Confessions of a Psych Major:

What Photographers and Chickens Have in Common...

(... and How You Can Quickly, Easily, and
Enjoyably "Kick" the Connection So You Can Take Consistently Beautiful, Saleable Photos)

Dear Reader,

As a psych major in college many years ago, I spent a lot of time in a lab watching chickens peck a lever in their cage to get a kernel of corn.

We were studying reinforcement, asking: What's the best way to get the chicken to peck the lever repeatedly? And as it turns out, the best reinforcement to encourage repeated behavior in chickens is random. If he never knows when the treat is coming, he’ll stand there and peck that bar until he falls over in exhaustion, and once in a while death!

Today, I’m a photographer and a teacher. I teach people how to take and sell pictures and I watch them follow the same chicken-style pattern -- they keep pushing the shutter button with no purpose or thought, expecting a reward to land at their feet. And just like chickens, they often go to sleep exhausted and frustrated when it doesn’t happen.

So I’m here today to tell you there’s a better way…

A simple way to get better photos every time... instead of hoping for one good shot in the bunch...

A way to master your camera with just one button (and no, it’s not the shutter... you may not even know this button exists)...

A way to make money selling your shots... even if all you’ve ever taken are birthday snapshots or photos for your travel album.

Introducing AWAI’s First-Ever
Online Photography Workshop for Beginners

They say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something.

But the truth is: You don’t have to be an expert to sell your photos. I’ve seen folks go on to make their first buck after about a week of concerted effort.

Take Sue Wright. Sue made over $1,800 from sales of a single photograph she took at our very first Paris workshop. She got that first sale within eight days of her return home. And then she sold a few more photos over the next two months -- until she had earned back the cost of the workshop fee.

Or Cheryl Bigman. Cheryl didn’t know anything before she started. But she came to one of our live workshops. Practiced her craft. And eventually she got better and better. Now she makes a full-time living taking photos and selling them to clients and to stock photo agencies.

If you can learn how to use that one special button on your camera that I mentioned above, I can show you how to take professional-quality photographs in less than three days.

From Psych Major to Professional Photographer

If you ask me today how long I’ve been taking pictures and practicing my craft, I’d say it’s been well over 30 years.

But it really only took me three months to make my first sale. And I think you can do even better.

Technology has certainly gotten better. Thirty years ago I was processing my photos in a darkroom I set up in my bathroom at home (the only room in the house without a window).

And I’d go through three to four rolls of film on a single outing hoping for one to two good pictures.

I’d carry different rolls of film at different speeds, multiple filters, an exposure meter to be sure I was calculating the light right and I may have also carried multiple cameras because you can’t take film out of the camera half way through the roll so if you want to change film speeds, you have to change cameras (that, or forfeit your roll of film).

Today, lucky for you, we are in the digital world. You can sip a cappuccino while listening to music at your kitchen table and process your images on your computer with just a few clicks.

And one camera is all you need. Even if it’s a point and shoot. Technology has come so far that you don’t even need filters and exposure meters anymore. Your camera does all that for you. And if you can learn a few simple tricks, getting a good photograph can be as simple as pressing the shutter button.

And here’s something else you have that I didn’t have when I started out…

Me.

I hate to toot my own horn here, but let’s face it: If I'd wanted to hire a professional photographer to teach me the ins and outs of photography 30 years ago, I’d have had to ask him for a commitment of several months.

And if I wanted to go to school for photography, several years.

Today, I can teach you in three days. Now that may sound like an audacious claim. But I stand by it. Here's why...

I’ve been working with people just like you for five years now. And what I’ve found after all those years of trial and error, is that the essentials of saleable photography -- that is, what you truly need to know to go from beginner to pro -- fit into just three days.

In no more than three days, you can master your camera, learn the skills to take fantastic photos, and discover easy ways to make money from those photos.

And that’s why I’m so excited to let you know about a brand new opportunity to learn these same skills—without ever having to leave home. Heck, you can learn in your PJ’s if you want.

It’s a new online workshop called Photography Success for Beginners. And just like our in-person events, this workshop will show you how to take high-quality images fit for the pages of glossy magazines, online stock photo agencies, newspapers, and even for hanging on the walls of galleries and cafes.

It will, in fact, be live. So you can ask all the questions you need just by virtually “raising your hand.”

And we’re tailoring it to each attendee, too -- with personalized critiques of your photos, and all the hand-holding you need as a new photographer to work your camera, take great shots, and then make money from them.

All of this through your computer and your phone, using a slick virtual "online classroom." We've used this system before... and so we know it works well. You don’t have to download any tricky software or worry about security or anything like that. You just log in to a special web page and then call in on your phone so you can hear what's being said. We'll all be "sitting" in the same room.

