Hey OSP Family,

We newbies need your help. We need your help in helping us to get where you are without reinvinting the wheel.

* If you have any creative or inventive ideas to get our photograpy business of the ground and running, please post.

* If you have any suggestions on what to say and do to a client (or what not to say and do to a client), please post.

* If you have any ideas on whatever pops up in your head, as you read these threads, please post.

Hopefully, this post will make us all say, "Why didn't I think of that?"

So please post (and read) daily. Lets make this the most popular post/thread ever. We can do it, we can do it if we put our minds to it (I know that was corny).

Thanks,

M.J.

P.S. In the future, we newbies will be able to say:
I wanna thank God, my mom a dad who gave me the drop of life. I wanna thank my wife/husband for having my back because (s)he never fronted on me. Big shout out to the OSP & Picatage family who helped me with my big break. And thanks to all the little people along the way...
... then we woke up.

1. Enjoying photography isn't enough. Neither, for that matter, is being good at photography. You need to learn how to manage your business. If you decide to skip this part, you'll either find yourself undercharging and losing money, overcharging and losing business, or making unwise financial/tax decisions.

2. Buy the gear you need, not the gear you think you need. (Research before you buy! I've got a ton of gear that I *thought* would revolutionize how I shoot that never leaves my bag. Anyone wanna buy an ExpoDisc? How about a flash bracket?)

3. 95% of the time, credit cards are not your friend.

4. Network!

5. Learn! Learn from others! Learn by shooting! Learn by going to workshops and conferences! If time permits, learn from the internet! (Spending 20 hrs/wk on OSP is not permitted.)

6. Take time to shoot for fun.

7. Start a blog. Update it regularly. Use it to let your clients get to know you.

8. Get to know light. Intimately. Do you already? There's always more. Always.

9. Find out what marketing works in your area. In some parts of the country, The Knot is great. In other parts, it ain't.

10. Learn to recognize when it's beneficial to turn down a wedding. We all have one or two that just would've been better to let go, no matter how much $$$ was involved.

Just some thoughts for what they're worth. Most of these I wrote as reminders to myself as much as anything.

Networking.
Networking.
Networking.

Give out five cards per day. It really doesn't matter to whom, just hand out five new cards per day.

More later,
Mark

*You have to be a business person first to get a great start. You are in the business of photography. Take some business courses!!! As many as it takes and read books like crazy. Books are our friends.

*Decide who you are and what your style is...it will take you a long way in the eyes of people coming to your site if you know who you are.

*Only post on your site what YOU love. That way you'll get to shoot what you WANT to shoot.

*Have a blog and be yourself.

*People are buying the experience of you...make sure they have fun with you. Go the extra mile for them.

*Credit cards will burn you in the end.

*Charge accordingly and educate your clients about why your products are less than another photographers who may have more experience or have been in business longer than you if they ask. Don't just laugh with them or whatever when a photographer is more expensive than you. Soon you'll want to be charging more and you may get frustrated that clients think you shouldn't be charging so much. It helps the industry and your future. I hope I'm making sense....

*Take the time to become good at your art before going pro. Picking up a camera and declaring yourself professional with in a couple of months is not professional. Take classes, get professional photographer's opinions about your work and how you can become better (I'm totally talking in generalities here. I've not looked at anyone's work on this thread so far so that no one thinks I'm pointing any fingers.)

*Get a great looking site. Do not make your own. Get a template and help the presentation of your images. This is not a place to skimp or have your friend make you a site. You NEED to spend at least $400 for a Bludomain small site (or something that is comparable in quality to Bludomain). It will help you work to sell and get you work. The internet is often the first place people will see your work when you are first getting started.

*Be nice.

Here are some simple tips I wish I'd thought of sooner:

-don't put your fancy label on a CD until you've burned it successfully, even if you have a bunch to do and you think you'll lose track of which CD is which. burning CD's sometimes goes bad, and you end up having to reprint a fancy label

-NEVER send a client an email saying stuff like "I think you're going to really like your pictures..." or "I hope you like them as much as I do..." YOU DON'T THINK THEY'LL LIKE THEM, YOU KNOW THEY'LL LIKE THEM! You don't HOPE because you KNOW they're going to like them! be confident!

