Simple Advice to Help Build a Successful Photography Career

     The market is FLOODED with photographers.    Here are some simple guidelines that may help build your business to a success. GOOD LUCK!

1.  Own Your Work

Once you are out there in the market place, and displaying your work, whether it is social media, or a beautiful photo display,  you must OWN your work.  What makes your work yours?  Is there a signature style?  Maybe it is the sort of sessions your photograph.  Whatever the case may be, OWN IT.  I know my work is highly stylized.  I like to suggest what my clients wear to a session, I live and breath warm tones, while other photographers love the cooler tones.  My posing is very intimate.  I love posing clients while they are touching each other to symbolize a togetherness.  Each session, I celebrate them as family or lovers.  That is how I love to photograph people.  My work is MY WORK and I am proud of it.  Stand by your photography with confidence and only compare yourself to YOU and how you have improved in your own way.  Only good things will come your way if you embrace yourself and style.

2.  Dress For Success 

I find it very important if you consider yourself a professional photographer, to look the part.  NEVER show up for a session in yoga pants, a tee shirt and a sloppy bun.  That is very unprofessional.  The saying, "Dress For Success" is very true.  First impressions are very important in our line of work.  We meet so many new people on a weekly basis, and word of mouth is EVERYTHING in our business and if we all showed up looking sloppy, then it portrays a certain image.  We need to be comfortable in order to crouch down and be flexible so we all can shoot all of those amazing shots and angles, BUT it can be done still looking professional.  We all are different shapes and sizes and do not let that be an excuse. Set yourself a dress code and stick with it.  Find what works for you and keep it consistent.  If you consider yourself a professional, look the part.

3. Dismiss the Haters

With social media, it is so easy to find the "haters".  They seem to be everywhere. Just dismiss them.  There are many reasons why a photographer could come across these haters.   I know on my business page, I delete any photo critiques, bad language, or anything that could be considered negative.  It is MY BUSINESS, MY PAGE, if I feel I do not like certain conversations, I simply hit the delete button and I do not dwell on it.  I consider my Facebook photography page, a fan page, and a place for me to showcase my work.  That is all.  I never post anything negative, political or likewise.  If you can keep your Facebook photography page, positive and lighthearted, you will find more engagement and maybe even get more likes.  I see several photography Facebook pages where photographers will rant about people complaining about their prices, or an editing rant.  That is not for me, and that is just unprofessional.  Keep those posts for your personal page or for photography groups that are private. Haters are going to hate whether you engage in their posts or not.  Never let them know, their bad behavior is getting to you.  STAY STRONG!

4. Customer Service

Try and build a healthy clientele, that will come back again and again.  This starts with the very first session you book.  Be patient, be nice, and be assertive in your sessions.  There should be no lollygagging.  You are there for a job, so put that cell phone away and grab your camera and by all means BE PREPARED.  You will need extra gig cards and batteries for your flash, and whatever else you carry.  Show up early, and set the lighting, if you are outside, check out your location before hand.  When your client arrives, be there greeting them with a smile. Politely guide them to the area you will be photographing them and then start right away.  Start with some warm up poses, loosen them up.  This seems like second nature to us, but many people feel odd, being posed and smiling into a circular looking tube.  Not everyone is a  "ham"  but it is our job to make it look like they all are comfortable.
     I am very easy going, if you are not, find ways to make yourself more comfortable around clients, come to your location a half hour early, and get yourself "in the zone"  focus on your camera, and storyboard poses, that always helps me. If you get a "rude client"  just smile and kill them with kindness.  We all get people like that, but as a professional, suck it up and get the job done and then you can move them along.  Simple as that. Never let a client dictate the session, that is the job of the photographer. Set your prices in stone, have a contract, make them sign it and then let the session begin!

5. Join Photography Groups

This is one way to help yourself grow.  Join photography groups that offer constructive criticism.  Let fellow photographers evaluate your work, take advice and sometimes, just sit back and read other posts from photographers.  It is a great educational tool and it is free!  That is one great advantage Facebook has to offer.  I find so many good tips on backdrop shopping, posing ideas and new editing techniques.  The groups that I am involved in, I find highly satisfying.  Sometimes, you will post a photo and not get the feedback you were hoping for, but let that be a learning experience.  The only way to grow is to let down your walls, and sometimes get advice, even when it seems harsh. It has happened to me, and I know it will happen again and I say BRING IT!

