GPS Studio Services wrote:
There is a basic rule of salesmanship.  You will rarely get the sale if you don't ask for it.  "Closing" is sometimes one of the hardest things to learn.

Great post because you are right.  You will rarely get the job if you don't ask for it.

You took the words right out of my mouth. What most people don't realize when they want to become an entrepreneur is that the quality of your work is almost secondary to your customer service skills, the value you offer, and, most importantly, your ability to close a sale.

I know a lot of very talented photographers who couldn't earn a buck on their own if their life depended on it and I know a lot of photographers who's work is, at best, mediocre but do remarkably well for themselves because they can sell their services well.

Beth Furumasu wrote:
I just need to be quicker on the draw. Lesson learned.

With an attitude like that, you are bound to be successful.

Beth Furumasu wrote:
I just missed out  on a great opportunity with an internationally respected retouching house because I didn't ask for it. It wasn't because I wasn't good enough. Or I was in the wrong town. Or that I needed more practice. It was because I simply didn't ask soon enough.

So here it is my friends. Ask for what you want. Nothing will magically come to you.

"knock and the door will be opened to you".

You can bet I'm knocking now. I'll knock all of these doors down. I should have remembered from my acting days. The worst they can say is no.

If you are waiting for permission, here it is:

Go for it.

Can we use your pool for a shoot?

Can we work on my photoshop skills sometime.

Do you like pizza and beer?