What Inspires You?
Saturday, Jan 31, 2009

We all need to be inspired from time to time. My favorite quote is, “Dreams are nothing more than goals with deadlines!” One of Terri’s and mines dreams is to own and fly a float plane. That was one of our major reasons for building and living on Lake Sawyer. Presently there aren’t any homeowners that have a float plane on the lake, so it rare to see one land. This morning, however, we were treated to a beautiful landing and take off! It was truly inspiring! So—time to set some goals. Today we will stop by our nearest air strip (5 minutes away) and pick up some information on flight lessons, determine cost and timelines. GOALS WITH A DEADLINE! I can’t wait to get started. We will keep you informed of our journey to realize our dreams! So, what inspires you? BH & TH

Is talent Overrated?
Friday, Jan 30, 2009

Last night I had the opportunity to hear some great music from a very talent artist. In fact, he will be one of our new musicians on Brucetunz.com. It always blows me away why extremely talented people don’t always make to the top of their profession. This guy was really amazing. I’ve known and played with countless musicians that play circles around many of the top performers, yet they never reach their true potential. I guess talent is overrated. You can be the most gifted photographer in the world but if the public doesn’t know this fact about you, then what’s the point? As artists, photographers and musicians, we have the “mind set” that if we ARE talented and DO talented things people are going to call us for our services. It just doesn’t work this way. One of my musicians buddies also on Brucetunz, Darren Motamedy, has played for years and has a loyal following locally. He has also recorded 8 different cds throughout his career that I felt have been as good or better than anything Kenny G has ever recorded. Darren’s sister has always acted as his agent, manager and marketing guru. Unfortunately his big break never came. As he finished his ninth cd last year, he decided to finally hire a professional music promoter. In just 4 weeks, one of his songs made it on the top 10 smooth jazz charts! Two weeks later, a second song also reached the charts. So what does all of this have to do with us photographers? Quite simply, talent is only one small piece of the puzzle. It takes knowing the right people and positioning yourself in the community and market place. If you’ve got talent, great! Do what it takes to let the world know that you have it.

Think Outside the Box!
Thursday, Jan 29, 2009

Hi everyone, Josh here, I’m giving the old man the night off! Today’s theme is thinking outside the box. I decided to write about this because today, for some reason, it just seemed like I was surrounded by outside the box thinkers! I was watching the news this morning and Fox was talking these 2 lawmakers from Minnesota that want to have government garage sale. Basically, their state is in the hole 6 billion dollars and they need some cash. In my state of Washington, they would cut services and raise taxes; that’s pretty much what most politicians would do! But not in Minnesota, they are thinking outside the box! Representative Laura Brod was quoted as saying, "The discussion is often 'do you tax more, [or] do you spend less?' But it seems to me that there is a third option out there, and that's reforming how government operates," said Brod. How cool is that, a politician thinking outside the box! Then later this morning my dad had a conference call with one of our Monthly Mentor Platinum Members from Texas named Mark. Mark has a new photographic product that showcases the glamour days of 1930’s Hollywood. Very cool stuff! His new venture is getting him all kinds of press in his area! He is thinking outside the box! About an hour later I spoke with a wonderful woman named Kirstin from the San Francisco area about joining The Monthly Mentor. Did she join? Yep, congratulations to Kirstin R. for being our newest Platinum Member! Anyway, she and I were trading ideas back and forth on how to develop more affordable products for our clients without lowering our prices and our reputations in the community. We came up with ways to spread the cost of our services out, kind of what we do for our 1 year baby plans. Definitely thinking outside the box Kirstin! My dad and I are always trying to think outside the box, you have to in today’s market. One of our newest special events will be our Pest Fest for the month of February. Instead of just sending an email out, we decided to try some new ways to market it. I won’t go into detail, but we are going to partner with the Humane Society and they will help us market to their donors list. And trust me, this is quite a list qualified prospects. All I did was call the head of marketing to get their support. Sometimes all it takes to think outside the box is a simple idea and a phone call. Sit down and think of some new ways to get people into your studio. I am not talking about lowering your prices, which is what everyone else is doing. Lower prices will not save your business, innovation and persistence will. Thanks to Mark for the great example today and to Kirstin, welcome to the family! –Josh -PS. There is a new image of the week and a new marketing critique posted, check them out!

