“4 Reasons Why Networking Is Critical to Going Pro” plus 1 more: Digital Photography School

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4 Reasons Why Networking Is Critical to Going Pro Posted: 03 Mar 2012 09:57 AM PST A guest post by Lara White from PhotoMint. In this article, she explains why networking is critical for photographers looking to go pro. To learn more about how to get business by networking, check out PhotoMint’s new ebook, Get Connected: Build Relationships to Drive Your Business. When you make the decision to earn a living from photography, there’s a seed of change that takes hold at that moment and begins to grow. It’s a slight shift at first, as you begin to think, “I’m going to need some clients.” As you become more dedicated to the idea of earning a living from your photography, that shift begins to take hold. Photography for the love of the craft is about creating images you love and inspiring others with your art. Photography as a way to earn a living is about getting clients—which means marketing yourself and your services. Many successful pros will tell you that professional photography is 20% photography and 80% marketing. If you are thinking about going pro, it’s time to consider how you’ll market yourself. Traditional advertising is great for building general brand recognition, but not so great for making the phone ring. As a professional photographer, you will need dozens or hundreds of new clients each year, not brand recognition by thousands of consumers that aren’t hiring you. So the marketing method you choose is key to your success. That’s where networking comes in. As an artist, you need contacts and referrals to clients. Networking is all about finding those key contacts and building long-term relationships with people who can give you business. Networking is one of the best ways to get out there quickly and connect with people interested in business relationships. If you want to succeed, it’s crucial. Internationally known fashion photographer Lara Jade created INSPIRE, a networking group for photographers because “networking is one of the most important things to do in the industry we are in.” She feels that “an artist cannot pursue a career without contacts.” 1. People do Business with People You’ve probably heard the saying “people do business with people,” and it couldn't be more true with photography. Once you step outside the mall portrait studio environment, photography becomes a very personal service. Clients need to connect with the person behind the camera, so it makes sense that successful photographers rely on networking to get personal referrals. Networking is all about doing business with people. It’s not about a slick marketing message, a great tagline, or even being the most talented photographer in the room. It’s about authentically connecting with people who can become your clients and/or refer clients to you. The focus is on building great personal relationships with people for the purpose of doing business together. What’s great about networking is you don’t need a fancy website, brochure, or other expensive collateral, so even if you are just getting established, you can start networking immediately. The most important ingredients to great networking are active listening, being genuinely interested in others, and following up. 2. You are your Brand As a photographer and artist, you are your brand. Your talent is your eyes, in the way you see the world. Your product is not the paper your images are printed on; your product is your vision. Getting an ad in print might show your work, but it doesn't show you. When someone recommends you, they aren't simply recommending the final output; they are recommending you as a person, your passion, your talent, your vision. In this video I share the story of how a single relationship that started at a networking event led to the biggest break in my career: It’s the relationship you have with people that will lead them to refer you. 3. It’s the most Cost-Effective Strategy Unlike many advertising strategies, networking costs very little. Many networking events are free, and others cost a nominal fee to attend, which is great for beginners and starving artists. Check meetup.com, your local chamber of commerce, and industry-related associations for upcoming networking events you can attend. I’ve wasted thousands on magazine ads and online advertising packages that didn't make the phone ring a single time. Networking, on the other hand, has been the foundation of my business. Over 70% of my clients come from referrals, which all goes back to networking. To make networking pay off, you do have to invest time to attend events and follow up with people. If you are hungry for business, time shouldn't be a problem. 4. Relationships are the Foundation of a Successful Business Most successful photographers cite referrals as their best source of clients. Relationships are the key to a h3 referral network. Once you’ve met a potential partner, it doesn't stop there; it starts there. This is where a lot of people get confused and give up on networking before seeing results. You don’t just go to the event to collect business cards. You go to get to know people and to identify potential partners you might do business with. After the event, follow up and build relationships. By follow up, I mean a phone call, a note card, an invitation to meet for drinks. Get to know each other. Once you’ve established a great relationship, it can lead to repeat business for you. Business contacts who are fans of your work have the ability to send many clients, particularly if you maintain the relationship. When you have multiple referral sources in place, business starts coming in consistently. If you want to grow your business, this one of the most effective strategies there is. Bill Gates agrees: “Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning.” I hope I’ve convinced you of how critical networking is for anyone considering going pro. Remember, networking is just the start. What it’s really about is building relationships and making connections. Lara White is a professional photographer and author. For more tips and techniques on networking check out Lara’s new ebook: Get Connected: Build Relationships to Drive Your Business. To read more of her marketing and business tips for photographers, head over to her blog: PhotoMint. Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips. Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips. 4 Reasons Why Networking Is Critical to Going Pro

