Starting your own portrait business is overwhelming. There are many things to consider, from equipment purchases to choosing a company name, and everything in between. The best advice I can share (that I wish someone shared with me) is simply, don’t walk this path alone. Being a small business owner can be isolating. As a
Archives for August 2012
The Difference Between Good and Mediocre
The problem with good is it’s always a leap of faith. It exists in stratified territory, where the new intersects with the enduring, and it is, by its nature, the unknown. Worse yet, the greater the ‘good’ is, the more it departs from convention, so the less likely people are to believe in it. And
Why Shooting Hugs & Mugs Can Be Fun and Profitable
Jim and I discovered something surprising about ourselves. When looking at our wedding photos, we realized that we would love to have more images of the people who came from all over the country to celebrate with us. It never occurred to me to ask our amazing photographers for “grip-and-grins,” but looking back, that was the
How to Build A Successful Family Photography Business
Let’s be honest – it’s a tough time to build a successful family photography business. Just sit down for coffee with anyone running or starting a business and you’ll hear chatter about how new technology and undercutting by beginners make it harder to book clients. It’s a conversation that, quite frankly, I’m tired of having.
Win the Day
Now is the time of year that most wedding photographers will tell you their to-do lists turn into multiple pages and the hours in the day never seem to be enough. We’re smack dab in the middle of busy season. With so much going on, it’s easy to start thinking you could give Gumby a
A Real Life Review of Pocketwizards
This started as a real life review of Pocketwizards. Basically it said, “Pocketwizards are bulletproof and if you know the tricks, they work over 95% of the time.” And then last weekend happened. Over the course of two weddings, three of my eight wizards broke. One of them – a Mini TT1 model – broke during
Tips for Instantly Improving Your Next Engagement Session
Engagement sessions are great ways to get to know your clients and to boost their confidence in themselves so that they’ll know their pictures will be beautiful when you show up at their wedding. Here are some simple, practical tips for instantly improving your next engagement session. Have them start in a sitting position. People often talk
The Professional Photographer’s Facebook Strategy Handbook by Lawrence Chan
Are you leveraging the world’s largest social network for your photography business? Start fine-tuning your Facebook strategy with practical tips and insight from marketing strategist Lawrence Chan in this in-depth guide created exclusively for The Photo Life. TAKE A LOOK INSIDE One overlooked feature about Facebook Insights is Engaged Users. I’m not talking about just
How to Select the Right Light and Cameras for Every Shoot
All photo shoots were not created equal. To select the best camera equipment for every shoot, consider a few important details. Here’s my gear selection process: Determine the shoot location Identify the lighting scenario Research the subject thoroughly Storyboard the desired mood and select the lighting that will best convey that feeling. Carefully consider which
How to Donate Your Photography Services to a Cause or Charity
Everyone has a story, and every photographer wants to tell stories. But it’s not that simple. Some stories are difficult, but they still deserve to be told. How do you photograph mental illness, autism, cancer? With compassion, respect, kindness, dedication…and patience. Both of my grandmothers had breast cancer, so it was natural for me to