A Day to Catch up!
Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009

Today was a great day at home to catch up with emails and producing many of our DVD transcripts of the WEBinars Josh and I have done over the past few months. The comments have been great from the participants in our WEBinars. We also have been signing up lots of new members. Many from out of the country! One of them is Arjen Eeken from the Netherlands. After our last WEBinars, Arjen sent us one of his marketing pieces for us to critique. Check out his marketing critique for this month! I also want to let you know that we will be having a booth at WPPI in a couple of weeks! We will be promoting My Studio Mentor, BruceTunz and Terri and my latest venture Send Out Cards. Hope to see you at WPPI! Till tomorrow! Have a great day! BH

Our work isn’t expensive…It’s priceless!
Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009

This was the slogan for Kodak years ago when they launched their nationwide magazine ads to the general public. The slogan hit home for me, like it has so many times before, again this weekend as one of my 25 year clients passed away. I had done all of her kid’s weddings, her 25th wedding anniversary, and countless family portraits. One of her daughters is even my hair stylist. I spoke to her daughter Tammy right after she had passed away; we were rescheduling my hair appointment. She made a comment to me that really reinforced the importance of what we do as image makers and the heirlooms we provide for our clients. “Bruce, your photography of my family has always been appreciated but has now taken on a whole new meaning. It’s now a priceless piece of art that can never be replaced,” said Tammy. I know it is hard setting a price for your photography, but take a moment to breathe and really look at what your images are worth. You are more than a photographer; you are an image creator and historian for your clients! This should be conveyed in your marketing, your studio message, and anytime you interact with your clients. Don’t just tell that what you do is special, show them. Before a consultation, I am sure that many of my prospective clients think I am just a photographer. But when they leave the studio, whether they booked or not, trust me, they are educated to the difference. Remember, an heirloom creator and personal historian is worth more than a photographer, show your clients the difference! The work you do isn’t expensive, it’s priceless! B.H. –PS. The image of the week will be updated tomorrow as well as a brand new marketing critique and print critique! Get excited, they’re good ones!

Guerilla Marketing…One Pen at a Time!
Sunday, Jan 25, 2009

I hope everyone had a great weekend! The book signing yesterday was a blast! I know my dad is looking forward to doing more of them in the future. I asked Bruce if I could do a quick blog tonight about something that my fiancé Melissa does to help market her mom’s plumbing business. But first, here is a little background on Melissa. She is the Director of Marketing for Pat’s Plumbing, one of the largest plumbing companies in the Seattle area. She has a unique perspective on marketing, much like I do, from growing up in a business. Pat’s is pretty cutting edge for a plumbing company and a lot of what I learn in marketing comes from watching Melissa! So thanks hunny! Anyway, Melissa also bartends 2 nights a week at my family’s favorite restaurant Armondo’s. This is actually where we met! Melissa always carries with her a purse full of Pat’s Plumbing pens. She even has a pocket full of them when she bartends. Basically she leaves them everywhere, literally! If we go out to dinner, she will leave it with the bill. She leaves them on counters and even gives them to customers at her second job. I know this sounds a little silly, but this is guerilla marketing at its best. And believe it or not, they get 4-6 calls a month on average because of the pens! It’s simple, easy, cheap, and it works! I guess the moral of this story is that there are marketing opportunities all around us all the time. The trick is to train your brain to think like a marketing professional. Stick with my dad and I, we’ll have you there in no time! Thanks everyone, have a great week! –Josh -PS. I almost forgot! Tomorrow my dad and I are broadcasting our LIVE webinar on Pricing YOUR Work for Profit…and MORE Profit! This webinar was an absolute hit last year; you don’t want to miss it! Register for it by going to www.marathonpress.com/education/webinars. Hope to see you in the room!

Wish me luck!
Friday, Jan 23, 2009

During the Jan. 7th and 21st Mentor Minutes, I mentioned that I have been asked to do a book signing for my new book The Relationographer. Well, tomorrows the day and while I am excited, I am also a little nervous! What if nobody shows up? I am a big fan of the crazy show on Comedy Central- Reno 911. If you haven’t seen it, it is a spoof on the COPS show and it’s hilarious! Anyway, one of my favorite episodes is when two of Reno’s finest are tasked with guarding celebrity Kenny Rogers at his book signing in the Reno mall. Nobody showed up! I hope that doesn’t happen to me, this is my worst nightmare. Trust me, we have created a ton of buzz for the signing and the PR machine has been on overdrive. But marketing and direct results from that marketing are 2 different things. “You can bring a horse to water, but can you make it drink!” Anyway, stay tuned in the coming days and I’ll let you know how it went. I’ll also show you how I turned this little book signing into a Hudson’s Designer Portraits event, complete with images on display and a portrait credit contest! What an opportunity! Wish me luck! –B.H.

