1. Get a website
2. Read about SEO.
3. Get the best equipment you can afford.
4. Learn and master retouching or hire a great retoucher.
5. Read a lot about photography in books, magazines like PDN.
6. Learn about marketing since this tool will be the one bringing home clients. Use tools.
7. Learn to negotiate.
8. Learn to work hard and for long hours.
9. Get business card printed and leave them everywhere you go.
10. Help others when you can. I try to give out some time, knowledge and business to my wedding assistant and other photographer friends.
11. Get genuinely interested in your clients.
12. Show your real self.
13. Be strong.
14. Never shoot for free on the promise of future paying work is never wise. A client who gets you to shoot for free is never going to respect you professionally.
15. Always post your best work on your website!
16. Love what you do and share that love!
Have great day,
Sébastien D'Amour - wedding and lifestyle photographic artist
Posts
2 comments:
You are spot on with these observations! esp. the part of doing current work for free with a promise of more contracts for future. any person who values good work will pay - and anyone who expects good work will pay good money. It is surprising that there are el cheapo customers from the same slime pit all over the world! only thing is for professionals to stick to a strict work ethic and not demean themselves with such clients.
also, i agree fully with the point of educating anyone who asks for tips - often, I see many photographers, esp professionals who dont give away anything. its odd to note such insecurity! photography is all about creativity anyways... and you simply cannot teach creativity!
I have once came across professionals that were not willing to share ideas and knowledge. You have pointed the weakness out, INSECURITY. In this market, a lot of living professionals are scared of losing customers, going paying contracts or even losing their Assistant.
I have knocked on the door of my mentor for a year before he finally answered. I am happy that the door opened since my knowledge has grown immensely since he opened is door to me. I wish more people would be like this but not everyone are such good people!
You are also right when you say " you simply cannot teach creativity!". You can teach technique, marketing, lighting but you cannot teach someone to gain an artistic eye or get proper human relation with his clients.
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