-NEVER send driviing directions to an on-location session until you have COMPLETELY CONFIRMED THE EXACT DAY & TIME. just trust me on this one.

-CHARGE NON-REFUNDABLE RETAINERS, even if you feel like you're too new to charge them, or you feel like your clients would never stand you up.

-Don't feel like you have to raise your prices just because people on a discussion board tell you that you should.


and finally...
-Go to CharMaine's Master's class at WPPI next year Monday afternoon, March 17th!!!
She & I worked on her pitch to WPPI (the "pick me as a speaker" proposal), and BELIEVE ME, YOU WANT TO BE IN THAT CLASS WITH HER!!! I told her that if WPPI didn't take her as a speaker, I'd 1) go up to Santa Monica and personally tell Bill Hurter & Skip Cohen that they're freaking idiots and 2) demand that she give me the class that she would have done in Vegas. I'm really looking forward to it -- it's all about communication and professionalism. I just saw the outline & summaries, and I WANT TO HEAR IT ALL!!!!

Use what I call the 'Power Of Ten"

Identify THE ten wedding vendors who can best send you the referrals you need.
These are the ones who serve the clients you want to serve, in the price range you wish to be. (Your work needs to be in a similar quality range as theirs).

Once you identify THE ten, start developing quality relationships with them through networking. Have some kind of contact with them on a consistent basis. Smooze them. Love them. Appreciate them. Refer to them. Give them photos after EVERY wedding you do with them - personally delivered, if possible.
When these ten like you, appreciate you, and admire your work, they WILL send referrals. You'll find that these referrals call not so much to inquire, as to book - they'll be pretty well pre-sold on you by the Power Of Ten.

There are other benefits I'll mention later.

Mark

The single most important thing I learned I learned right here on OSP from Robin of Bellissima.

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS

This means that you should get everything in writing. Be clear about as many little details and big details too as possible. NEVER be vague. Always be specific.

Don't want to deliver every image taken at a portrait session? Specifically let the client know before the shoot that they will get only edited images.

Don't want to change already edited color images to black and white? The client needs to know that you won't be doing this BEFORE the session begins.

Don't want to spend 40 hours a week taking album changes and not getting paid for 40 hours of work? Be specific about how many album changes are included in your pricing.

I could go on for days about this, having learned the hard way.

Jules,

Please do go on for days. We need to know.

Thanks,

M.J.

Blushing....

Under-promise and over-deliver.

So, in your "managing expectations" plan, if you promise 30 images from a portrait session, deliver a minimum of 35. If you promise one set of free changes to card designs, and the client asks for another change after the first, smile and say, "ok, but I'm not charging you for this one." (But be sure to charge for the third. No ifs ands or buts.)

Another little detail to include is the all important MODEL RELEASE. Don't have one? Get one.

And of course, be sure to have people sign something that shows they know who owns the copyright to the pictures because it isn't them. It's you. And often times they THINK it's them until you make it clear to them that it's not.

Lots of others already posted things I would have said...so hopefully these are duplicates .

Practice, practice, practice, practice, & then practice some more.

Read your camera's manual a few times.

Ask for help, suggestions, critiques on your photos after you've done the above two items.

Have your policies, prices in place.

Don't get caught up in all of your competition (you know those 58 other photographers that live within 30 miles of you). Be yourself. Clients will come to you because they love you (from your blog) & your style & the experience with you.

Be confident. If you are wishy washy, I'll give this to you for free this time, I'll redo your cards for the 7th time for free, etc. they will take full advantage of you.

If you are full time, or this is your only profession set your hours. Mon-Fri. 10:00am-5:00pm, weekends sessions only on Sat. no Sun. No phone calls on Sundays.....whatever days/times you set stick to them otherwise you'll be working like a mad dog & have no life. Photography is fabulous, but you gotta have some family time & outside interests..it will help to make you happy .

Wow, there's some great advice here!

As for your "dream", don't wake up! With that clear objective, you've got a great goal in mind, and without goals, it's difficult to ascertain in which direction we really want to go.

Shoot a lot... even if it's not for a job. After 100,000 images you'll really start to see your style finding its own.

