Not the way most photographers go about it.

In my previous article, we explored the mistakes most photographers make that blow it with venues. Now it’s time to learn what does work to earn those referrals.

What’s In It For Them?

If you want wedding venues to send you referrals, it must be 100% in their best interest. Yes, I’m sure you’re the best photographer around, but that simply isn’t enough.

If you want them to refer you over the competition, you have to find to not only win them over, but to create a situation wherein promoting you makes them look good, too.

The Secret to Venue Referrals

Create a promotional piece that makes BOTH your businesses look good, and they’ll share it with every couple who walks through their doors.

• It must be easy to use, requiring little or no thought or effort on their part.
• Its purpose and benefit should be instantly recognizable.
• You need to show them exactly what to do and do the legwork for them.

The closer you can get to doing all the work, so that you’re literally promoting their business for them, the more quickly you will earn those referrals.

Hey, I know this is a tall order to fill. But we’ve uncovered two tactics that work like gangbusters to turn a venue into your #1 lead source.

Warning: this strategy should only be used with the top venues you’d like to work with. It does require some time and energy invested on your part, so choose your targets wisely.

It also helps if you already have gorgeous wedding photos of the location in question, or you’ll need permission (and models) to get them, which is more complicated.

The Digital Promotion Partnership

What do wedding venues want that you can provide? Great photos that make them look awesome.

The problem is that every photographer is showering them with pretty photos. It’s almost impossible to stand out, especially when you’re competing for the attention of the very high end venues.

In addition, it actually takes work on their part to remember to give out your business card, and anything that requires work or effort quickly gets discarded by a busy event manager.

Here’s the trick: present the venue with a professionally designed digital brochure they can use for promotion, with your contact information and credit as the photographer discretely included.

It’s completely free and instantly ready to use, so giving it to their couples is a no brainer. With your contact information embedded right there, they’ll be promoting you to every couple who walks through their doors.

The Tools

It’s a great idea, but how do you pull it off?

Fortunately there are a couple tools that just made your life a whole lot easier.

Sticky Albums – Create a mobile app the venue can download and share with their couples using a simple link.

Sticky Albums makes it easy for you to upload and create an app that includes your contact information as the photographer. Present it the venue and give them free reign to share it.

The photos in your custom app show off the venue’s best features and make it easy for them to share their portfolio with couples. You get free exposure to every couple who views the app. It’s a win-win.

Sticky Albums is a cool marketing tool to begin with, but photographers who’ve used it to mutually promote a wedding venue are laughing all the way to the bank.

Flip Magazines – Create a digital magazine using an online template. Embed slideshow videos and photos, then give it to the venue to share with their couples.

This is an incredibly dynamic way for the venue to promote their features digitally, and you can include discrete links to yourself as the featured photographer.

Why This Works

When you create a promotional piece for a wedding venue, it makes it easy for them to share it and promote you in the process. It’s completely in their best interest and requires no effort or thought on their part.

It also kicks in the psychological principle of influence called Reciprocity, causing the venue to feel an unconscious pressure to return the favor for you. Not only will they be endorsing your business every time they give that digital brochure to a couple, they’ll feel compelled to recommend you verbally as well.

So get moving, get cracking, and earn those venue referrals!

What do you think about this strategy?

Wedding superheros Stephanie Padovani and her husband, Jeff, share oodles of wedding marketing tips like these at http://www.BookMoreBrides.com. Sign up for their FREE report for wedding vendors to learn how to get more leads and book more weddings. Huge thanks for their post and for being a part of Digital Wedding Forum!

Here’s the problem: you’re not the only genius photographer who realizes this potential opportunity. As a result, wedding venues have a long line of photographers willing to all but sell their souls for a chance to get on that preferred vendor list.

If you want to become a venue’s #1 recommended photographer, the first thing you must do is avoid these common mistakes.

Mistake #1 – Choosing the wrong target venue.

Becoming a preferred vendor takes an investment of your time, energy and money. It’s essential that you spend it only on venues that are going to yield the quality and quantity of referrals you want.

Target venues that:

Have an established reputation as wedding specialists and at least 20 weddings per year.

Do not have a preferred vendor list you pay to get on.

Attract the ideal couples you want to work with.

It’s tempting to romance a new historic estate or rustic farm into making you their go to photographer. But if they only do two weddings per year, that relationship isn’t going to yield the volume of leads you need.

If the venue charges for their referrals, they aren’t going to start sending you leads just because you’re nice to them. You can target these venues, but be prepared to “pay to play” first like everyone else.

The target market of the venue simply must attract the type of couples you want to work with. If you aren’t a good match for their clients, they can send you dozens of referrals and you’ll never book them.

Mistake #2 – Doing what everyone else is doing.

Most photographers gift their chosen venues with portraits of happy couples enjoying the venue’s best features. Or they show up mid-week, unannounced, with a stack of cards, and say something like, “If you know anyone who needs a great photographer…”

The most established, desirable locations have dozens of photographers wheedling for a spot on their referral list. You need to be different and bold to attract attention and establish a relationship.

Mistake #3 – Giving them a huge stack of business cards.

Let me ask: do you start recommending another wedding vendor the first time you meet simply because they hand you a stack of 100 business cards? You barely know them and immediately they expect you to become their agent!

One business card is sufficient for a brand new relationship. Don’t lay on a huge stack unless they specifically ask for it, or else ALL your cards will end up in the trash can.

Mistake #4 – Forgetting to communicate what’s in it for them.

An established venue is in a position to get free photos from their pick of photographers. Your gorgeous photos alone are not enough to earn referrals.

f you want to get recommended, you simply must think about what’s in it for them. What offer can you make, what package can you present, what can you do for them that will solve a problem or give the venue owner something they really want?

This isn’t an easy question to answer. You’re going to have to get to know the venue’s event or sales director, find out what their challenges are and get creative in finding a way to help them.

Mistake #5 – Acting like a bad house guest.

When you shoot a wedding you’re a guest of that establishment. Barking out orders for a glass of water or treating the staff like your personal servants can get you permanently banned from the referral list. No matter how many clauses in your contract the venue chooses to ignore, you need to be gracious and suck it up.

Photographers who get referred go the extra mile to make the venue look good. They flex around the venue’s scheduling rather than rigidly insisting on their own. They keep the couple and guests happy, soothe stressful situations and deflect tensions away from the venue.

Think about the worst house guest you’ve ever had and how you couldn’t wait for them to leave. Don’t be that guy.

Mistake #6 – Not following up.

The Kellogg School of Management Lead Response survey revealed that consumers typically need 5-12 contacts with your business before they hire you. That means lots of follow up!

It’s no different with venues. They’re not going to meet you once and immediately send referrals your way. It’s going to take multiple exposures to your awesomeness before they trust you enough to send those leads.

Contact your potential venue partners on a regular basis. Every month or so, give them a phone call, send a gift or postcard. Nurture that relationship to grow referrals.

Mistake #7 – Giving up after the first try.

It might hurt your ego when you go out of your way to win over a venue and they ignore you. Don’t let pride keep you from success.

Not every venue will respond. It takes time and persistence to earn those referrals. But once you’ve established even one powerful referral relationship with a venue, it can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line. So don’t give up!

Now that we’ve covered what NOT to do, I’ll reveal three little known strategies you can use to earn those venue referrals fast…coming soon in my next article!

Until then…

What mistakes have you seen when it comes to getting referred?

Wedding superheros Stephanie Padovani and her husband, Jeff, share oodles of wedding marketing tips like these at BookMoreBrides.com. Sign up for their FREE online training event for wedding vendors to learn how to get more leads and book more weddings.

Huge thank you to author Stephanie Padovani at bookmorebrides.com for this amazing article!

For example, your niche might be pet photography, and your market is dog lovers in your community who value photography. Or your market might be wealthy horse owners.

Before you start your business, you need to research into both the niche you want to work in and the market you want to target to make sure that it can support your business. Some niches are already so saturated in your area that it will be difficult to get a foothold. Other times you may find that there is very little market for the type of images you would like to shoot. Not that you can’t or shouldn’t pursue the photography you love, but it might mean you earn a very meager living for years while you built up your skills and clients.

It’s important to explore potential niches and markets before you get to invested in it, so that you know the lifestyle you are getting into. That’s why I spend a full chapter in Photography Business Secrets: The Savvy Photographer’s Guide to Sales, Marketing, and More on choosing your niche and market. Many times you hear that if just do what you love, you will be successful at it. Thats not always true. There needs to be a market to support your niche. For example, many photographers dream of shooting for National Geographic, but with so many photographers and so few National Geographic assignments, it’s not a viable business market for most.

When picking your niche, answer these questions, honestly:

• What do you enjoy photographing? Are you a people person who likes to be out photographing events and dealing with people or would you rather be in a studio getting the perfect product shot?

• Can you do it all day, every day without being bored? Photography can be a lot of hard work and repetition. Is going to a wedding every weekend of the summer your idea of fun, or how about getting up way before sunrise to get to the ideal location in the best light day in and day out? Doing something a few times can be fun, doing that same thing over and over every day can get tiresome.

• What is the competition like in that niche? What the business climate like in the niche you want to work? Are there a ton of photographers already doing what you want to do? Is the niche saturated or can it handle another working photographer and how do you deal with competition?

• Do you like working with kids? Pets? Adults? Can you work with kids every day? Or would you rather spend the time photographing dogs and cats?

• Do you want to work on location or do you prefer working in your own studio? This is a big one, especially when you consider the cost involved. Would you rather put together a small shoot-on-the-go kit or equip a full studio? The startup costs are significantly different.

• How do you feel about working evenings and weekends? If you are considering a career as an event or wedding photographer, expect to work many weekends and at least several nights per week.

• What kind of income do you need to earn in order to be satisfied?

