business 19 - Behind the Shutter

Branding a Nonprofit

Post author:Matt Meiers
Post category:Branding Shutter Magazine
Reading time:11 mins read

Our mission at So Many Angels is to use photography to transform children battling cancer into whatever they want to be when they grow up. We are still in the launch phase, and I want to share some of the steps we have taken to hopefully become a brand that is recognized for being the best at what we do. This article is not about the legal stuff you need to do to be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. These are just some thoughts that are fresh on my mind since the year I started sharing my dreams of this organization with others. Hopefully something here will help start you on your way.

5 Tips for Creating an Unforgettable Brand

Post author:Teri Fode
Post category:Branding Shutter Magazine
Reading time:12 mins read

Is your brand irresistible and unforgettable? Everyone, and I mean everyone, seems to be a photographer these days. We aren’t just competing with the pros, we’re competing with consumers who have smartphones with amazing cameras. There are five major points to master if you want to be a brand that’s irresistible. Get these right, and you’re on your way to standing out in your marketplace, no matter how crowded it is.

Your Brand Is Only as Strong as Your Customer Service

Post author:Skip Cohen
Post category:Branding Shutter Magazine
Reading time:10 mins read

Your brand defines everything about your business, from the quality of your work to your involvement in the community to your reputation. It’s about the power and frequency of word-of-mouth advertising and the experience people have working with you.

The Photographer’s Slow Season

Post author:Alissa Zimmerman
Post category:Business Shutter Magazine
Reading time:8 mins read

Welcome to the end-of-year change of pace. For most photographers, this is the time when business is slowing down and daily to-dos start to shift from being out in the field on photo shoots to hibernation in front of our computer screens. Now is the time to hunker down and plan for the success in the year ahead. It’s too easy to get lazy instead. Slacking off will hurt your business because busy season will return faster than you imagine. Here are a few ideas you can implement to make the most of your down time.

Email Marketing for Photographers: Email Sequences That Increase Portrait Profits

Post author:Phillip Blume
Post category:Marketing Shutter Magazine
Reading time:13 mins read

Can emails really drive print sales and increase your bottom line? If so, are you confused why your sales emails seem to go unanswered? Most photographers, especially shoot-and-burners, already use email to deliver online photo galleries to clients. For them, email is simply the easiest way to deliver final image downloads and essentially close the photographer-client transaction. Email delivery today is what burning photos onto CD’s used to be, hence the burn in shoot-and-burn. It feels clean and done. But is it smart?

Down to the Wire: 16 Last-Minute Ideas for Your Photography Business

Post author:Skip Cohen
Post category:Business Shutter Magazine
Reading time:9 mins read

It’s October, and we’re down to the wire as we wrap up 2017. We’ve got around 60 days to make a difference. Here are some last-minute things you can do that will impact your business.

Shoot for Success with Self-Promotion

Post author:Skip Cohen
Post category:Branding Business Marketing Shutter Magazine
Reading time:10 mins read

Many photographers act as if they’ve got a top-notch publicist on their payroll, and do nothing to promote their business or brand. They act as if self-promotion is a dirty word and not something worthy of their time, when in reality it’s one of the most important aspects of building any business. So, let’s get proactive and put you and your skillset in the spotlight.

Pushing Past the Wall

Post author:Laurin Thienes
Post category:Business Life Shutter Magazine
Reading time:7 mins read

You can read every business book until you’re blue in the face, but what happens when that isn’t enough, when you are stuck in a rut while just starting out, or, worse, stuck at a plateau after establishing your business? Here are five ways you can push past what seem like your limits.

Light Up Your Business: Building Brand Awareness With Marketing

Post author:Skip Cohen
Post category:Business Marketing Shutter Magazine
Reading time:9 mins read

So many of you have taken the approach of simply kicking back and waiting to see what happens to your business “naturally.” Guess what? Virtually nothing happens naturally in this business, which is why God created marketing. And just like building your skill set, marketing never stops. Let’s come up with a game plan or at least a check-off list for you to work with the rest of the year.

The Path to Success with Sal Cincotta

Post author:Sal Cincotta
Post category:Business Life Shutter Magazine
Reading time:11 mins read

As I sit here preparing to write my article this month, I am in awe of what we have accomplished in this short five years. You see, five years ago, I made a decision after my column in Rangefinder magazine was canceled that would change the course of my career and my company.