If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Yes, now you’ve heard it one more time: It starts with a plan. It astonishes me that we will plan a party, a trip, lunch with a friend, but we don’t plan for a profitable business. Which is more important?” There it is, the foundation for this month’s article on developing a business plan.
I’m happy to say that 2017 marks five years since I’ve received a W-2. While there are many other photographers who can say they’ve been shooting for decades, I can say I was able to build a business when everyone was doing it for free. I want to provide both aspiring photographers and struggling professionals with the real-world lessons I’ve learned the past five years.
Effective communication between you and your clients cannot be taken lightly. This determines how pleasant your time with each client will be, not to mention a deciding factor for whether they will even work with you at all.
There is an art to grooming and managing the perfect assistant. Let’s be clear on what I mean by the perfect assistant. There is no such thing as perfect when it comes to an employee, but there sure as hell is a level of perfection for what you need to make your business more successful.
I want to apply this month’s theme of children to your business. Whether you’re a new artist just starting out or a veteran jump-starting an established business by adding a new service/specialty, you’ve got to grow your brand and skillset one step at a time.
Everyone knows that it takes hard work to get to the top of your industry. Building a business is no joke, and the amount of work it takes to get to your desired level of success can seem overwhelming. What most people don’t talk about is the fact that once you make it, you have to work just as hard to stay there.
With a camera you can create anything you dream up, but it is more than likely going to involve compositing, and that can be intimidating. Below are five basics you must master for compositing.
One challenge I often see when working with newer photographers is a lack of planning. I describe it as defining your “flags.” Where are you going? Where do you intend to plant your next flag? What does success look like for you and your studio?
Just a few weeks ago, I photographed 20 Miss D.C. America contestants in my studio—all in one day. Not a bad way to make $4,000 in a few hours with the most minimal overhead. Wondering how I managed to get that gig? Here’s how it all began.
The hierarchy of why people hire a professional photographer in the portrait/social categories goes brides, babies, pets. With brides in…