  
  

Once you have answered these questions to the best of your ability, you can begin to consider different niches and markets. Each has different pros and cons in terms of working conditions, pay and lifestyle issues.

There are many niches to consider-weddings, senior portraits, boudoir, maternity, photo-journalism, fine art, products, commercial, stock, landscapes, fashion, pet photography, sports, editorial, corporate, family portraits, etc…

Once you’ve narrowed down the niche, consider some of the different markets for that type of photography. For example with wedding photography, there are many different markets. High-end, elopements, military weddings, second weddings, Jewish weddings, celebrity weddings, budget minded weddings, gay weddings, etc. You might be thinking to yourself, why limit to just one type of market? Clients are looking for a photographer who is familiar with their market, plain and simple.

For example, one of the markets I specifically target is country club weddings. This works well, because when a country club bride meets with me and reviews my portfolio, she sees weddings that are similar to what she has in mind. It creates a connection between what she’s planning and what I can obviously do. If I showed an assortment of Military weddings, some elopements and cultural weddings, she’d be much less likely to hire me. Think about it; if you are going to hire a professional, you want to hire someone familiar and experienced with the exact type of work you need done.

Here are some questions to consider about potential markets:

• Is there a market for your niche? You need to know who will hire you and pay you for your services. Is there a market for the established high-end portrait photographer in your town? Will there be enough work for you and your competition?

• Is there competition for that market? Are there already a ton of photographers doing high-end portraits or is it an untapped market? And if it is untapped, why are there no other photographers already doing it?

• Can the market sustain another photographer? Is there enough work?

By doing this work in the beginning, you are setting yourself up for success. It’s hard work, and you may find yourself frustrated by some of the answers you discover, but in the long run it will be well worth it.

Article written by LaraWhite at PhotoMint.com. Lara White is an author, business woman, and marketing expert. Want to know more about Lara White, PhotoMint and how to run a more successful business? Check Lara out here!

Huge thank you to Lara White from Photomint for taking time out of her busy schedule to share such awesome and insightful tips with the DWF!

Photo North East the largest Spring convention on the east coast! This year’s Photo North East convention will be held at the Westchester Marriott April 6th-9th, 2013.

Everything from workflow, lighting, posing, boudoir, artistic treatment, night photography — It’s all there! You are sure to be inspired by this year’s speaker lineup.

Featuring some of DWF’s most captivating speakers covering a range of topics, Photo North East is definitely worth a second look. Walk the tradeshow to get the full experience. Vendors showing this year include Adorama, B&H, Canon, Tameron, Pro DPI and many many more!

Specialty events also include a Women’s Power Networking brunch on April 8th at 9AM, Photographic and Master Arts print competition, and a hilarious spaced theme after party!

Matt Hill is featuring a speciality Sleepy Hollow inspired night shoot with a select number of participants to study the art of the open shutter!

Get the full scoop on all of the events right here!

To register and for more information on parties, events, speakers, topics, hotels and travel, check it out here!

TOPIC: Learn how to prepare for the wedding, shoot emotional documentary images, and create the gorgeous Marcus Bell “weddingscapes” he has become well known for! Marcus also goes over the basics of what makes a good photograph. He covers post production techniques and how to create award winning images and pictures that sell! Marcus goes over his favorite Photoshop and Lightroom tools, and shows you his express workflow techniques. Take it all in and get to shooting, creating, and editing faster!

FREE and open for enrollment here: http://www.creativelive.com/courses/wedding-photography-marcus-bell

Event starts: Feb 6th, then continues Feb 7th and 8th. Each day is from 9AM to 4PM (pacific time!)

Want to check out Marcus Bell? See his stunning work and get to know how before the event:
Marcus Website: http://www.studioimpressions.com.au
Marcus Twitter: @mbellphoto
Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/marcus.bell.Studio.Impressions

As you can tell by the graphic… I’m kind of a zen-head. Despite all that, I promise to deliver a well thought out, non-gushy un-love fest blog post about how utterly marinated in awesome-sauce I think Zenfolio is (despite that being a fairly accurate statement). With all that in mind, let’s take a look at some real reasons to actually like this company.

First, they’re partnered with every cool resource under the sun you already use or want to use. Secondly, they’re always looking for new ways to make your life better and easier.  Those two facts combined make it difficult to not become invested in Zenfolio products. You care for the people who care for YOU most, right?

For those not intimately familiar with Zenfolio, there’s a nifty little option associated with galleries that allows you to configure an easy to share slideshow in a few simple clicks. It’s pretty much a no brainer, even for people who aren’t that social media or blog savvy. With it comes roughly 50 free Triple Scoop Music songs in a variety of flavors (hah!) that you attach to each slideshow. It’s easy to grab the code right off the Zenfolio site and splash it around on the web like red paint on a barn. Simple, fast, easy, AND I LOVE IT.

But when Triple Scoop Music rolled out with an option to buy in to about 10,000 songs to use in these online galleries, I wasn’t totally sure right off the bat. Being utterly ignorant of what the cost of licensing music really was, I kept thinking, “I dunno… $100? The 50 free songs are enough for me!” … oh how wrong I was.

(this slideshow took me literally 45 seconds to make)

First… licensing your own music is NOT cheap. A little Google-fu will reveal that average cost for an individual song is around $60ish bucks. “Eh,” I thought, “I’m not worried. I have 50 free songs with these bad boys. I can make it work.”

That thought process really only got me so far. Once I discovered that I was actually getting good feedback from sharing my slideshows on social media and blogs, @-tagging clients and having people oooo and aaaahh over the work, I found that the 50 free songs were incredibly limiting if I was shooting more than 1 session… ever. Since it’s a broad range of songs that try to hit something for every photographer, you find that you’re only able to use 1 or 2 of them to fit your needs. SO… ultimately, you’re spending time hoping the world doesn’t put two and two together that you’re alternating between one or the other song.

If you’re as addicted to social media marketing as I am, your streamlining system needs to be flawless. I definitely see the value in having access to what feels like virtually unlimited music for marketing purposes. Search by a variety of categories makes it easy, and you quickly find yourself adding favorites to save for later. If you shoot 4-5 sessions a month, about 60-70 total sessions a year, and want to market everything on Facebook without fiddling around with extra software, this is totally the way to go. $100 seems like a drop in the bucket compared to how much time you’re saving yourself. You could be sipping margaritas or playing with your dog in the yard instead of putting endless slideshows together for Facebook or blog marketing.

And if people want a hard copy of these? Well… then it’d be a nice upsell, and worth the time and effort of putting it all together for them the traditional way.

Would I recommend this add-on for people that do low volume shooting? Truthfully, no. If you’re shooting once every other month or so, there will absolutely be no point. Spend your $100 on something else for the year. If you’re shooting twice a month or more? Yes, definitely consider it. It makes life a lot easier.

pros: Faster marketing leaves you more time to do what you love. MASSIVE library or music at your finger tips. So simple my grandma could do it. Zenfolio users get 10% off at Triple Scoop Music when you’re ready to purchase a full license song.
cons: Songs only for use on Zenfolio marketing products. That’s pretty much it.

Hope this was helpful! Feel free to leave feedback, comments, hates and loves in the section below and share your thoughts!

What is your DWF Username? Mario Masitti (way creative eh?!)
What is your Full Name? Mario Masitti
What is your business Location? Denver, CO at the moment.
What is your website URL? http://www.mariomasitti.com
What’s your facebook page URL? http://www.facebook.com/mariomasitti and http://www.facebook.com/mariomasittistudios
How many years have you been in business? 4 years full time now.

Mario Masitti is a member of the beloved DWF! If you’re interested in talking to him more, or getting to know our other talented photographers, pop over for a free trial here!

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?
I started working for a photographer when I was a freshman in college in 2004 as a non-shooting assistant. I worked there for 5 years while I was in college and graduate school. I have a Bachelor’s in Communications from Penn State and a Master’s degree in Education from Robert Morris University. With the economy, I have never really worked in either of those fields.

How did you become a professional photographer?
Shortly before I finished graduate school, the economy collapsed. I also moved across the country for my late husband’s job. I applied for over 600 positions in a 12 month time period, had approximately five interviews and no offers. I was a homemaker and working odd jobs. In my spare time, I started to work on my photography skills. I worked for free for the entire year to build my portfolio in photography. After a year of honing my skills, I opened my business. I originally wanted to focus solely on family portraits but found myself having the temperament for weddings.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?
My greatest business challenge has also been my greatest personal challenge. In April 2012, my husband very unexpectedly passed away. My husband did some behind the scenes work for my business, such as bookkeeping. Additionally, he was just my moral support so it is very difficult now not having anybody to turn to for advice or a listening ear. Struggling with your own grief and balancing your happiness for engaged couples can be quite a challenge.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?
I’m still newer to the industry; I’ve been very fortunate to rely solely on word of mouth marketing.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?:
I think my organization and my dedication make me different than other photographers. I have had a lot of success with my wedding day timelines that are especially detailed as far as photography is concerned. As far as dedication, I give 110% no matter what. I can compartmentalize the circumstances of my life completely from the events of the wedding day.

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensible?
My favorite lens is the 85L. I can photograph an entire wedding using just that lens.
What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
To an aspiring wedding photographer, I would say that this is a job for the mentally tough. I feel you need to put your clients first. For example, guests and family members will give their input twenty times a day as far as what photos should be taken at a wedding. Not every client (or their mother) will love your work. It is a competitive field and your fellow photographers will give unsolicited advice. You are going to miss family weddings, birthdays, holidays and other important events in your life to photograph the most important day in someone else’s life. No matter how you feel, you must show up with a smile and do your job.

What has the DWF done for your business?
The DWF has made me a better business person because there is a support position to help you stand firm in your policies and make business decisions with your head and not your heart.

How do you use the DWF?
I really enjoy visiting the Business forum on DWF. My twitter tag line includes the phrase “business runner” because I do consider myself a businesswoman even above being a photographer.