Don’t Give Up!
Thursday, Jan 22, 2009

Try to stay focused on today and do the tasks at hand. Don’t give up and do what you need to do to move forward. You can never give up! I had something happen at the studio today that is a great example of this. I have two clients that I have followed up with numerous times, I mean, numerous times! One came in to pick up and pay for her beautiful 30x40 watercolor and the other finally placed her order for a session I did a year ago! Yes, even your “studio mentor” has challenging clients, but you have to stick with them. Persistence is key, a positive attitude is mandatory, and you have to always follow-up and follow through! I know with the current business climate out there it is tough, but trust me guys, we are all going to get through it together! Have a great night everyone and I’ll see you tomorrow! B.H. –PS. Thanks again to everyone who attended the webinar last night! Out next one will be on Jan. 26th @ 7pm CST and it will cover pricing! This webinar was our most popular one last year and I can’t tell you how many satisfied photographers walked away from it. If you have always struggled with pricing your work, invest an hour with Josh and I, we’ll treat you right!

The PR Machine is working!
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009

A few blogs ago I mentioned that I was asked to do a book signing at a local fish and chips restaurant that I featured in my book The Relationographer. Since then we have been working closely with their marketing department getting the word out. One way to promote yourself or your business is with a press release! I am finding out that writing these is an art form in itself. In the future I will share with you a formula that seems to be working great! In addition to the press release, we provide them with a current bio, headshot, logo, chapter outline, and what local businesses were featured. So far the work is paying off nicely! We also sent a media packet to a few local papers and all 4 chambers that I belong to. As of today, my book signing is featured in 2 newspapers and was the topic of 2 chamber’s newsletters! I am even on the restaurants reader board! So what can you take from this? Well, I am not saying you should write a book, but what are something’s that make your studio or you unique? Do you volunteer at a homeless shelter? Do you donate photography to a charity? Are you a member of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep? Virtually anything is newsworthy, but the local papers need to know about it. The more notoriety you have, the more people will know about your business. Trust me, even though this is a book signing, I am still a studio owner, and you bet I will have prints on display! This is another way for me to be seen in the community, period! Write a press release and see what happens, you just never know where your face might end up! I’ll let you know what kind of turnout we have on Saturday, wish me luck! –B.H. PS. Thank you to all the attendees of tonight’s webinar on Maximizing YOUR Referral Network! I hope to see all of you next Monday for my webinar on Pricing, should be a good one!

WOM Marketing
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009

As you know, there are many forms of marketing out there. Some take the BIG bucks to implement and others won’t cost you anything. WOM, or word of mouth, marketing is one of those forms that are free to those whom choose to use it wisely! What do I mean by that? In my opinion, I think the vast majority of businesses to do maximize their referral network. “But Bruce, all my friends and family know I am in business, who else is there,” you’re probably thinking? Trust me, your referral network spans far beyond your friends, family, even your clients! Tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 21th) at 7pm CST, Josh and I will be broadcasting a live webcast on MOW Marketing- Maximizing YOUR Referral Network! Have you felt lately that you’re just not getting the referrals you feel you should be? Invest an hour with Josh and I and you will learn: (1) Why WOM Marketing is so Effective (2) Creating a BUZZ Your Clients Will Talk About (3) Our HS Senior Referral Program (4) How to Maximize YOUR Network…It’s Larger Than You Think! (5) And Lastly, Josh and I Will Go-Over, Step by Step, Our Successful Referral Program With a High-End Business! With money tight for everyone these days, WOM marketing is something we should all be concentrating on and implementing as much as possible! I hope you can join us! –B.H.

You can learn from the inauguration!
Monday, Jan 19, 2009

Marketing and merchandising comes in all shapes and sizes. Tomorrow’s inauguration and the lead up to it has been a lesson in great marketing and amazing PR opportunities. No matter which side of the aisle you lean on, you have to admit that the democrats and Obama’s team have done a masterful job of making his transition to power a truly monumental spectacle. What can we learn from this and how can we use it in our businesses? (1) Make everything a PR opportunity! From train rides to which dog will the Obama’s choose, each step of the way is a golden nugget of media attention in which to capitalize on. Events at your studio will also command the same attention. (2) Perception is reality- The more you hear something, the more you believe it. BLANK Photography Studio- The finest wedding photography in the BLANK area. Always remember that in the minds of a consumer, perception is reality. (3) History in the making! Yes, one of the reasons why this inauguration is such a big event is because of the historical significance. What can you do in your studio to make some history, even if it is on a relatively smaller scale? Maybe it is an anniversary or you received a special award? Turn a little bit of history into a PR opportunity! So, tomorrow, I want you to watch, learn, and take some notes on how things unfold. You never know what marketing ideas may come from it! Also, the image above was taken in 1948 by photographer Abbie Rowe. I thought the historic image taken during the Truman Administration was fitting for tonight’s blog, don’t you? Have a great week everyone and we’ll see you tomorrow. –Bruce & Josh -PS. A new image of the week is posted, check it out!