5. Always Challenge Yourself

If you do not feel challenged as a photographer, then you are not working hard enough.  Find a way to challenge yourself.  There are many ways to challenge yourself and your work.  Practice a new way to edit. Book larger photo sessions.  Set larger goals.  If you use actions a lot, try and hand edit a photo to look just like the actions you use.  Those are just a few ideas off the top of my head.  Challenging yourself means inner growth, and inner growth as a photographer can set you to a new caliber of photo taking.  That new caliber, means more money your way.

6.  Set Goals

An easy way to set goals is to write a Business Plan.  My business plan is 36 pages long. Now, not every business plan has to be this long, but it can be as in depth as you want it to be.  What is your long term business plan?  After you have establish that, come up with some short term goals.  Set up yearly goals, 6 month goals,
monthly and weekly goals.  Each goal means something and achieve it.  Have a daily planner and write up little lists each week on what you want to establish and conquer each day.  It can be as simple as finishing up a photo session and getting it client ready or maybe brainstorming some fun photo sessions and posting those ideas so you can start booking clients.  One thing I have learned in the years of photographing humans is that, I CREATE MY OWN DESTINY, I BRING IN MY OWN WORK.  I NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.  So I make these lists and stick to them.  This blog post was on my list for today.  I am happy that I am writing it.  I feel like even if I help one other photographer, then I did my job for the day.

7. Be True To Yourself

Many photographers have declared a specialty. I personally have not.  I find by declaring one, I limit myself.  I want to make it very clear that I am not knocking photographers who have.  I just personally cannot commit to doing so.  I do consider myself a family photographer, but I also photograph senior sessions, weddings, newborns, boudoir ETC.  You name it, I probably have photographed it at least once.  If you are in the same boat as I am, do not feel bad about it.  It actually should be something to be proud of.  I photograph each session with pride and dedication and my work shows it.  I know your work, if you are committed enough will prove worthy as well. GO YOU!

My last bit of advice is just to be true to yourself.  Have confidence in yourself and your work.  Smile!  Let the community around you know that you are "here" and a force to be reckoned with.  WORK HARD, GO BIG OR GO HOME, MAKE IT OR BREAK IT, IF YOU SNOOZE, YOU'LL LOSE.  MAKE IT HAPPEN AND BE PROUD OF YOURSELF!  Best of luck to my fellow photographers. :)

Newborn Photography vs Children Portraits.

       Newborn Photography is a specialty in the photography world.  An average newborn session can 3 hours long or more.  A lot of patience is needed and some training is needed as well, whether it is formal or non formal.  SAFETY is a key component when handling these tiny human lives.  When I did my first newborn session, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I thought  since they were just born, they would be sleeping, easy to pose, and it would be point and click and done.  I WAS WRONG.   Newborn photography is a science.  There is a formula a photographer should follow to ensure the safety of the baby and to ensure beautiful images to be captured. I am going to explain how I do newborn sessions.