Huge thank you to Kristen Wynn for being a part of the DWF community and giving us an inside look at how she runs her business! Gorgeous work Kristen, we are so proud that you’re a part of the DWF!!

Want to learn more about the DWF? Grab a free trial and get started! http://www.digitalweddingforum.com/forum/register.php

The following information will help you avoid common pitfalls and alleviate some confusion as you’re navigating your way through a competitive market. Below are the top 5 branding pitfalls a photographer faces, and ways to avoid them provided by the resident DWF graphic designer, Elizabeth Atkins.

Branding 101: Top 5  pitfalls to avoid when branding your business

#5 Pitfall: Designing for yourself

One of the biggest and earliest mistakes a photographer can make is accidentally trying to design for themselves. It’s hard to leave your own comfort zone and ask someone else to design something for you, but trust me when I say this: you’ll thank me later. It’s really not a question about whether you CAN design your own logo, it’s a question of whether or not you should.

How to avoid it: In a highly competitive market cluttered with ads, commercials, billboards, and fierce competition a great brand identity shouldn’t be left to chance. A seasoned graphic designer knows all the right questions to ask about your business. Hire a qualified professional that will help you bring to life ideas and concepts that are not only visually well crafted, but extremely marketable. A graphic designer’s goal is to make you appealing to your audience, and ultimately… make you more money.

#4 Pitfall: Trying to say too much at once

You’re a photographer, a business owner, a timeline wrangler, sometimes client therapist and you want your clients to connect with you on an emotional level. You want to seem fun, or professional, or luxurious, but accessible. You want your client to value you, and you want to stand out. You want to load your 10 pound identity in to a 5 pound bag. Now what?

How to avoid it: Keep it simple. This is especially true when you’re leveraging internet marketing to reach new audiences. Pick one message. Attention spans are low, and you want to be consistent and concise. Develop your brand identity like an elevator pitch. Get your message across in 5 seconds or less. If you find you have to over explain yourself to get your point across, it’s way too complicated.

#3 Pitfall: Being something that you’re not

It’s really important to know what kind of business you want to run, and that has a lot to do with who you are personally. Often people think the ticket to success is to project a certain image. However, if that certain image isn’t capturing the essence of your overall business model, your audience will instantly not trust you.

How to avoid it: Take a very close look at your own photography work, and the type of clients you’re attracting. If you’re currently not attracting the clients you want, think hard about the clients you DO want, and why you want them. Who are they? How do you think you’ll get along with them? Is your work bright and sunny? Is your work dark and moody? Keep those things in mind while you’re constructing the concept of your visual brand… A bright sunny design won’t jive with a dark, moody body of work.

#2 Pitfall: Working inside of a vacuum
Business owners often create campaigns, marketing efforts, logos, brands, and other materials completely without the outside opinion of their audience. Most of the time you’re sitting in your office scouring the internet for new ways to make your business more competitive, faster, or better.  The most often over looked part of research is the facet of community- working in secret is great if you’re a mad scientist, but not if your target demographic is a part of the general public.

How to avoid it: Once you’ve finished designing, crafting, honing or building your business, test it with your target demographic. Take a sample of your past clients and ask them what they honestly think about your new idea. Bonus points for offering an incentive to the participants. I.E. : If you offer an incentive for being a good guinea pig, not only are you insuring your new business venture will be successful, you’ll start building repeat business and your customers will gain a stronger/faster sense of your new brand identity.

#1 Pitfall: Starting your visual brand design before finishing your business model
As a designer my very first question, out the gate, is about my client’s business and who their target demographic is. Nailing down an idea of who or what the business is about, what kind of people participate in the business, and what the owner’s ultimate goal is is crucial before starting the visual design process. Designing a visual brand identity is the last step of completing your total branding package. If you put the cart before the horse, you’ll be setting yourself up to fail.

How to avoid it: Graphic design can be really exciting, but don’t be pulled in by what’s shiny. Stay one step ahead of your competition by developing a solid and strong business foundation that you can build on for the years to come. Have a game plan on how you want to run your business, how you’re going to handle customer service, who your target market is, how much your competition in charging… the list goes on! Research your market and find your place in it. Once you have a solid sense of what type of business you will be, aligning a visual brand identity will be the final step in your business plan. Behind every strong design is an even stronger business model.

Now get out there and good luck!

About the Author:
Elizabeth Atkins is the visual artist and graphic designer for photodough.com, digitalweddingforum.com, and owner of postfilmdesign.com (set to launch Jan 15th 2013). She’s the chick behind the computer screen working magic and bringing the brands of the companies she loves to life through social media, logos, landing pages, buttons, and baubles.

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?

As a child I loved photography but never even thought of it was a possibility as a profession. Other than national geographic photographers and Sears portrait photographers I didn’t really know that you could get paid to take photos.  In 2000, as graphic artist I got thrown into photography for any product I had to advertise but didn’t have files for (on my Iomega 100 Meg ZIPs) . I had no training, so I went to the internet and learned how to light a wine bottle.  At work I lit everything with a few 500 watt work lamps & white cards. My first digital camera was a Nikon 995 (3 megapixel camera).  I’d print those pictures out at 36″ x 48″ for store signage and it looked really good.  At night I would go to punk rock shows and take pictures of bands and experiment with slide film.  Eventually I started working one day a week at a camera store in addition to my graphic art job.

I market exclusively to tattooed brides who mostly pay for weddings themselves.  Based on survey data their budgets are generally half the national average.  I’ve learned to be flexible and offer half day packages to local brides & grooms who have amazingly original weddings and are extremely easy to work with.  Second photographers who shoot with me comment on the personality of my brides & grooms and how easy it is to work with my tattooed brides.

After being a wedding photographer for 2 years I found a niche of tattooed brides. Being in a punk rock band for 4 years and never seeing many wedding photos that looked like people from the punk rock scene I felt I had to jump in. In 2008 I took my first photo of a tattooed friend in a wedding dress. Since then the blogs Offbeat Bride and Rock n Roll bride have exploded.  I think there are many niches still available for photographers.  Finding out what makes you unique and going full force into it can be an unnerving process.  I was initially unsure about putting the photos on my website gallery.  The formula of pushing yourself to take amazing photos, having a great story or niche and wowing your clients is the best marketing plan.

You would book me if you had a certain creative vision or didn’t want to be a “cookie cutter bride.”  Every single wedding I photograph is incredibly unique and my couples feel that they have creative freedom to work with me on their wildest ideas.  When a client comes to me with a creative idea like a fire breathing trash the dress or an engagement session on giant earth moving machinery, they know I will accept their creativity and work on the idea to get it right.

Another thing that I hear at the end of the day from family, the couple or bridesmaids is that I’m not like other wedding photographers they’ve worked with.  They say I add an element of debauchery or excitement to the day (this is before they’ve seen a single image).  What I really do is I allow people to be themselves and invite everyone in.  People feel like they can show off their crazy party side when I’m behind the camera.

Lightroom.  Before Lightroom, digital was a nightmare. I’ve owned every version since Lightroom Beta.

Most overnight success comes from years of hard work.  Before you charge a single client make sure you have your proper business licenses, pay your taxes, insure your equipment and business.  Most important BACKUP your images online or on DVDs.  If you don’t have all these things in place, one little bit of bad luck could wipe out your business before you get started.

I’ve been a member for over 4 years and I remember how many questions I got answered through reading the forums over the years.  It’s a wonderful place for people to bounce new ideas around in, learn the craft of wedding photography and help others learn the ins and outs.

Now I mainly use it to keep up with the industry trends and business advice.  I will be the first one to admit that I have so much to learn as a business owner; I’m a marketer, a photographer but not much of an entrepreneur.  I’m always picking up new bits of business advice and business practice. The advice and answers I see on DWF helps me evaluate some of my business decisions.

Fly of course! How badass would that be?

HUGE thank you to Mike Allebach! Want to socialize and check out the best of the best? Hop on the DWF and start chatting! Grab a free trial here.

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?
For 15 years I was in Law Enforcement in the State of Texas. Holding a Master Peach Officer’s License I spent 12 of the 15 years as a Crime Scene Investigator. Being a CSI Nerd was where I fine tuned my lighting skills as you could never just bring back a dead body if you messed up the images. There was no digital camera to be my safety net, I had to learn how my camera and flash system worked to make sure the crime scene was captured correctly. I could have never guessed the tiny aspect of photography during my CSI days would control my entire life in just a few short years. Our TTL knowledge as well as teaching and speaking skills all came from learning the camera and flash on crime scenes and speaking in state and federal court on cases.

How did you become a professional photographer?
Really by accident, as a CSI guy photography was a small part of my job. Instead of working extra jobs in the bars on the weekends I started shooting weddings. 1) it was more fun and 2) it was more money. I never really thought about being full time professional until many years later. While I always treated the industry with respect, charged quite a bit right out of the gate, it was not until we started traveling all over the world with our weddings I realized I could do the photography gig full time. Of course I never still did not know if I could make a living at it.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?
Without question just making ends meet. Many people know TriCoast, many people know Mike Fulton, but Fame is a funny thing, it surely does not pay your bills. I get much more satisfaction helping out people, our local clients and community as well as photographers – aspiring professionals as well as full time professionals. Watching others grow and make money which helps their families means a lot to me personally.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?
Without question old-fashion get off your butt and away from the computer and phone and go meet people. In order to get business one needs to trust you, in order for someone to trust you they need to know you. In order for them to know you one MUST get involved in their lives. Every time we meet someone we make notes about their families, their names, their pets, their favorite snacks – anything to make sure we are personal with them. By helping out our community in time the community helps us out and the marketing in many ways runs itself, which leaves us to market in new areas.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?:
Many things, but without question the one thing we try and push is The Experience! From the largest studio in the county to several professional photographers which suits their needs and wants. We simply offer more at a wider range of price for every kid but the Experience trumps it all! You can have the best portfolio in the world but if you give your clients a bad experience they simply won’t spend much money with you nor tell their friends positives things about you.