Self-Promotion
Saturday, Jan 17, 2009

I spoke with a photographer the other day about the importance of being known in your community. Many photographers probably don’t do enough self promotion in their area and thus are not really known throughout their community. The crazy thing about this is that self-promotion is virtually free! Here’s what I mean, let’s say that your studio has been doing some free photography for a local concert hall, chamber, whatever, and you are now being honored by them for your contribution. You’re probably thinking, “Sweet, but what is a plaque really going to do for my business?” Here would be my plan of action: (1) First and foremost, let your exciting clients know about it. Put it in your newsletter, on your website, and send an e-blast. This helps you build creditability. (2) Draft and send a Press Release to all the local papers, news stations, service clubs, and chambers. Trust me, all of these organizations are looking for stories, you just have to provide them with one. I would also include a list of interview questions, a bio, headshot, and logo. Basically make it a no-brainer for them! (3) And lastly, get in the mindset that it is ok to promote yourself! This is hard for some people, but this is the free marketing that will help you build-up a following in your community! One of our Monthly Mentor Members, Kevin Conners, won 2007 San Diego Portrait Photographer of the Year. Yeah, this was a great honor, but Kevin saw the potential for this to be more than a pat on the back. When you log onto his website, what do you think is the first image you see? That’s right, the trophy he received! Talk about separating yourself for the competition! To sum up this blog, try to become a better self promoter, it’s free and it will help you get noticed in the community. If you enter a photo contest and win something, promote it! If you donate your talents to a charity, promote it! A few weeks ago I blogged about some snow pictures that I gave to our local paper, that were then featured on the cover right before Christmas. Photographers always ask me, “Does this self-promotion stuff really get you business?” You bet it does! It also opens a lot of other marketing doors for you as well. So far I have 2 offers from 2 local restaurants to have my work put on display there. That’s right, they approached me for a display, all because I took 5 minutes, contacted the editor of the paper (who I know from Rotary), and provided them with some images. Not all marketing has to cost an arm and a leg; you just have to put yourself out there! Oh yeah, the image above is from an e-blast we did to our clients last year congratulating my doctor on being named one of the top surgeons in Seattle! Plus this guy is not only my doctor, but he is a client as well. Self-promotion can also come from your client’s accomplishments as well. Just something to think about this weekend! I hope you are having a great Saturday, see you tomorrow! B.H.

An insurance company that actually cares?
Thursday, Jan 15, 2009

Today Josh received an email from Progressive Insurance, the company where Josh has his policy. He is always raving about this company. Anyway, I’ll let him tell you the story and then I’ll relate it back to the photography business. –B.H.- Hi everyone, Josh here with our first “duel” blog! So anyway, I know what you are thinking, “Here they go again blogging about something that doesn’t have to do with photography!” You’re right, it’s not F-Stops, PhotoShop, or Hista-thingies, but what happened to me today caused me to be excited about an auto insurance company! Trust me, if someone can get excited about insurance, they can do the same for your photography business! The image above is a screen capture of an email I received today from Progressive. They email their customers about once a month, usually with a survey to find out how you like their service. Then I usually get a personally phone call from a Progressive employee every 3 months making sure that I am still a satisfied customer. This company has it going on! Not only are they competitive, but they really take care of you. Plus, they seem to actually care! I know what a concept! So anyway, today I receive an email from them stating this: “Were you affected by the recent floods? Dear JOSHUA, We hope you and your family are safe from the flooding in your area. We recognize you may have a lot to deal with right now and the last thing you should have to worry about is your vehicle insurance. If you're concerned about maintaining your coverage or need extra time to make a payment, please contact us at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737). We appreciate your business and are always here for you, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thank you and stay safe. Sincerely, Jeffery -Jeffery Ewing, Washington Product Manager, Progressive Group of Insurance Companies.” I was so impressed that I emailed back and told them I wanted to be in their series of commercials! Wow! Ok, here is my dad with the conclusion. –Josh- So, what does this have to do with your business? Everything! Are you truly there for your clients? Do you really care? I am sure you do, but do your clients know this? Progressive is a great example of a company that is not in the auto insurance business, but the relationship building business. People want to buy products and services from other people, not a company. Anytime you can put a face and a personal touch on your business, you will become a person who cares, not a business that takes. I know this sound’s trivial, but every time we hear of a client or a family member of a client who’s passed away or is having a rough time, we send flowers. We also let our clients into our lives; we talk about our family and share our trials and tribulations with them. When you do this, you and your clients become more like family, rather than a consumer buying a product. Something to ponder I guess. Thanks everyone, see you tomorrow! B.H.

