Questions of a portrait photographer

In my genre I have lots of questions that I would like to ask. It seems that there are lots of articles that cover being a Commercial Photographer but very few on being the type of photographer that I am.

So the questions that I would like answered is as follows: and not in any particular order.

·        Basic backdrops for in studio use, which ones would you invest in that won’t be out of style the follow year?

·        How much time do you spend in processing photos? I.E. Photoshop etc.?

·        How many photo selections do you offer a client {poses}?

·        How do you select you’re the packages that you offer.

·        How do you control the time spent shooting the client.

·        How do you determine how and where to shoot a client.

·        Do you bill every client the same.

·        Would you take charity cases and if so how do you keep it under wraps so that everyone else doesn't look for a bargain price?

·        Do you enjoy your work or did you just fall into it?

·        When do you see yourself retiring?

·        What are your biggest challenges/do you ever get bored shoot portraits?

·        Do you every shoot subjects you are uncomfortable with, if so how do you handle it?

These are some of the questions that I would like to ask a portrait photographer. There are many more that I know would come along as we talked. I would really like to spend a day in the life of a portrait photographer to 1. Learn as much as I can, and 2. To figure out how to build that better mouse trap!

Photographers Guide to Business

 I found all of the case studies interesting because the common link seem to be that they all struggled from the beginning because they had obligations outside of their careers that had to be meet. I really didn't really see myself doing anything that they were doing. Bust I see my circumstances being relevant to their; Trying to start a career with life’s obligations in the way. I was inspired because they all channeled through the obstacles and went on to careers and won awards along the way. Travis Doves case study I liked the best because he struggled with his interest in photography and not so much as the business side. That’s where I was. My passion for photography blacked out the business since where I had to go back and rethink my whole philosophy and how I was going to make this a business and still provide for my family at the same time.

All of them seem to stumble in to their careers or branches of their careers on accident. There life’s were not really head where they turned out but it went where destiny took them. And they all ended up winning an award for it

Avoiding Business mistakes

A photographers cost of doing business

It is very important to you and your business that you charge what you are worth. I found this article very interesting as well as informative. Lots of time I've gone into a shoot worrying about whether or not I’m charging enough for my services. I've short changed myself so many times not thinking about myself as a business. I found it very interesting and helpful thinking along the lines of a corner store. The corner store doesn't charge less just because of who ore where they are. They charge in order to be profitable to be in as well as stay in business.

I also found interesting that fact that you should be including your expenses. Thinking along those lines will help you be more profitable. Things like parking, meals, travel expenses that are coming out of your pockets need to be passed on to the client.

I didn't look at insurance as something that I REALLY needed right away. It’s important to protect the client, but I Didn't think along the lines of protecting me and my equipment. On a photo shoot, there was an accident where one of my lenses was damaged. I can’t help but think what if I had insurance on my equipment.

Being prepared for a shoot is very important; I typically check everything before I go out so that part was as eye opening as the rest of the video.

Next Steps

Cons around being a Pro Photographer, the list is long. But I'd say the most prevalent ones is the risk involved in being an  entrepreneur. everything falled back on you. What happens if you loose all of your equipment? You let the client down? You run the risk of failing. Where are you going to run your business from?
There is plenty of competition. your expenses can be costly as well.
But I think the Pros out weigh the cons.

1. Creativity factor. Love it!
2. working for myself. (A dream come true)
3. Being in a business that you love you can't beat it!
4. Defining and being in charge of your own destiny

Next Steps
I really am inspired by Aaron Nace images. He inspires me to create after the image is taken.
I've been connecting with friends and family which is where most of my business has come from. I'm using those contacts to branch out further to reach clients that are not necessarily in my circle.
I believe that I have a thorough grasp on the pros and cons of being a Pro Photographer and running my own business.
I spend a lot of time on line researching and learning different lighting and techniques. You tube is one of my best friends since I learn best by watching.
My niche is tapping in to an un tapped market such as students in lower income or outside the norm educational background.
 I have not tried to get and internship or part time job with a photographer because I don't have the desire to do so. Not that I feel over confident in my abilities, I'm constructed to do it my self and succeeded!

Breaking into the Biz

Judy from the video "Breaking into the Biz" background is working with her partner since 1989 specializing in producing still life products and life style photography for advertisement and editorial clients. She also started giving seminars on digital photography in 1995.
As a photographer, I plan to join the PP of Ohio this year. Helping out and pitching in helps you build relationships with other photographers in the group. Informational interviews are a good tool to use. Look for a photographer you aspire to be like. Questions I'd like  to ask would be around the business such as how does your business run; time spent shooting; how much money should I be saving' and what is it like to have a career as a portrait photographer. Also its a good way to build a relationship and make contacts.
While working as an assistant some important things to remember are;

1. Don't be late
2. Be a professional
3. Be proactive. I really like this one. One thing my father always taught me while I was busy being a child laborer was to always anticipate his move. If he reached for nails I'd reach for a hammer.
4. Look like you are busy.
5. know or learn the equipment you will be working.
6. Be honest about your skill level.

Should I work for free? the answer is NO! There are lots of reason why someone else feels you should do the work for free. But really no good reason why you should. (unless its for Mom).

Five photographers that I would like to interview are

1. (Of course) Scott Hall, My Idol
2. Jared Polin My favorite You Tube Photographer.
3. JLK Photography
4. Grier Photography
5. Aaron Nace

I've seen a lot of photographers on line that I really like, however, Scott Hall has been my inspiration since a field trip that I went on in my Photo Seminar Class. I really like to learn how to structure my business similar to his. Scott shoots three times a day Mon-Thurs. and keeps his weekends free. Also he maximizes every inch of his studio in such a small space.

