In our business we as photographers often have the opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives. Recently Chris Keating, one of Niagara School’s 2011 instructors had a discussion with me about how he wanted to have his studio “Woven into the fabric of his community”. He then showed me a YouTube video about his experience. I thought it was so compelling that we should let you all know about what Chris has done to make a difference in his community.
Senior Residence Portrait Gala
This strategy is not a new one but it is one of the most powerful ways to create stability for your business, I call it the “Community Fabric”. It was when I created my business and still is if not more now than ever, one of the best approaches to the long-term health of my studio.
I wanted to be woven in the fabric of my community. I didn’t want my business to just be part of the community, I wanted it to be in the fabric so much so that should we be pulled out; there would be a major gap, very much as if you pulled some of the thread out of a blanket, there would be a hole.
We work very hard to be considered part of the community, there is rarely an event that we are not a part of, we are visible in many of the other businesses in this area and when there is nothing going on, well we create something, just like we did here.
What we did was approach a long term care facility one block from the studio. We offered to photograph any of their residents that would volunteer to be photographed. We would then create a portrait to be revealed at a gala opening. The finished prints were donated by my studio and sold to raise money for the resident improvement fund. It was a great success.
Chris uses a combination of new world techniques and no non-sense business savvy in simple clear concepts to educate, motivate and propel his students into success they had never previously imagined.
“Photography is a wonderful way to make a living, a good living, even create wealth. There is no reason why photographers can not become millionaires. His program is the first step to the future you have always hoped for “Through my own experiences and successes will your own success be obtained after two things are found first; Focus and Motivation” – Chris Keating
Other Chris Keating links:
www.photobusinessevaluation.com
To find out more about Chris Keating’s course at the Niagara School of Imaging – Focus and Motivation to Success – click here.
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