PPSOP instructor Charlie Borland lets you in on the daily 'exercise' routine of a professional photographer.  If you are experienced in outdoor and nature photography and would like to take things to the next level.  Sign up for Charlie's class 'The business of Outdoor and Nature Photography' which we are offering only ONE time this summer.  This class is only being offered in July.  So, sign up today!  Charlie has been a successful commercial/nature/adventure photographer for over 30 years.

Money! Everybody wants it. Everybody needs it! But that increasingly elusive commodity is something required to live life and the ugly truth is that it is harder to come by for many people.

Each day when I get to my office I often ask myself this question: "What am I going to do today to make $500.00?"

Some days I have a plan and some days I do not. Some days I do close a deal and some days I do not, but the very reason I ask this question is to keep my head in a marketing and selling mindset. That power of positive thinking that keeps me focused on the task at hand: promote myself, my business, and my imagery, every single day in one form or another.

I don't always make $500.00 in a day or even a dime on other days, but other days I make 10x that for a day rate.  It is all about balance, but without a daily routine...balance is impossible.

One of the best strategies to stay focused on the task at hand is to set goals and we have heard this many times, but if you have your head in the following place when you fire up your computer in the morning.....you will succeed!

Some steps on staying focused: Write down your goals and follow them religiously. Here are some ideas:

Office goals:

• Process 3-5 RAW files and upload them to your e-commerce site. Without a refreshed website making money gets tougher.
• Diversify. If you are selling stock, start looking at an e-commerce solution for selling prints on your website, or vice versa.
• If you are well established in the profession, consider an agent or a gallery that will market your fine art if you are not already

Shooting goals:

• Without new photography there is nothing to sell and without marketing there will be little success in selling new photography.
• Plan and schedule your shoots as part of your overall goals. We all want to shoot, all the time. Office work sucks compared to shooting, but without a good balance between photography and business management, the business may become out of balance.
• Review the markets. Observe what's being published. What is the news covering in relation to nature? As I write this, the U.S. weather is strange and natural disasters are widespread with torrential rains and snow melt flooding some parts of the country while forest fires are burning in other parts. Shoot for the markets.

Marketing goals:

• How many clients or potential clients do you plan to contact each week? Divide that client list into a manageable quantity that you can contact each day. Don't make it so daunting that you begin to avoid it. Try 3 per day.
• Hate phone calls? Try email. Just keep in mind that emails are rejected by some and favored by others and it's worth determining who favors which.
• For those that discourage email, print postcards on your inkjet printer and mail at least 3 everyday.
• Be persistent! Keep your work in front of buyers whoever they may be.
• Present yourself professionally because as you know, the competition is fierce. If you are doing postcards and mailing them, consider getting design opinions from a designer.

Review regularly:

• Establish your weaknesses and address solutions. I hate cold calling, so I commit to doing at least one since that is better than NONE.
• Remind yourself of your successes and then plan steps for continued success.
• Don't fear rejection, rather expect it. It is part of the business. If you are rejected, just move on to the next one.
• Keep making appointments and contacting new leads.
• And love what you do and do what you love!

Marketing and self promotion is tough, but without a plan of action and tackling the steps required, there is little chance of getting up tomorrow morning and making $500!  You have to start somewhere and $500 a day is a great goal!

Also check out: 11 PHOTOGRAPHS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD

Recommended Reading:

• Bryan Peterson's Understanding Composition Field Guide
• Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide
• Understanding Flash Photography
• Beyond Portraiture: Creative People Photography
• Understanding Close-Up Photography: Creative Close Encounters with Or Without a Macro Lens
• Understanding Shutter Speed: Creative Action and Low-Light Photography Beyond 1/125 Second
• Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera

Check out Charlie's blog at http://www.pronaturephotographer.com/

Charlie Borland
PPSOP instructor