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensable?
Well these days I think we all use Photoshop and/or Lightroom so that would be the easy answer, yet still a true one. Reality is today my workflow is much more important within our Volume business than it ever has been in our high end portrait or even our wedding side of the business. Without keeping the 1000’s of kids organized we simply would be lost and worse lose money and trust in our clients. So without a doubt our software we use FotoVelocity is the most important one item which I feel is indispensable. We prep our volume events using FotoVelocity, we shoot to make the workflow easier on photo day and yes our post work is all based on how the software works. Without it we simply would not be able to do as much volume as we do and therefore not bring in the money to pay our bills.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
LEARN YOUR CRAFT! There is no magical pill in photography or heck in life, besides hard work. Sure you can pick up a camera and make decent images today as the cameras are so powerful. However, the camera still does not make the image, you do. Learn your craft, learn lighting, learn posing, do not allow the blinders of ego driven self-pity hinder your craft. Learn from the older photographers, sure their blinders have made many of them short sited BUT they understand the harder part of photography how to run a successful business. The youth have a wonderful sense of freedom in this art so share that with the older generation and receive their knowledge in return. When working together the art of being a professional grows and carries on for the next generation. Finally (as mentioned a little above) don’t take a photography class, take business classes. ANYONE can be a photographer, it is not hard to do. Join the PPA, to many young photographers the PPA is like Life Insurance to an 18 year old. They see no gain in joining only the cost of the membership. It is not until that 18 year gets older and has friends start dying around him/her they realize the value of life Insurance. Same as a young photographer, until they get clients that sue them or are mad at them or they mess up on they see the value of the PPA. Don’t mess up and then search help from the PPA join early – make lasting relationship which assist you in the learning process your entire life. The most successful photographers I know are average shooters but amazing business people. Be in the BUSINESS of photography and the PHOTOGRAPHY business there is a huge difference and only the first one will allow you to be successful in the long run.

What has the DWF done for your business?
It has allowed me the most important thing in photography – friendship! Without the people I have meet through DWF and the PPA as well as other professional outlets, TriCoast would not be where they are today. When I had a roadblock or an uncertain path come up I have always been able to pick up the phone, write an email, or get online and make a post and someone was there to assist me through it. Online education is wonderful, BUT the in person friendships made from the online means is truly the most valuable aspect of photography in my book. DWF simply has some of the best people, successful and fun photographers around.

How do you use the DWF?
I love DWF – great people and amazing talent. Seriously I enjoy meeting people. The work well I see photos all day long, 99% do not inspire me. I get inspired by seeing people grow, share and learn and DWF is one of the best places for that to happen. I have been a member for almost 10 years now – and while I am busier now in photography than ever before, I still always try and find time to share on DWF as well as check out whats going on around the world.

Optional, but come on, be a sport: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Ah from my old CSI Days – I always wished I could solve the cold cases – I know sounds stupid but if there was some way to have a super power to look at evidence and know who killed the victim it would be AWESOME in my book. To not only put people behind bars that need to be but even more importantly close a chapter in the lives of the victim’s families so they can rest at ease and move forward in their lives. Having worked 100’s of homicides and other horrible crimes the victim and their families never seem to have their justice. It would just be great to have a power to help those in that situation.

Want to know more about TriCoast? Check out their website and seminars here! Want to become a member of the best group of professional photographers on the web? Grab a free trial here!

What is your Full Name? Luke Thornton Gow

What is your business Location? Our main gallery is based in Newcastle, just a short reach from the Hunter Valley, in NSW Australia. We also have two “creative outposts” in Sydney and Perth.

What is your website URL? www.somethingbluephotography.com.au

What’s your facebook page URL? www.facebook.com/somethingblueau

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?
I was raised with the smell of Developer, my Dad being a darkroom printer, and my Mum a hand-colourer. Growing up, there was always a camera nearby.

When it came time to choose a career though, I was far more interested in nerdy endeavours, and went down an Electronics/I.T. route. Ironically, after completing my trade, I ended up working with a wonderful company specialising in large format photographic printers. I rode the wave of the early days of colour profiling, and was able to share my knowledge with some awesome artists and photographers who were kind enough to let me pick their brains in return. My photography improved and evolved, and I remain ever thankful to those people.

How did you become a professional photographer?
I found the passion of the artists I had worked with inspiring. They considered their work as their legacy. I questioned what my own legacy might be and reassessed if I was still passionate about electronics, or whether my passion instead lay with meeting genuinely interesting and positive people. After some soul searching, I set about transitioning to more creative pursuits… by the end of the first year, I was happy and poor simultaneously.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?
I think the biggest ongoing challenge that faces all businesses is making sure they stay profitable. At the end of the day, if the business is not self sustaining, then neither is the ability to produce beautiful and satisfying work.

Initially, in version one of my business, Luke Gow Photography, I did everything myself.I was chief, cook and bottle wash. It was a constant balancing act, and in busy times it was reflected in either the level of service I could provide, or in the profits.

With the self imposed brief of producing high quality work, providing unsurpassed service at every step, and making the business sustainable, the way forward was clear. I needed to stick to what I was good at, and employ others who were experts at the bits that I wasn’t.

This cued a full rebrand of my business when we relaunched as Something Blue Photography & Cinematography.

Today, we have learnt the value of specialising, and only shoot weddings. We employ eleven people including, photographers, cinematographers, a gallery manager, a retoucher, an album designer, and a book binder. My role in the business has changed substantially, but I love the challenge, and still get to spend a substantial amount of time looking through a viewfinder.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market/advertise your studio?
Perhaps predictably the most effective marketing is always word-of-mouth. People always love to share when they had a great experience… and best of all it’s free.

With advertising spends though, it’s essential that you track the results constantly.

In our business, over the last 12 months, print advertising (bridal magazine) costs have increased substantially, and yet yield far less results than they ever have previously. Not surprisingly, clients finding us through the web and social networking is markedly up.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?:
We are experts at everything we do.

Our Gallery Manager, Valentina, started out as a “Something Blue Bride”. She’s a delight to be around and understands the process from both sides of the fence. Our clients appreciate her expertise.

Our dedicated pro-retoucher wields a Wacom like a weapon, and takes the work to exciting new levels, that would be uneconomical for a photographer to replicate.

Our album designer is a guru ! Her album layout just won us the 2012 Wedding Photobook of the Year in the highly contested Momento Pro awards.

Our bookbinder ensures that our albums are like no others and is forever discovering beautiful new paperstocks and endpapers that amaze our clients.

Our cinematographers are not photographers dabbling in the world of moving pictures. They are all extensively trained in the art of cinematography and ooze a real passion for their craft.

And finally, our photographers are awesome ! They all shoot candidly, but make the work their own by being given the reigns to explore their own style. When you can match a client to a specific photographer in terms of both personality and style, everybody wins.

A happy aside of working with multiple photographers can also be better availabilities for couples and ultimately scope for more bookings. It also builds in a level of insurance should someone get sick (or break a leg, as our photographer Bridget did earlier this year when playing netball.)

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without?
My team.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?

Recognise that you can learn as much from the dud images as you can from the awesome ones.

How do you use the DWF and what has it done for your business?*

Being time poor, I don’t get to actually post on DWF anywhere near as often as I would like to, but I also remain hopeful that I can change that this year. I genuinely believe that by viewing the threads daily, my finger stays on the pulse of the industry.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would have a sidekick called Strong Caffeinated Beverage Man who would supply with unending coffee.

Despite having this sidekick however, my super power would be able to handhold 1/15th of a second without shake.

Want to know more about Luke Gow? Check him out here, or jump on the forum with a free trial here!

Sekonic introduces the new LITEMASTER PRO series of touchscreen light control meters. Ideal for all types of storytellers, the L-478 series offers light measurement and control for photographers and filmmakers alike, plus additional wireless flash triggering and power control in the L-478DR model.

Whether it’s filmmaking or photography, great storytellers use light as a main character and as a method to define the mood, focus and setting. Having a tool that allows you total control over dynamic range and multiple light sources make you confident about the craft while focusing on the art.

http://www.sekonic.com/L-478/index.html

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?
Just taking the first big step was the hardest part! In the beginning there are 10,000 things that all seemed mutually important and I wanted everything finished at once and there just weren’t enough hours in the day. I still get that feeling fairly often, but it’s easier to focus on one aspect at a time. In those first 6 months everything needed to be created from scratch and there weren’t any systems in place, because the systems needed to be created too. It was so over-whelming!

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?
Just good ol’ word of mouth, which is turbo-boosted by way of facebook. I post images from every session (after the sale!) and every wedding onto facebook and encourage the clients to tag themselves.  I know, so not innovative… but I’ve kept busy enough that I haven’t had to explore other means of marketing (yet).

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?
I am approachable and honest and upfront and I don’t employ high pressure sales techniques. Oh, and I’ll do a good job. I think my website/facebook/blog are all very honest representations of my work and you’ll get my full effort to make sure your images are of the same quality and standards. I’m also easy to work with, and I’ll show up on time and in a good mood. What more do you need?

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
Plan out your business so that you know what you need to do to make it work. Both strategically and financially. If you aren’t ready to charge an appropriate amount for your services, than don’t launch your business. People get trapped being the low end photographer that they don’t want to be and then they feel frustrated and overworked and underpaid. Start out on the right foot.

How do you use the DWF?
I lurk… a lot. haha. I’m so bad about posting – but I’m going to try to be better!! I just love to sit back and read and read and take it all in.