Something You Can Do from Anywhere

Testimonials from attendees at previously-held live workshops:

“All of the people involved with AWAI are so professional and so nice to work with. The workshops I’ve attended have been education and inspirational.” -Carol Jan Hopkins

“Very informative.More information than I thought I would leave with. I feel armored with an array of options for making photography saleable… Certain that I will put information learned to use. Practical and relevant.” –Sabrina Armitage

“This is my first workshop. I was impressed with all the presentations and the staff. It was an excellent workshop.” - Doris Nelson

I would recommend this workshop to others. It was a great time, great venue, interesting people, I learned a lot, had fun, got great feedback and great tips. – Cheryl Ellis

”I found this workshop helpful, informative and inspiring. It was full of really good practical knowledge and information.” – Clea French

“Fantastic for beginners! You will learn all the basics you need and continue learning on your own with the knowledge you take home.” – Cheryl Bigman

“It’s great to get information from a real pro -- with high standards and ethics. You couldn’t have picked a better instructor!” -- Lily Torrez

“Rich was awesome! He shared his knowledge and expertise in a concise and easy to understand way. I learned sooo much. Thank you!” -- Lyrae Perry

“Rich's experiences over the years give him a wealth of info to impart and guidance to offer.” -- Nan Miller

“Rich is funny, and his experience inspires and motivates.” -- Amelia Claassen

If you love to travel, this online workshop will show you how to take and sell great vacation shots. If you’re more of a homebody, you’ll know the types of photographs you can take around your home and your city that will make you money.

This workshop is designed to get you ramped up fast so that you can be taking saleable pictures in a handful of days.

So if you want simple, crystal-clear instruction that connects all the dots for you and shows you where to find everything—including the one button on your camera that you’ll need to take the best photos—join us for the Photography Success for Beginners online workshop.

Everything You Need to Sell Your Photos...in Just Three Sessions

The first thing you need to know about success in photography is not how to take better pictures.

Now maybe that seems counter-intuitive. But the truth is: The first thing you need to know is where to sell your images. Because this affects the kind of camera you’ll buy and how you’ll use it. And it also affects how you’ll process your pictures -- because processing photos for magazines is much different than processing them for stock or fine art.

Session #1 is designed to ramp up your skills. Learn how to set your camera... plus several camera tricks we usually reserve for our in-person photo workshops. You can either practice these tricks right away and take pictures you’d like us to review. Or you can upload photos you’ve already taken and submit them for us to comment on.

Session #2 goes over the essentials of professional processing. The way you process your photos depends on which market you sell them to. So this will likely be one of those sessions that you attend and then come back to again and again while you’re editing your own photographs. You’ll find our processing methods simple and clear.

Session #3 covers photography secrets for fast sales. Learn which types of photos sell best for each market and which markets are best for beginners. We’ll even help you get your first photo sale by showing you the best places to sell the kinds of photographs you like to take. And don’t worry… we’ll keep it simple. We’ll introduce you only to the markets that are open to working with beginners. Then we’ll walk you through it step-by-step, holding your hand all the way.

Oh and by the way, we'll host one session a week. But we’ll be recording each session. That way if you can't make an official "live" time, no worries. When you're ready, you can just sit back and watch and then practice what I show you. There’s no pressure to write anything down or memorize steps. Just watch me do something a few times, and you’ll have it down pat.

Plus, as an added bonus, I’ll record a few extra audio and video tips that you can pick up and watch between sessions to keep you fresh and learning along the way.

Rich Wagner is the Senior Advisor to AWAI's Turn Your Pictures into Cash: A Comprehensive Course in Taking and Selling Amazing Photographs.

He began his photographic career in college as a freelance photographer for Pittsburgh newspapers. After graduation, photography remained a hobby during his 20-year career in retail, and in 1984, Rich opened a custom framing and fine art gallery. His current shop, Imagine It Framed, recently had the honor of being designated as one of “America’s Top 100” custom framers by Décor Magazine.

While attending professional photography seminars in New York City, Rich shared his photographs with well-known professionals who encouraged him to show his work. This led to several exhibits in the region. Currently, his work is in private and public collections all over the world. His images hang in public corporations and private foundations from San Diego to Boston and in homes from the Americas to the Far East. He began shooting digitally in the late 90’s and since 2001 has worked almost exclusively in that format.

The beauty of the Farmington Valley, where Rich lives with his wife and five daughters, and the excitement of New York, his previous home, are the sources of most of his photography. Travels and workshops throughout the country have added to his collection of images. Everything from the rich colors and broad landscapes of the southwest, to street studies in the Little Havana section of Miami have been captured by his lens.

