We were lucky to catch up with Eric Martin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Eric, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?
It all started with a phone call…this call came a few weeks after graduation asking if I would still be able to shoot a senior portrait session.
I scheduled a time to meet up to find out more about the recent graduate and to get to know his personality and style in order to best plan for his photo session. We came up with a vision and I got to work creating an itinerary for the day of the shoot.
The day of the photo session was great! Typically, teenage boys aren’t too excited about having their pictures taken, but after explaining how I was going to guide him through all of the poses he got really into it…I think it helped that I came up with names for all of the poses such as, “The GQ Lean” or “The Sportscaster”. We spent about four hours together shooting at a few different locations.
At the reveal and ordering appointment, he and his parents fell in love with all of the shots and they had a very difficult time choosing their favorites…that’s how I know I did my job well!
Once they decided which ones they wanted to order I got to work on some minor retouches and then sent them to my printer in Italy…wait…what?!! ITALY?!! Yes! I only offer the best…and this place is literally the best in the world! There are only a handful of print shops that have this one particular printer, and there is only one professional photography print company that offers true handcrafted artisanship in all of their products. They actually operate out of a CASTLE!
I was able to hand-deliver the final prints to mom and she was blown away by the quality! I’m so happy that she was so happy! That’s the beauty of this business…I create family heirlooms that will last for generations.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I like to say that Eric T. Martin Photography LLC is a photo studio that will change the way you see yourself. Whether you need professional headshots for your work, portraits to commemorate a special occasion, or senior photos, I will provide concierge-level service to guide you through an entirely custom-designed portrait photography experience that’s easy and stress-free resulting in the best photos that you have ever seen of yourself so you can confidently commemorate all your special occasions while showcasing your love with beautiful wall art and luxurious printed photos.
You deserve beautiful portrait photography. Whether using photos for personal branding with professional headshots or for decorating your home, you are going to want beautiful portrait photography of you and your family that is going to last for generations. There’s nothing worse than not knowing where to begin or what to do once you’re in front of the camera.
You shouldn’t have to settle for cell phone images, photos stored “in the cloud”, prints fading after a year, not knowing what to do in front of the camera, or not knowing what to wear.
You deserve a portrait studio that provides a stress-free experience resulting in beautiful portrait photography that will last for generations.
My clients receive a custom-designed session, professional hair and makeup, guided wardrobe selection & posing, and complimentary installation of their wall art.
I understand that everybody loves beautiful portraits, but most people are afraid of having them taken because they think they’re not photogenic. It’s not your job to be photogenic. It’s my job to show you how beautiful you already are.
This is an experience. It’s about seeing yourself as the best version of yourself. This is transforming and transformational.
You don’t have to be a model and you don’t have to worry. I will guide you with what to wear, how to stand, how to look at the camera, where to place your hands — everything! I’ll guide you through it all.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Absolutely! I’m an avid reader and a forever student! Here’s a short list of some recent reads:
1. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
2. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker
3. The Power of Small by Linda Kaplan and Robin Koval
4. The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason
5. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
6. Effective Networking by David Nour
7. You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
8. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz
9. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
10. 10% Happier by Dan Harris
11. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
12. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
13. The Irresistible Offer by Mark Joyner
14. Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven
15. Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
16. The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes
17. You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
18. Sell It Like Serhant by Ryan Serhant
19. David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
20. Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
21. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
22. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
23. She Sells! by Megan DiPiero
I just purchased May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein
Future Purchase: Hero on a Mission by Donald Miller
As a professional photographer, I have two mentors who I truly admire and appreciate – Sue Bryce and Megan DiPiero. Sue has taught me self-worth, beautiful poses, and photography as fine art. Megan has taught me how to run a successful photography business.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
The two things that have helped build my reputation within my market are honesty and superior products/service. I know people have options when it comes to picking a photographer and I know I’m not for everyone. There are photographers out there who will take a ton of photos of you and give them all to you on a flash drive for next to nothing. If that’s what you’re looking for, then I’m happy to point you in that direction. I’ve always been a believer in the saying, “you get what you pay for” and I’ve gotten to the point where I feel comfortable telling prospective clients, “I’m not cheap.”
Try to look at it this way: a person can go through the drive-through, pay a few bucks, have a complete meal, and be satisfied. Another person can go to a 3-star Michelin restaurant, pay a few hundred bucks, have a complete meal, and be satisfied. It’s all about perspective and value. Some people value the experience of being greeted by name, taken to their “usual” seat, presented with a limited menu, and treated like they are the most important person in the restaurant. I’d like to think that my business is the latter. My goal is to make my clients feel pampered, special, beautiful, powerful, and confident.
My clients tend to value quality products and experiences, so that is why I offer only the best printed and framed products in the world. Everything I offer is hand-made and custom-designed to each client’s exact tastes and specifications. This may sound elitist to some, but hear me out. I bet you that someone reading this article either owns or knows someone who owns a Louis Vuitton bag. Those bags are not cheap! Does that mean that this person is super wealthy? Maybe, maybe not. All it means is that that person places value on the quality, craftsmanship, and the name of that particular brand. Why also, do people wait in line and shell out over a thousand dollars every time a new iPhone is released? Do they have money to burn? Probably not. It’s because they place value on that particular product and ownership makes them feel a certain type of way.
So yes, I know. I’m not for everyone. And that’s ok. I offer exceptional service and the world’s best products. You don’t have to be rich to hire me. You don’t have to own that Louis Vuitton bag to hire me. If you value experiences and creating family heirlooms that will last for generations, then I am here for you!
One of my mentors shared a story of something that recently happened to her, and I’ve made it a goal of mine. I would love it if one day a person walked into her friend’s home and said, “Oh wow! Is that an “Eric Martin” portrait of you?!”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etmphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmartin_photo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/etmportraitphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etm-photo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/etm_photo
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/mRfeIGTEwhIS_dsHprqwcQ
- Other: https://goo.gl/maps/fM6HYn3SBywgJ1189