8 Things Every Camera Owner Should Know About Their Camera Posted: 03 Mar 2012 05:49 AM PST by Lynford Morton from www.photocoachpro.com. If you want to make the evolution from pointing and shooting to creating art, one of the things you must do is master your camera. I’m talking the kind of mastery where you can pick up your camera in most situations and begin firing quickly without too much fiddling around. How do you do that? Practice when there’s nothing at stake. Assuming you have some down time over the holiday break, here are 8 things you should learn about your camera. 1. Where does unacceptable noise begin on your ISO range? Your manufacturer says your camera can shoot a wide ISO range, but you won’t always want to do that. As you select a higher ISO setting, your images show more noise – bigger pixels. At what point in your camera does the noise become unacceptable? Take a series of pictures at progressively higher ISO settings and compare. Find out before it really matters. 2. Where’s the sweet spot on your lens? This is a similar concept. Your zoom lens has a smaller range that is sharper than the outer edges. Just because the camera says 70 mm – 300 mm doesn’t mean it is sharp for that entire range. That inner limit where your lens performs best is generally referred to as your sweet spot. Do you know what that range is on your favorite lens? The only way to find out is to experiment. 3. What’s the fastest way to change your settings? In many cameras, there is more than one way to change your metering, focus type, or white balance. If you are shooting and need to make quick adjustments, what’s the fastest way to do it? You never know when you might need to react without thinking. 4. Should you calibrate exposure? Is your camera consistently shooting over or under exposed? Are you always having to dial in exposure compensation? This might be a good time to grab a grey card and practice getting your exposure correctly. Your default might be 1/3 stop under or over exposed. 5. How do you adjust your flash? Yes, sometimes you will actually have to use your (gasp) flash. With most DSLRs, you can adjust how the flash fires – normal, red eye, or rear curtain – or with what intensity. Do you know where to make those adjustments? It’s possible when you need them, you could be in the dark. Always good to know where to begin fumbling. 6. Do you have a reset routine? When you finish shooting for the day, do you return the camera to any default settings? Do you check those settings when you pick up your camera for the day? You might come up with your own "start" settings that will work if you ever need to grab and go. For instance, at the end of a shoot, you might return your camera to ISO 400, Aperture Priority f/9, Evaluative Metering, Exposure Compensation set to 0, and Auto White Balance. If you pick up the camera and run out in a hurry, you’ll be set to get most basic shots. The last thing you want to do is start shooting and find that your camera is still in last night’s extreme set up. Establish your own routine. Is it before the shoot, after, or both? When will you reset and what? 7. What's your accessories routine? When do you recharge your batteries? How frequently? What’s the routine for the tripod plate? When do you empty your memory cards? Simple organization routines can help you from ending up on a shoot with a dead battery or full memory card…or worse yet, a tripod with no plate. 8. What’s your workflow system? What’s your organization system for your pictures? It’s been a while since we used a Dewey Decimal library system, but you will need your own version for your photos. As you collect more and more pictures, a good tagging and filing system will save hours of searching later. That’s a good mindless exercise for a slow day. Knowing your tools is often a skill that makes the difference in your photos. When I was in the Army, we had to practice taking apart and reassembling our weapons so much that we could do it in our sleep. The Army believed the point you needed your weapon most was not the time to start learning its nuances. The same concept goes for your camera. Take the time to learn your camera when there is low pressure or expectations, like down time over the holiday break. When you're shooting high impact events in 2012, everything should flow naturally. Lynford Morton is founder and president of PhotoTour DC. He teaches photography during walking workshops around Washington, DC., and blogs at www.photocoachpro.com. Visit him at www.phototourdc.com. Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips. Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips. 8 Things Every Camera Owner Should Know About Their Camera

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