“All of us got into this industry or into this profession as artists. We love creating, and we love the feeling of what people say or the reaction when we show it to them.”

I think that this probably strikes a chord with many of you, right?

Being creative is amazing BUT, most of us also need to balance being an artist while also trying to pay the bills with our talent and THAT is where things can get a little bit sticky. 

Joining me today is Rudi Marten, CEO of Clark Marten Photography in Billings, Montana. Rudi transformed a small, home-based family studio into Montana’s premier family portrait studio and under his leadership, the studio is on track for its best year yet.

Listen in as Rudi shares how he has built on his parents' legacy and evolved the business by focusing on the mission and setting ambitious (some might say crazy!) goals. 

He shares how he has made the change from offering a wide range of services to niching down to just family portraits, despite client pushback in the beginning.

Rudi also shares the challenges and rewards of staying true to your vision and to your mission, highlighting the importance of purpose and intention both in business and in maintaining high-quality work.

Rudi’s insights on balancing the art and business sides of your craft will be invaluable if you’re looking for practical tips on how to elevate your business while staying focused on creating the art that you love.

Let's Do It!

In this episode, you will learn:

• How Rudi evolved from a hobbyist mindset to a focused business approach, emphasizing purpose and intention
• The value of specializing in a specific niche, enhancing business growth and client satisfaction
• How to manage initial pushback from clients
• Strategies for setting prices that reflect the value of the work and managing client expectations
• The significance of having a clear mission and vision to guide business decisions and inspire both your team and your clients

Here’s a glance at this episode:

• [3:18] - Rudi shares how his parents were impressed by the business’s growth and how he now relies less on them.
• [6:50] - Rudi focuses only on photographing families, unlike his dad who specialized in high school seniors.
• [9:16] - Disruptions from photographing kids affected studio efficiency; Rudi recalls a past mistake with school pictures.
• [11:45] - Unlike her dad's approach, ATJ values focusing on what you love and avoiding distractions.
• [13:14] - Rudi emphasizes finding your own path and running a business that operates independently.
• [15:58] - Treating art as a business creates wealth and opportunities.
• [18:59] - Rudi’s prices are high, competing with other purchases; he values clients who choose portraits over vacations.
• [21:31] Rudi dismisses clients who resist pricing, highlighting the high value of art.
• [23:17] - ATJ prefers selective client intake, helping to ensure high-quality service and focusing on large-scale wall art.
• [25:21] Hear how Rudi sets goals for income and sessions, aiming to place portraits in 100,000 homes for success.
• [27:45] - Purpose and intention in art are so important, as is proper pricing to cover expenses and unexpected challenges.
• [29:33] - Rudi emphasizes budgeting, planning, and purpose for his team, overseeing finances and inspiring through a clear vision.
• [32:17] - Clark Marten's mission to place portraits in 100,000 homes motivates and unites the team.
• [34:35] - Rudi aims to rekindle clients' initial emotional connection to portraits, handling payment plan issues empathetically.
• [37:20] Rudi views the business like retail, expecting returns and cancellations, and not taking them personally.
• [39:27] - Rudi feels regret when families skip portraits, missing opportunities to impact children’s lives.
• [41:41] Emphasizing the confidence-boosting nature of photography, Rudi reminds clients of their impact through portraits
• [43:28] - ATJ prioritizes job satisfaction and unique client experiences over money; money follows naturally.
• [46:13] - ATJ stresses listening to clients' concerns, avoiding assumptions, and empathizing with those wanting to cancel plans.
• [47:43] - Price and scheduling are both key issues but can be used as marketing opportunities.
• [50:36] - Rudi aims to honor his parents' legacy by excelling in family portraits and strong business practices.
• [53:36] - Hear ATJ compare learning business metrics to mastering photography settings.
• [56:03] - Rudi recommends the books Buy Back Your Time and Fierce Conversations.

Click here to listen! [LINK TO THIS EPISODE]

PRETTY PLEASE: Rate, Review, & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts

“I love ATJ & The ReWork!.” <– If that sounds like you, please take a minute and rate and review the show! This helps us support more portrait photographers — just like you — move toward building the PROFITABLE, sustainable businesses that they really want. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let ME know what you loved most about the episode (and any topics you are dying to learn about). 

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You can also email me directly with your suggestions at: [email protected] - OR DM me directly on Instagram @atjphoto or @do.the.rework 

We’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and ideas! 

Links and Resources:

Download a Transcript

Reading:

Book: Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

Book: Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott

Do The ReWork

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Allison Tyler Jones

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Rudi Marten / Clark Marten Photography

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn