The One Thing Most Schools Get Wrong.

In my last post  I talked about how I am changing the way I teach and set up classes. Instead of one class now I teach in week long modules. 

There are a few other things I am changing. In most educational institutions the success of the student is primarily put on the student. 

The thought is the idea is that the student is  personally responsible for his/her success. I agree with that but I also feel that this can idea can lead to a flawed system where teachers have reason to slack off. 

There are new guidelines that I have writing and one of them is that the teachers at SLC photoschool are just as responsible for the students success are the students are. 

One of the requirements for teachers is to be in constant contact with the students. 

Another requirement for teachers is to make sure that every student understand all of the information by the end of the course. 

The teachers are held accountable for what the students learn. 

If a student is falling behind or doesn’t understand the concepts that were taught in that weeks module the teach will offer a private lesson to the student at no extra cost. 

Before when I taught there were always a few students who fell through the cracks. Most of the time they had personal life issues that would take them away from a class for a week or two and by the time they returned they were behind and felt uncomfortable so they would just stop attending. It always bothered me. Others just had a harder time with a few things like understanding aperture or shutter speed and after a few weeks of not understanding it they would just stop attending. When the new classes start I have a goal. 0% dropout  and 100% completely satisfied. 100% Success rate. 0% failure. This program is brand new and I am excited to see how it goes! Now is also a great time to sign up for photography classes. i set the cost low but I can’t keep it that low forever. 

This is me! Ikon

I love spending time outside with my kids. I love to travel and I ride a longboard! I teach classes at Salt Lake City School of Photography. Check out my website and take a class or message me today about a private lesson!

I'm switching it up!

Recently I suspended all the courses I was teaching at Salt Lake City School of Photography so I could focus on solving some of the issues that I have faced when teaching photography classes. 

I spent weeks reading researching, making notes and thinking. I’ve been forced to change my whole outlook on education.  

Most people in education industry will disagree with me. 

I’ve already had a few discussions that could only end in a disagreement. 

I used to think if I set up a class and you enrolled it was your responsibility to make it to class. 

All the responsibility for success fell on the student. 

I don’t think that now. 

It’s more of a 70-30 split with 70% falling on the teacher… Me. 

Most of the responsibility for success of students should fall on the teacher and the institution, not the student!

A few weeks ago I was at a book store reading and looking for answers and I picked up the book “Scarcity”. I don't remember who wrote it. :(

I don’t remember what chapter I opened up to but I began reading a story about two World War II bombers. One of the bombers had a high success rate but for some reason the pilots of the other bomber would end up dead at a very percentage. The military called in all kinds of specialists to look at the pilots. They assumed the pilots were not trained as well or maybe they were just incompetent.  

The specialists couldn’t figure out what the problem was. It confused everyone. 

But there was one specialist who was also a pilot and he went and sat in the cockpits of both of the bombers and he sat there and thought. The cockpits were set up different. Some of the important levers were hard to reach in the bomber that had a high wreckage rate. After months the conclusion was simple. It wasn’t the pilots who were incompetent. It was the cockpit. 

The pilots who were flying that particular bomber were set up to fail. 

In the courses I have taught in the past there is a percentage that I have seen of students who don’t finish the photography class. It’s just above 15%.

Who does some pay $600+ for a class and then not finish? 

There are a lot of reasons. Some of the possibility’s are that they get home from work and are tired so they skip a class. The next week they feel embarrassed that they might be behind so the stop attending. Maybe they have a sick child one night and can’t make it. There are lots of reasons. A class that is not flexible is in a sense setting it’s students up for failure. I think that is wrong. 

Therefore I am changing all of my course structures. Classes are not taught for one night now. 

They will be set up in weekly modules.

Courses are new set up for to make sure you are successful!

The module will start on a Wednesday and go through the next Tuesday. 

Students will have several opportunities to attend and if they feel they don’t understand the information good enough they can attend more than once during the week. 

This is one of the things I am changing so I take more responsibility for your success. I have a few more things I will change but they take time and a lot of planning. I’m excited about this new program. When I set out to teach photography I decided I wanted to build the best school in the world and this is just the beginning. 

This is me! Ikon

I love spending time outside with my kids. I love to travel and I ride a longboard! I teach classes at Salt Lake City School of Photography. Check out my website and take a class or message me today about a private lesson!

I'm switching it up!

Recently I suspended all the courses I was teaching at Salt Lake City School of Photography so I could focus on solving some of the issues that I have faced when teaching photography classes. 

I spent weeks reading researching, making notes and thinking. I’ve been forced to change my whole outlook on education.  

Most people in education industry will disagree with me. 

