The Daily Mentor Minute Blog | Bruce Hudson

Happy New Year Everyone!
Thursday, Dec 31, 2009

Let’s face it, for most of us in business, 2009 was not the best year! But, we can all leave it behind us now and look to the future. Someone once told me that I am where I am in life because of blind luck. I told her no, I am where I am because of hard work, determination, and an optimistic attitude. Take the New Year as a fresh start opportunity in your life and your business. Let’s all work hard, educate ourselves, take some risks, and prosper in 2010! I thank you for another wonderful year and I hope Josh and I have been able to provide you with some ideas for growing your business this year. Stay tuned, we are going to make 2010 the best year yet at Mystudiomentor.com! Love all of you, Happy New Year! -Bruce

I’ve never seen anything like this in 27 years of photographing high school seniors!
Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009

Yesterday I had a great senior session with a talented yet shy young lady. The first half of her session was done at our studio, what we call our indoor-outdoor session. She had some wonderful expressions but I could sense from her body language that she was a bit out of her comfort zone. For the second half of her session we traveled to a ball field that was a few miles away from the studio. This senior just so happens to be one of the top high school girls softball players on the west coast, pretty impressive! Her high school team has won state 2 out of the last 3 years, which she is captain of by the way. She also plays on a select team that competes all over the country. When she put on her uniform and catcher’s gear, both Josh and I witnessed an amazing transformation. Her confidence level went off the charts and I was able to capture some incredible images. Her body language and even mannerisms changed, it was almost magical! One of the biggest reasons for the success of this session was because she came in for a consultation. Josh met with her and her mom to discuss their vision. Throughout the process he and I learned about her amazing softball skills and the obvious passion she has for it. Yes, you can do a consultation over the phone and stress the importance of props and clothes and how they will enhance the senior experience, but in my opinion it doesn’t measure up to building that personal, one on one relationship. Today’s seniors are looking for something unique, something that no one else has. You have to dig a little deeper and peal back those layers, you have to find the true personality of each one of the kids. When you do that, you’ll see the transformation. A comfortable subject looks better through the lens, period. The better the images are the more they will want to have them all! Above is just one of the shots in a series I did while she was “throwing down” to second base. This chick has an arm, Josh’s had still hurts! Have a great Wednesday everyone and I hope you enjoyed the new image of the week. -Bruce

There is a right and a wrong way! A thought from today’s marketing meeting…
Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009

For those of you who are new to Mystudiomentor.com…welcome! Bruce and I have been inundated with calls, emails, tweets, and messages from photographers all over the globe who attended our program at Sarah Petty’s websummit. As many of you seasoned Mystudiomentor.com fans know, Bruce and I are really into marketing. It’s like a sickness really! It keeps us up at night, but in a good way. Our heads are filled with ideas to grow our studio business; we almost get a high from it. Once a month we meet with our marketing inner circle group, which is a collection of business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs who want to get better at promoting themselves. It’s a ton of fun! We filmed a little bit of today’s meeting and will be posting it on Facebook, watch for it at Facebook.com/mystudiomentor. Anyway, today we volunteered to be in the “Hot Seat.” What’s the hot seat? Basically, we submit one of our marketing pieces to all of the members (30-40 people) and they critique it for us. Ok, they usually beat you up pretty bad! Even a really good piece is going to have some flaws, but there is a right and a wrong way to market your business depending on the method. Keith, the dad of the facilitator Travis, said it best today, “How many of you have tried something [a direct mail postcard] like this before and had horrible results? It’s not that the idea was bad, you just didn’t do it right!” Keith is blunt and usually right, he’s one of the top marketing minds I know and it’s amazing how many ideas we get from him. Did I mention that he is one of our best clients as well? Always remember to get some honest feedback anytime you are developing a marketing campaign. Your clients are a great resource for this. After all, you are marketing to them! As all of you Gold and Platinum Members know, we do marketing critiques for you! Just remember that there is a right and a wrong way to do things when it comes to marketing, do be afraid to ask for some feedback before you spend all of the money! I hope everyone had a great day, see you tomorrow! -Josh

The new site is LIVE!!!
Monday, Dec 28, 2009

Just testing out the blog, seems to be working fine! We are working hard on getting the home page finished and adding some more video. If you are new to mystudiomentor.com, feel free to check out the site and view some of the content. For you loyal members out there, hope you are enjoying the updated look! We'll be adding some new content in the coming weeks, check back often! For updates on the site's progress please become a fan at www.facebook.com/mystudiomentor, you'll also get a $10 gift card to spend as well! Thanks! Bruce and Josh

A Christmas Present from YOU!
Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009

