The 2013 John Hartman Marketing Boot Camp is designed for both new and established photographers who want new and challenging photographic ideas, who want to improve the efficiency of all their marketing, and who want to build and increase their sales. This workshop not affiliated with Createasphere or ProPhotoCoalition.

Unique in the industry, the Boot Camp is three days of intense study with one of the nation’s leading experts on marketing, merchandising and selling photography, who happens to be a cutting edge shooter, as well. Unlike most educators today, John is a veteran studio owner with all the credentials I also share (M.Photog.Cr, CPP, EA-ASP). His experience (studio owner since 1974) and teaching skill (presenter since 1983, Boot Camp since 1996) to put on an information-packed workshop can have immediate and dramatic effect on photographers’ creativity, workflow, sales and bottom line.

Dates are January 14-16: three intense days at Harrah’s in Las Vegas that have jump started hundreds of businesses – and more important, have helped going studios to remain relevant with changes in styles and markets.

You know you’re going to have to “out-photograph” and “out-market” your competitors to stay afloat in tough times. But where to start? Where to expand, improve, succeed for a lifetime? What makes the Boot Camp so different from other learning experiences is that photographers aren’t just taught ‘how-to’s’; rather, each segment of the presentation builds on previous material and is carefully laid out for maximum understanding, and. more importantly, maximum implementation.

Most presenters show you what they do; John shows what YOU can do, and helps you craft a personalized plan of action, so that when you get home, you know where to start first to maximize your investment. He is a master at translating what you have learned into what you can do. He knows that most seminar or workshop attendees return home and don’t do anything with their new-found information. A month later, they’ve forgotten 98% of what they learned (sound familiar?).

This is why John is one of my favorite teachers of all time. It’s not all about him. He doesn’t just tell you what he does in his market, he explains how he has envisioned and tested marketing methods and photographic techniques. AND then he shows how to adapt and relate those techniques to your own market and business model. He cares about you individually.

Where did John’s vision develop? High school senior pictures have traditionally been the main stay of portrait studio business everywhere. Recently parents are more inclined to hire “good camera” wielding friends in this predominantly do-it-yourself market. John’s drive for innovation in the senior market that caused him to seek out ways to market, create and present image products that are not available anywhere else. His business philosophy is to have a unique style and brand that cannot easily be replicated. To remain a moving target, he focuses on expanding the range of image options to include tools, skills and techniques that are outside the capabilities of as many photographers as possible.

It’s very rare that one instructor can address mastery of business and creative photography at the same time. His drive to help others “remain relevant” addresses both business and creative sides of photographic endeavor.

one of the best examples I’ve seen of wide angle lens used in portraiture

Of course, creating images that people want and can’t get anywhere else is only the first step in building a successful studio. Marketing your images and your uniqueness requires skill, finesse and an extreme sensitivity to your potential audience. Your words, your media choices, your layout and design, your marketing frequency, your timing and your followup are each critically important to the success of any campaign – if any one of them is missing or weak, the entire marketing effort could be compromised.

John says: “No photographer is born this way {as a pro}, even ones who were lucky enough to grow up in a family of photographers. Everybody started out with nothing more than a good camera and lots of enthusiasm. Education is key. Your investment in education is your skin in the game. Over and above the very highest technical standards, if your work is not unique, desirable and difficult to emulate, your business will fall in the realm of a commodity, not an art. Then price is your only selling point, and if you don’t price for profit, your business will fail.”

But great style and inventive photography are not enough. John shows how only you can create demand by reaching the right prospects frequently and giving them good reasons to do business with you. People must notice and desire your work. Past attendees rate John’s Boot Camp with words like “answers to newbie questions”, getting serious about business”, a fun way to learn new things”, “best money every spent”.

If your business isn’t where you want it to be, Boot Camp 2013 is where you should be. It’s January 14-16 at Harrah’s in Las Vegas (no conflict with ImagingUSA, SYNC or SPI dates). The meeting is actually held in the Improv Room, the famous comedy club at Harrah’s. John has secured a great $69 room rate, and flights to Vegas are cheap.

Here’s how to access the special Boot Camp workshop deal for ProPhotoCoalition readers:

I’ve made arrangements with John to provide a really great offer for all PPC readers. The regular tuition for first-time attendees is $998 ($598 for additional staff members), and many thousands have gladly paid that and have benefitted handsomely from the knowledge and skills they’ve gained.

Now through November 15, you can come to this state-of-the-art event for just $499, and you can bring a staff person or spouse for only $99.

To get this great rate, go to the registration site for the Boot Camp on-line (or call 1-800-423-9167 M-F 8-5 CST to register by phone). At checkout, enter PPC (all caps) in the Discount Code box and your new rate will be applied. This workshop not affiliated with Createasphere or ProPhotoCoalition.

2 minute video about Boot Camp click here. For all the info visit John’s site. See you there!