10 Reasons To Blog About Your Photography Business

Photography Studio Lighting Explained

Photography, through simple definition is capturing a subject illuminated with light. Light, natural (sun) or artificial (flash) bounces off a subject and is relayed into a recording device such as a camera and an image has been created. With natural light, you will see how the light falls on the subject and corrections or modifications are simple. Placing a subject in the shade vs in the open sun will decrease contrast and allow much more control with the finished image.

Artificial light from a flash or strobe has some challenges. From a small burst of light generated through a flash, a subject appearance can change instantly. Using simple tools like reflectors and umbrellas, this artificial light can be modified to enhance and defuse how the light falls upon the subject. We found a wonderful video that really explains how flash and reflectors work together.

Filed Under: Blog, Studio Equipment Tagged With: flash, lighting, Photography, Videos

The Fate Of Wedding Photography

by Virtual Photography 7 Comments

As a whole, where does the industry of wedding photography stand today?

I just read an interesting post by David Ziser (a June post, must have missed it when he originally wrote it) and thought it was filled with a lot of things I too have witnessed in this industry. (It’s worth the read.)

Wedding photography is more than just shooting a few pictures at an event. In my eyes – as a professional wedding photographer for many years – it is the most difficult form of photography.

You have to mix with dozens of different types of personalities, some with frazzled nerves.
You have to photograph a bride’s white dress with a grooms black tux, in the blazing sunlight, and in the dark reception hall – making every photograph turn out perfectly.
You have to photograph professional portraits, and become a dynamic photojournalist, anticipating where the client wants you to be.

I could go on, but I’m sure you understand what I’m saying.

Yet you continually see Craigslist listings for free photographers, or an entire wedding package for $250. There is no way a professional photographer can remain a professional photographer at this level. Instead you’ll get the comments I hear almost every day of:

“I used a friend who loves photography, but they did a horrible job and now I have no photographs from my wedding.”

To be a professional wedding photographer, you have to dedicate yourself to the art of wedding photography. You have to practice. You have to understand every nuance of the day. AND you have to charge what you’re worth to stay in the business.

I recently did a post on The Pendulum Swing Of Photography. Every single point holds true to this post as well, but let’s discuss point #7 again here:

7. The photographer that isn’t out for the quick buck, and caves into “what everyone else is doing”. The biggest statement I hear from photographers on why they charge one low fee and hand over the digital files – “everyone else is doing it”. That’s not how to get to the top. The way to the top is to give what no one else is giving.

The only way to remain a true professional wedding photographer is to provide 110% service to your wedding clients – and tell about it. Do your clients really want to rely on the free Craigslist photographer – that may never show up? Do they really want to rely on the friend – that only photographs landscapes? Do they really want to trust their memories to a photographer that has never photographed a wedding before? Do they really want to trust a photographer that hands over the files – and doesn’t understand the professionalism of helping you design your wedding album?

I can go on and on. It all boils down to how much you put in is how much you will receive.

Filed Under: Blog, Wedding Photography Tagged With: becoming a wedding photographer, Wedding Photography

Photography For A Cause

by Virtual Photography 2 Comments

There are two sides to photography. The for-profit side, where we become photographers to capture images for clients. And the photojournalistic side where people become photographers to tell a story.

Andrew and I fall into the first category, and have made our living traveling to where our clients fly us. We love sharing in the dreams, the hopes, and the fun of some extraordinary people.

But part of me has always been mesmerized by a photojournalist – out in intense situations bringing back photographs that truly do speak 1,000 words.

Check out James Nachtwey’s amazing new photographs for XDRTB.

Filed Under: Blog, Get Inspired Photography Tagged With: james nachtwey, photography for a cause, photojournalism

Inspiring Photographs – Get Yourself Motivated

by Virtual Photography 1 Comment

What’s the best way as a photographer to motivate yourself for your next shoot? Look at other photographs of course.

There’s just something about great photographs. Let me share what I’ve found this week.

Animal Photos – a series of photographs and photographers, all focusing on animals

Landscape Photos – beautiful outdoor photographs submitted by many different photographers

Earth From Above – photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s amazing photographs

Brussels In Bloom – if you’ve never seen a carpet of flowers, this is worth the click

Absolutely Nothing – I was intrigued just by the name. The photos – wow.

Filed Under: Blog, Get Inspired Photography Tagged With: great photographs, inspiring photographs, photography motivation, photography tips

The Pendulum Swing Of Photography

by Virtual Photography 5 Comments

Think of how a pendulum works. It slowly swings back and forth. From one side to the next. It never stops, just swings from one point to the next, and always returns.

Business works in much the same manner. At some point you’ll have the best of times, with money flowing freely. And at some point you’ll have the worst of times, with financial crisis looming in the horizon.

