ Paine from the BM Network of podcasts in Australia which is a series of podcast for photographers that features interviews, social media and business strategies.

Claire Marika, a wedding photographer from Utah in the USA of http://www.clairemarika.com

Om-Wa from Seattle in the USA – you'll have to get in touch and let me know your real name and business URL so I can put a face to a name.

Sincerely, thanks so much for your ratings and reviews, I appreciate the time you've taken and it's a big help for the show. It's these iTunes reviews that make a big difference to the podcast being ranked well and found in the iTunes store. If you have the time and are happy to leave an honest rating and review, head over to iTunes.

iTunes Review Photo Biz Xposed

Don't feel your comments have to be long, involved or gushy, an honest opinion is all I ask. Don't be shy about leaving your business name in the review either – that way I can add a link in the show-notes and show my appreciation with a proper thanks and a Google loving back-link to your website.

Get in Touch or Leave a Voicemail Message

If you'd like to get in touch, ask a question or make a suggestion for the show, you can email me andrew@photobizx.com, find me on Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewhellmich or on Facebook at https://photobizx.com/facebook – I'd love to hear from you!

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Helena Price's Website: http://helenaprice.com/

Helena Price on Tumblr: http://blog.helenaprice.com/

Helena on Twitter: http://twitter.com/helena

Helena on Instagram: http://instagram.com/helenadagmar

Helena on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/helenadagmar/

The Exposure article that inspired me to get Helena on the podcast: https://helena.exposure.co/2013

Dropbox: http://dropbox.com

Rdio: no longer exists

Square: https://squareup.com/

Path: https://path.com/

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens

Helena Price Photography Podcast Interview

That's it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

If you've been enjoying the podcast, I'd love for you to tell another photographer about it – it could be in a Facebook Group you're a part of, a photography forum, with a photographer friend or on twitter.

The easiest way to share this episode is click one of the share buttons below – you can post to your Facebook profile or page, twitter or email a friend.

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew