{"id":20142,"date":"2014-05-02T17:52:18","date_gmt":"2014-05-02T21:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=20142"},"modified":"2017-08-12T13:59:32","modified_gmt":"2017-08-12T17:59:32","slug":"photographers-done-today-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/photographers-done-today-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographers, what have you done today for your business?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Photographers, what have YOU done today to advance\u00a0your business?<\/h1>\n

How serious are you about succeeding as a photographer in your business, whether part-time or full-time? I know, I know, we are all serious about photography. After all, we all have\u00a0a passion for photography<\/a>. So there’s that. But really, how serious are you, and what are you doing to advance your photography career?<\/p>\n

A while back I did a presentation to a group of photographers, and\u00a0as usual, there are distractions that you as the presenter have to overcome and work against. Distractions can be as crazy as competing on the floor of a photo trade-show and trying to get and keep people’s attention. But for a presenter, there are always some kind of distraction that you have to overcome and keep the audience engaged. This evening though, there were people playing pool in the background at this venue. Not noisy or disrespectful\u00a0or obnoxious at all, but I had to wonder why they were there – the photography group invites various photographers to speak there once a month, and you’d think that regardless of the topic, everyone would be attentive.<\/p>\n

My presentation about photographic lighting on location, deviated momentarily\u00a0towards a more immediate\u00a0topic – competition in the photography industry<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Remaining competitive in the photography industry<\/h2>\n

No matter where you are, it is highly competitive as a photographer. But there is the industry machine that wants to sell you the dream that you too can make it, if:
\n– you just believe in yourself,\u00a0and
\n– you just stand out above everyone else, and
\n– just differentiate yourself, and that
\n– others can copy you, but only you<\/strong> can be you.
\nAnd so on. You’ve all heard this. Sure, this is inspiring, but the hard real-world truth is different.\u00a0It is very tough creating a sustainable photography business.<\/p>\n

My message to those who were listening (and trying to get the attention of those who weren’t), is that you have to get your shit together!<\/strong><\/p>\n

You have to get your shit together, because your competition is better equipped than you are, is more talented than you are, is more driven than you are, more eager to learn than you are, and is more eager to succeed\u00a0than you are.<\/p>\n

Yup, that aphorism “there is always someone better than you”, is true.\u00a0But it isn’t a deflating disheartening comment … it just means you have to work harder, and put more into it. Because when you slack, your competition isn’t.<\/p>\n

You have to get your portfolio together. You have to make your website more attractive and user-friendly<\/a>. You have to create better images. You have to meet with new people. You have to find new ways of marketing yourself. You have to get your work in front of a new audience. You have to connect with new people. The list goes on. You have to work harder, and you have to get your shit together.<\/p>\n

And if I sounded aggravated at the presentation, it was in some measure me being aggravated with myself. I too need to work harder. You know, fewer cat videos on Facebook. Fewer distractions.<\/p>\n

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What have you done today to advance your photography \/ business?<\/h2>\n

A few years back, one of the more successful wedding photographers here in New Jersey, told me that he had a plan – and it seemed to have worked out very well for him – his plan was straight-forward:\u00a0do one thing every day\u00a0for your\u00a0business.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just one thing. No, not pick out a new font color, or some other thing which makes you feel like you’re busy, but essentially accomplishes nothing. Checking out your competitors’ Facebook pages doesn’t count either. It needs to be something that adds to your<\/strong> business, and brings your business to the attention of more potential clients.<\/p>\n

You need to do one thing every day. To me this just sounds like a common sense thing that will steadily lead you to being more successful. You do one<\/strong> thing every day specifically to promote your business, and it will all add up in the end. One thing, every day.<\/p>\n

So what have you<\/strong> done today to advance your photography career \/ business?<\/p>\n

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