How did you become a professional photographer?
I thought about going to school for photography when I was in high school, but my Mom shot the idea down and said it wasn’t a stable career. When I was in my early 20′s I made the decision that I would rather take the chance of failing at something I loved, then succeeding at something I hated. Plus, after all my Mom is a stockbroker- not exactly the most stable career either So I spent a solid year reading every photography book I could get my hands on. I’ve been buying bridal magazines since I was in elementary school, so wedding photography made sense.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
Practice, practice and then practice some more. You need to know your camera inside and out, and be able to perform under pressure. This business is anything but easy, so if you’re solely looking for some glamourous ‘rockstar’ lifestyle, you’re better off taking up acting.

What has the DWF done for your business?
The DWF has been key in helping me continually educate myself. I’ve also met some amazing people from it, like Jerry and Melissa Ghionis.

How do you use the DWF?
As a wedding photographer, I have no co-workers, no one to vent to and ask questions when I need help. DWF is my office, and all the great people on it are the closest thing I have to co-workers. The search bar in the forum is invaluable, and keeps me entertained for hours looking through old threads.

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you? There was life before my photography career! I also have a Bsc. In Biology with emphasis on cell bio and genetics. Long story short – it was med school or photography and well I didn’t want to become a workaholic so I chose photography for a soothing, soul healing route while I recovered from losing my Mother to Cancer.

I can now say – if it’s in you to become a work workaholic – um – ain’t going to matter what you do! If you are passionate about what you do, you have to train yourself to step back, enjoy life, outsource and do whatever to keep yourself balanced and healthy.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?
Keeping up with the changes of everything become e-this and e-that. While I’m not behind the times, I’m defeinatiley not on the forefront of where businesses are going online, but I am working on it. Remember, I started shooting in the films days where websites were but a dream, and bridal fairs and print ads were how you purchased advertising and got yourself out there.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?
I still believe that word of mouth is the strongest form of marketing and a good personal recommendation to a business or service is GOLDEN. I book most of my local weddings from word of mouth and most of my destination weddings through the web or through vendors relationships.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?:I’m different than the norm and I’m proud of it. Taking good care of my clients and ensuring that my couples are well taken care of, well informed, and a little pampered too. I often find it’s the little things that really stand out and are remembered. My bridal fair booth are fabulous and stand out showcasing more than just imagery but a style and I want that to carry through all my marketing pieces and my website. Defined style throughout is important. People will either love it or feel nothing about it…..and I’m ok with that!Inspiration is a powerful thing and without it, I’d be lost, for all things in life. Good thing it’s everywhere and that alone can help shape you and your photographic style.

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensable?
Love lightroom!! Also an avid user of Photo Mechanic and CS5 with Portraiture as my main go to plug in. Total time savers all around. Occationally I dip my fingers in developing chemicals which is kinda of wonderful too! Love my 4×5 and my Hassleblad!

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
Running a photography business is 90% business and 10% photography (thank you Francis Litman!!). Very true and even more so for a successful venture. This is far more difficult than any job I have done in my life, yes even university and working in the biology field, but as exhausting and stressful as it is, I do love it. You have to be strong willed and want it bad to make it happen.

What has the DWF done for your business?
Opened up doors to the industry – where it’s going, what’s going on, highlighting business issues and finding resources that I would have never been able to find locally. Most of all, it’s really a community and I like that feeling. DWF is the only forum I routinely check. I’m a member of a couple other but honestly – it’s been years since I have logged in. DWF is the single best $100 odd dollars I spend every year. Hands down.

——–
Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?
I always loved to take photos, but I was just a happy snapper growing up and liked to scrapbook with my mom.  I never thought seriously about photography or took a single class until I started college.  I knew I wanted to be an art major and I loved drawing, but at the time I figured photography would be an easier way to make a living as an artist.

How did you become a professional photographer?
I majored in Art in college with an emphasis in photography so within a year of graduating I decided I was going to jump right in to portrait work.  Weddings followed later.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?
My biggest challenge was definitely not understanding the business side of photography and how to price myself properly in the beginning.  I was finding a few clients and they were ordering, but I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t making a profit.  Luckily I managed to seek out answers from multiple online photographer forums and along with a lot of trial and error began to start figuring it out.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?
Oh, that’s a hard one since I strongly believe that it’s a bunch of little strategies that all add up to inquiries.  But I suppose if I was forced to choose only one I’d say google adwords has worked well for me.  I also meet a ton of women between the ages of 18-45 (totally my target market with brides/moms) through playing derby which is fun because it means I get to photograph all of my interesting friends!

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?:
Oh man, that’s the age old question right?  I have a fairly solid shooting style where I like to showcase the environment we’re working in which is great for the people out there who fall in love with their venues. I think most people come to meet me because I have quality work at a fairly affordable price range, but they’ll book me because I am easy to talk to.

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’tlive without? What makes it indispensible?
Oh for sure my 5d mk IIs because of how great the photos look even at a high ISO plus Lightroom.  Lightroom keeps me organized and I can zip through the culling process incredibly quickly.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
I’d advise them to do it differently than I did.  I strongly feel that I didn’t learn enough in college to support going into a career as a photographer.  I would advise against a traditional school environment for learning photography and use online forums (like DWF!) + experimenting/practice/critique to get better at photography and if they insisted on going to school, to go for business or marketing or something along those lines.

What is your DWF Username? Bobbi Jo Petersen

What is your Full Name? Bobbi Jo Petersen {The Salty Peanut Photography LLC}

What is your business Location? Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

What is your website URL? www.thesaltypeanutphotography.com

What’s your facebook page URL? www.facebook.com/thesaltypeanut

How many years have you been in business? 3 years

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?

There was definitely life before photography! I was not one of those photographers who grew up with a brownie camera in hand. What I did do was get into photography in high school and eventually secure a post as the yearbook photographer my senior year. Within 10 years, my “hobby” eventually turned into a full fledged business.

How did you become a professional photographer?

I kept up with my hobby throughout college and after I graduated. Eventually I started second shooting (weddings) for other photographers in the area. The more I shot as a second, the greater my desire was to do it on my own. It was exciting but terrifying at the same time. The terrifying part was the business side of things. I spent a solid year researching and obtaining information on everything business related: forming an LLC, getting insurances, talking with and securing a CPA, understanding sales tax and other taxes, purchasing and setting up Quickbooks, setting up a business checking and credit, hiring an attorney to go over my contract, the list goes on.

The thought of presenting myself as a professional photographer without the business credentials to back it up absolutely disgusted me. There are so many fly by night photographers that pop up either with a free website or a Facebook fan page. I needed to set myself apart not only by my work, but by my business practices as well. After successfully setting myself up business wise, I focused on the “fun” things – building a website, setting up my blog, branding, ordering sample albums and products, ordering business cards and marketing materials, etc.

My first full year in business I contracted 23 weddings. I have 26 weddings booked for 2012 and am currently booking into 2013. Earlier this year I made the decision to rent a studio in downtown Sun Prairie, which was a GREAT decision. I love being able to bring clients into my studio where my work is showcased. On top of it being a great place to meet with wedding clients, it is perfect for child and newborn shoots.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?

Workflow! In the past, it wouldn’t take long before weddings, newborns, high school seniors and other sessions started to back up. This resulted in several all nighters, frustration and headache. While I never was “late” getting things out to clients, I would certainly pull out a lot of stops to ensure prompt delivery.

My iPad changed my life. In all seriousness, it is my life raft! In addition to all of the business tools and apps on the iPad, the basic calendar feature and notes are my go to features. My entire schedule is on a calendar as well as my editing schedule. It really puts things into perspective and keeps my on track for what I need to do and when to meet X deadline. The notes feature houses several running to do lists, blog post ideas, random thoughts and ideas and more. So many business challenges can be fixed with better organization.

In addition to workflow, my other challenge has been pricing my non-wedding packages and collections. I put so much time, effort and energy into the wedding side of my business, I let the other types of shoots kind of fall by the wayside. I kept booking different clients at my introductory rates. Before long, I had obtained a large client base of non-wedding clients and was not charging what I was worth. I was terrified of raising my pricing and losing my client base. Finally during my rebranding of late last year, I bit the bullet and just did it. I raised my rates and never turned back. It was excruciatingly difficult, but it was for the best for me and my business.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?

Word of mouth! Happy satisfied clients are the best store front for my studio. From start to finish I want my clients to feel like they are important and a top priority. That means answering emails in a timely fashion, being professional and personable during shoots and weddings, looking nice (yes, this matters), and being consistent in my marketing and branding materials. When I send my clients their disk of images after the wedding, I take care in packaging it and paying attention to the details. I rarely drop ship prints or products to my clients. Items are sent to me first where I double check the quality and package it consistent with my branding. All of this adds up to making me memorable to my clients which results in word of mouth advertisement.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have embraced social media and the Internet. I blog, keep up with my facebook fanpage and twitter occasionally. After each wedding, within 24 hours I post a handful of facebook teaser images and make a blog post. When I post teasers, I provide a good variety (bride and groom, wedding party and family). My goal is to get my clients and their friends and family to tag themselves in my images. This in turn puts my album (and watermarked images) on other people’s timelines and feeds resulting in more exposure for myself. I book a lot of weddings from people seeing my images on facebook.

One thing to keep in mind about social media is to not overdo it. I limit my postings to a few times a week as to not spam and clog people’s feeds.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?:

Well, hopefully you like my work (that’s always a good thing) On top of that, my personality and attention to fine detail are equally important. I love helping clients with their timeline or other wedding suggestions. On a more physical front, I strive to offer unique products. Change is a good thing and I want to stay on top of being fresh and new by offering new products – not the same ones year after year. This is especially important with my high school senior market.

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensible?

Lightroom! I do 90% of my editing in lightroom 3. It is efficient and user friendly. On the other side of the coin, I could not run my business without quickbooks or my iPad. They are both indispensible in organization and staying on top of things.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?

Know your camera inside and out. Know how to shoot on manual and know how to react to different lighting situations. Weddings will throw every different type of lighting situation at you, many at the same wedding! Being completely comfortable with these situations is essential to being a great wedding photographer.