      I usually try and book a few months ahead of time. The mother-to-be and myself discuss her due date and what she expects out of the session.  We then choose a date and I am flexible with the day because with due dates and deliveries, nothing goes as planned. I leave it up to the client whether they want to come to me or I go to them when it is time for the session.  As a mother myself, and have given birth to 3 children, I know the first week of having a newborn is exhausting and sometimes overwhelming. I want the parents to feel at ease with me working with them and their new baby.  Most of the time, the clients choose that I go to them for their newborn session, and I am fine with that.
      Once I get there, I say hello, meet the baby, and talk with the parents and I show them what props I brought and the plan for the day.  I give them the option to be with me or step back if they need to.  Some new parents, since they are home, let me do my work and they stay in the background and they only come over to the baby if I ask them to.  Others, never leave my side.  Both situations, are fine with me.
     When posing a baby, they are the easiest to work with when they are just changed, fed and swaddled.  If they have not fed in a while, I ask the mom to strip the baby down to a diaper or the first outfit I plan on having them wear, and then cover the baby in a blanket and then feed them.  This way, once they are done eating, they can be placed in the area I plan on photographing them and then hopefully capture some amazing photos.
     Newborns also are easy to work with when it is warm.  82 degrees is a great temperature for babies.  They love warm and snuggled potions.  The key is to have a warm and a full tummy  and sleep usually follows, and that is how you capture those beautiful sleeping poses.       In the industry of newborn photography, there are some common poses, the most popular is the "froggy".  This pose is when the head is resting on the arms and it appears the baby is sitting up.  I honestly, do not like that pose, It is unnatural to me, but I have to admit it is beautiful.  The photo I have shown here that shows how the froggy pose is done is NOT my image, like I said, I do not do that pose.  I just wanted to show you how it is done.  It is what we call a composite.  It is two or three images combined to make one image.  It is done this way, because the baby cannot hold themselves up and doing as one shot is very dangerous and not attainable.
     When I have completed the individual portion of a newborn session, that is when I include sibling and family poses.  I LOVE posing families around their newest addition.  I tend to go the artistic route because newborns cannot focus on anything and if they are awake, it just does not look that great when they are staring off or their eyes are crossed because they are trying to focus.  I tend to have the baby  be asleep, or posed where the parents are looking at their baby and the baby is facing
the parents. I love to photograph newborns.  They can be very challenging.  I have had my fair share of newborns who did not sleep, and they cried the entire time.  I do my best and capture the images I feel are "frame worthy", but it sometimes takes several hours.  I look at each newborn session as a learning experience.  Each baby and family is different and I learn something new each time.  The best way to learn, is to do, and with each newborn session, I do, I feel like I learned a great deal.  There are some photographers that only photograph newborns, and they are amazing!  My main focus in on family photography and children portraits, and children portraits and newborn sessions are NOT the same, and should not be treated as such.  This was my attempt to welcome you into the world of newborn photography.  In my opinion,  it is the most challenging sessions I have ever photographed, because you have to know how to pose them safely and keep them happy.  That is not as easy as it sounds.

Portraits VS. "Pics". These Two Words Are Very Different.

     When I think of the word "portraits", my mind envisions something well lit, beautiful and artistic.  I feel that I deliver that to my clients.  When I think of the word "pics"  I think of simple snap shots that we take throughout our daily lives of ourselves, children and other family and friends.   The problem with my line of work, that it is the digital age.  It is so easy for anyone to purchase a professional camera and simply start snapping away and call themselves a photographer.  Many people have asked me if it bothers me, if I lose a client to someone else who charges less or just gives away their photos on a Cd.  My answer is NO.

     Anyone who has worked with me, knows I put my heart and soul into my work.  I live for photography and I am constantly educating myself within the business learning new techniques on lighting, customer service, editing and so on.  It is an easy line of work to get into, but it is another to be successful at it. You have to work at it.  You have to work long and odd hours  and constantly stay on top of deadlines and time management. I learn and grow everyday and I am proud of that.  I have recently looked back at some of my older work and I am amazed at how much I have grown.  I have looked back at some of the images I have taken over the past few months and told myself how much I have grown since then. I critique myself to "myself"  and I try not to compare myself to other photographers.  We all start our journey as new to the field, and there is nothing more rewarding than self growth.  

     I feel like in the last months, I have learned so much.  I joined a few photography groups and organizations and just observing and reading fellow photographers posts and the way they run their businesses has opened my eyes.  It is an honor to be appreciated by colleagues.  

     I am excited to expand my business.  I will be offering a variety of new products which includes leather wall displays, prints on metal, canvas and custom made frames that I will be hand painting.  I am looking for quality items that can be displayed for years to come.  Some people have asked me why my canvas pricing is more expensive than other companies that sell canvas prints.  I have to tell you, it is hard to compete with multi-million dollar canvas companies that offer their canvas pricing so low.  I can easily tell you why I charge more and they charge less. Some of these larger companies print good quality canvas prints and then they wrap them over cardboard.  Then, they slap the backing on that has the wall attachments on it.  They are beautiful but how long will cardboard last?  It will bend and warp, it will not stand the test of time.  Twenty years from now, the card board will have disintegrated and the canvas will be left drooping on the wall.  My canvas prints are printed and then stretched over wood.  They will last 100 years or more.  That is the difference.  I want quality prints because I feel my work is art.  IT IS ART and I treat it as such. 