“Rich has a huge amount of knowledge he is able to share in a totally understandable way, which is also really entertaining and professional.” -- Viki Hildreth

“Rich’s command of all facets of the photography process is extensive. His ability to make it understandable to the novice and expert photographer is amazing.” -- Jane Jenkins

“I attended many sessions with Rich Wagner and, for a beginner getting started, I found his sessions very helpful. He’s very knowledgeable, interesting, explains clearly, and kept my interest at all times.” -- Leslie Sponberg

I’ve been AWAI’s lead instructor for the past five years. And during those years, I’ve honed my teaching methods to laser in on what new photographers need to capture the kinds of images that sell best for them.

And in the process I have developed a streamlined system that will have you capturing those images within just a few hours.

Not months from now… not years from now. But right now!

By the end of this program, you’ll know with great confidence:

And here’s something else I’ll do for you…

Your Success is Guaranteed

“Rich is very gentle with us while we learn. He breaks photography down into its basic principles, and continuously reminds us what to ‘think’ before we shoot.” -- Gloria Marchand

“Rich is very knowledgeable, speaks in layman’s terms, and is easy to understand.” -- Debby Thompson

“Rich is very knowledgeable. It’s quite evident that he knows his subject... pleasant personality. All his explanations are easy to grasp, and often quite humorous, which brightens his presentations.” -- Orysia Olijnyk

“Rich was great! Very personable and knowledgeable. He also explains things clearly and concisely. He’s a natural. I know I have a much better understanding of how to use my camera and how to compose a photograph.” -- Kathleen Preston

“Rich is very knowledgeable about photography and happy to share his knowledge with other people. He is laid back and personable. He is able to clearly explain the camera’s functions to people new to photography.” -- Jennifer Ervin

“Rich is a wonderful teacher! He’s accessible, fun, and very willing to help with questions and issues… He explains things in a way that beginners could get right away. I never felt ‘left behind.’ I really loved his ‘working photographer/real world’ stories.” -- Roni Java

“Rich Wagner has a refined passion for photography. He not only loves and knows his stuff, his passion resonates, and he really gets you to understand and appreciate whatever it is that he’s teaching. He was awesome! He knew and lived all of the stuff that he taught. He was fun and lively, but his passion for photography was serious. He’s an awesome teacher!” -- Valerie Lackey

“Rich presents with analogies that actually make sense. I appreciate how he integrates his knowledge and experience.” -- Ann Hoffman

“Rich is clever, charming, and talented, but more importantly a good teacher of both the camera and the software programs. He’s extremely knowledgeable and able to explain in way that the less pro person (ie. me!) can understand.” -- Madelyn Chaber

Join me for our Photography Success for Beginners online workshop -- starting Wednesday, June 16 — and I’ll guarantee your success.

Here's how...

If you were to pay me to come to your home and show you how to quickly and easily create photos you can sell, I’d charge my photography fee of $1,300 a day, plus an extra teaching fee of $3,000, plus you'd have to cover my travel and hotel expenses.

(And to be perfectly honest: I still wouldn’t put you on my schedule. Because when I’m not teaching the AWAI photo workshops, I’m out taking pictures myself or spending time with my family. Frankly, I’m past the point in my life where I’m willing to give up those hours for spare cash.)

And anyway, you don’t need to spend that much. Because now we have this way to bring photo training directly to you. And you won’t pay anywhere near $5,000 for it – not even half that.

The cost of this online workshop, Photography Success for Beginners, is just $499.

And there’s no risk to you …

Simply follow the steps I lay out for you. Practice on your own between classes. And you’ll be successful.

Plus, you’ll have a ONE FULL YEAR GUARANTEE.

If you don’t absolutely love taking pictures -- and you don’t make your first sale within your first year -- you can request a refund of every penny you paid for the program. And we'll send it to you.

Without a doubt, this is the best-value way I can imagine for you to have a real "live workshop" experience -- but from the comfort and privacy of your own home (and at a small fraction of the cost of an in-person event).

At just $499 -- it's an investment you can easily recoup with the sale of just a few photos. And I’d like to show you how.

Enroll in Photography Success for Beginners today

You know, the next three weeks are going to slip by very quickly -- summertime always does. And they'll fly by, whether you take advantage of this opportunity or not. So why not make the decision today to make your photography passion more than just a hobby?

Enroll below and start this week to make this the summer you turn your love of photography into a fun, money-making enterprise.

Sincerely,

Rich Wagner
Professional Photographer and Senior Advisor to AWAI's Turn Your Pictures into Cash programs and workshops

P.S. Seriously, you won’t find a FULL YEAR GUARANTEE on any other photography workshop, seminar, or conference out there. But we're offering it without hesitation. We know you’re going to love this workshop and that -- without question -- it'll hand you the secrets and skills you need to make money from your photos.

So put our promise to the test! You've got nothing to lose. And a whole world of fun, money-making photography to gain.

We'll stand by our promise for a full year.

Put your name on the attendee list today -- and I'll talk to you at our first workshop session. Can’t wait!