Buy the best you can afford. It will postpone having to upgrade and you'll never be limited creatively by your equipment.

And take workshops. You can never learn too much!

Hope that helps,

Corey

Two words

Viral Marketing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing

http://www.wilsonweb.com/wmt5/viral-principles.htm

The Google search

Oh my gosh Corey,

YOUR WEBSITE ROCKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.


It's McNabsty.

Seriously, can you design my website?


M.J.

Geez, thanks you guys! I'd love to design a site for you... if only I knew what I were doing! My site took me a while to put together and it pretty much maxed out my knowledge of Flash and coding. The background architecture is not as efficient as I'd like it to be and sadly, it's kinda troublesome to update. I guess it does the job though.

Your sentiments are greatly appreciated!!

Corey

Great advice here..thanks all!!

The thing that I've found works the best for getting referrals is making my clients comfortable with me. I almost always make friends with my clients and try really hard to make them feel at ease in front of the camera. I think the days of the snooty arty photographer making you feel like your taking up their valuable time are going by the wayside (hopefully

My favorite quote from a bridesmaid was "Oh my gosh, your photographer is so NOT annoying". Honestly, I think that rep will get me more work than my portfolio

I am just at one year in business and there are a million things that I have learned but here are a few.

I think the most important thing that I did was have a pretty clear idea of how I wanted to run my business. How I wanted to treat my clients, how I wanted to interact with them and how I wanted my business to fit into my life.

Taking care of customers is the number one priority in my business. I think it is important to approach things in your business like packages, prices and products from a customer point of view. What does the customer want and how can I deliver that to them?

Take extra special care of your first clients, go way over their expectations to ensure that they will refer you to other couples. Then when you get those referrals, make sure to exceed their expectations as well.

Network with other photographers. I am just beginning to realize the importance of doing this and it is making such a huge impact on my business.

Corey - your website really is awesome! I think its the first time I've ever looked at another site (mine included) and thought just from the first few seconds - WOW, I want to book this person!

Great job on that

Bump.

M.J.

Great advice everyone!!

BIG Ditto on Davina's Points!



My $0.02 cz the Brain is FRIIIIIEEED right now...


Know WHAT on earth makes YOU different. If you don't know, and communicate it well, how do you expect your clients to know the difference???

Get edjumakated!!! Top classes, in this order:


FIGURE YA PURPOSE 100
PERSONALITY 101
BUSINESS 101, 102, 202, 303, 404, 505, and on and on.....
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CAMERA AND SHOOTING MANUAL 102
OUTSOURCING, AUTOMATING, and LETTING GO 202

Bump.

M.J.

Write out a marketing plan.
It doesn't have to be complicated or pretty, but it needs to be written down. It will give you direction on what you need to be doing and when.

Make your plan, then work your plan.

Mark

My suggestion may be fairly unpopular, but it's what I attribute my drive to.

.... forget about the business. IMO, all the creative ways to kick start the money machine will suck you dry of creative freedom, time, and passion - you'll fall into a rut of making the same images the same way everyone else does (I'm over-generalizing here) by cutting corners wherever possible in an attempt to reclaim the time you no longer have.


Is that optimistic enough for ya?


Seriously - don't run a business. Not today, and not next week. Go make really cool images that speak to you. Make it about awe inspiring images - communicate something - feel something real inside the art. If you can do that, you'll be inspired enough to drive your own success in business.

Have a look at the work of Jesh de Rox here on OSP. W - O - W !!! Talk about inspired stuff. It's the kind of stuff that you just have to stop, and ponder, and feel, and experience. Those aren't just pictures - they're.... something more. It's my guess that if he has even a bit of marketing and business I.Q., then he's doing okay for himself. I look at Jesh as a pure inspiration - not a guy who set out to make money (not likely anyway), but a guy who set out to communicate something visually. We can't all be Jesh, he comes off as a very intriguing and unique person (whom I would love to meet sometime), and his style isn't for everyone.... but it's got that "something" that we can so easily miss when we jump in early on looking for the right marketing outlet, the right body and lens combo and the right action set.

It's easy to turn this business into a list of check marks - creating a process that misses the whole point of being here in the first place.


