BizNotes
Starting Out - the 10 biggest mistakes
Over the past several years, an unprecedented number of amateur photographers have been entering the field of professional wedding or portrait photography. The rate of influx into the profession has been estimated as anywhere between 10% and 20% per year, depending on the source. As the popularity of digital photography continues to grow, there is little to suggest that this rate of growth will recede.
Strong feelings - "passion" is usually cited - contribute to the motivation many report for…
Passion and Profit
What's the correlation between passion and profit? I think that depends, and it also varies with whom you ask. Are the two intertwined?
First of all, it is possible to own and run a business without much passion. It's not likely that one would initially start a company without a passion, but one can exist for some time without it. One can also start a business with a passion for money, a passion for the joy of just having a new venture, or a passion for the work within the business.
I would guess…
Turn a Mistake Into a Customer for Life
Have you ever felt that a mistake on the part of you or your staff was the end of a client relationship? Has a customer ever been so upset that you just knew you could kiss her good-bye?
It doesn't have to be that way. You can actually convert that mistake into a client who not only becomes a customer for life, but who also become an evangelist for your business. Warning - you may find the results so astonishing that you actually start upsetting customers intentionally (not recommended).
The…
Working With Wedding Videographers
It is statistically known that more wedding couples hire photographers than videographers. The "Uncle Charlie" phenomenon is more prevalent in video than in wedding photography, especially in the low to mid-price point weddings. However, as you climb up the pricing scale for weddings, you will find that more couples want both top quality photography and a wedding video. Both services can be expensive, and they expect great results from both.
You may hear frequently from many of your clients that…
The Value of Fine Art to Your Business
As photographers, we like to believe that we are artists. Many of us are using the moniker "photographic artist" on our cards, signs, and letterhead.
Starting decades ago, creative darkroom techniques, in complement with the camera, gave us the option to create photo art. But it was unusual for a portrait or commercial photographer to mix personal work with client work. Photography for the sake of art was not to be confused with photography for clients. Photojournalists were more likely to…
Is being a Part-timer Ethically Wrong ?
Over the years, many of us have invested precious sums of money developing a full time studio or photography business. We expect to compete with other photographers who have paid their dues, sweat and tears, and who suffer similar overhead and expenses.
But in photography there has always been a segment of the business with photographers who keep their full-time jobs and go after the same clients we seek. Their day jobs pay all of their personal expenses, so they see an opportunity to charge…
Choosing Professional Photographer Associations
There are many professional photographer associations available, each with its distinct mission and purpose. You should know about each and determine their relevance to your work and your business. Keep in mind, though, that the benefits of all far outweigh the cost of membership. Regardless of experience level or time in the business, we are all on a road of learning and development. We change, we learn, we improve our art, and life also changes, with new styles, new customer tastes, and new…
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