Plan Out Your Business For The Entire Year

Destination Photographer – Does It Have To Be Weddings?

“I love the idea of traveling with my photography. I’ve done a few weddings, but I’m not excited about making them my specialty. Do I have to do weddings to be a destination photographer?”

destination photographer The great thing about being in business for yourself is you create the rules. Anything is possible as long as you build to make it possible.

What is your idea of photography? How can you turn it into a business that allows you to travel?

Maybe you enjoy shooting in warm places in the heart of the winter. Why not become a fashion or product photographer? Catalogs are developed months in advance. They need someone to be shooting catalog spreads in places that show off their newest product line. So a company in Wisconsin may need swimsuit and spring fashion shoots on the beach in the Caribbean in January or February.

Thinking Long Term For Your Photography Business

by Virtual Photography 4 Comments

You’ve decided to go into the photography business.

You set out to find your first client. But you don’t know what to charge.

So you hop online and pull up a half dozen photographers websites to see what they charge.

Since a friend asked you to photograph a wedding, you look at wedding packages. The sites you’re on show the photographers have been in business for quite awhile, and they have great portfolios. They charge anywhere from $1000 to $5000 for a complete wedding.

So you low-ball it. You’re new, right? Why not charge $500 for an all day event, just to get started in the business.

Sound familiar? I know a ton of photographers that start out that way.

So your first client comes in, and you photograph her wedding for $500. She now has certain expectations. She knows she gets you photographing all day for the price of $500. She gets whatever is in her package (prints, digital files, albums – whatever you promise her) and she’s happy she got such a great deal.

Do You Give Your Clients Digital Images or Prints?

by Virtual Photography 5 Comments

What’s your number one question when it comes to building your photography business?

Every week I get email asking various questions about the business. I do try and answer everything that comes through, though I will admit it might take me several days at times to go through everything.

Last week I received a great note from John. And since he ended by saying, “I’d love to see a blog post covering the topic”, here it is.

Hi Lori,

I read your blog all the time and truly enjoy it! I’m just starting out in the photography business. I followed your advice: Networked with my co-workers here on FaceBook, showed my work, became enthusiastic and passionate about it without pandering to people. Well, today it happened; I was asked the question: “So, if I were to hire you to take some pictures of me and my girlfriend….etc..” Bad news: I didn’t really have an answer. Today’s younger crowd, with all the time they spend online, don’t really want prints. They want digital images. So, what’s the answer? How does one set a price for what your time is worth without chasing off a potential client? I’m sure this is in your Six Figure Course,…but I’d love to see a blog post covering the topic. Thanks for any help you may be able to provide!! ~John

First of all, you are correct about covering it extensively in my Six Figure Photographer. I dedicate several modules to discovering what your client wants, and giving them what they ask for. It really can help you build up your business in the shortest amount of time possible.

That said, let’s talk for a moment about expectations.

Promote Yourself Using Google Knol

by Virtual Photography Leave a Comment

A few months ago, Google created a new information sharing platform that allows you to share your expertise and knowledge in whatever you choose.

Knols are created and published through your Google account, and therefore are linked to your name. You can build using a variety of formats, and include photographs and links back to your websites.

Want to create your own:

Visit Google Knol
Sign in using your Google user and password. If you’ve never created an account with Google, do that first.
Once you’re logged in, edit your profile. Make sure you include photos and links back to your website.
Click on Write A Knol, and start writing. It’s very user friendly, and you can save along the way. It won’t publish until you click the Publish button.

Want to see one in action? Visit my How To Start A Photography Business

Filed Under: Blog, Online Marketing Tagged With: how to start a photography business, using google knol to promote your business

A New Way To Succeed At Your Next Photography Expo

by Virtual Photography Leave a Comment

This time of year, a lot of tradeshows and expos are taking place around the globe. If you’ve ever had a booth at one, you know how difficult it can be.

How do you get people to come into your booth?

What do you hand out to make sure you connect with the visitors?

How can you gather information from visitors to be able to connect with them after the show?

I get a ton of B2B magazines, and I found a great idea this month.

At the MacWorld expo, Lynda.com expanded its booth size, but decided not to increase the amount of giveaways they handed out to visitors. Giveaways didn’t correspond to new clients, so they went out looking for a new way to grow business.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Get Clients

What Should I Name My Photography Business?

by Virtual Photography 25 Comments

I had a great question come in today from a photographer that’s starting up a new business, and contemplating name choices. “What should I name my photography business?” As I was typing up the answer, I began thinking about how many of you may also be thinking of similar things, and thought I would post about it here as well.

The first question I would have to you is, “How do you want to grow?”

For some people, it’s all about the art. They have dreams of becoming a household name with their photography. Think Denis Reggie, Anne Geddes or Annie Leibovitz.

For some people, it’s all about the business. They have dreams of building a large studio in which they can hire multiple photographers, and offer a variety of services using multiple talented people.

Both are great business models. However, both should be named differently.

Plan Out Your Business For The Entire Year

by Virtual Photography Leave a Comment

Are you experiencing the photography-famine right now?

A great majority of photographers do. Yet it can be avoided very easily.

Most types of photography have seasonality to it.

If you’re a wedding photographer, you may have highs and lows depending on the weather. Here in Colorado, the majority of weddings occur from May through October, with the occasional wedding around the holidays in December, and Valentine’s Day in February.

If you’re a family portrait photographer, a lot of photographs are done in the summer months to utilize the great outdoors, and around the holidays for gift giving.

In commercial photography, work is based on the energy of the business client you’re working with, and the budget for their fiscal year.

But it really doesn’t matter what type of photography you prefer. Instead your real question should be, “How can I stay busy year round?”