I look at it this way (and please forgive how arrogant this is going to sound, I don't mean it that way, it's just how I feel)....

.... if you're out to "compete" with your competitors, then your work and your approach are ordinary and potentially boring on some level (and we all fit that to some extent, again, I'm illustrating a perspective and frame of mind here)...... I don't try to "compete" with anyone. I am myself, and I LOVE my job, and there is nothing that sets me on fire more than creating dramatic images that stir something. If a target client doesn't see that and chooses to book someone else, that's fine by me.

I see ____SO____ many people getting into this business who are essentially saying "Have camera, please show me how to make money with it on Saturday afternoons". They think that if they can find someone successful and copy their recipe, then they too will find the same success. I just hang my head over that. It's not about making money, and it's not about just clicking the pieces together.

To step out of the exponentially growing pool of competitors, you've got to have some soul in what you're doing. Not big headiness or arrogance, thinking you're better than the rest, that's not what I'm saying here - but having something that's real. Not just providing a service.

And I'm not saying this is what you're doing - not at all, so please don't read that. But it's so tempting and so easy to fall into the trap. Please guard yourself against that. That feeling that "If I only had the right 101 pieces in the right order, then I would make it in this business". Tempting, but ultimately it's unfulfilling. Your dream profession becomes "just another job".

The more people who join the business (and that's not even a bad thing) - the more people pop up advertising some great system. I get marketing spam from these people all the time. "Come to my seminar and you too can be a success next week with my proven system."

Sure, there is some GREAT info out there, don't get me wrong, but it's having this internal drive that has forced me to find my own way a bit.

I guess you could summarize it as "Don't take shortcuts".

Practice, a lot, outside of weddings. Go find something basic and ordinary and create an image of it that speaks to you. Can you create an interesting photograph of some random piece of trash in a gutter?

Take all the great business advice here and in other places - sure, it is a business and you've got to make money and feed the family, but it's my opinion that you should drive yourself to making the best images you possibly can, and loving it - and the clients will find you. And they'll refer all their friends. And they'll book without hassle. And the cycle will repeat and grow. Pair that with some basic business common sense and you'll be pointed in the right direction if nothing else.






PS - Thanks Jesh - keep it up. Don't change a thing. I dig the vibe. A total breath of fresh air.

I love being an artist. I love being inspired. I love creating beautiful work that speaks to me. But... beautiful work only sells itself if other people are seeing it. There are many wonderful photographic artists out there who aren't making a living from their photography because they've decided to only focus on their art. So... while I completely agree with Kevin... I think you need to have a balance. Even if that balance comes with one of you focusing on art while the other focuses on business. You need to have BOTH art and business sense to really be successful. Since I'm following Kevin, and he has already expounded on the quality and art side of things, here are some more business things to think about...

• Take advantage of free advertising opportunities whenever you can- they have the best R.O.I. (Return on Investment)...
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/01/a...ike-whoosh.html

• Blog Everything...
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/02/w...-your-blog.html

• Think about what your brand means and how to communicate that...
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/02/logo-vs-brand.html

• Take advantage of all the free resources our wonderful community has to offer..
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/02/f...-resources.html

• Really THINK about the why of your pricing..
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/03/pricing.html

• Have a GREAT website..
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/05/g...t-websites.html

• Make sure you're listed and easy to find locally...
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/05/l...lly-online.html

• Build a referral network..
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/06/b...al-network.html

• Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD, so have outsourcing options "just in case"...
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/08/h...ontractors.html

• Make it easy for your clients to work with you..
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/10/m...aving-time.html

• Take advantage of the free business resources available to you online..
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/11/f...l-business.html

Those are some great resources Anne! Thanks for pulling them all together. Davina also put out some really great advise above.

You'll notice there are 10 different ways to do any one thing. That's confusing, but it's a good thing - it just means you need to pick a bit from here and there to come up with whatever adds to success for you.Those are some great resources Anne! Thanks for pulling them all together. Davina also put out some really great advise above.You'll notice there are 10 different ways to do any one thing. That's confusing, but it's a good thing - it just means you need to pick a bit from here and there to come up with whatever adds to success for you.

Thanks Kevin for your thougths.

Thanks Anne for the resources.

M.J.