I touched on this earlier, but research the business side of photography if you want to take your photography to the next level. Before you even think about charging clients, obtain insurance. It is really surprising to me how many photographers I know who don’t have insurance.

What has the DWF done for your business?

My membership to the DWF is absolutely, without question one of the best business decisions I have made. I know that sounds like a strange statement to make about a forum, but the DWF is much more than that. It is a continuous source of information and education. The DWF hosts some of the best photographers in the industry. To obtain suggestions, input and advice from photographers who are that successful is invaluable to me as a photographer and as a business owner.

How do you use the DWF?

I utilize the forums the most. There is just so much valuable information on those pages! The topics range from lighting senarios to legal and ethical questions. It’s endless. I love reading the threads – there are just so many great tidbits of advice and information from photographers all over the world. One thread can harbor several different views on the same subject… it really makes you think outside of the box.

What is your DWF Username? SarahQuiara

What is your Full Name? Sarah Quiara

What is your business Location? Austin, Texas

What is your website URL? http://www.sarah-Q.com or http://www.sarahQblog.com

What’s your facebook page URL? https://www.facebook.com/SarahQPhoto

How many years have you been in business? 6 years

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?

I’ve loved photography for as long as I can remember. I was always the kid in high school taking pictures of everything going on (with a film camera! Not a cell phone camera!) After high school I was a photographer for the local newspaper, which I loved but made NO money doing. I remember as a kid asking for a “real camera” for Christmas, but not knowing how to explain what a “real camera” was. I wanted an SLR, but had no idea what to call it! I’ve always loved photography and can’t imagine doing anything else.

How did you become a professional photographer?

When my second child was born, I decided I needed to help out with the bills a bit and get a part time job. I’d always loved photography and had worked as a photographer for the newspaper, but never thought there was any way to make real money doing it. That’s when I discovered wedding photography. I knew wedding photography existed, of course, but I had NO IDEA it existed in such a fun, creative, non-traditional way. A local wedding photographer had posted an ad on Craigslist looking for a second shooter/assistant. I visited his website and was blown away by the creativity of his photos. Then I saw how much he was charging! Most people on DWF know all the time/work/money that goes into running a business, but at the time I had no idea. All I saw was a photographer (which I’d always wanted to be) taking really creative, fun photos (which I knew I could do) making what seemed to be REALLY good money. I decided then and there that I was going to be a wedding photographer. I realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t that easy and that to be successful I’d have to work my butt off. I charged too little and made lots of mistakes. I literally sat at my computer crying and exhausted and overwhelmed. It was tough, but I refused to give up. I read as much as I could (yay DWF!) and raised my prices and learned how to be the best photographer I could be so I’d have less post work to do later. I still make mistakes and I still get overwhelmed sometimes, but I’ve never been more confident and proud of myself as a businessperson and as a photographer than I am today.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?

My biggest business challenge has always been saying NO! When you’re the one paying all the bills in a home with three kiddos, turning away business is tough. But when you’re trying to be a mom, a wife, a friend and a sane person – having time off is important. It’s been hard finding the right balance of “paying bills” and “not going completely insane” but I think I’m getting better. The one rule that I absolutely NEVER break is the “One Weekend Day Off” rule. If I shoot a wedding on Saturday, I take Sunday off to spend time with family/friends or to just lay around and be lazy. If I shoot a wedding Sunday, I take Saturday off. No exceptions!

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?

I don’t pay a penny for advertising. I’ve found referrals from other photographers and wedding planners to be SO much more beneficial than paid advertising. Austin is a very friendly town and we have a pretty great network of photographers willing to share leads and help each other out. My other marketing secret … photo booths! I know, I know, photo booths aren’t anything new. But the way I do photo booths is a bit different than most. I do them for free Every one of my weddings includes a complimentary reception photo booth. Why? Because we love shooting booth photos, our clients love getting booth photos and our clients guests love taking booking photos! It’s a win-win-win! Plus, who needs ten thousand drunk people dancing photos?! I’d much rather my second shooter be over at the booth getting guest photos than roaming around the dance floor with me all night. I’ve just started uploading booth photos to Facebook, too, which has brought all kinds of comments and tags and likes to my business page. It’s like word of mouth on speed! Yay for that!

How do you set yourself apart from your competition?What makes you unique and how do you communicate that to prospective clients?

My motto is “Photography for Happy People” and that’s how I market myself. I love dramatic poses and lighting just as much as the next person, but my style is all about happiness. When people look at my photos I want them to see people who have never looked happier or more in love. I want the joy and excitement of a wedding day to really show in the photos. The moment should always be the most important part of any photo – more important than the background, the bokeh or the off camera flash you used to capture it

What are your three favorite pieces of equipment or workflow tools? Why are they your favorites?

1. Lightroom … changed my life. I absolutely love how easy it is to edit these days! 99.9% of the photos I’ve posted in the last two years were Lightroom edits only, with no Photoshop. I still love Photoshop, but I’m happy I don’t have to use it very often!

2. My 50mm lens … and it’s not even the 1.2! I’m the opposite of an equipment snob. I hardly ever buy lenses and use my 50mm 1.4 ALL THE TIME. Probably too much, actually! In my bag I have a Canon 5D Mark II, a 50mm 1.4, a 16-35mm 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8. I had an 85, which I loved, but I broke it and never got it fixed. Did I mention I’m not much of an equipment person? You definitely don’t need twenty thousand dollars worth of gear to get great photos. I like that.

3. My 5D Mark II. You don’t need a ton of fancy equipment to get great photos, but it is nice to be able to shoot at ridiculously high ISOs!

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?

My number one piece of advice : “It takes more than a love of photography to run a photography business. A lot more. For every minute you take to learn about photography, take two minutes to learn about business. For every one hour photo shoot you do, you should be reading two hours worth of business books. Start with the E-Myth!

What has the DWF done for your business? How do you use the DWF?

It’s hard to even put into words all the knowledge that exists on the DWF. Business, marketing, posing, lighting, advertising, products, sales … there isn’t one single subject that hasn’t been talked about. Being able to learn from other peoples experiences – both good and bad – has been HUGE for me as a business person!

Optional, but come on, be a sport: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Hmmmm … how about invisibility? That would be cool! Can I have an invisible camera, too? I could get some pretty great candid shots that way Ha!

Love what you’ve read? Opportunity waits you! Catch up with DWF members like Sarah Q on the forum. Try it out for free here: http://bit.ly/tuoDPx

What is your DWF Username? Marek dziekonski

What is your Full Name? Marek Dziekonski

What is your business Location? Clarkston, MI

What is your website URL? www.marekd.com

What’s your facebook page URL? https://www.facebook.com/MarekdPhotography

How many years have you been in business? 3 years

——–
Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?

I lived in Poland through high school and, although I actually looked at video/photo programs at different universities, my plan was to study English Philology after graduation because I didn’t have anything close to a portfolio (I didn’t even owned a camera yet). Everything changed once I decided to give two years as a Catholic missionary after graduation. I was sent to Michigan where I worked with the underprivileged and at a local private Catholic school (Everest Academy) and the rest, as they say, is history.

How did you become a professional photographer?

I had always wanted to try creative things: over the span of my childhood and teenage years I tried to draw, sketch, paint (but I really sucked at it), I even tried to write a chapter of a book (it was so bad even I couldn’t read it) and I could never sing (only screech). It wasn’t until 2003 when I was on missions in Michigan that I picked up my very first camera (Nikon Coolpix 4500). It was love at first sight. I spent tons of time walking around taking pictures of flowers and little cute bugs. Before I knew it, I had a better camera, a copy of Photoshop and a few people asking me to take pictures for money. It wasn’t until 2008 that I accepted my very first wedding and then in 2009 when I took the plunge into photography as a full-time endeavor.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?

Staying out of debt. It’s very easy to fall into a spiral of  buying all the cool toys. It’s so easy to justify needing them when it’s your business and when you can write it off. I’ve never purchased one item any other way than with cash (the only exception being my house). You grow slower, sometimes you get envious seeing the cars and big cameras others cruise around with, but the peace of mind you have when the bookings slow down, or it’s the off season is tremendous. In the end it’s the pictures that matter, not the equipment you used to capture them. As a bonus you have less unused equipment cluttering up your studio/house.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?

Social Media; by far! Facebook is such a superpowered tool. You post an image, tag your client, their friend sees it and likes it; now his friends see it too, and the ball keeps rolling….

Another super effective tool has been my blog which increased visits to my website through google from 4% to 46%.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?:

Most people hire me because I can do a back flip and spell kayak backwards. But every once a while there is a client who hires me because they like my style.

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensable?

I don’t think I could live without my Nikkor 35 1.4g mounted on a fullframe body. It’s my storytelling lens of choice and 1.4 ensures that I can keep it on in the dimmest of environments and without a strobe.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?

Do your research before you market, advertise, buy equipment or shoot a project. Don’t be afraid to refuse a project if you think you and your client aren’t a good match. Have a good contract, even (or perhaps, especially) with friends. Stay out of debt. Practicing those simple suggestions should save you loads of pain!

What has the DWF done for your business?

Well… DWF certainly “businefied” my business! The vast resources and all the fantastically talented photographers who are part of it have helped me run my studio like a business. Posts about dealing with difficult clients and about contracts have been the most helpful. And I just found my sponsor to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) through DWF (thank you Ed)!

How do you use the DWF?

Lately I’ve been primarily using DWF to learn from the mistakes of others.

Optional, but come on, be a sport: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I always liked sticking to walls. And I would get all these cool angles while shooting.

What is your DWF Username? katy gray
What is your Full Name? katy gray
What is your business Location? Jackson, WY
What is your website URL? www.katygray.com
What’s your facebook page URL? www.facebook.com/katygrayphotography
How many years have you been in business? 5

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you?

