When I first had the idea of creating The Pro Photo Business Forum, I knew it would be a journey worth taking. I also knew I would have to charge for access to the forum. Not just to keep the site open and maintained, but because photographers looking to discuss the business of wedding and portrait photography need a private area away from the eyes of their clients to talk about the issues that really matter such as cost of sales, pricing, contracts and language that is used during sales consultations. It is essential for the photographer that wishes to grow his/her business to have a place ask and receive answers to these important questions.
The best way to make the Pro Photo Business Forum a safe environment for it’s members is to charge for access. However, this directly conflicts with the primary purpose of the Pro Photo Business Forum, which is to support and help photography studios grow. Therefore, by policy, the cost of membership to the PPBF is kept very affordable at less than $5 a month. We are here to help wedding and portrait photographers; not hurt them.
Additionally, a forum that focuses its discussions on business should be making money, or it wouldn’t be a very good forum on business.
Your subscription has benefits. The benefits subscribing members experience are ones that really should be in place for a professional community that discusses business practices.
1) As mentioned above, we offer a safe environment for our members. Some of the discussions in this community contain subject matters which we would not want our clients to view, but need to discuss in order to improve our businesses.
your purchased membership provides you safe access to other professional photographers who are eager to help and support you. You will become part of a safe environment where honest professional business to business discussions can transpire without the fear of our clients looking in. Members needs to have this safety in order to post honestly. Without this safety and honesty, the discussions that need to happen may never happen and the community won’t learn.
2) Having the words Pro and Business in the title of the site is not enough to ensure a community of business conscious professionals. While the cost of membership is very low, a paid subscription ensures each new member that they are joining a community of photographers who also have a real desire to improve their own businesses through collaboration with others.
3) Each new subscribing member sends a signal to the existing community that there is a new citizen to greet who is eager to improve their business and learn.
4) Spam Reduction: Whether you are aware of this or not, online forums are a magnet for spammers. Hard work is required to maintain a spam free environment. A subscription significantly reduces spam content keeping the forum a pleasant place for it’s members to frequent.
5) We have a swag bag full of great free stuff for our members.
Thank you again for registering. Our community is soon to be your community.
You’ll never be the same. You’ll be better!
Join now!
Forum access is always very affordable at less than $5 a month.
Some favorite things to do in the community…
1) Site Reviews. For most photographer’s, their website is their primary tool for attracting new business. To help members improve their websites, we have a special forum dedicated to website reviews. However, the reviews that are given are based on the site’s ability to generate new business for the studio and not how esthetically pleasing the images are. When I give a review of a site, I like to create a five minute screen captured walk through. Here’s a fun example.
2) Teleseminars. Visit our teleseminar page to be reminded about our next free teleseminar.
Join now!
Forum access is always very affordable at less than $5 a month.