I’ve already had a few discussions that could only end in a disagreement. 

I used to think if I set up a class and you enrolled it was your responsibility to make it to class. 

All the responsibility for success fell on the student. 

I don’t think that now. 

It’s more of a 70-30 split with 70% falling on the teacher… Me. 

Most of the responsibility for success of students should fall on the teacher and the institution, not the student!

A few weeks ago I was at a book store reading and looking for answers and I picked up the book “Scarcity”. I don't remember who wrote it. :(

I don’t remember what chapter I opened up to but I began reading a story about two World War II bombers. One of the bombers had a high success rate but for some reason the pilots of the other bomber would end up dead at a very percentage. The military called in all kinds of specialists to look at the pilots. They assumed the pilots were not trained as well or maybe they were just incompetent.  

The specialists couldn’t figure out what the problem was. It confused everyone. 

But there was one specialist who was also a pilot and he went and sat in the cockpits of both of the bombers and he sat there and thought. The cockpits were set up different. Some of the important levers were hard to reach in the bomber that had a high wreckage rate. After months the conclusion was simple. It wasn’t the pilots who were incompetent. It was the cockpit. 

The pilots who were flying that particular bomber were set up to fail. 

In the courses I have taught in the past there is a percentage that I have seen of students who don’t finish the photography class. It’s just above 15%.

Who does some pay $600+ for a class and then not finish? 

There are a lot of reasons. Some of the possibility’s are that they get home from work and are tired so they skip a class. The next week they feel embarrassed that they might be behind so the stop attending. Maybe they have a sick child one night and can’t make it. There are lots of reasons. A class that is not flexible is in a sense setting it’s students up for failure. I think that is wrong. 

Therefore I am changing all of my course structures. Classes are not taught for one night now. 

They will be set up in weekly modules.

Courses are new set up for to make sure you are successful!

The module will start on a Wednesday and go through the next Tuesday. 

Students will have several opportunities to attend and if they feel they don’t understand the information good enough they can attend more than once during the week. 

This is one of the things I am changing so I take more responsibility for your success. I have a few more things I will change but they take time and a lot of planning. I’m excited about this new program. When I set out to teach photography I decided I wanted to build the best school in the world and this is just the beginning. 

This is me! Ikon

I love spending time outside with my kids. I love to travel and I ride a longboard! I teach classes at Salt Lake City School of Photography. Check out my website and take a class or message me today about a private lesson!

Scary Things Photographers Say!

Stop Scaring People unless you're an axe murderer! Then please give us warning!

Before I go over the next step in creating a website and how to create a sales funnel to grow your business there are a few things you have to stop doing… Or saying. 

I'm just going to say it!

People do not work in strange ways.

I'll tell you another secret. Women are not hard to understand, you just don't listen. I'll tell you another secret. Men are not complicated. Those are bad excuses for not understanding how people work. Stop being lazy and learn!  Life is only as complicated as think it is. How to understand others is the best thing you can learn in life!  Hands down the best thing ever!

It will make you  a better photographer, a better lover, a better friend an most importantly, a better human. 

The first thing you have understand is humans are motivated to do things, or not to do things, for two reasons.

 The reasons? To gain pleasure or avoid pain. 

I'll bet that when you are trying to find people to work with a lot of times you are really close to making it happen and then something changes and you lose the chance. 

It's happened to you hasn't it? 

At this point you probably think. “Dammit! What happened? Why didn’t they want to work with me? Maybe they don’t like my work? Maybe they don’t like me?” 

The honest truth: It’s probably neither but they did choose someone else and the reason is possibly that the next photographer made them feel less afraid. 

I am about to tell you one of the biggest mistakes almost every photographer makes almost every day. Are you ready? They use the wrong words! We say scary things to people! 

Truth: This is a business and one of the biggest reason photographers fail is because they think of themselves as just photographer and don’t realize you are now a business owner!

You are a business owner first but also photographer.

Scorch this into your brain!

People want to do business with people they like.

Your job as a professional is to get rid of fear for the people you work with and be likable.

One of the steps you take, because you care the people you work with, and respect them is to educate yourself.

Investing in your education make sense, doesn’t it?

 The answer is "Yes!" Got it!

Using the correct words when you talk to people is a form of respect. It’s an honorable practice and it’s good for you and them. Always be the Gentleman or the Lady. Ok? 

If you care about someone do you make them afraid? I hope not.  I have a daughter who has a heart condition and if someone jumps out and scares her it could kill her. I never really understood the power of fear until the day I sat in the doctors office and he explained what scaring someone can do to them. Always keep in  mind the power fear has.

Anyhow, here is the list you’ve been waiting for!

