567: Carl van den Boom – From photography to a photography glove business

PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area

Carl van den Boom of www.photographygloves.com is featured in this episode — an interview that wasn't going to happen — I wasn't sure it would be a good fit for you.

I received the intro letter from Carl's good buddy, Lukas. He wrote…

I'm Lukas from Vallerret Photography Gloves. I'm reaching out to ask how you'd feel about interviewing our founder and my good friend Carl.

After leaving New Zealand to chase the snow in Austria, he never returned. And that's where we met.

We spent time snowboarding and photographing some pro snowboarders. After that, mushing dogs in Sweden and Alaska, running a bike rental business in Denmark, and some other ventures.

Carl finally found the niche where he could combine all his passions (winter, photography, entrepreneurship, fun) into one: Photography Gloves.

I replied to Lukas with…

Hi Lukas — Thanks for your interest and background story – the gloves look great.

PhotoBizX is focused on the business side of photography, not shooting.

Wishing you every success with your outreach.

Lukas came back with…

Sorry if this didn't come across well in my email, but this is exactly why we wrote to you.

Carl is a photographer and has made good money with real estate photography and other genres, BUT wanted to escape the “daily grind” of looking for customers.

We thought that might be interesting for your audience.

Okay, so that piqued my interest, and I hope you're keen to hear more, too.

In this interview, Carl shares how his photography passion and entrepreneurship led to a photography glove business.

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• Learn how to blend creativity with entrepreneurship to build a successful business in the photography industry
• Carl's journey sheds light on the path from hobby to profitable venture
• Gain insights from a real entrepreneur's experience, turning passion into profit
• Discover how collaboration can enhance business growth and reach a global audience
• Learn how to leverage your hobby to create supplementary income and fuel your passions
• Understand how to spot market opportunities and turn them into successful business ventures
• Gain motivation and strategies for overcoming obstacles to launch your own successful business
• Discover the secrets behind Carl's success in creating niche products for photographers, meeting market demand, and scaling production
• Learn how to identify market needs, test product ideas, and scale your business effectively
• Understand how to launch and grow a business on a shoestring budget while ensuring product quality and competitiveness
• Discover strategies for expanding your business network, sharing ideas, and increasing sales through trusted platforms
• Learn how to create engaging content and leverage influencer partnerships to increase brand visibility and sales
• Discover strategies for managing the demands of entrepreneurship while maintaining personal well-being and enjoyment
• Learn actionable strategies for launching, designing, and marketing your products or services in the photography industry

Carl's first glove product images that he drew/Photoshop'd when he first started – as discussed in the interview.

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus, special member-only interviews.

Just don't be afraid of sharing your ideas with people. – Carl van den Boom

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

We were so niche, and it's a lot of work to do this lifestyle business. That and we're such a small fry, they're not going to come in and put all the time and effort in to take our small piece of the markets. – Carl van den Boom

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Carl shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.

With a small team, we can achieve quite a bit. – Carl van den Boom

If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Carl, or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

Don't be afraid of sales, and then start building an email list and working on those funnels. – Carl van den Boom

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.

Just try and grow an email list. And then you've got someone to talk to and someone to sell to when you bring out a new product. – Carl van den Boom

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

Here is the latest review…

★★★★★ Wish I had done the premium sooner!

Via Google reviews by DMV Photographer Stir Greer in the USA on May 21st, 2024.

Andrew curates an impressive collection of interviews—there is always something I can take away and use in my own business!

Love your Podcast, and wish I had done the premium sooner!

Thank you Andrew!

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Photography Gloves Website

Vallerret Photography Gloves on Instagram

Vallerret Photography Gloves on YouTube

Episode 368: Joshua Holko – Building a successful photography business with wildlife photo expeditions

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and for passport Carl for coming on and sharing the story about how his photography and passion for business and entrepreneurship led to a company servicing photographers shooting in cold and crazy climates by producing photography-specific gloves.

When I was trying to hustle and grind my way through, that's when I felt the worst because no one is lifting up my load, it's only me. So, if I'm off having fun, the work stopped being done. But then, you know, we brought on someone for the marketing team, and then all of a sudden, all the social media was being catered for. I didn't have to worry about that, too. I could then have a little more freedom. – Carl van den Boom

That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew

The post 567: Carl van den Boom – From photography to a photography glove business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.