Jenika is a Yale University graduate with a masters in psychology and the author of the blog, Psychology For Photographers and in this interview, she unveils a range of tactics and strategies on how you can easily introduce what she has taken years to learn into your business to better understand your client and how to draw your best clients to you with your writing.
The great thing is, you don't have to change who you are to be more attractive to the people you want to attract to your style of business or photography, just the opposite in fact… Jenika encourages you to let more of yourself out. Be free, be you and let that be what separates you from every other photographer out there.
Here's some of what we cover:
How do I know this? Because Jenika laid out an easy to follow road map on how to write more effectively for the clients you want to attract… and who doesn't want to attract more awesome clients to their photography business. Have a listen to the interview, I challenge you to not take action following this one.
Premium Members
Whether or not you are a Premium Member, check out the two detailed courses Jenika has available on her site:
Irresistible Words which will have you writing better in 30 days.
From Portfolio to Profit Engine: How to Build an Absolutely Irresistible Photography Website, for anyone that wants to turn your browsers into buyers? This workshop in an e-book will show you how.
Premium Members, before purchasing, head to your membership area for the promo code to save you $50.00 off either or both courses for the month of December 2013 only.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview with Jenika, I'd love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you'd like to implement or remember from what she had to share? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
Better yet, add a link from your comments to your updated website or a new blog post using the techniques Jenika taught in the interview.
If you have any questions for Jenika that I missed or a specific question you'd like to ask, feel free to add them below and she'll happily answer them for you. There are absolutely no silly questions and chances are, if you're wanting to know the answer to something, other listeners will too. Get the conversation started by using the comments area below.
iTunes ratings, reviews and Shout-Outs
Thank you to both Craig O'Neill of Oneill Photographics from New Zealand and Marc Collins of MK Collins Photography in the UK for their iTunes reviews this week – they both mean a lot and I appreciate the time you've taken to add your reviews… thanks again.
It is the 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. 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.
This week on social media and email, I've had the pleasure of chatting to a bunch of cool people and want to give shout outs to:
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!
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
The “Shop” – where you'll find Jenika's training products
Psychology For Photographers on Facebook
The 7 Minute Website Writing Makeover
How Clients Make Decisions About Money – Jenika's free e-book
Jenika's Lens – Jenika's photography website
Epic Danger… photos for modern families
That's it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business. I'd love for you to leave a comment below about your biggest takeaway from this episode or any questions you might have for Jenika in regard to writing, blogging, and incorporating psychology into your photography business.
Speak soon
Andrew
WHAT! This sounds pretty interesting. Cant wait.
Saw your post below Andy… sounds like you enjoyed this episode. Great comments.
Brilliant – I am such a big believer in everything that Jenika preaches. Her writing course/Irresistible Words is well worth doing – the actionable, easy to follow advice that she gives honestly transformed my website and my business. Haha, I told you I was a Jenika-groupie – I can’t gush about her work and the knowledge she shares enough.
Great to listen to this and re-think the problems I can solve for my clients. I feel like it’s so easy to get hung up on the features of the print (ahem – artwork! See, I listened to Steve’s podcast too).
Thanks guys – another great one 🙂
Hey Caitlin – great to hear from another Jenika-Groupie, I think I’ve become one as well!
I already loved what she has to share on her blog but hearing Jenika talk about all the things she recommends and believes just drove some of her messages home for me.
With the rave reviews you get for your social media and blog posts, it’s great to know where some of that influence is coming from so other photographers can get some of that blog action.
I’ll be checking Jenika’s writing course too, I love the idea of being able to write more expressively and effectively. And who doesn’t want to sell more “wall art” as a result of effective communication 😉
Recently found your podcast and think its brilliant cant stop listening to it! trying to implement alot of stuff from each one! I especially liked todays even though I was a bit unsure when I read the title but was very useful. I still have a full time job as my photography isnt full time yet so these podcasts are helping me get through 🙂
Keep up the good work Andrew.
Kind regards,
Leighton Bainbridge Photography
Hi Leighton
Great to know you’ve found the podcast, welcome! 🙂
Did I scare you off with the title of this episode? Oops, didn’t mean to do that. I’m glad you listened anyway and enjoyed the interview. Make sure you check Jenika’s blog at Psychology For Photographers, lots more terrific and actionable content there.
Once you’ve listened to the back catalogue of interviews, make sure you let me know if there’s a topic you’d like covered that I haven’t or if you’d like me to go deeper on some aspect of photography business and if you have a photographer you’d like to hear interviewed on the podcast.
Don’t rush to chuck in the day job, you’re in the perfect position to build a good business without having to rely solely on your photography. It’s easier to make better business decisions when you’re not having to rely on that income.
Thanks for adding your comments – speak soon
Thanks for the reply Andrew, yeah ill be sure to check out her blog.
I’ll be sure to let you know if i think of any topics or photographers. No doubt i’ll be joining the premium membership soon.
I know what you mean about the day job as I have been able to take a lot of big risks haha. One been I have just upped my packages by 35% :-/
I have just finished my second wedding season photographing 20 weddings and absolutely exhausted! many many nights of a couple hours sleep while editing then starting work at 7.30 lol.