Contenplating

I don't feel as though I spend enough time in school learning as much as I can about portrait. I mean to say that a really enjoy class at Owens and the instructors and peers. Its just most of the concentration is on shooting products which is fine, but not enough is spent on areas in portrait. Every class that I have had has been very exciting (except B&W) I gotten a lot out of set designs, working as a team, learning lighting techniques   and how to use my camera. But when I comes to shooting people (which I enjoy most I haven't gotten enough out of it yet. Learning Photo shop and manipulation has come in handy. Without it I think my imagines wouldn't be as good as they are. I would really like to be able to shoot most of my images with out manipulation or as little as possible.
What I have learned is that although my main focus is portrait, I am very good at set designs and shooting products even thought it is not my focus. I feel good knowing that if I had to shoot a product I could and its going to turn out damn good!

Possitive vs Negative

Positive vs negative which one are you? What an inspiring article to read. I got in to photography to express my visual arts and to capture to the natural beauty that people have though a camera lens. I think that enjoy photography so much is because I’ve always had the desire to create. But honestly my drawing and writing frankly just suck. I can’t even draw a stick person without messing it up. So when the author said he went to a convention of photographers and found several shooters that were will to talk about their work and share ideas and not be afraid that someone what going to steal their Ideas or intrude into their business was great. Mainly because these photographers really enjoyed being photographers. They got into it not to compete on line or to show off what they could do to others. Because they had a passion for their work not the dollar. Sure I want to make money to live and do   things I enjoy. But when I snap a picture and capture the essence of beauty on the other side of that lens I come alive. Not even thinking about how much money ill make or if my picture is better than yours, but the true passion I feel at the end of the day is what matters most to me.

Quizs and Sef Evaluations

Starting a small business as well as my own business is going to be challenging. What I learned is while serving as a manager in the retail sector for the pas 25 plus year is that I have developed a awful of a lot skills necessary to run a small business. Although I don’t plan to hire any employees, I have developed the skills to me a leader. To train and motivate others to get the job done. I know that there are areas that I need to work on. For instance, I have never been to a seminar or running a small business. I have never ran a small business and had to depend on my business to pay the bills and support my family.

However the similarities between being a manager of a retail business are quite the same. Customer contact, making phone calls, planning your day as well as driving the business are skills I feel as though I have to be successful.

Where I lack is in the self-discipline category.  I know that I’m it’s going to take some planning and sacrifices with my spending habits. I need to also be more organized when it comes to record keeping.

Also setting prices and sticking to a schedule and routine are going to be one of my biggest challenges that I have to face. As much as I like competition, I hate that there is competition. I’ve really got to get over that!

Time Management

Using the prime time of your day or the golden time of day is when you should be creating. I.E. shooting editing, etc. put off or away those little things of none importance or things that can wait until you have your priorities done. Checking Facebook, reading emails, video games on the phone can wait. Try to write down everything that you need to do or things you thing you can remember. The brain is so busy that it tends to forget. In addition to writing everything down, create a “bubble”, a place to do all of your work to keep you from distractions and keep you focused and organized. Batch processing is important to completing task. By breaking things down into segments, putting them in smaller bites, it gives the brain time to rest. Work on task in 2-3 hour frames so you don’t become worn down on a task. Make task list. Put the priorities at the top of the list. Cover up the smaller none essential task so you don’t overwhelm yourself with thoughts that you cannot complete them. Track your time for a couple of weeks. This is a good method to see how you are really spending your time. Outsource work when necessary. Don’t feel as though you have to do everything. And finally reward yourself for a job well done, but only when you have completed the assignment or the task at hand.

I plan to work on my time management buy writing everything down and prioritizing my task from what needs to be done now and what can be done later. I also want to work on putting task in batches. I tend to been that person that will become overwhelmed by a project and try and complete it all at once rather than in blocks. I think this will improve the quality as well as quantity of my work.

Market Research

Although I intend on being a portrait photographer and selling my work to to particular client that hires me, I also would consider being a part of the photography world that sells or exhibits their work in various markets. Three areas of interest for me are in consumer publications, greeting cards, and art fairs. To sell to these markets, one you have to have a plan in place and be organized with your material. Research the publications as to what their requirements are and what they are looking for. In the consumer publication market, reading and researching several publications such as magazine issues allows you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the magazine and ensure that your work is appropriate for that publication. Put together a list of images that you feel will fit the criteria along with a cover letter and resume. Research publications that you find interesting that are looking for images that you enjoy shooting. Either way your work has to be pristine.

Doing Art fairs requires an inventory of you work. Some displayed in frames some not. Art fairs are good ways of showing off your work at a relativity low investment. Meeting the fairs requirements and deadlines for entries is critical, but can be very rewarding for someone like me. I may not sell a lot of work, but you can display your talent and acquire clients as well as make contacts and network with other photographers in your area.

Almost There

My blog. What should I write? Oh, something about me. The present me. Hmm, let me think for a minute. Ok! I got it. Kenn Foley a man in his prime that currently works for 5^th/3^rd Bank in Oregon, Ohio as a Personal Banker. I recently switched from being a retail manger to banking. No nights, no weekends this leads me to why I switched careers. Along with being married to the love of my life, Heather who I have twin sophomore students that attend Start high school in Toledo, I am a college student that attends classes 3 nights a week in pursuit of my degree in commercial photography. {I’d rather say my degree in Portrait photography.} I say that because in addition to completely having my plate full with work, school and home, I have my own studio that I built from the ground up where my passion in life lies; “Shooting people that smile!” I currently run my own business and plan to one day in the very near future cut ties from the corporate world and go completely solo with my passion.

Did I mention that I also have  3 adult children, one that is a journalist that has been given a book deal to write about life in Detroit, and two beautiful granddaughters.

Well that’s me in a nutshell, no pun intended