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10 Signs That You will Not Make It! F-stoppers
https://fstoppers.com/business/10-signs … pher-32932 With a saturated market for photographers, there are so many pitfalls a photographer can plunge into that can prevent them from being successful. Taking a step back to analyzing yourself and your business can be the first step to improve and guarantee chances of success for the future. Here are a number of things to look out for, these things can be what is preventing you from reaching your potential. 1. Mr. Know-It-All We all come across that guy who is a "know-it-all." If there is one thing I've figured out growing up, it's that you can learn something new from anyone in life. It doesn't matter whether they are younger, not as educated or as intelligent as you. Consistently blowing off other people and their comments will prevent you from being successful. It's key to take every idea, tip or piece of advice someone gives you seriously. Sometimes, it's also advisable to reach out to older, more experienced people in the field you are targeting to seek guidance. 2. That Negative Guy Who Always Comments (aka The Troll) This is actually the one thing that inspired me to write this article. This week, I came across a bitter photographer who was trash-talking a fellow extremely talented photographer on her page. The first thought that came to mind was "yup, this fool won't get far in life." Every Facebook photography group has a few of these clowns- the guys who talk more than they show and they always have something negative to comment. Needless to say, people like this will not be successful if they have such an attitude. They aren't pleasant to talk to or deal with. 3. The Gear-Centric Guy How can I exclude this topic on such a list? A lot of us are guilty of using gear or lack thereof as an excuse for subpar performance. The truth is, most of us realize that it's not an excuse right away or at some point in our careers. The sooner we come to the realization that gear is only a tool and not the be all and end all of photography, the sooner we work harder to perfect our skill. Unfortunately there are those who never get out of that rut and have their heads wrapped around lacking "the right" gear. Check out - 30 Mind Blowing Images Taken With Entry Level Gear 4. Not Accepting C&C If you find yourself defending yourself and your photos, you are putting a cap on your photography. Photography is an art and there is no limit to skill level when it comes to art. You will get better by the day. Accept what people have to say with grace and use their critique to improve and grow. 5. That Cliche Photographer/"Does All Photography" There are tens of thousands of photographers out there. Don't be another cliche one. To be successful, a photographer must stand out. For example, people are tired of seeing portraits taken on train tracks. Find a setting that is not over used. Furthermore, you must specialize in one or two genres. How many successful photographers do you know who do it all? And trust me chances are you will not be the first person who is an expert in 10 different genres of photography, so pick. 6. Doesn't "get" Marketing Five years ago, ignoring Facebook, Instagram and Twitter was doable. Nowadays, even if you're on every social media platform you won't get too far without social skills. Get in tune with the current market, show personality and show off your best work. Fans want to see that there is a human behind the camera and not some robot. Interact with your fans! 7. Those Who Don't Pursue It As A Hobby If you are in photography for the money, you picked the wrong career. By choosing a genre just for the money you are setting yourself up for destruction. Eventually, you will burn out and without the wild fire and passion inside you, your business will not grow. Do what you love and you will get good at it. You may struggle at first but all it takes is meeting the right person and over night, success will find you. 8. Choosing Quantity Over Quality Aim to take just one amazing photo on a shoot and not 20 mediocre ones. With time, the amount of quality images will increase from shoot to shoot. The goal is to show off a portfolio that will blow people's minds. Additionally, your fans don't care to see 15 OK photos from the same shoot, they want to see one amazing photo and variety. Do not flood your page with a new album for each shoot. 9. Never Responds to Communications You know that awesome feeling when someone answers your email or text instantly? Be the cause for that awesome feeling for your clients. Treat everyone like that hot girl you're texting who you just met at the bar last night. People hate when it takes someone 24 hours to respond. I'm guilty of this myself and beat myself up all the time for not responding soon enough. 10. Doesn't Use a Support System My spurt of growth was the day my wife and I moved in together. She pushes me, supports me and makes me feel better when I am down. She even edits most of my articles and posts on social media. If you have a friend or family member who is discouraging you, cut them loose. A person who truly loves you, pushes you until you are successful. *Update* 11. Not Getting Repeat Customers If you are not getting repeat customer there is one of two things wrong. Lacking quality or service. Figure out which of the two it may be and fix it. It's a good read...Great advice! Aug 28 14 08:52 am Link Bump! Aug 28 14 05:46 pm Link Great stuff. Thank you. Aug 28 14 06:00 pm Link Good advice! Aug 28 14 11:18 pm Link Like this. Um, I need to work on my photography portfolio again!  