Goodbye to 75 Degrees!
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2009

I’m back from PPA and excited to start sharing some of the great interviews I recorded for your up-coming Monthly Mentor Program CD’s! It was nice drying out from the Seattle snow, rain, and flooding! I got to visit with many of our Monthly Mentor Members and photographers from all over the world that enjoy www.mystudiomentor.com. I was even invited to speak in Mexico this year, anyone up for a road trip? Everyone was in good spirits but the trade show seemed pretty subdued. I’m putting the finishing touches on this month’s Monthly Mentor Program, its due out next week. The theme for this month is “From Conception to Completion.” It features 2 heavy hitters in the industry, the amazing Sandy Puc and Rangefinder’s publisher/ WPPI founder Steve Sheanin. The amount of insight in life and business these two high achieving individuals possess is truly mind boggling. One of my favorite quotes from the interviews came from Sandy, she said, “Life is not a rehearsal!” Now is the time to do what it takes to make things happen! See you tomorrow! B.H. –PS. New image of the week will be posted tonight, try to guess who the celebrity is!

Bruce is on assignment at Imaging USA!
Monday, Jan 12, 2009

Bruce Hudson is on the loose at Imaging USA! He is armed with a digital recorder and so far has clocked 6 solid interviews and still has a few more left to do! Hi everyone, Josh here again, my dad is still in Phoenix gathering interviews for up-coming Monthly Mentor issues. Every few hours the old man calls the studio to check in on things and it sounds like he is having a blast. When I talked to him this afternoon he had just finished his 6th interview at the show and he was completely jazzed up. Some industry leaders that will be featured in up-coming issues are Stephen Sheanin (founder of WPPI and publisher of RangeFinder) and Sandy Puc, just to name a few. Both my dad and I are committed to bringing you The Monthly Mentor Member the biggest names in photographic education today, so much so that my dad actually takes time away from our family to get the interviews! Thank you dad for all you do, you’re awesome and I’ll see you tomorrow at the airport! Josh

Give Your Best Customers a Reason to Come Back…and More Often!
Sunday, Jan 11, 2009

Greetings everybody, Josh here, my dad is at PPA in Phoenix right now so I am filling in today. This morning I stopped to get coffee for me and my fiancée Melissa at our local Starbucks. I know, what a shock, a Seattleite getting Starbucks on a Sunday morning! Anyway, I have always admired the way Starbucks treats its customers. Their goal is to make Starbucks your third place. You have your work, your home, your Starbucks! They have done this with great customer service and a sense of belonging, almost like a culture at each location. It’s nice when you know your baristas by name and they know what drink. But now they are taking this one step further with their Starbucks Gold Card. This is what we have done at the studio with our Première Portrait Club. These clubs give you an incentive to want to come back more often. My dad and I have discussed this in detail many times before, so I won’t bore you with the details, but here are some of our benefits in a nutshell to remind you: (1) No session fees (2) 10% off wall portraits (3) 2nd tier pricing for all gift sized prints (4) 15% off frames (5) Special PPC only events. So you are probably thinking, “What impressed you about Starbucks Gold Card?” Well, I think they took your typical coffee club (you know the punch card that every stand out there has, 10 coffees and the 11th one is free) and stepped it up a notch. There is an application you must fill out and pay a $25 annual fee. The wording on the brochure reads, “Starbucks Gold is the card for people who REALY love Starbucks.” It goes even further by saying, “Starbucks Gold is for those of you we see everyday. You’re our heart and soul. You’re the ones who keep us going!” Starbucks is clearly defining who this card and club is directed too, which is their top customers. This gives it some exclusivity, which is essential for creating a successful repeat customer club in my book. If everyone can be a member, what makes it special? Here are some of the perks for carrying a Gold Card: (1) 10% off all purchases made at any Starbucks (2) You get a free drink when you sign-up for the card in a store (3) Free beverage on your birthday (4) There are card holder only discounts and events throughout the year (5) Free AT&T Wi-Fi access for up to 2 hours each day! You also receive a welcome packet with 3 free drink coupons for you to hand out to your friends and family. I know all this sounds a little dull compared to Photo Shop and cameras, but if you don’t have your clients coming back, there’s nothing to shoot or fix! One of our saving graces at our studio is the fact that we cater our business around our top clients. Our PPC’s keep us going, even during these economic times. Come up with your own way to say thank you to your top clients, it could mean the difference between making it or closing your doors. Have fun at PPA dad, your son is slaving away at home! Have a great week everyone! Josh