As the end of the year approaches and all of us are scrambling to get those last minute details in order, Christmas is a time for celebration, relaxation, and family togetherness. It’s also a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to new beginnings. Each and every day Bruce and I receive emails, phone calls, Facebook messages, and tweets from all of you about the content we post on this blog, in our monthly mentor publication, and on Facebook. The best gift we could hope to receive this Christmas is from you! Thank you for all of your support, all of you are truly the reason why we put our heart and souls into providing you with ideas to grow your business. I answered an email from a nice woman in the UK a few days ago and it just made my day! To think that someone out there in a whole other country found our site, read our blogs, and took the time to send me an email is amazing! All of your thoughts mean the world to us and it gratifies all of our hard work every day. Both Bruce and I hope you continue to follow us on the blog, Facebook, our email newsletter, the monthly mentor subscription, and Twitter during the up-coming New Year! We are excited to announce that the rebuild of our Mystudiomentor site is in full swing, we are hoping to have the new site up before our participation in the Joy to the World Websummit on Dec. 28th, so watch for that! Have a great Wednesday and we’ll see you tomorrow! –Josh -PS. A new image of the week will be up later today!

Sometimes all it takes is the right offer!
Monday, Dec 21, 2009

Notice something different about this year’s Christmas shopping? EVERYTHING is on sale! Even my beloved Nordstrom’s has items on sale. This is what happens during a recession, everything is devalued in order to entice consumers. It’s easy to start slashing your portrait prices, but unlike the big box stores, we don’t have the luxury of high volume when it comes to sales. So what’s the alternative then, you have to compete right? One thing that has worked for us is valued added and incentive driven offers. You know the “buy this to get that” offer. Today we emailed our monthly studio success tip that covered our gift card incentive for Christmas gifts. Didn’t get the email today? Email me at josh@mystudiomentor.com and I’ll add you to the list and send you December’s issue. Anyway, we are offering credit back for gift card purchases this holiday season. It seems to be working nicely. For example, a mom and dad came in today to buy a gift card for their daughter. She is starting a new career in real estate and needs a headshot. Mom and dad didn’t want to pay for the whole thing, but wanted to buy enough to make it affordable for her. Long story short, they were thinking a $100 gift card. After I explained our gift card offer, they spent $250! Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a huge sale, but string a few of these together in a day and boom, instant cash-flow and sessions during the first quarter. People need a reason to invest, try a last minute gift card incentive with credit back on every purchase and finish strong before Christmas! -Josh

Coping with the bad, remembering the good, and our duty as photographers.
Thursday, Dec 17, 2009

This time of year is always tough for me. It was 14 years ago around this time when Sue’s cancer went from bad, to worse, and then terminal, all within a few days of Christmas. The sights, sounds, and smells always trigger those painful memories of me losing my soul mate. Time does heal the wound, but the pain is always there. With all that said how does one cope with the loss of someone close to them? For me, it’s always remembering the good times we had together, both as a couple (which started when I was 15) and as a family. What better way to do that than with photographs! Yes it hurts sometimes to view the images, but try to remember your mind set when you took the picture. That moment is the moment that must be remembered. All of us must never forget the amazing power of what we do as photographers each and every day. The incredible memories we create for all of our clients and their families will remain stamped in time forever. Take some time tonight to tell the ones close to you how much you love and appreciate them. If you have lost a loved one and are missing them like I am this holiday season, here’s my advice for you. Keep your chin up and remember the good times you had with them. Thanks for allowing me to share today. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that drives me to do my best everyday: “Life is not a rehearsal, live it to the fullest!” See you tomorrow; there will be a new image of the week posted first thing in the morning! - B.H.

The ultimate pep talk from Bruce Hudson himself!
Sunday, Dec 13, 2009

I think my dad missed his calling as a coach; he’s really good at pep talks! Yesterday before our Super Santa Saturday event, we had a Hudson’s team meeting. It was me, my sister McKenna, Kelly, her daughter Yasmin, Terri, and her son Austin! The whole clan helped out yesterday, it was great! Since our Super Santa Saturday is for our PPC clients, each one of the families has made some major investments over the years with our studio. My dad stressed to us the importance of making sure these people feel special and appreciated…because they are! “These families are responsible for your (Me and McKenna’s) college educations, your future college educations (Austin and Yasmin), the roofs over our heads, and the lifestyles we enjoy. Make them feel welcome and take time to thank each and everyone of them personally today. These people have been loyal to us through thick and thin and they need to know how much we appreciate them”, Bruce stated. My dad has always said, “The most valuable asset you have in your studio isn’t your lights, camera, or computer…it’s your clients!” We treat every client who walks through the door with the upmost respect, but these PPC clients desire something a little extra. To see how we pulled off the ultimate Santa experience this year, go to Facebook.com/mystudiomentor and check out the video we’ll be posting entitled “Creating the experience!- Part 2.” -Josh

Successful Life, Successful Business…It’s All About Choices!
Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009

