The Mentor's Corner
Business and Marketing for ProsDO YOU HAVE A DREAM 50?
Create a “Dream Fifty” for maximum clarity and impact.
If your marketing plan is sorta like “post some stuff and hope for the best”, well…
You’re not alone.
But you’re also not in control.
Drumroll please!
Enter the Dream 50 List — a game-changer for photographers who are ready to stop the endless waiting and start some sweet winning.
The Dream 50 isn’t just a list of clients.
This puppy is a full-on strategy — a targeted, efficient, and relationship-driven approach to landing the right kind of work with the right kind of clients.
Here’s why building your Dream 50 should be your next move:
1. Targeted Outreach
(a.k.a. Stop Wasting Your Damn Time)
When you handpick your Dream 50, you’re identifying businesses, agencies, and individuals who are already a great fit for your work.
No more “spray and pray” marketing.
Instead, you focus on the clients who value strong visuals, create content regularly, align with your style — and treat creatives with respect.
(Yes, that last one matters. A lot.)
2. Efficiency and Focus
(a.k.a. Save Your Energy for the Right People)
Marketing can feel like shouting into a black hole.
The Dream 50 narrows your field of vision. You’re not trying to be everywhere for everyone — you’re laser-focused on the 50 relationships that actually matter.
This kind of focus beats “doing all the things” every single time.
3. Strategic Relationship Building
(a.k.a. Play the Long Game)
We’re not talking about scary cold calls and cheesy sales pitches.
We’re gonna start some real conversations.
How do we do that, you ask?
Simple. We:
- Follow them on social.
- Comment thoughtfully on their posts.
- Send a smart, personalized email introducing yourself and your work.
- Stay in touch with valuable and fresh content, not canned spam.
We’re not begging for a job — we’re building a connection.
And when they do need someone, guess who’ll come to mind first?
4. Prioritization and Planning
(a.k.a. Work Smarter)
Your Dream 50 shouldn’t be one giant, undifferentiated blob.
Break it down:
- Tier 1: Ready to pitch now.
- Tier 2: Almost ready — needs more relationship-building.
- Tier 3: Aspirational clients — the dream gigs.
This way, you’re always working the system.
Shooting personal projects that would appeal to your Tier 2s and 3s?
That’s smart, without feeling like heavy-handed marketing.
5. Tracking and Accountability
(a.k.a. Grown-Up Business Moves)
Use a CRM.
Or a spreadsheet.
Or sticky notes if you must.
Hell, a pack of Post-its is only a buck at the Dollar Store.
The point is: Track your outreach.
- Who you contacted.
- When you followed up.
- What you sent them.
- What they said.
Consistency wins.
Sloppy memory loses – every time.
Bottom Line
(a.k.a. Why You Must Get Proactive)
The Dream 50 flips your marketing from reactive to proactive.
It forces you to get clear on who you want to work with — and then actually do the work to get on their radar.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not overnight.
But it works.
And it’s how real, sustainable, and personally aligned businesses are built.
Ready to Build Your Dream 50?
Here’s How to Actually Stop Wasting Time.
Today.
Neither is scrolling LinkedIn and calling it “networking.”
If you’re serious about getting better clients, it’s time to act like it.
Here’s how to start right now:
Make the List: Write down 50 businesses, agencies, or people you actually want to work with. No randoms. No “well, maybe if they asked.” Only the ones you’d be proud to put on your roster.
Tier Them:
- Tier 1: You could pitch them today and feel good about it.
- Tier 2: You’re close, but you need to warm them up a bit.
- Tier 3: Total dream clients. (Start planting seeds anyway.)
Get on Their Radar:
Follow them. Engage with their posts. Send thoughtful emails. (No spammy “just circling back” nonsense.)
Track Everything:
Keep a simple CRM, spreadsheet, or even a notebook. (Amateurs rely on memory. Pros track progress.)
The goal?
Stop waiting to get picked. Start building the relationships that will build your career.
It doesn’t take magic.
It takes focus, persistence, and a little bit of guts.
And it starts today — if you’re ready.
Recent Business Posts
WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE GIVEN UP YOUR BLOG
Why it is a bad idea to build your house on someone else's land. Back in the early days of the internet publishing was simple. If you had something to say, you would find a forum or similar space and say it. And people would agree or disagree or simply not engage with...
MOVING FORWARD IN 2021: A PHOTOGRAPHER’S PLAN
JUMP ON IN... AND GET READY TO SWIM LIKE NEVER BEFORE No more time to tread water, you have to make distance. Jump in and begin to push forward and know before you jump that the water has more resistance than it did before. That it may feel as though you are swimming...
WHAT MAKES THIS PHOTO GREAT: EPISODE ONE, GARY PERWEILER
https://youtu.be/GzOWXPaO8P8
HOW TO STOP SELF SABOTAGE AND MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEW YEAR
THE MOST IMPORTANT STORIES WE WILL EVER HEAR COME STRAIGHT FROM OUR OWN MINDS. OVERCOMING SELF-FOCUSED NEGATIVITY 1. Have Daily Negative Thought Time A paradoxical strategy to gain control over negative thinking is to commit to 10 minutes a day ruminating and...
PHOTOGRAPHERS: CONCENTRATE ON THESE THREE THINGS FOR 2020
WHAT SHOULD PHOTOGRAPHERS FOCUS ON FOR 2021?VISIBILITY, DURATION, FREQUENCY As we slowly begin to let go of the miserable business climate most small businesses, creatives, photographers..., well, just about anyone in the creative arts community has had this past...
JAMES ALTUCHER’S BOOK “SKIP THE LINE”: NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Photo by Blaz Photo on Unsplash JAMES ALTUCHER'S BOOK "SKIP THE LINE": NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS I am a big fan of James Altucher. I found his book "Choose Yourself" one afternoon and it changed my life. Few books have life-changing information, but "Choose Yourself"...
THE ROCKS OF COCHISE STRONGHOLD
I had the opportunity to visit my friends down near Benson and spend some time with them exploring Cochise Stronghold and spent some time in Bisbee. It is a most fascinating place.
SUMMER HAS TRULY ARRIVED (2)
Summer is here. I went for my morning walk and was dripping by the time I returned to the house. First time this year. Oh well, I guess we got off easy in the spring. The days were hot, but the mornings have remained fairly mild. Yesterday and today the light has...
HOW STEALING HOURS SHAVES THE 10,000 HOUR RULE
Published in 2008, Malcolm Gladwell's book, "Outliers" became somewhat of a phenomenon. His pursuit of what made high achievers high achievers was meticulous and accessible. One of the features of that book, the idea that it took 10,000 hours of practice to be...
SUMMER’S BACK… SIGH
Well, the heat is back in the valley for the duration of the next 4 months. I am tired of the summers here, but at this point, a move to Montana or Wyoming is not possible. We keep looking for an opportunity, but it will take precious time. Bri came in this weekend,...
WHY I BELIEVE IT IS OK TO SHOOT FOR FREE
A photographer who has been a "pro" for going on five years now (part-time, of course, because he has a government job) loudly and rudely called me out for telling a new, non-published photographer to get the gig (unpaid) and knock it out of the park. This sort of gig...