By Profolio Photography
So, you own a camera, bought all expensive gears; WHAT NOW? In this digital age where anyone can purchase a camera and call themselves `photographer` what`s next for you? Whether you`re self-taught or someone who went to university to study photography, what sets you apart from being a hobbyist, a gear geek, an enthusiast, an artist? What`s keeping you from creating a breakthrough photography business?
Established in 2010, to this date we`ve shot hundreds of portraits and different personalities, a handful of creative, fine art portraiture and events. Seventy-two weddings and counting, we reckoned how we started from being hobbyist to being able to use art and photography as business. Here are some highlights on how we created a breakthrough photography business.
Let`s take you to the basics. Just like going on a first date, get to know your basics. What are you passionate about? What gear should you get? What can your camera do, where are your buttons? If you hate numbers like myself, this would be the only time you`d have to understand what F1.2 means versus F5.6. How fast is 1/250 seconds. Where should you use ISO 100, or should you use ISO 6400 just because. The foundation of your photography evolves in the basics of camera settings, white balance, technology and gears but never dwell into in for too long, this will never get you far enough.
Seek the light, find a way. Along with your basic technical skills is understanding light. Master light like you`re breathing. Think and feel light the moment you turn your camera on. A mental preview of images, highlights, shadows. Be the master of light manipulation and develop a skill on how you want to intelligently use natural or artificial light. Cloudy days versus hot sunny days. Dark and bright locations, controlled and uncontrolled situations.
Style and Composition. This is the point where your work must be original and completely unique. A style, a brand however you want to call it. Appearance, appeal, editing style and consistency. In a single glance of your photo, are people able to tell right away which one is your work without spending the time to look at photo credits? How authentic is your work and the poses you create? Authenticity is key. There is a thin line between styled shoot and candid shoots. Mastering emotions, body language is a staple in creating authentic images. A stiff pose is never pleasing in any photograph. For some people they say that creativity is a talent that you are born with. For us, it is a talent that can be learned through practice and constant rewiring of your creative brain. Broad topic yet proven and done.
Work it. While anybody with a camera can be a photographer, nobody appreciates how hard it is to create a photograph that speaks passion. Have you mastered your editing style, your workflow? What happens after the shooting is done? Curating, culling and post processing, managing galleries, editing styles that doesn’t take months or weeks to finish. Editing and post processing through thousands of photos in a day can sometimes be overwhelming. Effective workflow is key to running a photography business.
The whole business shebang. This article is not enough to talk about the business side of photography, let us give you a small preview of how it is in being in business. There are a handful of legalities involved in opening a business, Marketing, Branding and finding the right clients are some important aspects of Photography business. In addition, advertising versus referrals, targeting future clients and location plays an important to building business. On the other hand, there`s one single thing photographers are scared to talk about: Pricing. From a beginner photographer who’s struggling to make photography as a business or a pro photographer struggling to sell, we totally understand you.
Pricing is an extreme sensitive topic for many, yet there is only one thing to consider in building your price package: Value. Ask yourself how you value your work, your time and effort in learning your craft, and time to create such art. How do you build your confidence in telling yourself; this is how much I value my time and work, at the same time hoping other people see the same value as you do. If you’re a pro photographer undercutting your services and art, how do you take the step ahead and evolve in the business world. Tough call indeed, most clients would only look at the price and not consider what they`re paying for. Value takes business in a whole different level for artists like us, but never settle for anything for free. A twist to the quote about artists is that: You don`t have to starve just because you`re an artist.
Creating exceptional photography experience. One business idea that we have had use throughout the years is creating an exceptional photography experience for our clients. This has taken us to the highest degree where our clients become our friends. Creating a memorable, stress free sessions has completely set us apart in the world of photography. Service, discovering friendship out of strangers and bringing out the best in every person, making memories with individuals, couples and group of people cultivates this exceptional experience that leaves our clients happy, satisfied, realizing the value of authentic photography in the most creative way.
While we`ve given you a tiny preview of how to create a business in photography, there is more than just Art and Business. The world of photography is complex and challenging, and we can only take one step at a time. Be an advocate to artists who wants to take a step ahead, to never be afraid of creating and seeing value on what they can do, not just in photography but arts in general. Artists support other artists to grow and learn from each other. We are the rising tide of the creative world, worthy of value and confidence in this very saturated world.
About Profolio Photography: We are Sam and Armand Flores, a husband wife team based in Calgary Alberta. Passionate about photography and advocates of empowering other photographers in the community.
Armand. If anyone can see through beauty and personality in a thousand, different way, it is him. Watch how he finds that little spark of light that brings out the best in every person. He is the master of creativity and the eye for out of this world composition, a hyper active creative mind who does not settle for basic arts. Someone who dares to break the rule because: There are no rules in the creative world. Full of surprises, fueled with passion, Armand takes photography to the next level. Fun loving, genuinely in love with people and a sweet tooth who will never say no to cake opportunities.
Sam is an operating room nurse, bought her first camera to photograph squirrels in Saskatchewan, fell in love with wedding photography who thinks: it`s like surgery. Challenging, ever changing, fast pace, maneuvering uncontrolled situations and finding ways around it. Believes that skill and adaptation is key. A master of workflow, a sucker for romantic mountain adventures, candid emotions and cheesy punch lines makes her your best photography buddy.
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