My response is within the context of 24 years in this business. I certainly take nothing at all away from the art of photography, or the need to be able to produce top quality photography. Without that ability, one would certainly be limited in this business, and probably facing business failure.
However, this is NOT a 'build it and they will come' business. Regardless of how good a photographers images are, that photographer must be able to attract clients, hence must market. Marketing takes many forms. It might simply be a website and business cards, or it might be print ads in the largest and finest magazines in the world. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it must be done, if one is to be successful.
The term 'starving artist' is a good representation of someone who has the skill, creativity, ability, or whatever from an artistic standpoint, but does not recognize the fact that that alone will not make them successful, at least from a financial standpoint.

Yes, we need a passion for the art or craft, or we will fall into a rut. I've done it a few times over the years. After a period the passion is rekindled, and I've grown even more. Today I believe that I am doing images as good or better than I have ever produced, but there's always room to improve, and I strive to do that.

On the other hand, we need motivation beyond art. For most, that motivation is to provide for the family, put food on the table, achieve financial independence, etc. To be successful in this realm, we must treat this as a business. We must prioritize business success at least as much, if not more, than artistic priorities. Yes, there has to be a balance, but without the good business practices, we will be out looking for a job.

Not only am I blessed in that I can do this full time, but even more in that my family is a part of the business as well. We strive to improve the artistic aspects all the time (we just hosted a Shoot With Beckstead class). We also strive to find more effective ways to market and sell our products and services. In that, we MUST run a business or we will all eventually be looking for jobs, regardless of how passionate we are about the images.

Finally... there are proven ways to make a very good living at this. There is no reason to have to re-invent the wheel. There are formulas that can be used to all but guarantee sucess (granted, you HAVE to be able to produce quality work consistently).

We are each driven differently. Some are driven artistically, and probably become the better photographers for it. Others, driven by the entrepreneurial process and benefits, are likely to become extremely successful in this business, as they would in any other business they might choose. That entrepreneurial spirit is what drives some of the 'big guns' to expand beyond the creating of images to selling products, services, or information and education to the rest of us.

Great thread.

Mark

Bump!

Great post I am loving to read this one. Since I am rather new - here are my 2 cents

I think specifice tips to get off the ground really depend on the quality of your work and experience level. If you have natural talent and built up experience and consistently provide quality work weekend after weekend you can market to the right clientel, right vendors, and right event sites. The 1 step is to look at your level now and then where do you want to go, and be real about where you can go. You can't learn to be like the greats but you can certainly improve. In my area the event sites are the where you want to be. On the list they give to couples who book their weddings. Most just use the reccomend list and start calling.

It seems like in this business once you are shooting like the best in the area there is not much ohhhing and ahhhing of their work, everyone is looking at the business moves rather than the photography so I would try to always keep inspired. Everyone gets shots but when I see an entire wedding filled with moments and real artful compositions I get jacked up to shoot. I am very new myself ending my 1st year but I worked hard studying, classes, WPPI and shooting for peanuts 3 times a month doing high end weddings second shooting and working solo at a budget a studio where I have the pressure. I am now confident to approach the higher end market without getting a beginner reputation with local vendors. Don't get greedy to early if your work is not up to a high level.

shoot shoot shoot.

Yay! I, as a newbie, will be glued to this thread. Thanks so much!

Oh my goodness: Those resources are AWESOME, Anne--thanks a ton!

Hey Guys,

I am fortunate to have the outstanding support of some amazing people in both business and the non-profit sector. So my work in the arts business tends to reflect the values that I embraced before I ever sold a photograph. Having listended to business professionals, makreting gurus, senior execs and wedding photographers from all over the world, I have found one thing to be universally true....people pay for GREAT quality and AMAZING customer service. Apple is a great example of this.... So is White House Custom Color. Furthermore, people who make your FEEL something tend to get noticed. Listen to any great orator speak (Kennedy, Martin Luthor King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton etc.) If your intentions are big bucks and little effort....wrong profession. The best marketing in the world can get your name in front of a client...but it doesn't mean they will hire you (or even call for that matter). Quality is a reflection of your creative, moral and professional values. Be clear about them. I am still working to find ways to merge my personal commitments (non-profit work especially) with my professional ambitions. Here are some questions I try to ask myself when making any descision about my next steps:

1) would I want this product/service if I were on the other end of the table?
2) Am I selling this or sharing information about it....the hard sell seldom works
3) Does this person value me AND my work/ who do I want to be at the end of the day?
4) Am I truly reacting to my clients needs/ what is the problem and how do I solve it?
5) How can I leave this person (s) with something they can use in the long-term?