LIVE Webcast Schedule for 2009!
Saturday, Jan 10, 2009

Josh and I have really putting on LIVE webcasts for Marathon Press the past few months. All in all we created 15 different programs dealing with sales and marketing. Our goal has been to share with everyone the most content rich educational experience on the web today. “I just wanted to take a minute to let you know how much I appreciate your time. I have truly been inspired and I have heard from many others how much they learn from you. You have such a wealth of not only information, but experience. Thank you for not only sharing your talent, but your stories and life as well. Best wishes,” said Julie Williams of Harriman, UT. Thanks Julie! I can’t tell you how much it means to me to receive your emails and phone calls after every webcast thanking me. Josh and I truly put our hearts and souls into everyone we do. Continuing you’re education on a daily basis is extremely important in any industry. Trust me, you have to keep moving forward in your business at all times, especially with today’s current market conditions. To all of you who attended our 15 LIVE webcasts last year, I thank you! Josh and I have also received a ton of emails asking if we are going to re-broadcast any of them or make them available on DVD. The answers are yes…and yes! We have just released our 2009 LIVE webcast schedule for the first half of the year! Here it is: -Jan. 21st: Word of Mouth Marketing –Jan. 26th: Pricing YOUR Work for Profit…and MORE Profit! –Feb. 2nd: The Art of Donating to Charity Auctions –Feb. 4th: MEMBER’S ONLY Webcast on Projection Sales! –Feb. 10th: Relationship Marketing at its Best, Creating Newsletters! –March 2nd: Pin-Point Target Marketing, Making the MOST out of YOUR Marketing Dollars –March 9th: Win-Win Marketing –March 18th: Speaking in YOUR Community –March 23rd: Clients for LIFE, The Premiere Portrait Club! –April 8th: Secrets of the Affluent Buyer –April 13th: Displaying in YOUR Community –April 20th: On-Demand Marketing, the Magic of E-Newsletters! –May 4th: Creating and Selling LARGE Wall Décor, We’re not Talking About the BIG 8x10 Here! –May 11th: Portrait Safaris. Wow, we are going to be busy! Josh and I are also in the process of converting all of these webcasts into DVD’s. It will be called the Mentor Education On-Demand Marketing and Sales DVD Series! Coming soon, watch for it! We will post a complete schedule as well as detailed content information on the Speaking Schedule’s page in the next few days. So mark your calendars and join Josh and me for some education, inspiration, and motivation in 2009! B.H.

TAKE CONTROL!
Thursday, Jan 08, 2009

“Do what you do so well that people can’t help telling others about you!” WALT DISNEY There are many things is this world that we have no control over. Earthquakes, the weather, and of course economic turmoil! One of the things we do have control over is the attitude and the level of passion we put into things. At my weekly Rotary meeting today we had a young teacher who gave an incredible presentation on an aviation specialty high school in our area. This school has had tremendous success and has received numerous grants from across the country and particularly the Gates Foundation here in Seattle. Today as every media outlet is touting doom and gloom (not that things aren’t tough out there), it was refreshing and inspiring to experience such a high level of passion for what this young man was doing with his life. No wonder this school, its students, and its teachers are doing so well. WE control our attitudes. WE control our level of enthusiasm and passion in our lives, not the media or any other factor. Concentrate on what DO have control of! That is every wedding, family portrait, senior session, or baby plan you do. I loved the catch phrase for the school’s logo- “Where the sky isn’t the limit!” B.H.