Aug 29 14 04:53 am Link This should be required reading when you create an account here. For all the "no answer is an answer" crowd, please refer to #9. Aug 29 14 04:56 am Link Marin Photography NYC wrote: Social media for the professional photographer should not be confused with marketing. Personally having a ton of teenage boy fans in Montana or Pakistan following my photography does not benefit my client base. Marketing is presenting your message to people who are in a position to buy your services. I don't consider my clients and potential clients a fans. The author of the article is presenting a very immature view of marketing. In my opinion he is the one who doesn't 'get' marketing. Aug 29 14 05:04 am Link Great article. Thanks for sharing. Aug 29 14 05:05 am Link Dan Howell wrote: I think you missed the point. Aug 29 14 05:14 am Link Marin Photography NYC wrote: I'm pretty sure I got the point. My problem with the article is that 'getting' marketing is important to a photography career, but everything he writes after that sentence has nothing to do with marketing. In fact, it is all trite and I would say a distraction to what real marketing is. Aug 29 14 05:38 am Link Spot On OP!! Aug 29 14 05:48 am Link This sort of approach to business goes way beyond, just photography.. it can be applied to all sorts of business..and relationships in general. The truth is, all things equal, people will hire those they like over those they don't.. Aug 29 14 06:12 am Link Dan Howell wrote: LOL Granted he doesn't go into "real marketing" in detail but being on social media is a benefit to many businesses. I'm just going to leave it there... Aug 29 14 06:14 am Link Dan Howell wrote: I would agree with you and the same writer previous comments. Fans and that level of social media are important to someone like f-stoppers who target is what it is. Now I do think twitter is important, and used by those very commercial clients I am after. Aug 29 14 06:28 am Link AJScalzitti wrote: In Houston, NPR just ran a story saying how Twitter is trying to boost it's advertising by offering courses in how to recognize your market and Tweet effectively. Twitter feels that most business have no idea of how to market properly in 140 characters. Aug 29 14 07:08 am Link Great, on the best of days my social skills suck . . . and my social media skills make those look good . . . I'm doomed . . .  All good info, thanks for sharing . . . SOS Aug 29 14 08:09 am Link My favorite is number 5. Jack of all trades = master of none. Said that way too many times before!!  Aug 29 14 06:59 pm Link Social media may be important to some but it's not a deal breaker. I work probably more than most out there and I have absolutely no social media presence. My "social" skills are of the real kind. I call people and go talk to them face to face. Sure I can see social media perhaps helping but I think too many rely on it too much and think it will drastically improve their business. All I'm saying is it is possible to be very successful without it. Hell, I know a very busy and very expensive portrait photographer who doesn't even have a website let alone any social media presence. Old school still works very effectively these days. It probably always will. Aug 30 14 05:59 am Link Marin Photography NYC wrote: Dan is a successful published pro with a studio in NYC. He knows about marketing! Aug 30 14 06:13 am Link sorry, i would take out the hobby part.... point 7 The most successful photographers come exactly from other disciplines.... (most often graphic design) for my self i never had photography as a hobby, and i think it has helped me tremendously. having it as a hobby obscures your vision....(short version, long story) Herman www.hermanvangestel.com Aug 30 14 06:51 am Link Herman van Gestel wrote: I think the point they are trying to make in #7 is that one must be passionate about photography, to continuously challenge oneself to improve. "Doing" photography from 9 to 5, reusing the same old bread and butter setups, without time for exploration and growth, is a recipie for burnout. So while one might do fairly routine photography during the work week, one ought to make time for creative work too. Aug 30 14 09:52 am Link Marin Photography NYC wrote: No doubt, but surely we could also easily say that wasting time on social media is a detriment to many businesses or sole proprietors, couldn't we? Aug 30 14 11:00 am Link Excellent article and with many rational points. Photography has changed so dramically in the last 10 years with the advent of advanced P&S cameras. But looking at many ports I am amazed that so often a few portfolio pics lack good composition, or cropping. Even some shots are barely in sharp focus or exhibit unwanted glare and some backgounds are almost depressing. As an added comment-- I love this quote: "There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating:...... people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing." ~Oscar Wilde Re comment on "train track Photos" Dont trains empty their urinals/toilets on train tracks, or is that my imagination ?? Yuck !! Aug 30 14 11:53 am Link Mike Collins wrote: I agree too much time could be bad but social media is free advertising so it's definitely a benefit. Aug 30 14 06:44 pm Link ZMPHOT wrote: No it's pumped out into a tank these days. I can't speak for all of them though. haha Aug 30 14 06:46 pm Link Jeffrey M Fletcher wrote: Well it's good advice and like anything else - moderation. Aug 30 14 06:47 pm Link Shouldn't one take advice from successful photographers? Same old yada yada... almost copy and paste buy with the addition of a few wise cracks. I'd suggest taking a look at the authors website before following his preaching... Aug 31 14 02:56 am Link ZMPHOT wrote: I know a photographer who works for the railroad. The next time that I see him I'll ask him. Aug 31 14 03:24 am Link Hahahahaha this f-stopper already made it. Now to sit back n enjoy Aug 31 14 08:10 am Link Good article... assuming that EVERYONE wants to make photography a career. Some of us don't give a damn and want to keep it pure and organic, meaning shooting what you want - when you want and how you want. If someone wants your photos, that is just icing on the cake. Keep Shooting! Aug 31 14 08:48 am Link Art Silva wrote: I agree with you. I don't know if I want to or not...yet...I pretty much like being able to do what I want when I want to... Aug 31 14 06:15 pm Link #5 is the best one for new photographers to understand. When your first starting out you are trying lots of different things, but once you figure out what kinds of shoots you are good at then stick to those areas. Instead of constantly trying to improve on your weaknesses focus on your talents and strengths. Sep 03 14 07:31 am Link Fred Greissing wrote: If you have better advice we would love to hear it..at least I would appreciate it....... Sep 03 14 09:04 am Link |
