So true. Thanks for the link Matt.

Positive thinking and written articles are all nice, warm and fuzzy. Reality is, that people are just spending less. No matter how hard we work, network and advertise. For newbies who haven’t been in this industry too long, articles like this seem to make a lot of sense. But for those of us who have been through THREE of these recessions, reality is reality. No amount of “feel good ” articles are going to change reality.

I know MANY EX “pro” photographers over the past 19 years who didn’t survive, no matter how much marketing, networking and hard work they did.

One’s business model, pricing, market and brand are what determines your success.

I think that the post at outspokenmedia.com offers an overly simplistic view of a very complex problem. I think it’s possible to be successful in this economy but to do so, most of us will have to work harder, put in more hours, spend more time and money on marketing, and perhaps be willing to accept less money in exchange for more work.

Excellent points all around. I think the biggest reason entrepreneurs are thriving is the flexibility inherent in being an entrepreneur. Corporations tend to make you play these games to “get ahead”, dulling your ability to adapt in the real world where you have to problem solve DAILY to thrive. You don’t survive if you keep doing the same thing that people don’t want. Buddy of mine owns a bike shop; used to sell alot of high end bikes ($2k+). Now he sells mostly cheaper used bikes and does alot of screen printing. Why? Because that’s what the market demanded! He keeps his profit margins where they need to be and just lets the business come to him. Heck, he’s been doing SEO/Marketing consulting on the side now (and doing well with it). Even if it doesn’t become a full time gig for him, it improves his skill set and is an example of being flexible to figure out how to make it happen. Cash Rules Everything Around Me – Method Man.

awesome matt.. great find.. you always seem to have your finger on the pulse

Isaac: Thanks!

George and Rob: That’s the point of the article. If you want to survive, you have to work harder. It sucks, but it’s the truth. Also, feedback received: no more uplifting articles…it’ll be doom-and-gloom only from here on out

David: I take all my life lessons and financial advice from the Wu-Tang Clan.

Tony: Andy is that you?!?!

I couldn’t agree more with those articles you linked Matt. The whining on various forums seems to drown out the positive vibes from people that are sucking it up and pressing on. Even here in New Hope, PA, Wedding Photographers are not changing their marketing strategies, they’re just whining to venues on how terrible the economy is affecting their business. It seems these days Wedding Photography changes faster than it used to and in the words of one my favorites, Cliff Mautner… “you either evolve, or die”.

Thanks for the links Matt.

I know many wedding photographers who are doing very well. A big part of their strategy is to pay off venue wedding coordinators to refer them over others. And we all know that referral from a site coordinator is like gold.

They factor in a 100.00 to 200.00 payoff per wedding booked as merely part of doing business.