Mentorship and Coaching. …Because if I Can Do It, So Can You.
Photographers face unique challenges. I know I did. I had to overcome them alone, without a mentor. It was difficult. I hope that I can make it less difficult for you.
In overcoming barriers to my success, I saw that it was bigger than becoming a technically great photographer. It was about mindset resets. Finding an art and business balance, sustaining energy, breaking the “rules,” learning my value, and mostly, learning how to get clients to see my value
Let’s find out where your barriers are. And together, let’s knock them down.
21 years ago, I was a broke. Like, eviction notice broke. My career in producing was waning, as was my acting career. I was no spring chicken, I was scared, and I needed to regroup. Quickly.
In an act of random desperation, I offered headshots for some of my actor friends. Cheap. My only thought was “maybe I can pay part of my rent.” What audacity. I had no experience. None. I had never owned a camera, I didn’t know what an f-stop was, and I had no idea how to make a living taking pictures.
Within 18 months I was shooting celebrity portraits for magazines, had been featured on Entertainment Tonight, was getting referrals from top agencies, and could count Oscar and Emmy Award nominated actors as my clientele and was making a mid 6-figure income.
In the years since, I’ve created a multi-million dollar career doing what I love. It’s been a wonderful ride that’s seen me shooting celebrities and luminaries from business and the arts. I’ve mastered multiple genres including portraiture, lifestyle, editorial, corporate and more. I even got to do a TED Talk. Who woulda thunk it?
As I’ve continued to thrive in a constantly changing landscape, I've been inundated with inquires from photographers, all asking the very same question…
..How did I do it?
At this point in my career, I’m not afraid to share my secrets.
While many photographers worked to get their subjects to pose correctly for the camera, I developed techniques that got my clients to STOP posing and to live truthfully in front of my lens.
I created and used very specific artistic and compositional theories to make my shots stand out. And in turn, to make my clients stand out. And I mastered the technical aspects of both natural light photography and supplemented studio light photography.
I discovered the four elements necessary to make each photograph
a complete story in itself, "The Four Corners" as I started calling it.I developed very specific techniques to connect with my clients, and to make them come alive for me.
I mastered lighting techniques for both studio lighting and natural lighting.
I came up with atypical and unusual marketing techniques that made my business thrive in a very competitive marketplace. Including my “scarcity” and “mystery” approaches.
I developed specific niches that allowed me to narrow cast my marketing.
I learned to find my own voice as a photographer, and not copy other styles. (This is vital to my coaching, as most coaches get you to shoot like THEM, so you become an imitation).
I found ways to keep myself highly motivated and inspired, even when it was tough. I learned techniques to fuel to my work ethic and progress.
I broke the rules because creativity has no rules.
Giving You The Right Creative & Business Tools.
It’s not enough to do what you love. You must nurture your love with mastery of the craft. This is how you awaken your talent. You must also master the business skills, marketing techniques and work ethic that is the other cornerstone of success. But you must also end self-limiting beliefs, which often involves a mindset reset. This is how you turn your photography into a successful, enjoyable and lucrative career.
Your Professional Coach. And Your Personal Growth Coach.
This is not just a photography coaching. It’s a deep dive into quickly going big. Focusing not only on your photography, but on personal-growth and mindset resets to get you focused, moving, and thriving. It’s not just camera settings, it’s focused on ALL parts of building a successful career and getting your ass in gear. It’s about getting the best of of anyone who steps in front of your camera. And getting the best out of yourself.
Would you like to know more? Send me a message 💕
Ascend.
• Master Both Natural Light Techniques (plus supplemental studio light).
• Create a Complete Story in Every Capture Using the “Four Corner’s Approach.”
• Cultivate Business & Marketing Tools to Work Smarter, Not Harder.
• Monetize Your Photography Practice. Build Consistently Big Income
• Direct Actors & Models With Absolute Confidence .
• Learn the Secrets to Positioning and Angling Your Subjects.
• Overcome Limiting Thinking Patterns That Block Your Success.
• Improve Focus and Clarity Using Kenneth’s “5-Islands” technique.
• Acquire Workflow Solutions to Make Your Job and Your Life Easier.
• Build Your Portfolio Working Directly With Top Models & Actors.
• Liberate Your Creative Spirit.
You deserve this.
Why are you holding yourself back?
Business, Marketing & Workflow.
Many of my clients are already amazing photographers. And yet they fail. Because they don’t understand the business of photography. We’ll end re-shoot requests, get you comfortable discussing pricing and charging enough, help you attract business, create efficient work flow, use contracts, and make more money.
End Self-Defeating Mindsets.
Have you ever had nagging self-doubt about your work? Wondered if you’re good enough to do this? Felt too inexperienced? Felt intimidated? Had negative money mindset? …You’re not alone. The primary factor holding my clients back is nagging self-doubt. We will fix that. So self-doubt transforms into self-confidence.
A Unique Approach.
…That Works.
Most photographic coaching is flawed. Not intentionally. Just as part of the process of coaching large groups of people. Most coaches teach their students how to copy their style. So students end up shooting just like the teacher. This is a flawed approach because it turns students into imitators, not artists. You can’t ascend with imitation. You ascend through innovation. I want to help you find your own vision, not copy mine. Not just your artistic vision, but your business vision. This is key to my approach, as this is key to your ascension.
