590: Rick Bettinger – How to balance art, business, and innovation in photography

PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

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

Rick Bettinger of www.gittings.com is part of a photography business that has been operating for over 90 years in the US. They have studio locations in Dallas, Houston and New York.

Plus, they have a separate side to the business, a global photography agency with photographers worldwide working under their banner.

They offer most genres of photography – both for personal and corporate clients.

Check out their About page, and you'll get a sense of the operation's size. They have over 20 staff photos and bios of a well-dressed and presented professional-looking team.

In an article published in the 1980s, the founder of his incredible business, Paul Linwood Gittings, was quoted as saying, “I did sacrifice art for business; I made up my mind to use photography as a business tool.”

There is no denying that his legacy lives on with what looks like an incredible business!

Regarding our guest for today, he is the President and owner of Gittings Portrait Studios in Dallas and Fort Worth. He has a Master of Photography degree and has photographed past US presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, among many, many other notable families in Texas.

In this interview, Rick shares how he has balanced art, business, and innovation in a long-standing, well-respected, and highly profitable photography business.

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

• About Gittings Portrait Studios: Rick’s journey and connection to his family’s photography legacy.
• Legacy of Artistry: How Gittings blends artistic values with business success.
• Balancing Roles: The art of leading a business while fostering creativity.
• Tradition Meets Innovation: Keeping a legacy brand relevant with modern trends.
• Growth and Structure: How Gittings Global expands and stays profitable and relevant.
• Profit and Sustainability: Why profitability is key to Gittings’ growth.
• Training New Talent: Preparing photographers to meet Gittings’ high standards.
• Commitment to Quality: Ensuring formal, precise portraiture and premium technology.
• Finding a Niche: The importance of specialisation in a competitive market.
• Building Client Loyalty: Tips for fostering strong, lasting client relationships.
• Smart Marketing and Conversion: The role of repeat clients and charity marketing.
• Professional Hiring Practices: Selecting photographers with skills and professionalism.
• Handling High-Profile Clients: Strategies for assigning experienced photographers.
• Premium Pricing: Educating clients on the value of high-end portraiture.
• Diverse Marketing Strategy: Staying versatile with a comprehensive marketing calendar.
• Sales Tracking and Goals: CRM and goals track performance and motivate staff.
• Proactive Lead Generation: Strategies for consistent client interest.
• Client Flexibility: Adapting to client budgets and product needs.
• Thoughtful Upselling: Tailoring offerings to foster loyalty and revenue.
• Working with Prominent Figures: The importance of professionalism in high-profile sessions.
• Building Rapport: Creating comfort with clients to encourage repeat business.
• Challenges of Leadership: Rick’s reflections on running a creative business.
• Continuous Learning: Staying adaptable as the industry evolves.
• Future Vision: Rick’s excitement for the future and continuing Gittings’ legacy.

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.

Photography is what I love, but I also love the art of business… I don’t think I would just be happy just being a photographer, but I also would not be happy just being the owner and not having that creative outlet. – Rick Bettinger

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.

Seriously, that's not all.

We are professionals and… you should dress like a professional and look like a professional. We want to look better than our clients, or as good as our clients… we are trying to represent a profession where we want people to take us seriously. – Rick Bettinger

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 Rick 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.

I have given up some of the art of photography to be able to make a living at photography. – Rick Bettinger

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Rick or want to say thank you 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.

If we're not behind the camera, we're not doing anything. We have to be photographing people. We have to have people in front of our camera. If we aren't getting [leads], then we aren't photographing. If we're not photographing, we're not making money. – Rick Bettinger

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. You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help both me and the show. 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.

The easiest customer to get is the repeat…when they come back year after year, it saves so much time and energy. They may not spend as big every year, but when they're coming back every year, it's like an annuity. – Rick Bettinger

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.​

LinkedIn Course Update

I've just added an in-depth update to the LinkedIn Course you can access.

Well, to be fair, Jeff supplied all the updated info (he's the LinkedIn expert), and I asked the questions.

You'll find the update near the bottom of the course page here: https://photobizx.com/linkedin-for-photographers

Don't forget you need to be logged in to access the training:

Log in at https://photobizx.com (in the footer area), and you can get to the course page a few ways:
​
​ Head to https://photobizx.com/linkedin-for-photographers​

Look under the PREMIUM menu, go to COURSES and click on LinkedIn for Photographers

Go to https://photobizx.com/your-courses/ to see a list of your courses and links directly to them​

Jeff and I are always here and available to answer any follow-up questions. Email me at [e-mail] if you have any questions.

Shoot to the Top Podcast Interview

If you'd like to hear more from me, I was recently interviewed for an episode of the Shoot to the Top Podcast.

We talked about all things photography business, with a focus on commercial, headshot, and personal branding photography — and what successful photographers do to be successful.

In the episode, I share insights from over 600 interviews with photographers—from everyday pros to well-known names like Sue Bryce and Ben Chrisman. I started the podcast 12 years ago to offer the kind of practical, real-world advice you’d get at photography conferences, and I’ve focused on giving photographers useful tips they can apply to their businesses.

We cover some key challenges, like converting leads into clients, structuring your pricing, and improving your lighting skills. You’ll hear examples from guests like Sarah Louise Jackson, who’s refined her pricing to encourage upgrades, and Jeff Brown, who shares a simple LinkedIn strategy for reaching new clients. If you’re looking for straightforward advice on building a successful photography business, this episode is worth a listen.

Here's the link: https://shoottothetop.com/find-great-insights-into-running-a-photography-business-from-photographer-and-podcaster-andrew-hellmich/

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

Gittings Portraiture Website

Rick Bettinger on Instagram

Rick W. Bettinger, Gittings Master Photographer

Gittings Portraiture on Instagram

Gittings Portraiture on Facebook

Gittings Global

The Gittings People

Thank you!

Thanks for tuning in, and a big thank you to Rick for sharing his journey with Gittings Portrait Studios. His insights on blending creativity with business savvy, maintaining client loyalty, and navigating the industry and technology changes offered valuable lessons for any photographer looking to grow and succeed.

Structure helps you make goals. When it’s slow, do the things that you need to do to be set up for success when you’re busy. – Rick Bettinger

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

Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew

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