I think it is safe to say that we are all learning and growing and that constant nuturing of our values will help us develop into the professionals that we seek to be. Long-term sustainability is far more precious than short-term gains (look what happend after the mortgage meltdown on wall street). Hope this was helpful and informative. Much respect to everyone who committed to sharing valued knowledge.

Peace,
Parris

Nice. Keep em' coming.

M.J.

shoot.

shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot


don't talk, shoot.

and have fun doing it.

I'm LOVING this thread! so many things to learn!

I'm still in my first year as well but there is one thing that I can help emphasize and that is:

Check your EGO at the door!

There is confidence, and then there is the overabundance of "I am better than YOU, and you should be so lucky to be in MY presence!!".... I would like to think that clients want you as a friend, someone to trust... not someone who thinks so highly of themselves that they come off as fake, and snooty.... they will INSTEAD come off as someone who refuses to listen, refuses to care, and therefore will be a horrible choice for a photographer (AND friend!).

but on the other hand, don't be too humble show Correct Confidence! not too little, not too much!

MW

101 Ways To Get Started As A Newbie.

What you got?

M.J.

I haven't been able to read them all but a few tips I learned the hard way:

-Charge retainers for all service and make sure they are non-refundable. Charging them money isn't mean it's your time and time is money. if they want an album - charge them a retainer before you design it, etc. I had a bride drop the album at ordering time. I had worked on that thing for months. It was heartbreaking. don't let that happen to you!!!

-Back up everything. Those wonderful hard drives aren't as dependable as you would like to think.

-Be patient. The hardest thing for people just starting out is to not wake up the next day as a highly demanded photographer. Your style will come in time. Everything takes time and don't be ashamed of that. There are too many photographers out there not willing to be patient and their business takes off way before they are ready as photographers - that's just my opinion.

Keep learning, all the time. Shoot a lot. Network. Be friendly. Don't complain about a client to a person who may be a client in the future (I think of this when I sometimes need to vent about something... because I wouldn't want them to get the wrong impression about me. I may be wanting to say, "This client is just stressing me out, and is being unreasonable." They might hear, "I don't like it when clients make requests." And then that person may reconsider hiring you for the future, and they may even tell others' not to hire you because you're a big complainer and not easy to work with (again, that's how the might interpret it.)

Make a business plan.
Business coaches are a great investment (falls into the education category).
Have someone hold you accountable.
Register your business.
Get an accountant right after you register your business.
Use your savings account.... Saving is important.
The first year is hard. Ask questions. Learn from it, and make positive changes for the 2nd year.
If you want to be at a certain level of business or meet a goal (if you have a goal to get somewhere, financially or with what you want to accomplish), and you do business the same way, you're only going to stay at the same spot... you're not going to move up to ANY level because you're not doing anything about it. Sometimes little adjustments can make a huge difference.

I cannot tell you how many photographers I have met who are so full of themselves!! (Or heard awful stories about!) UGH! It makes me sick! They like to name names and how much money they make, and what kind of equipment they shoot with (if its better than yours, they'll name it), or boss clients around, or they won't even talk to a person sometimes! I don't understand why photographers have that ego problem! Why, because we see the world in an artistic way and know how to use a camera to produce pretty images... why are we better than someone else? That doesn't make any sense to me.
You're totally right-- confidence is key though. And there is that fine line in certain situations. Some people are just WAY over that line, though.

I actually had a fellow photographer tell me once that it's ok to come across as cocky and that people will respect your knowledge of photography then. Wow... if that's not a way to lose prospective clients, I dont' know what is!

I think as long as we know we still need improvement in many areas, that helps. If we let our product and our personality sell us, then if you have an egotistical personality... who wants to hire you? I'm sure it happens though. But it's defintely more destructive than helpful.

