Todays guest is fellow Aussie photographer and photography podcaster DJ Paine who has recently moved from his home and successful portrait photography business over 2000km away to a new State. In this interview, DJ uncovers the strategies he's using and struggles he's facing while starting over in the business of photography.

Following twenty plus years as a photographer, DJ has stepped back to square one with his move. On one hand he has no existing clients, no recognisable brand and little cash for a big advertising and marketing splash. On the other hand, he has built up an incredible amount of experience and knowledge on how this industry works and has a strategy in place to get things going.

Here's some more of what we cover:

  • Why rebrand from what was a successful business
  • How business names have taken a turn and why it's now better to use your name in your business name
  • The changes DJ has made to his business framework following the relocation
  • What DJ is doing to adapt to the ever changing industry
  • Turnover then versus turnover now and are they really comparable
  • Why DJ thinks that you should't consider photography as a business if you want to make money
  • Attracting new client in a new area
  • Having a strategy rather as opposed to simply “umping in”
  • The modern hipster wedding photographer
  • Why everybody's trying to copy the one business model, and why you shouldn't
  • Learning what your ideal business model should be
  • Defining what shoot and burn means to you and your business model
  • Why being paid by the hour is a big no-no for a photography business
  • Merging passion business, can it really be done
  • Is it really possible to start a new “movement” in the world of photography
  • Utilising strategic alliances to kick start a new photograph business
  • What is a strategic alliances and how it's meant to work
  • Different marketing strategies to attract clients quickly
  • The real value of photographing children
  • Identifying your perfect target market and how that focuses everything moving forward
  • Why sending out free vouchers can be one of the best things you can do for your photography business
  • DJ's photography podcast and what you can expect from his interviews

I love what DJ shares in this interview, his openness and willingness to share real numbers and not some glossy view on how good things are following his move and just how difficult the road ahead will be. The beauty of what is shared is just how relevant the content is to any photographer starting out in business.

DJ has put himself in that very same position with the bonus of 20 years experience. Wouldn't every photographer love to start with that same knowledge…

Bride and groom embracing in a landscape of wheat fields, blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

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:

  • Competition boxes, what they are and how to maximise their effectiveness
  • Measuring the effectiveness of using competition boxes
  • The importance of excitement calls and how to apply them when talking to your clients
  • Monetization strategies

A family captured being together with dad on his guitar, mum flicking through a magazine and the kids joining in.

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 DJ 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

A couple in cowboy hats looking into each others eyes with the sun shining and causing flare

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.

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: Chris Gillham of All Reasons Photography in QLD Australia Sammi Jo from the USA 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 reviews for PhotoBizX, the photography podcast

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!

Price Rise for NEW Premium Memberships

In the last episode I mentioned the price for Premium Membership will be doubling this month… that’s right DOUBLING to a massive (sarcasm) $20 per month. The good news is that for existing members, they will continue to stay at the existing rate of $10 per month – that will not change. So… if you’ve been thinking about a Membership, now is the time to check it out. Get in at the existing and soon to be old  and existing rate of $10 per month. Why the change? Primarily, the content is worth it. I’ve received email after email form members that have seen just incredible results after implementing what they’ve been hearing in the interviews. Secondly, the “back catalogue” has grown to be a terrific resource that new members instantly get full access to the minute they start their membership. The price will be going up before the end of the month – September 2014.

A young girl in blue dungarees playing with soap bubbles

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

DJ Paine Website

DJ Paine Blog

The Black Market Network (BMNET) – where you'll find DJ's Photography Podcast

DJ Paine on Facebook

DJ Paine on Twitter DJ Paine on Google+

Darryn Lyons (Geelong Mayor) – https://twitter.com/DarrynLyons

Corey Sleap – http://www.coreysleapphoto.com/

Zack Arias – http://zackarias.com/

Emma Hack – http://www.emmahackartist.com.au/

Paul Atkins – htp://www.atkins.com.au/

Steve Saporito – http://intuitiontosucceed.academy/

David Watson – http://strategypoint.com.au/

Heidi Thompson – from Evolve Your Wedding Business is opening her “Inner Circle” course again shortly 

evolve your wedding business - inner circle corse to book more weddings

The course will be on sale from Sept 17th – 28th and the course will begin on Sept 29th. Click the logo above to register your interest.

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.

If you do have a twitter account, simply click here: https://photobizx.com/tweet or use the share buttons below.

Thanks and speak soon Andrew