Archive for April, 2007
Last month I decided to go find out more about Location Portrait Photography. Personally I relish the opportunity to learn from other photographers. It’s good to see how other people approached it. And on this course it was good to see how a shoot was structured. That was hugely confidence boosting – which may sound daft, but when you work on your own, you sometimes wonder if you are doing things the right way. The added bonus was the opportunity to shoot for my portfolio, and I think I got some great images.
I learnt too, not to stress too much about the location. It’s about people. The strangest things make great backgrounds, but you do have to visualise them out of focus to know whether they’ll work, else the client will know you are mad. And I’m not – just creative!
April 26th, 2007
As part of my new marketing strategy I find myself once again considering the opportunities that networking with other like minded business people offers. Fortunately in my area there does seem to be lots of options.
Having tried the monthly lunchtime variety I found myself drawn towards the weekly breakfast variety. Now I’ve ducked invitations to go along to a BNI meeting for years now, but noticed one had started up at my local gym/golf club. Then a business colleague drew my attention to it again, by inviting me along to an information day. So I went, and now I’ve joined. I’ve no idea if it’s a good move, but I figure if I don’t try it I won’t know.
There are aspects of it that are outside my comfort zone, but perhaps that’s no bad thing. There are aspects I like – meeting weekly means I’ll get to know the people there better, whereas with monthly meetings it’s a little harder to do this, plus I like the fact that it is limited to one profession per group.
So why am I bothering? Well because I’ve been investing in some training recently – and all the speakers have quoted networking as being the best way of gaining new business.
Forget everything else and just get out there they say. So I did!
April 23rd, 2007
Earlier this month I attended a conference organised by the Master Photographers Association (MPA) – the theme was the Cherubs scheme that they operate and of which I am a partner photographer in.
Now it’s a great scheme with a great offer for new parents, but I’m not sure it’s one that fits my direction too well, so I was curious to find out more about the other ways it could work for me.
So I kept an open mind, took loads of notes – although I seemed to be the only one! Perhaps they were all old hands at this.
The first three speakers took a classic approach to their photography – they operated from a studio, and ran sessions throughout the day. And whilst I can appreciate what they do works well for them, I have no aspiration to operate in the same way.
The next two photographers to speak with Maria Murray and Lori Nordstrom – and what a breath of fresh air they brought. I’d learnt pointers from the previous speakers, but was becoming bored with all the studio talk – low key, high key, which props to use. It just isn’t me.
The Maria spoke. She takes a simple approach, does work on location and isn’t afraid to charge what she is worth.
Her portfolio was stunning, and I’m not surprised she’s the current under 5’s UK photographer of the year. She certainly blew the cobwebs away.
So I’ve come away – having learnt a few things, but knowing I have to do it my way, whilst continuing to participate, but I was sad to discover that a lot of the MPA members seemed stuck in their ways, and whilst it’s not wise to reinvent the wheel. I’m happy that as a relatively new kid on the block I don’t feel obliged to take a studio and work this way.
April 20th, 2007
I’m feeling as though I have neglected this blog a little over the past few weeks. Anyway I’m back now!
Last night heralded a “big discussion” on the subject of my business. We don’t actually disagree on the way forward – it’s just getting it all done that is the sticking point. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day.
So I have to pick and choose what I devote time to. So some of things I once thought to be important have been dropped and other things have moved up the list.
Top of the list now is approaching other business owners and sorting out a promotion that roughly speaking will enable me to introduce my services as a portrait photographer to their customers – probably via a gift voucher that they can give as a thank you to their customers. I just need to identify them … any suggestions?
April 18th, 2007