It's good to be genuinely caring and still have confidence.

Read it - then re-read it - then take ACTION!

check out beckers site here. it's awesome!

http://www.thebschoolblog.com/

Bump.

thanks for bumping this! : )

Be a good communicator. I hear all the time how people appreciate how quick I am on e-mail, and I also hear about people losing business because photographers (and other vendors) take a few days or longer to get back in touch. People want to know that you're reliable and accessible.

Also--research, research, research. Look at pictures all the time. It'll help you see what you can improve on, give you ideas, and expose you to things you might want to learn. I subscribe to a metric ass-load of blogs, and while I totally encourage wedding photography blogs to see what's happening in the industry, I also like other types of photoblogs (especially art ones) for inspiration and to keep up on general styles. Plus, looking at other kinds keeps me out of a rut and forces me to think about how to apply elements that I like from what I'm looking at to what I do.

i thought i posted here, but i didn't.

i really believe that if you are a photographer, this is the most important thing you can do...

learn to use your tools. really. learn how to get it right in the camera - it's all about light. the reason that people love the work of certain photographers is because it came out of the camera that way. sincerley - no amount of post processing will be able to fix a poorly photographed image...
what this means is, getting your exposure right - like almost every time - and at least knowing HOW to make it right in the camera.
it means knowing what your lenses are capable of - the fastest prime in the world will not compensate for a photographer's lack of ability
it means knowing at least SOME rules before attempting to break them.

there are rules - there are objective criteria that define a good (or even great) image...
details in the highlights, rich blacks that also have detail, black and whites that are BLACK and WHITE not dark grey and light grey. (or is it gray?) rule of thirds and leading lines and that backgrounds MATTER when composing.

there is a lot more to this photography thing than just taking a picture YOU like. you also need to know your equipment and how it works to create what you want every time.
post processing is just a tool - not a substitute for knowing how to take the photograph.



as far as the biz side - manage your clients' expectations. under promise and over deliver to the best of your ability.

This thread is so wonderful. I'm taking notes!

Saw this little gem in a graphic design instructional text:



Very, very true in photography. Learn the rules of composition, lighting, camera mechanics, posing, business, etc.

You can break them after you've mastered them. Don't ever ignore them... that is where mistakes come from.

This is seriously the most valuable post I've seen on here and I am very thankful for all the resources, Anne - OMG Thank you, you are beyond awesome I can't even describe! wow! Thanks all of you for helping us noob's out!! Love you guys!! Hope to get to meet you all soon at a West Coast meetup!!

Thanks all the great advice, wisdom and tips! Great Post, I am feeling inspired but overwhelmed with all this knowledge!!

This has been a fantastic post! I'll add a couple things I have learned.

1) ALWAYS have a price expiration date on your quotes. Same with contracts. As a newbie, you will slowly be raising your price over time. It is really tough when you have a contract you are waiting on still that still has a lower price than you currently shoot for. Emailing the bride and telling her your rates went up is tough in the beginning when you really want the booking, so you usually just wait.

2) Take notes when you review your images and shoots. This helps a lot. You are mentally learning things not to do and what works. Having it written down helps you to never make the same mistakes twice.

3) Build a reference library for inspiration. Scour your favorite blogs and get ideas. If you have lots of ideas in your head, they seem to pop out on the shoots and it really helps.

4) Perfect your documentation early on. Having all your documents in order makes a big difference. A BIG DIFFERENCE! Get those wedding contracts, 2nd shooter contracts, model releases, portrait contracts, and price lists in order as soon as you can. Can't stress this enough.

5) Research your product offerings early on. We became "available" a little too early and didn't have enough on our product offerings. Try to go to an Imaging USA or WPPI type of event to see all the album vendors and really get to know what you want to offer your clients.

6) Try to 2nd shoot as much as you can early on. But don't directly ask someone. There is a huge difference between telling someone, "I am available if you need me" and "Can you please let me 2nd shoot with you?" 2nd shooting is a responsibility so let the main photographer ask you when he/she is comfortable with it.

7) Until you can get your portfolio built up, call up your friends. All of us have at least a couple of decent looking friends who would give us some time to practice. You can learn a ton and get a small portfolio that way.