What is success to you? What do you want out of life? Think about these questions for a moment? (Insert Jeopardy music) The answer is of course different for each of us. Once you define what success means to you, you then need to focus on what it is going to take to make it happen in your life? My theory has always been this: In order to reach for that golden ring, so to speak, you have to make more good decisions than bad. Notice that I didn’t say that you have to bat a thousand every time you play the game, no one is perfect. But to reach your goal of success you have to do the right things more than 50% of the time. And sometimes a bad decision can lead you closer to the right one; it’s all about how you handle yourself. As most highly success people will tell you, failure sometimes gets you closer to a goal than you know it. How do you know what is right, wrong, or bad when it comes to decision making? I’ve always looked to highly effective people as a model for success. We can all learn a great deal from others who walked this earth before us, as well as the ones who walk along side us today. Spend your time doing things in your daily life that will move you forward, not idle waiting for the big break. I once had a relative tell me that was just “lucky” to be where I am at in life. I’ve always said, “The harder you work the luckier you get!” Plus, for so many people out there, they’re not even in the game of life, they never take a risk. If you don’t play, you can’t get hurt, but you can’t win either. One of my favorite books is Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I even made my kids read it! Always remember that even during these uncertain times, we all have choices to make daily. We may not have control over the economy, but we do have control over how we react to it. Stay positive and always be looking towards the future and your goals. B.H. –PS. New image of the week will finally be updated today! LOL! Sorry, I’ve been very sick! We’ll also be posting a new video on Facebook.com/mystudiomentor as well.

How do you make your clients feel? Are they one in a crowd or a special part of your life?
Monday, Dec 07, 2009

Today I got a phone call from a client; she was calling to finalize her granddaughter’s first year baby album. “Hey Josh its Bobby, can I get Kelly”, the voice asked? “Sure thing, what is your last name and what is it regarding Bobby”, I asked? “Josh, it’s Bobby Harlan, duh”, she replied! LOL! I get off the phone cracking up and my dad asks me, “What’s so funny?” “Nothing”, I said, “our clients think they are the only people we work with.” “That’s the point son! When you treat a client like family, they feel that they are the only one getting your intention and special treatment. I’ve work 27 years for that,” Bruce said! This got me thinking, what level of customer service are you giving your clients? Are they just a number to you, or do they each have a special place in your heart? Nordstrom’s and their legendary customer service come to mind. Each sales associate is eager to help and consult. They even give you a business card! I know my wife has a personal shopper who calls her to let her know when cute things in her size arrive; you can’t get that at Macy’s or JCPenny. I guess my point of this short blog is to treat your clients with the most respect possible. It doesn’t matter how much they spend, each one desires to feel like they are the only one you service. Hope everyone had a great Monday! -Josh

Having a Busy Day versus a Productive Day in your photography business!
Thursday, Dec 03, 2009

We are all created equal! We’ve all be granted 24 hours each day. But, how we use those 24 hours determines where we live, what we drive, and what schools are children go to. “Wow, Bruce that sounds pretty blunt and materialistic”, some of you are thinking. It’s true though. To move forward in life and business you need to do the productive things, not just the busy work day to day. Make a list of what you think will generate cash-flow today and what won’t make you any money. In most cases, spending countless hours in Photoshop will keep you busy, but won’t move your business forward and increase your savings account. Yes, I understand the need to create beautiful images and enhance them, but keep in mind that the sales process doesn’t include Photoshop. As I’ve always said, “You can be the best photographer in the world who wins countless awards, but if you can’t market yourself or sell the images you’ve worked so hard on, what’s the point then?” It’s hard because our profession is so much fun! We have to stay on task and make sure our daily actions are about moving forward, not just tweaking images. For me at the studio, it’s all about cash-flow. Cash-flow doesn’t exist unless I’m either marketing, shooting, or selling…period. This is where I put all of my emphasis. So, with all that said, are you busy doing the day to day or productive work? I want to leave you with an awesome quote Jim Rohn- “At the end of each day you should play back the tapes of your performance. The results should either applaud you or prod you!” For you one man band’s out there, I hear your disagreements. “If I don’t Photoshop I can’t get orders out!” I hear ya! But, if it takes you hours to edit each session, you’re shrinking your 24 hour daily window to be productive. That means less time to shoot, market, and sell. It’s hard for us artists to give up any part of the process, but it’s necessary if you want to grow you business. Luckily, I never have to even touch an image after I create it; I have the Brazilian Photoshop Goddess Kelly! And we don’t even retouch the images until they’ve been ordered. Bottom-line; try your best to stay productive, not just busy! Have a great Thursday everyone! –B.H.

Something I Just Thought of!
Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009

Would a person go into an art gallery, see an image that they liked, and then ask for that image on a CD? I don’t think so! “But I want it for my screen saver!” LOL! Art is meant to be displayed and enjoyed, not stuck on a CD or in your Picasa. Sorry, nothing profound tonight, just a thought from today’s interview with Charles Lewis. I do have a question for all of you though, what type of clients do you attract? Do they want everything on a disc or do they want to display portraits proudly on their walls? Always remember that our brand and persona precede us in more ways than we know. It’s amazing to me that we hardly ever get the, “Can I have them on a CD”, question, I think people know what we do. But, if you’re just starting out, you have to make a choice. Are you a portrait artist or a creator of JPEG’s? I’ve got some great objections for the CD question, email me if you want them :) –Josh@MyStudioMentor.com