01 - Private, 1-on-1 Coaching
We delve deeply into any and all areas of your photography and your business. Privates are different for every client, because every client has totally different challenges. And totally different needs. First I’ll help you identify those challenges, and you might be surprised at that what you think you needed may not be what you needed most. We’ll cover it all: Working with subjects, the artistic and compositional aspects of portraiture, portfolio review, business and marketing strategies, understanding the concepts of story telling in still imagery, technical help, understanding and utilizing the "four corners" technique for creating perfect portraits, accountability and empowerment. This is more than just teaching you how to take better headshots, it’s also about helping you thrive in the business of portraiture, and about keeping you motivated. I’ll help you find your special angle and get you to TAKE ACTION so you can make it happen. I'm here to inform, inspire, push, nurture, provoke, and share what I know. All to help you grow. In's an intensive process. I'll be supportive and nurturing. But I'll also kick your butt. And you'll learn more in one hour than in 4 weeks at most photo classes which are designed to stretch out instruction to get more of your money. I will put you in fast forward.
Duration: 1 hour zoom session
Price: $200
02 — Coaching & Coffee.
Let's grab a virtual or real coffee (or tea, wine, kombucha) and let's talk. Ask me all your questions. This goes where you want it to. We can talk shop, or we can go into great depth about your business and art.. Send me your questions or topics in advance and I prepare the feedback, e.g. about your website, your Instagram account, price list, etc.
This is a social approach to coaching, putting your questions in focus in a face-to-face sit down. I take my coffee black. And I enjoy some empty carbs with it. The coffee is on me. What are you having? I look forward to seeing you.
Duration: 2 hours online session
Price: $375
03 — Deep Portfolio Review.
I’ve found that I can often help clients most effectively through delving into every minute aspect of their imagery. Aspects that my clients often don’t even know to look for. By going deeply into the complexities of each image, I can point out the myriad technical, compositional, artistic or directorial issues that you might not even know exist. It’s revelatory. And don’t worry, I’ll also point out where your image is succeeding. After the review, I’ll assign “reshoots” based on my notes. Private portfolio review is extremely comprehensive and leads to deep insights into how you can improve your work. It also leads to insights about how you can identify and understand the stories that you must tell with every image. And how all elements of your image must contribute in harmony in service of this story. It’s show and tell. That will help you excel.
Duration: 1 hour zoom session or 2 hour zoom session.
Price: $200 per hour.
04 - Mindset & Accountability Coaching.
The greatest tragedy is when the greatest impediment to your success is YOU. Your limiting beliefs. Your doubts. Your fears. There will be many impediments and obstacles on your path. Are you adding additional ones? We will delve deeply into the negative mindsets, limiting belief systems, and anti-success conditioning that many artists must overcome. And we’ll look at money mindsets as well, about you knowing your worth so your clients can know your worth. About possible discomfort with monetizing your art. And knowing that making money with your talent does not make you less of an artist. Rather, it can make you a better artist. Together, we’ll reset your mindset so you can reset your career. Accountability is a large part of this process. Not only because changing mindsets takes time. But because it is too easy to fall back into old patterns. They may not work, but they are comfortable. And quite honestly, sometimes we just need someone to support us and to push us. This work is not about camera settings, it’s about your inner-settings.
Duration: 4 Zoom Intensives, Once a Month or Bi-Weekly.
Price: $800
What People Are Saying
“Thank you Ken for spending such quality (and quantity) time with me yesterday. I’m truly excited to start turning Nina Nelson Photography around with my new Ken Doin GPS at the helm.” — NINA NELSON, ninanelsonphotography.com
““The coaching was great. It was honest, straight forward and I grew from not just the time with Kenneth but the words he left me with which I am continuing to explore. Extremely helpful.”
— Janet Jones
"I'm a professional photographer who wanted to improve on my work and also on my business skills, so I did a private session with Kenneth and I found it to be super helpful. The insights he gave are already changing the way I work and making me a lot more money. I recommend him highly."
— Marcus Kolodjsky www.casianphoto.com
“If you’re looking to improve your headshot photography skills, Kenneth Dolin is the mentor for you! The sessions are tailored, highly informative and really fun!”
— Dr. Harvey Greenberg www.harvgreenberg.com
"Kenneth has tailored a plan for me to help me succeed and has really helped point me in the right direction of where I need to go with my headshot business."
— Shae Anne, www.shaeanne.com
“Kenneth Dolin is a truth teller. He is not brutally honest, he is bravely honest. I got the loving kick in the ass I needed to get my photography business going.”
— Eric Messinger
“I found Kenneth’s coaching to be very beneficial. I've learned to think about my purpose when taking a photo. I'm striving to shoot the image as my final cropping, to better compose shots. I’m learning that I am the tech director, and location director, and stylist if need be, and actors director when I do headshots. And that sometimes less is more.” - Dennis Deacon
— Dennis Deacon
"Thank you, Kenneth, for the one-on-one coaching session. I learned so much from you. You really changed it up for me me and helped me to realize that I could shoot headshots and get really good images. So I owe you a huge thanks. My only regret is that I could not spend the entire day with you! I loved our chat and your suggestions on how to make my images better." - Richard Shiu
www.richardshiuphotography.com
“Thank you so much for today. You gave me a lot of material for thought. I think techniques are easier to teach than the philosophy and I think I was fortunate enough today to bank some things that were really inspirational. Thank you!”
— Stream Lee
“I loved shooting with Kenneth so much, that I decided to take some photo classes from him, to discover how he does it. What I discovered instead was a new way of thinking about success and how to manifest it.”
— David Rosen
“I just wanted to thank you so much for all the time you took with me on Saturday and all the time you put in before our actual meeting. It was hard, it was intense. Your "tough love" is exactly what I needed. Your baby analogy was spot on for me. YIKES! Thank you, thank you, thank you.”