1. Sale, cost or price

Instead use total amount, monthly amount, or initially amount

2. Contract

Instead use Paperwork or Form

3. Buy, sell or sold

Instead use own get involved or help/ helped

4. Deal

Instead use Opportunity 

5. Sign here or Sign

Instead use Endorse, Ok it,  authorize here.

Like I said before, I am here to help you. I don’t want you to survive, I want you to thrive and do you know what the difference between surviving and thriving is?

 It’s educating yourself and sometimes you are only one step away from making it! You got this!

This is me! Ikon

Ikon lives by a highway and this evening there was construction and all the noise made it so there was not sleep to be had. He decided to stay up and write the next post so lucky you! He also decided he needs to move soon. Hey, I teach classes at Salt Lake City School of Photography. Check out my website and take a class or workshop or even better, join me on a trip! I'll be adding a Iceland trip, A European trip and workshops soon!  Hey. If you want more cool information follow me on Facebook!

The #1 Reason why photographers struggle

The #1 Reason why photographers struggle

I don’t know about you but I used to struggle. I used to work hard and take a lot of photos and I would just barely make it through the month. Does this sound familiar?

I would say:

1.Times are tough! 

2.Finding new clients is hard when there is so much competition!

3.People don’t respect photographers and people don’t want to pay them!

4.No one see photographers as valuable!

Right!!!!

Sorry to say it but those are excuses and shitty ones at that!

I know, you're thinking.... it’s so easy to pick up a camera these days and call yourself a pro but that doesn’t make you one right?  Everyone does it! Right?

The thing is we all had to start somewhere and I was there and so were you so you have understand what if feels like. 

Hey, I’ve moved on and I don’t get mad anymore when amateurs come up to me and ask “What kind of camera do you shoot with cause your photos rock!”

 I don’t get mad because once upon a time I asked the same stupid question.

I don’t complain about photographers who change 500 dollars for  a wedding anymore either. 

 I just feel sorry for them. I know how much time they will put into it and the rate of return and Damn! They are working for pennies and I used to work for pennies.

I can also understand why some of my friends hire cheap photographers. If they work at a minimum wage job they can’t afford me. I don’t expect them to. I would be a bad friend if I did

Still, I have a passion for photography and I want to make money so I can live the life I want. I don't want to work in corner office. I don't want to work in fast food. I don't even want to be a lawyer. I think that would suck. 

 I also see photography as valuable. I know not everyone does and that's ok with me. 

 I  see myself as valuable and again, I know not everyone does and that's ok with me. 

The truth is some people see photography as a commodity and others a necessity. I’ve shot family photos that I know if a house is burning down the owners will grab the photos before they grabbed anything(except Dogs and kids I hope). They mean something and they are irreplaceable. 

  In the late 1990's I took a family photo for some friends and about 3 years later one of their sons was killed by a drunk driver. The mother messaged me just last year and told me that was their last family photo with him and how much it meant to them. It will always hang in their home. That means something. That's special. 

All that aside, I know there are  a lot of photographers who make a living doing what they love but I don’t hear about a lot of photographers how they are successful. 

Most stay quite about it.

Sure,  they will tell you all you want to know about the camera and the shutter speed they used for a specific shot but they won’t tell you how they got their customers and made their money cause if they tell you that they could lose what they have. 

Hey!

Are you ready for the reason why most photographers fail?

The number one reason why photographers fail is they are disorganized. 

The are disorganized when it comes to their business and marketing. 

There you go. It's that simple! 

So solve the problem for me and tell me what to do you ask!

I will and you will be surprised at how simple it is!

 If you can do a few daily tasks and you’ll be rocking it! I’ll give you a hint before I have to head out for the day… Attract, Connect, Covert. 

This is the beginning of your marketing training. 

Stay tuned for more!

This is me! Ikon

I teach classes at Salt Lake City School of Photography. Check out my website and take a class or workshop or even better, join me on a trip!

Salt Lake City School Of Photography                                                      

Photography Classes in Salt Lake City, Utah

This is me! Ikon

I teach classes at Salt Lake City School of Photography. Check out my website and take a class or workshop or even better, join me on a trip!

Salt Lake City School Of Photography                                                      

Jennifer's Story

This is me! Ikon

I teach classes at Salt Lake City School of Photography. Check out my website and take a class or workshop or even better, join me on a trip!

Salt Lake City School Of Photography                                                      

Salt Lake City Photography Classes.

We have fun!

This is me! Ikon

I teach classes at Salt Lake City School of Photography. Check out my website and take a class or workshop or even better, join me on a trip!

Salt Lake City School Of Photography