Now let’s talk photography. At some point the photography industry is at the top of the heap, allowing photographers to charge whatever they want, making huge sums of money. And at some point photographers flood the marketplace, only being able to barely hang on.

I’ve seen them both. We were at the top of the heap during the 90′s, easily bringing in 5 figures per wedding client. It came easily. Friends referred friends, and every wedding we could make what some photographers are currently making in one year.

So will the pendulum ever swing back to the good times? You bet. And the clear winners will be:

1. The photographer who takes photography seriously, and becomes the best photographer she can.

2. The photographer that concerns herself with the business as well as the photography. If you can survive hard times, the good times will be easy.

3. The photographer that dotes on customer service. No matter what the economy, she gives her clients 110%.

4. The photographer that continues to mentor under the best in the business. If you’re not busy, take the time to study and become better.

5. The photographer that creates a marketing plan and sticks with it. The company that keeps marketing through thick and thin truly understands the power of marketing.

6. The photographer that comes up with something new – a new twist – and finds the clients willing to buy it.

8. The photographer that stays active in the community.

I know there are a ton more ideas – what are some of yours?

image source dougieladd

Filed Under: Blog, Business Tagged With: customer service, marketing for photographers, Photography Business

10 Reasons To Blog About Your Photography Business

by Virtual Photography 9 Comments

Blogging has become the most talked about, significant marketing strategy available to small business owners today. If you are planning on growing your photography business into the future, you should be familiar with the latest blogging techniques available to you, and start using the powerful features that will put you light years ahead of your competition.

Currently 133 million blog records are indexed by Technorati, a blogging directory, with 900,000 blog posts being submitted every 24 hours. For many people the idea of blogging may seem a bit daunting. With that many people blogging every day, what are your chances of using it as an effective marketing tool?

A successful photographer for over 20 years, and a successful blogger for over 4, let me share with you my list of ten reasons you need to be active with blogging.

[And if you’re already successfully blogging, feel free to forward this post to your friends and clients who would benefit from learning how to grow their business using a blog.]

1. Find clients.
Blogs allow you to give detailed case studies about each of your clients, including photographs. The more detailed you are, the more you’ll attract the attention search for similar characteristics. And if you’re trying to reach out to a more affluent client, blogging is a definite must.

2. Meet your peers.
Blogging isn’t just for people talking about their personal lives. In fact, blogging is one of the fastest growing tools online. Both women and men are seeing the benefits of blogging, and are turning to using it for business faster than many other forms of marketing. Jump on board now in its infancy, and learn how to capture interest with just a few minutes of work per day.

3. Establish yourself as an expert.
How do you become an expert? By sharing your knowledge. And with the ease and low cost of blogging, nothing could be easier.

4. Build relationships.
Blogging allows your personality to shine through. While your business blog is mostly business, the occasional personal post lets people develop an understanding of who you are as a person. Even if you’re thousands of miles away.

5. Build your visibility.
Have you ever been to a site with three pages, and just a few sentences on each page? It’s hard to develop an opinion. But with a ton more content, your clients and prospects can visit page after page developing their viewpoint. More content also means more connections in the blogosphere – allowing you to connect with many more people than with just a few pages.

6. Share information with your niche.
I’m willing to estimate that 80 to 90 percent of all photographers choose to have the same Flash website developed as their competitor. You know, the one with just a few pages where the content is fed in to an about us page, a services page, and a gallery section rotates showing the top 10 images. What set up a part was having over 20,000 images on our website, and hundreds of pages of quality information. All of that is easy to do with a blog.

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7. Inexpensive way to market your business.
Blogs are low cost, and easy to set up. In a short period of time, you can take charge and easily start sharing information with your readers. I would highly recommend creating your own blog instead of using the free blogging systems like Blogger. I’ve heard many nightmares of creating a very valuable blog, only to have it turned off because a service like Blogger misunderstands your intentions and deletes your files.

8. Easy way to get instant delivery of your ideas.
Have a new product? Blog about it immediately. Have a new client? Blog about it immediately. Because you have full control, you can add any type of content whenever you choose, 24/7/365.

9. Get noticed by the search engines.
Google likes blog posts, it’s a fact. And because it likes them, your pages will rank a whole lot better than similar pages on a website. And once you begin learning more about optimization and social networking, you can gain first page rankings on Google and other search engines again and again.

10. Give you a starting point to online networking.
Blogging is the tip of the iceberg. It has so many benefits, it would be impossible to list them in any one place. But the important thing is to get started now, learn this type of technology, and use it to help grow your business in the future. You’ll soon be as addicted to blogging as I am. And if you need help or support with your strategy, I’d be happy to help.

Have you ever tried blogging? Do you agree with these 10, or do you see something else as more pressing? Why do you blog?

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