342: Michael Schacht – Why personal branding photographers should pursue headshot photography first

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area. Michael Schacht of www.312elements.com was quick to weigh in on a recent discussion on personal branding photography, happening inside the PhotoBizX Member's Facebook Group when I asked… US Members, do you know of any successful personal branding photographers? I'm looking for potential interview guests for 2020. Interestingly, most suggestions were for people who sell and market photography courses on how to create and build a personal branding photography business, but almost no one who is actually making a living shooting this genre. I was starting to think this was a made-up genre, purely to sell courses and make money from photographers. Pretty sad if that's the case! Mike sent me a PM saying… Saw your FB group post. Hope you’re doing well. I have lots of thoughts on “personal branding” if you ever want to chat on or off the record. I’m doing it. I think I’m doing it successfully. I also think it’s a made-up term. It’s certainly not something people are searching for. I took Mike up on his offer and recorded this interview. In addition to the discussion on personal branding photography, Mike shares some great insights to growing any commercial or headshot photography business when he said things like: If you give people preset packages, you are inherently setting limits. Obviously, I dived deeper into this and other topics on the subject of building a more profitable and sustainable photography business and why Mike feels personal brand photographers should pursue headshot photography first and should photographers enrol in online personal branding courses. Here’s some more of what we cover in the interview: What’s on Offer for Premium Members If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest. If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Trying to explain to people what personal branding is takes a lot of words and humans don't like to read. – Michael Schacht Plus special member-only interviews. You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role-play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group. You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Joining a Mastermind Group (encouraged by Andrew) has been incredibly valuable and fun, I look forward to connecting with my group members every week. Jina Zheng, Premium Member and Melbourne Children photographer. Seriously, that's not all. In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business. What is your big takeaway? Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Mike shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you ...