Win-Win Marketing- Become a rock star in YOUR community!
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009

If you attended the tour last year or sat in on our webinar July 24th on win-win marketing, you probably understand now how amazing and cost effective it can be. It’s free marketing once you have elevated yourself to rock star status! But maybe you don’t want to be a rock star? That’s ok too! But I tell you, dollar for dollar, this form of marketing will knock your socks off. Here is a great example of what I am talking about. About a year ago I finished my book The Relationographer: The Art of Relationship Marketing. In one of the chapters I wrote about a longtime local fish and chips restaurant named Ivar’s Seafood. I recently went to lunch at Ivar’s and gave a copy of my book to the manager I interviewed for the chapter. A few days later he called me to tell me that he had sent the copy of the book to corporate…and they loved it! This is not a small operation; Ivar’s has tons of restaurants all over Seattle, so for them to take the time to read it means a lot. Not only that, they want to do a book signing for me! I’m like, “Me, a book signing? Sweet!” Ivar’s also offered to promote the signing to all the major TV and newspaper organizations in the Seattle area. This is where my brain goes into marketing overdrive! Even though I wrote my book for general small businesses, this signing will still be an amazing opportunity to promote the studio as well. As soon as I finish this blog I will be putting the finishing touches on the press releases for the event. I will be sending one to each of the 4 chamber of commerce’s I belong to, 2 business newspapers, and an e-blast to all my clients! Trust me, my primary goal of this is not to sell books (although that would be nice), but just having this opportunity to create some big time buzz is what I am after. So, am I a rock star? Not really. Is it awesome marketing for my studio business? You bet! For all of you out there reading this, try to come up with ways to get your name out there in the community. You don’t have to right a book, but this win-win marketing stuff really does work! I’ll keep you posted about the event, more to come soon! B.H. By the way, I need to do a little shout out to my buddy Ray! It was great talking with you today and I’ll see you at PPA this weekend! I’ll bring you a copy of the book. If you want your own copy of The Relationographer, go to the educational investments page, add the book to your cart, and enter in promo code: Ivars. I’ll pay for the shipping! Saves you $7 bucks! Talk about a win-win!

Shooting for fun- Part Two
Monday, Jan 05, 2009

As promised back on December 22nd I am giving you an update on our snow portraits taken on the way to work. To make sense of today’s blog, please read the blog from December 22nd, thanks! Ok, welcome back. So here’s your update- After contacting our local paper on the 22nd, we receive a response with in a couple of hours. They were very excited to be able to use the images and we emailed them right away, so they could be their deadline. So, what was the result? They used all 3 images we sent over on the cover of the newspaper. The photo credit reads under each photo: Image Created by Maple Valley’s Own Bruce Hudson- www.hudsonportraits.com. Wow, pretty cool stuff! But this is not where the story ends by any means. A couple of days after the paper came out Terri and I went to breakfast at a new restaurant that had just opened. The food was excellent and we were able to chat with the owner as she was reading her “hot off the presses” local paper. I asked her if she liked the images of the snow on the front page. “Those are gorgeous, I wish I had some beautiful work like this of local scenery that I could use to decorate my restaurant,” she replied. “Well, I happen to know the photographer,” I said with a big smile! “Bingo,” I thought to myself as I excused from the table. I went to my car and grabbed a copy of my new best friend, our 2009 Truce Fine Art calendar; it features images from the northwest. As I showed her the various months’ images, she went nuts! “Would I be able to use any of these in my restaurant,” she asked? “You bet, would you mind if I had a little plaque with my name, logo and information on it next to the prints, is that ok,” I asked? The rest is history my friends. We are now preparing 7 Truce prints for display in her restaurant. I’ll keep you updated on the status of the display and when it is up! As always, stay tuned to www.mystudiomentor.com! To get your work and your business out in the community is not that hard, sometimes it only takes a phone call! On a side note, Josh checked the hits on our Hudson’s site after the local paper published our images and I am happy to report that for the past few weeks we have seen our hits climb by 35%! Most of which originated from the Maple Valley area. I love FREE marketing! See you tomorrow! B.H. –PS. New image of the week is up, check it out!

The 2009 Seattle Wedding Show…How Do YOU Stand Out From The Crowd?
Sunday, Jan 04, 2009