Also started building a database of email addresses which totally made sense after hearing it. So installed a pop up window on my prices page so potential clients must pop there email in before they view the prices 🙂
keep up the good work
I found this podcast a real nice change. A lot of the podcasts are about clever marketing and tools which will help with workflow and administration. So it was really nice to hear a podcast about blogging. I like writing. Its not at all easy and I dont think it has gotten any easier over the last year. I dont agree that practice makes perfect. I think practice makes your writing better, but it still doesnt come easy. One of the things I really agreed with with Jenika is to write it all down and fix it later. Too many times have I thought of something good to write down and forgotten it by the time I had fixed up everything else. Also I find myself changing my posts constantly so wasting time on grammar is just not worth while.
One of the things I like about Andrew Hellmich’s website for Impact Images is that its so text rich. Some photographers may be able to tell a story really well without any words, but I find myself speed scrolling through their photos if there’s nothing to read or if there’s no clues given as to what I should expect from the photos and I think thats where text becomes useful. You can use it to highlight something special about the wedding that might entice someone to browse somewhat more carefully through your post, or use it to break up a huge chunk of photos. Kind of like what Caitlin McColl has done. I really like her blog. Nice work Caitlin, really nicely written posts.
Can I just also say that Im super sick of reading “It was a gorgeous day and I love this couple so much etc…. “
Hi Andy – loved reading your comments and happy to hear you enjoyed a “different” kind of interview this episode.
I totally emphasise with your correcting as you go comments, it’s something that I struggle with and I hope to change after listening to Jenika’s advice – let me know how you go with it.
I think I like that you complimented my website because of the copy and not the photos 😉
LOVE your last sentence and I reckon it will resonate with a LOT of listeners to the podcast.
Speak soon
P.S If you enjoyed this episode that focused largely on blogging, keep an “ear” out for an upcoming interview with a prolific writer from Copyblogger shortly.
Your photos are alright too haha
Haha…. Ok, you’re welcome here again 🙂
I think it’s fair to say that we as Photographers fall in love with the art of photography itself and not to mention the gear lust that we can fall victim to from time to time, so an episode about psychology and the role it plays in photography is absolutely golden.
I think it’s accurate to say that psychology is the link between our love for the art of photography and how we relate to our clients and become successful in our careers.
The human element is so critical in our business so I think the more we hone our people skills, along with our photo skills of course, the more people will like us as people and not just as Photographers. And THAT is the ultimate key in my opinion.
Thanks Andrew and Jenika.
Fantastic episode!
Joey Joiner
Fort Worth, TX
USA
I think the “gear lust” thing is a scary road to travel and one that doesn’t result in a better business as you say Joey.
It is the human connection, problem solving, experience and relationships that we build that have the biggest influence on great sales and a thriving business.
I became addicted to your podcast a few months ago. I download them and listen during my commute. A lot of them I listen to more than once and your interview with Jenika is no exception. I really enjoy reading her blog and I look forward to purchasing some of her e-books.
A big thanks to you, Jenika and all of your interviewees for everything you do for our industry.
Hey Tim, thanks for commenting and great to hear you’ve discovered and are enjoying the interviews.
Jenika’s blog is definitely one to subscribe to and I’m looking forward to doing her writing course myself.
You have to link to your new blog posts after you’ve pout into practice what Jenika reaches – love to have a read.
Great one, thanks again. I will be taking photos of all my large prints and canvases to put on my site to plant that large print idea into clients heads. I still don’t make people buy prints or should I say, I give a CD for now but am slowly finding new ways to add prints.
Thanks again, just signed up for your news letter Jenika also.
Love the story telling about the photo shot. I have heard that before but this really spoke to me on this one.
Thanks to you both
I loved the ideas that Jenika shared in this interview too.
Good idea about featuring framed prints and canvases on your website – Brian Chapman is a big proponent of that idea too.
You’ll love Jenika’s emails and blog posts – she always has a great way of telling a story and teaching at the same time. I always enjoy reading what she shares.
It’s difficult to make the jump from digital files to print sales but there are big benefits for encouraging print sales – higher sales, your work will be more valued, it will be seen more often by more people and you will become more well known are just a few benefits.
that should say I Don’t make people buy prints FYI
No worries Joe – I’ve edited your earlier comments.
Hi, I’m a Jenkia groupie too. Since using her ebook it’s made a huge different to the way to communicate – down to the texts I send mum and the way I can turn business associates into friends via email. I’ve revamped my website, feel less icky about my blogposts and crafted a new welcome book that feels ‘me’. It’s also incredibly hard to write properly and takes me ages to pull it all together. Mandy
Hi Amanda – so good to read how much you’re getting from Jenika’s ebook, even down to your text messages – that’s very cool.
Great job on your website, it reads well and definitely has personality and none of that 3rd person corporate, I’m a larger company that I really am, feel to it.
You have to listen to the interview with Nikki McArthur from Epic Danger if you enjoyed Jenika’s episode – Nikki is the photographer that Jenika mentions toward to end of the interview. (I’ve added a link below)
Check out her website too and you can see how far it’s possible to push the personality thing on a website – there’s absolutely no mistaking the kind of photographer you’re going to get when booking Nikki.
Thanks for adding your comments and great to have you listening.
I love Jenika’s blog so much. I discovered it very early on in my photography business quest, and I’ve read nearly every single blog post on it!
This episode was excellent, as usual, and I learned so much. I would love a Psychology for Photographers podcast, *wink wink nudge nudge in Jenika’s general direction*.
Thanks, Andrew!
A podcast from Jenika would be a great idea Kara! And that’s coming from another fan of Jenika and her blog 🙂
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