I had moved out west to become a ski bum and fell into a job working for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in their accounting department. I had no accounting experience and honestly no desire to be an accountant, but I needed a job and it fit the bill. I worked there for a few years and continuously researched going back to school and different photography courses I could take. It took my boyfriend (at the time) saying ‘Well, are you going to keep talking about it or actually DO it?’ to give me a kick in the pants to apply to school about a week before the deadline – I crammed a lot of paperwork into that week!

It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made – I know photo school isn’t for everyone but I loved it – spent hours and hours in the darkroom (ha – darkroom! I miss that smell….) and was constantly out shooting.

How did you become a professional photographer?

I started out doing little jobs here and there and gradually built things up to where I am now. It definitely took a while to get established and to get my name out, but I’ve been booking more weddings every year and am getting great feedback and referrals from local planners and past brides.

As for how I got into weddings, fellow DWF member Jonathan Adams shot my wedding and I absolutely LOVED our photos. He graciously allowed me to second shoot with him at a few of his weddings the following summer and things went on from there – I owe it all to him! Not to mention he told me about the DWF, which I am so grateful for.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge?

Marketing, definitely. I am a bit of an introvert and have a hard time making that first move necessary to reach out to local businesses and individuals to start that whole networking process. I’ve had some luck in just forcing myself to hand out business cards and coming up with shoot ideas along with other local wedding vendors. Of course we haven’t quite DONE one yet, but I’ve met a lot of great people just in talking about it!

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio?

Word of mouth and good SEO! I try to alt-tag all of the images on my blog and am getting some good traction with Google (finally!). And word of mouth is priceless – I have some past brides that are now doing wedding planning or something similar and have been getting great recommendations from them. Plus I’ve partnered with a few non-profits to photograph their events in exchange for full advertising on their collateral, so that’s another great step in getting my name out there.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?:

I like to think I’m fun, laidback and easy to be around. I’m good at helping couples relax and have a good time, which in turn leads to more natural photos. I’m also stupidly organized and always on time (on time = at least 10 minutes early).

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensible?

My VSCO presets in Lightroom – they’ve saved me so much time in getting the look that I want. Also Photo Mechanic – after seeing it recommended by pretty much everyone I finally gave it a shot and I can’t believe how much faster I can cull through a wedding now. It’s pretty much magic previewing software.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?

Take business classes. Hire an accountant. Don’t undercut your local market. Practice your butt off – know your equipment inside and out. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Join DWF!

What has the DWF done for your business?

DWF has done so much for my business – I feel like I’m years ahead of where I would have been otherwise. There is just so much great advice about contracts, conflict resolution, vendors, policies…I could go on and on.

How do you use the DWF?

I have to confess, I’m mostly a lurker – I love the business and marketing forums. And every time a new camera or lens comes out I know there will be a thread on it over in the gear forum – I love that!

Optional, but come on, be a sport: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

The ability to make children fall asleep and stay asleep all night.

Or maybe teleportation. That would be pretty great.

Don’t settle for snapshots and flash-on-camera images – you need to know the techniques to set yourself apart from the crowd. HTPE brings portrait photography back to where it started, with all the tools you need to make timeless photographs that sell.

Clay will teach the following principles during the seminar:

Posing, Lighting, Lifting, and Refining – A live demonstration will take place with all participants looking through Clay’s lens as he creates elegant portraits on the stage.

Clay’s Flow Posing – Clay will demonstrate live how to create 10 portraits of a couple in five minutes.

“How to Photograph Everyone” - A descriptive analysis of how to make portraits of children, mother and child, maternity, men, women, high school seniors, business portraits, and small-to-medium groups.

The Perfect Portfolio – How to create an awe-inspiring portfolio that is sure to entice potential customers.

Weddings: Catering to the Modern Bride – Learn how to take photos that sell, and get your client to fall in love with the pictures before they even leave the wedding.

Big Portraits with Small Lights – Take cover! We’ll focus on working with scrims, reflectors, and window light to produce photographs that rival studio portraiture.

Post Production – Clay will show you several of his secret weapons for portrait retouching and enhancement.

DSLR Filmmaking Opportunities - Learn how Clay is bundling his photography with this new technology to increase his bottom line.

Don’t Just Survive—Learn to Thrive – Learn how to control the sale and increase profits.

Register using our Discount and Save!
Registration is $69, but you can save $10 and pre-register for only $59 with promo code CLUB10. Click here to register for a program near you!.

Clay Blackmore, one of the most passionate professional photographers working today, is a true innovator in the world of portraiture and wedding photography.  One of only a few Canon Explorers of Light, Blackmore’s style blends the beauty and timelessness of classical portraiture with the spontaneity and appeal of photojournalism. His credentials were developed during his 25-year association with the legendary Monte Zucker as assistant, business partner, and co-educator. A celebrity and society favorite, Clay’s clients have included such luminaries as Larry King, Forrest Whitaker, Jenna Elfman, and Maria Sharapova. Renowned for his ability to photograph groups and cover events, Clay is consistently hired by corporate entities as diverse as the PGA and USGA and is a popular request for political inaugural balls.  In Clay’s groundbreaking work on Extraordinary Women:  Fantasies Revealed Clay photographically chronicles the dreams of 58 elite women, capturing intimate and energetic portraits of Madeline Albright, Dena Merrill, Joan Rivers, Cokie Roberts, and Dominique Dawes among others.  Blackmore is an active and contributing member of the elite Cameracraftsmen of America.

For more details about the upcoming How to Photograph Everyone Tour, visit: http://www.photographeveryone.com/

What is your DWF Username? Cheryl Jon

What is your Full Name? Cheryl Jones

What is your business Location? Seattle, WA

What is your website URL? http://www.boudoirphotographyseattle.com

What’s your facebook page URL? http://facebook.com/belleboudoir

How many years have you been in business? 6 years.  2012 will be my 7th year – and despite what they say about a 7 year itch I still wake up each morning inspired by what I do and the possibilities of the future.

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you? I grew up in a very art-centric household.  My father was an avid collector, and immersed me in art shows from a very young age.  In college I studied classical art, spending a portion of my college days in Florence and Paris studying Renaissance and Impressionism.  One day I picked up a camera to explore a new artistic medium – and I was hooked.

How did you become a professional photographer? The cliché of being a poor starving artist may be a badge of honor, but it can’t buy you new photography equipment!  I began shooting professionally as a way to purchase equipment and pay for travel while exploring the photographic medium.  While  shooting weddings, I was asked to shoot some boudoir portraits for brides. This where I had found my place in the photography world!   I find that I am inspired by the process of capturing images that open women’s eyes to the beautiful and unique individuals they are.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge? Honestly – accounting and money management was my biggest challenge.  Though initially hesitant that I would, I have come to truly enjoy most business processes like executing marketing campaigns, writing business plans, and planning budgets. Accounting, with it’s tax filing deadlines and data entry, was a perpetual drain on my soul.  Now, after years of running a photography business full-time, I can tell you that money may not buy you happiness – but paying an accountant does get you one step closer.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio? I could answer by simply mentioning a particular advertising medium that works well right now (such as Facebook advertising) but the truth is that marketing is an evolving process and each year my most effective campaign is usually different then the previous one. Especially with Internet marketing — things change very quickly each year! What can be said though is that the most successful marketing for my studio is that which spreads our message in at least 3 places.  People rarely take action when they first hear about you, but if we can get the Belle Boudoir brand in front of their eyes (or ears) at least 3 times in as many places, we have a good customer conversion rate. For example, I participate in a wedding show each year and I have an unbelieveable amount of women who look at my logo and say “I’ve heard of you guys!”

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique? I approach boudoir sessions with the intent to not only capture sexy images, but capture each woman’s loveable quirks and personality too. I have a calming nature to make the session relaxing while also keeping the session light and fun.

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensible? Lightroom for sure!  Like the photographers of the past who used film and performed their magic in the back of a darkroom, I feel that my “digital darkroom” (Lightroom) is important to the overall experience I provide to clients.  I don’t like to outsource my post production, and with the number of sessions we do it’s important to have a tool that truly makes the process efficient.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer? First, and foremost, decide what path you want to take as a photographer.  Do you want to be a photographer for an established studio, or a full-time business owner? If the later, write a business plan.  Take some business classes at your local college.  Hire someone for a mentoring session.   Photography is a service oriented business, which means we’re not selling a product, we’re selling an experience.  Formulate what experience you want to sell to potential clients and document it in a business plan.  Lastly, learn to budget.  If you want to own a successful, sustainable photography business that yields dividends year after year you must plan yearly budgets and execute purchasing decisions without the emotional attachment that we as consumers in a very consumer-oriented society often make.  The gist of my advice is that if you want to run a photography business you should be, in this order, an (1) excellent customer service rep, (2) have good business sense/practices, and (3) a photographer.

What has the DWF done for your business? For me, the greatest feature of DWF is the ability to search its forums.  I often search for products, album companies, vendors, etc.  Many great solutions in my studio are the direct result of a DWF search.

How do you use the DWF? DWF is a replacement for the watercooler at a conventional workplace.  Gossip, critiques, helpful advice, and the occassional reality check.  I find I mostly use it as a targeted search, but that’s not to say I don’t enjoy reading some of the extended threads of constructive (and sometimes destructive) critiques.

Optional, but come on, be a sport: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? Have you ever noticed that super heroes cultivate super villians?  I think I’d be afraid to have a superpower for the complimentary evil I’d bring into the world as a result…

You can find critiques, helpful advice and information on products, services and vendors and an occasional reality check on the DWF too! Try a free trial on us: http://bit.ly/tuoDPx.

What is your DWF Username? Monique
What is your Full Name? Monique Dykstra
What is your business Location? Montreal, Canada
What is your website URL? www.StudioIris.ca
What’s your facebook page URL? http://www.facebook.com/weddingphotographermontreal
How many years have you been in business? 18

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you? Lifelong passion.