Happy Sunday everyone! This is Josh filling in for my pops today. In case you haven’t heard, I got engaged a few weeks back and my fiancée Melissa and I are planning a wedding for fall 2009. Anyone know any good photographers? Just kidding, I think I have it covered. Anyway, Melissa and I spent a few hours yesterday at the Seattle Wedding Show. It was fun for me because I grew up going to the show every year. I would help set up the both and when I got older, even helped man it. We haven’t done the show for a few years because at the end of the day, it just wasn’t penciling out. Plus, it seemed like most people were price shopping, not really the kind client’s we aim to attract. Sorry, back to the present here. There was something like 100 photographers at the show out of about 200 booths. How do you separate yourself? To Melissa and me it seemed like everyone was the same. Not in the sense of the booth designs, some were defiantly better than others, but everyone seemed to have the same style. All the albums were digital and each image had a ton of Photoshop done to them. I am not saying this was bad thing, but as a consumer it was a little overwhelming. I tried to imagine myself as someone who knew nothing about photography as Melissa and I walked through the show. I know this sounds kind of elementary, but you need to consider what a consumer is thinking when you market to them. I think sometimes we assume that know more than they do. Anyway, out of the entire show there were 3 photographers that stood out to me. Here are some reasons why: (1) One of them was because of their booth and their use of large framed portraits hanging on a wall. Most of the booths had flat screens with slide shows on them. So by going the portrait route, they defiantly had something different to offer. (2) One photographer had his wife and 2 younger sons working the booth with him. I can totally relate to this! It was nice seeing how family oriented the photographer was. This defiantly made him stand out to a lot of potential clients, his booth was packed. (3) And lastly, sometimes less is more. Having a ton of albums, gift books, a flat screen, a staff of 5 people, and so on is great, but it was a little intimidating. One photographer had a simple yet elegant booth with one large image on display. The image was shot at a wedding in Turkey and had some fantastic impact. You figure 95% of the images on display at other booths were more of a photo-journalistic style, so this 50 inch canvas portrait of a 2,000 year old church and a gorgeous bride and groom was something different. This photographer also had a client (a bride from last summer) working the booth with him. Her album was one of the ones on display. Needless to say, I was impressed! By the way, this photographer is actually a Monthly Mentor Gold Member! Way to go Chris, both Melissa and I were impressed! So, long story short, I don’t have all the answers for how to stand out at a wedding show, but I think it is important to train your mind to think like a consumer. Also, don’t be afraid to try something different. Anything unique that you can do to stand out from the crowd is worth it, especially during these times of intense competition! Have a great Sunday everyone! Josh

I’m So Excited
Friday, Jan 02, 2009

Why am I so excited? Because I was able to open up my schedule and come to PPA Phoenix! Because of our 50 city tour last year, going to PPA just wasn’t in the cards. But I had an appointment reschedule, so I am going now! What I’m the most excited about is the opportunity to get together and meet many of our Monthly Mentor Members. If you are a Member going to PPA and would like to hang with myself and other members, please let me know so I can include you in our plans. Nothing formal—just getting together with some “like minded” individuals. This is one of the most important things you can do right now to grow your business, hang around like minded people! Sorry for the short blog today, but I have been in and out of the studio. Tomorrows will be a good one though. Remember my blog on Dec. 22nd entitled “Shooting for fun?” If not, read it real quick. Ok, done? Tomorrow I will share with you what happened to those images and where they are now. I love FREE marketing! Don’t forget to email me through this site and let me know if you want to get together at PPA. Hope to hear from you! BH

Happy New Year!!!
Thursday, Jan 01, 2009

I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy yourself last night bringing in the New Year! This was our first New Year’s Eve at the lake and we found out that fireworks are a huge part of the New Year’s festivities out here! Terri and I laid in bed at midnight and were treated to a great display provided by all our neighbors! Next year we will be more prepared. Any excuse to blow stuff up and shoot things into the air, is fine with me! So, have you set any New Year resolutions? Here are 5 tips from psychologist Dr. John Grohl on how to keep your resolutions alive throughout the year! 1: Pick realistic goals 2: Define your goals 3: Set a schedule 4: Do not be upset by setbacks 5: Enlist additional support and help So you are probably thinking, “Okay Bruce, that sounds great. What is one of your resolutions?” 1: Realistic goal-Put more time and energy into keeping in touch with my top clients. 2: Define- I will send 2 cards per day (approximately 520 cards total, 5 days a week) to my top clients. Some of these will be clients I worked with last month, some I haven’t heard from in a while. My goal is to let them know that I’m thinking of them and not trying to sell to them. “SEND to give, not SEND to get”. This is the motto of our newest marketing partner, Send Out Cards. 3: Set a schedule- I will access our list of TOP 500 and send 2 cards per day before noon. 4: Set backs? This is a very obtainable goal. I don’t foresee any set backs. If I miss a day I can just double up the next day! 5: Enlist additional support and help- if you haven’t heard me talk or seen me write about Send Out Cards, then you are in for a big treat! It’s an amazing way to send high quality, personalized (with your images and handwriting) cards to your clients for a $1.35 including postage! Please do yourself a favor and go to www.sendoutcards.com/hudsons and check out why I am so excited about this! You can even take a test drive and send a couple cards out on me! If you have any questions please call Terri at 206-715-5006 or email her at terri@hudsonteam.com Well, I hope you have a great New Years day and good luck with your own resolutions! Till tomorrow, BH

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