Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Tony Bruce of www.tonybrucephotography.com is based in the UK has only been in business for a couple of years and it's all going well and growing fast. One of the toughest things to cope with is staying busy in the off season when starting out with your photography business and Tony has come up with a concept that has him looking forward to winter!

Tony photographed 10 weddings last year, has 20 booked this year… plus cake smashes and portrait sessions. He also had success last Christmas with themed photo shoots in November / December that helped generate extra revenue. In addition, he's picking up the occasional event and commercial shoot.

One thing that struck me when I saw Tony's website was his willingness to do what takes most successful photographers years to even explore… push away anyone who isn't a good fit with the copy on his site. With all the confidence of a photographer who's been in business for decades, he writes:

I could go on about my style of photography, why I love photographing weddings, how long I have been doing it and blah blah blah. I'm not going to. My work speaks for itself. You either like it or you don't.

I think there is plenty to take away from this photographer enjoying the shift from hobbyist to professional shooter.

Here’s some more of what we cover in this interview:

  • A snapshot of where Tony is based and his target clients
  • When is the right time to quit your day job and go full-time with your photography business?
  • What is Tony’s target income before considering going full-time with photography?
  • Tony’s day job and what keeps him busy aside from photography
  • Tony’s annual turnover / revenue
  • Things to consider before deciding to go full-time with a photography business
  • How to generate enough inquiries and bookings to consider going full time
  • Facebook bridal groups and how they can help your photography business
  • Facebook ads and how Tony structures his ad copy
  • What to expect when joining bridal groups in Facebook
  • Why Tony prefers to keep things simple – from pricing to packaging to marketing his business
  • How to attract clients who are a good fit for your business
  • The importance of staying true to who you are and being confident about it
  • Tony’s packages and pricing and what makes them so attractive
  • How to work out your photography pricing
  • Things Tony does differently when editing his images
  • Where Tony learned photography and the resources he uses to learn more
  • How Tony managed to increase his Instagram followers so quickly
  • Hashtags and the benefits of posting regularly on Instagram
  • How to generate income during the cold winter season when shooting outdoors is not an option
  • What is a Festive season shot?
  • How to generate bookings from festive shoots throughout the year
  • Festive season packages and pricing
  • Tony’s workflow when doing festive shoot sessions
  • How Tony takes deposits for his photo sessions
  • Joining Christmas fairs to generate quick turnover during winter
  • When to start advertising for your festive shoots and the best time to schedule shoots
  • How Tony thinks about the business competition in his area
  • The best thing Tony has done for his business
  • What Tony would do to kick things off if he was to start over
  • Why Tony thinks clients choose him over other local photographers

Tony Bruce 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 interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interview with Tony, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

You'll also receive access to the members only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group.

You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Joining a Mastermind Group (encouraged by Andrew) has been incredibly valuable and fun, I look forward to connecting with my group members every week. Jina Zheng, Premium Member and Melbourne Children photographer.

And that's not all… you get a set of steak knives… I'm kidding!

Seriously though, that's not all. In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

Tony Bruce 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 a result of what you heard in todays episode.

Photography is not complicated, it's behind the scenes. When you look at a picture it's such a simple thing, it's just a story in one hit, isn’t it? – Tony Bruce

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 in the comments area below.

Tony Bruce Photography Podcast

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.

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 latest reviews and an extra special shout out:

Fabulous, entertaining and informative!

In iTunes by Staffordshire Documentary Wedding Photographer, Stuart James from the UK on September 6, 2017

Only recently coming across Andrew's podcast, I'm loving working my way back through the content on the PhotoBizX podcast. So much information being shared by the top industry professionals, and with Andrew's relaxed and warm approach, everything flows so easily. A true gem of a find and I just love listening each and every episode.

Probably the best investment I've made in my business and also the ‘personal' side of my business this year. Truly fabulous! 

Thanks so much!

in iTunes by Central Coast wedding photographer, Sarah Watkins of Lucalia Photography from Australia on September 3, 2017

Such a relevant and inspiring podcast for professional photographers. There's always something to learn.

It's refreshing to find a podcast specific to our industry. Thanks so much for providing practical, insightful and natural content we can apply to improve our businesses!

A Special Thanks for Iain and Jo

Last weekend I made the trip to Melbourne to go check out the Photo Biennale at Ballarat. Usually I'd book a hotel or something on Airbnb but on a whim, I threw it out there to the PhotoBizX community to see if someone had a spare bed I could crash on for the night.

Melbourne wedding photographers and Premium members, Iain and Jo of We Tell Love Stories put their hands up (actually, pretty sure it was Iain that said yes, then had to check it was ok with Jo) and I had one less thing to worry about – Iain even times his afternoon shoot to be able to pick me up from the airport. Bonus!

As good as the Biennale was, especially the exhibition by David La Chapelle, it had nothing on the new friendship made with Iain and Jo. Spending the day with these two was a bonus I never expected and it was this that made the trip so special.

Don't be surprised to heat a future episode with Iain and Jo either – what they are doing with their business is inspiring! Between the three brands and utilising a small offshore team to work on the business, it's difficult not to imagine anything but huge success for these guys.

Also, a big shout out to Alan Moyle for getting me to commit to the trip – even though he pulled out at the last minute after inviting me down! 😉 And one to Shannon Morris who joined us for dinner on Thursday night – great to meet you in person, LOVE your work and hope you enjoy the new Fuji camera!

Tony Bruce Photography Podcast

Tony Bruce Photography Podcast

Three ways to get more clients

How do I get more photography clients is the number one thing most photographers want to know. You might be familiar with the name Jamie Swanson who is responsible for the Modern Tog – an online resource for photographers looking to build a better, more successful photography business – pretty much what I do here with PhotoBizX. In Jamie's case though, she does all the teaching.

Over the years, Jamie has helped thousands of photographers but it's all about to end.

Jamie is closing things down after one last hurrah and some big specials.

What I think you should absolutely check out right now though, is Jamie's free webinar: 3 Ways To Get More Clients. In the webinar, you'll learn from Jamie…

Secret #1
Why “Getting the Word Out More” is the wrong place to start (and what to do instead).

Secret #2
How to know EXACTLY what marketing will ACTUALLY WORK (and why the things you've tried in the past didn't get you clients).

Secret #3
How to Stand Out in a Saturated Marketplace and become the “Go To” photographer that everyone raves about in your area

I expect there will be a sales pitch at the end but so what if you pick up some great ideas form the webinar.

Here's the link: 3 Ways To Get More Clients

NOTE: this is only available for the next few days! 

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

Tony Bruce Website

Tony Bruce on Instagram

Tony Bruce on Facebook

Lensculture

Pixieset

QuickFile

Episode 201: Jean-Laurent Gaudy – How To Start Over with Your Photography Business from Scratch

3 Ways To Get More Clients – the free webinar by Jamie Swanson of The Modern Tog

Tony Bruce Photography Podcast

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Tony for coming on and sharing so much about his business, marketing, tactics and strategies for todays episode.

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