How did you become a professional photographer? I won the War of Attrition! No, really! I stuck with photography for so long that I outlasted all my contemporaries.
It takes time to become a good photographer. A colleague once told me that it takes ten years to become a photographer, and 20 years to become a good one. I’ve been at it for 18, and am still learning every day.
Most people start in photography with lots of fanfare and noise– and then quit in 3-5 years. Photography is a tough way to make a living. It’s really, really, really tough. I had many lean years. But it is possible. You just have to stick with it.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge? Realizing the importance of marketing. You can’t make a living unless you constantly market yourself and your work. I don’t have any particular methods or secrets– I just keep working away at it. That said, the DWF is very helpful, as is the PPA. I actually like marketing now.

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio? It’s always changing– these days, I’m working on Facebook and a new Word Press blog. I’m also collecting testimonials and putting them on the website. I got into Charles Lewis for awhile there. I always keep an eye on what’s new on the DWF. I just keep reading, experimenting, failing miserably, trying something else, more reading — then POOF! You get a breakthrough.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?
People hire me for one main reason– because they like me. And they like me because I ask them all kinds of questions, and I’m sincerely interested in them and their wedding.
It’s all about the client– not me. It really is. It took me years to learn this.
Before I understood this, I used to hit potential clients over the head with my experience. I’d try to impress them with the two photography books I’ve published, the fact that I taught commercial photography at a local college, that I was a photographer and columnist for a large daily newspaper. I figured that if I could impress people with how fabulous a photographer I was, then they would book with me.
You know what? People don’t care. They really, really don’t. They only want to know what’s in it for them. That’s why the focus is always on them, not me. ‘

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensable?
Photoshop. Took me years to tame the beast, but now that I’m on to it, I couldn’t live without it.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
Stick with it, and take the marketing seriously. No one is going to step in and do it for you, and you won’t last long if you don’t do it.  Marketing is as important– if not more important– than the photography.

What has the DWF done for your business?
It’s a fun community, and it’s indispensable for learning about new products and trends.

How do you use the DWF?

I log in 2-3 times a week to see what’s new. I try to post about 1-2 times a month.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Better marketing skills…..

Your breakthrough could be just around the corner! Take a trial DWF membership: http://bit.ly/tuoDPx.

What could you possibly need to know other than the best daily deal site for photographers is giving away a really awesome camera! Oh yeah right, you’ll need the link.

“We put a lot of thought into the design of the eBook, understanding that photographers may want to use the book for reference at the studio or on location,” says Grecco. “The hard-cover edition was so successful, and the demand for this new edition so great, that we felt compelled to present latest edition in the most modern formats.” The book is now available for Kindle, Nook and iPad/iPhone users for just $24.95 at michaelgrecco.com/store.

Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait answers the lighting questions most often asked by working photographers. Sections in the eBook include cameras; films and digital capture; shooting color and black and white; creativity and conceptualization; connecting and communicating with subjects and clients, and managing crews and suppliers. Grecco is well-known for his ability to communicate with subjects and his visual storytelling is equally clear and direct in describing his approach to the numerous photographs contained in the book.

A special e-mail address (Lighting@MichaelGrecco.com) has been created to all readers who are interested in receiving a preview of the eBook. By providing a first name and e-mail address, a preview of the book will be sent to you.

Grecco is one of the best-known celebrity photographers in the world. His iconic portraits have been featured in top magazines including Time, People, and Business Week, and his work is recognized worldwide for both its intelligence and humor.

“When I created Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait, my goal was to create a photography book that not only taught the craft, but inspired as art,” says Grecco. “I used my personal vision and edgy style to teach lighting and the art of celebrity portrait photography. Now this same book can be in the back pocket of photographers, students and amateurs alike.”

In this essential reference for portrait photographers, Grecco allows the reader to understand his thought process on every aspect of the trade, from creative to technical to business. Readers will appreciate the numerous intriguing lighting setups and diagrams that enable anyone to follow his exact “recipe” for achieving the desired effects.

Sections in the eBook include cameras; film and digital capture; shooting color and black and white; creativity and conceptualization; connecting and communicating with subjects and clients, and even managing crews and suppliers. The book switches from the technical wizardry of capturing motion blur, to the communication skills that enable a photographer to coax their subject into a comfortable pose.

Celebrities featured in the book include actors Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Kate Winslet, and Lucy Liu; directors Stephen Spielberg and the Farrelly brothers, and basketball star Shaquille O’Neal.

In this eBook, Grecco explains the process of achieving great portraits. By revealing to the reader how he discovered what worked for him, he leads the reader to discover what will work for them.

What is your DWF Username? Bill Quinn

Bill QuinnWhat is your Full Name? Bill Quinn

What is your business Location? Quinn Photography

What is your website URL? www.quinnphotography.net

How many years have you been in business? 4 years, full time since January 2012

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you? I was 29 years in the education publishing industry. I joke to my friends I am half Japanese so the photography genes have always been a part of my DNA make-up. They just happen to be  more dominant later in my life.

How did you become a professional photographer? I started shooting my son’s lacrosse games with my first digital  camera. As things happened, I had many parents compliment me for the quality of shots compared to the other  parents. The encouragement from family and the kind words from strangers gave me confidence.  Well it didn’t take long before I was asked to shoot a friend’s wedding. I shot my first two weddings free and to be honest many of the shots were out of focus. (No I didn’t use Canon bodies haha) Soon I started shooting more weddings, many of them close to nothing to get my experience. I remember the saying-fake it till you make it. So I cut my teeth on  shooting weddings as a hobby.  I liked shooting weddings so much I started my business and haven’t looked back since.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? My biggest challenge is not knowing what I don’t know. How can I accelerate my learning curve so I can become a viable business and an artful photographer in the shortest amount of time. How can I learn the mistakes of others without making my own mistakes first.

How have you faced that challenge? I am on the internet constantly. I read three to four hours daily. I read blogs, the forums, articles and attend professional seminars. I have made connections in the photography community. I practice my craft as much as I can.  I shoot all the time, even if its going out on a date with my wife. Thankfully, I have a very understanding wife

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio? Word of mouth makes everything else pale in comparison. I wish I had been doing this for more years so I could have a base of past clients to harvest more word of mouth clients.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique? You might choose me because I will give you a great experience and over the top customer service. I have been in sales my whole working life. I know how to sell but better yet I know how to have a satisfied customer. My uniqueness is the combination of my style and the client experience.

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensable? Photomechanic and  Lightroom, I know that’s two but they both save me so much time on the back end. Without them I could’n't do for my clients what I do in the timely manner they appreciate.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer? Put the time in to learn and shoot, shoot often. The more you shoot the better you get. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of those who have already traveled the road much taken.

What has the DWF done for your business? As I mentioned before I read for hours a day. Many of those hours are on DWF. I still pick up nuggets of wisdom even today as I read DWF. I am so grateful to have DWF-I joined five years ago before I had a notion of shooting weddings. My early days were filled with new and great ideas for shooting weddings. All my gear purchases were recommendations from DWF. Many of my marketing ideas, my style of shooting, and my business practices have germinated from reading other member’s shared experiences on DWF.

How do you use the DWF? I have made friends from DWF. I also get great ideas on marketing my studio. I use DWF as my go to site for anything weddings.

Optional, but come on, be a sport: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? The ability to not have to sleep.  I could do so many more things throughout the day. I could do work, play and community service with enough energy  and awake time for a 24 day.

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What is your DWF Username? Jen Williams

What is your Full Name? Jennifer Williams

What is your business Location? Vancouver, BC Canada

What is your website URL? http://jenniferwilliams.com/boudoir

What’s your facebook page URL? http://www.facebook.com/JenniferWilliamsBoudoirStudio

How many years have you been in business? 3

Was there life before photography or has this been a lifelong passion for you? Before I was a photographer I owned a retail swimwear store with my mom for 8 years, and before that, I made jewelry! Photography has always been something I was interested in but never got around to really taking it seriously.

How did you become a professional photographer? When I started practicing shooting with my friends, I realized how much I enjoyed connecting with people. I moved from friends to friends-of-friends and eventually strangers.  I decided I was ready for a change in my life, so I dove in.

What’s been your biggest business challenge? How have you faced that challenge? Re-establishing my business has been the biggest challenge of my life.  My husband and I moved to Vancouver from Edmonton in September 2010 and it definitely has been an uphill battle. The market here is pretty saturated, not to mention, it’s a huge city.  This past year has been full of a lot of hard work, and thankfully, it’s starting to pay off!

What’s the most effective way you’ve found to market your studio? Aside from referrals, Facebook has been great for me. I book a lot of clients because they saw a friend ‘like’ one of my posts.

If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique? I can make anyone look amazing, with or without clothes!

What is the one item used in your shooting or editing workflow you can’t live without? What makes it indispensable?  Portraiture plug-in for photoshop. I have customized my own action to apply it as much or as little as I want. It is the little bit of polish that finishes my images.

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer? Be willing to pick yourself up when you get knocked down. Always try to one-up yourself and shoot better images each time you pick up your camera.

What has the DWF done for your business? Having a community of talented photographers to participate in has been extremely helpful. Any problem I’ve come across, I’ve been able to get help in the DWF. I’ve also found new products, learned techniques, received amazing feedback and made some pretty cool friends.

How do you use the DWF? I mostly hang out in the boudoir forum but I read and participate in the business and marketing boards too.

Optional, but come on, be a sport: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? I would love to be able to wriggle my nose (like I Dream of Jeannie) and make anything I want appear, or disappear! haha!!  I don’t think I need to explain why on that one!

You can find help for almost any (photography-related!) problem, plus info on new products, tips, techniques and feedback from experienced pros on the DWF. Take a test drive and see: http://bit.ly/tuoDPx