     I feel like I am going through a renaissance now with my company.  I am finding THE BEST quality prints and products and I so excited to share them with you all.  As I print examples of these products, I will be filming in high definition to show you all how these products look .  I would love to start booking appointments and find out what YOU want as the client.  Do you want a simple session with just a few prints or do you want a session that ends with a large canvas print or custom framed prints tailored to your taste or an album?  I would love to do this.  This is the next step for me.  I feel like for years, I have been a part of something wonderful.  I have the privilege to photograph families and as far as I know, my clients love my work.  I would be honored to take it a step further.  I just do not want to photograph a session for you, but I would love to create a work of art in your home with some beautiful wall displays.  I want people to walk into your home and see that beautiful family image in a custom frame or printed on leather or canvas.  I want people to be in awe of your family.  My home is filled with these beautiful products of my own family, and I always get compliments on my family portraits and I want to start helping others to find what they are looking for.  I am in the process of making new packages.  Some of these packages include custom framed prints and canvas wall displays.  I am almost ready to share these packages with you, but I need another week or two to fine tune them.  To end this, I will no longer be offering Cd's. I know this will upset many but I am learning that Cd's make people NOT print.  If they have them on the Cd, that is where they stay.  My goal is not to just take your portraits, but to give you something so beautiful, that I want them  in your homes and to celebrate your family with some gorgeous prints.  

     I want for all who is reading to take a step back, take a deep breath and think back to a few decades ago.  When a family would book a session with a photographer, it was an event.  The family went out and bought new clothes, planned out a time and went to a studio and the photographer arranged you with their background of choice, and took your portraits.  You then, would meet with the photographer, when he/she completed your session and you looked at proofs.  From there, you selected the photos you wanted printed and purchased your prints from that photographer.  You did not receive the film negatives and that never angered or upset you.  That is all I am trying to do, but in the digital age, for some reason, not offering a CD is enough to make a person not want to book you.  I think that is not fair for the hard working photographers.   I no longer WANT Walmart, Shutterfly or Snapfish, who earn millions a year to profit off my photo sessions anymore.  I.simply.will.not.have.it.  I know this will turn people away.  That saddens me, but again, this business is a business and I have to make it profitable :) .  When I compare it to the film generation of photography, I hope that will make you understand.  With all of that said, I will still offer "sales"  on high resolution images.  After a client purchases a certain amount of prints, I will offer high resolution downloads of certain images to be purchased.  That is the best I can do for now.

     This blog post is my second photography blog and I have to say, I am really enjoying writing for you all to read. I feel like these blogs will help you to "get to know me"  as a professional and I hope it will help with certain questions you may have for me.    Feel free to comment and share this blog.  Thank you for reading and thank you for being a fan of Studio V. Photography.  It means the world to me. 

What to Wear?

     When I book sessions, my clients ask me, "What should I wear?".  When I first started out in photography, I would simply tell the client, "Whatever you want to be photographed in".  I learned by experience, that is the WRONG answer.  I have learned that busy patterns and bright colors, take away from the images I capture.  When I photograph a family, I want the focus to be on the faces and them as a unit.  Bright and bold colors and patterns become very distracting.  I photograph many families outdoors.  The sun, bright or not, reflects colors.  Bright colors like neon green, pink, reds and yellows, reflect brightly onto the face and it takes a very long time to remove those colors successfully from the skin.  Softer colors and neutrals are perfect for family sessions. The focus then falls onto the people, their faces and not what they are wearing.  The photographs that I have attached to this post are  PERFECT examples of WHAT TO WEAR. Their outfits are simple, and coordinated.  It shows that they are one unit.  They belong together as a unit.  They are, family.

     I LOVE families that match.  Now,you do not have to be wearing the same exact ensembles, but coordinated outfits I think are beautiful.  When I photograph a family, I want you to LOVE your images and this is a simple way to portray a certain feeling.  Some families are causal.  They prefer jeans and tee shirts. I think that is fine.  I want to represent who you are in life, but I would recommend that you all follow certain rules with colors.  My personal favorites are the families that do dress up for the occasion.  I feel family portraits are a treat.  You are representing a special moment in your lives. When you come together and hire a professional to photograph you, you are celebrating your family and it makes me happy when I see clients come to the session dressed for the occasion.  You are a family and there is no better way to show pride for your family and who you are by dressing up and enjoying each other as I photograph you. When I book family sessions, I will be mailing out information packets that will help you with ideas on what to wear and what to stay away from.  This way, when the days comes and your session day has arrived, you will be stress free and ready to capture those special moments.