Comments on: How can I find time to be a part time photographer? – Your First Customer Series, Part 1 http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/ Helping amateur photographers make the transition to paid professionals. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Outlaw Photographer James Taylor http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-5591 Outlaw Photographer James Taylor Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:57:15 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-5591 Thank you for your comment and kind words, Eli! We artists are dreamers, visionaries, and it's real easy on the business side of what we do to become paralyzed by our own grand ideas. Nothing wrong with exploring what your ideal business would look, smell, sound, and feel like, but realizing that vision takes years of practice and growth. A little reading here, a little practice there, a little income and commensurate investment, and you've mastered the cycle that creates constant growth in your business over the coming years. Ready, Fire!, Aim. :-) Thank you for your comment and kind words, Eli! We artists are dreamers, visionaries, and it’s real easy on the business side of what we do to become paralyzed by our own grand ideas. Nothing wrong with exploring what your ideal business would look, smell, sound, and feel like, but realizing that vision takes years of practice and growth. A little reading here, a little practice there, a little income and commensurate investment, and you’ve mastered the cycle that creates constant growth in your business over the coming years.

Ready, Fire!, Aim. :-)

]]> By: Eli http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-5556 Eli Fri, 05 Aug 2011 04:30:20 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-5556 I found your blog when I decided to start some sort of income for my poor student life. I love how you have broken everything down into simple processes and it gives me a lot to think about. At first I had thoughts of grandeur created this ultra complex vision...then I slapped myself and decided to keep it simple. Thus I started a blog just to start somewhere rather then fine tune a vision that has not become reality. Thank you for the information, it has been very helpful and motivating! I found your blog when I decided to start some sort of income for my poor student life. I love how you have broken everything down into simple processes and it gives me a lot to think about. At first I had thoughts of grandeur created this ultra complex vision…then I slapped myself and decided to keep it simple. Thus I started a blog just to start somewhere rather then fine tune a vision that has not become reality.

Thank you for the information, it has been very helpful and motivating!

]]> By: Outlaw Photographer James Taylor http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-4759 Outlaw Photographer James Taylor Mon, 20 Jun 2011 05:26:00 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-4759 And to make things super simple, here you go: Name your photography business FirstName (Julia) LastName Photography of YourTown, YourState. If you specialize in one type of photography, seniors for example, go for FirstName LastName Senior Photography of YourTown, YourState. Unless there's another photographer in your community with the same name, this is the simplest and most effective way to start out. Charge no session fee, no minimum order, $10 for 4x6 or digital file, $15 for 5x7, $20 for 8x10, and don't sell anything bigger except on special request. There you go - naming and pricing issues resolved! Now get out there and, as the goddess of victory once said, "Just Do It!" Remember, nothing in your business is written in blood or set in stone - you can change anything and everything any time you want. You are empowered, you are in control, you are in charge. Blow past the simple stuff and get out there, market yourself in your community, take photos and evolve your art, and make some money for yourself and your family. :-) And to make things super simple, here you go:

Name your photography business FirstName (Julia) LastName Photography of YourTown, YourState. If you specialize in one type of photography, seniors for example, go for FirstName LastName Senior Photography of YourTown, YourState. Unless there’s another photographer in your community with the same name, this is the simplest and most effective way to start out.

Charge no session fee, no minimum order, $10 for 4×6 or digital file, $15 for 5×7, $20 for 8×10, and don’t sell anything bigger except on special request.

There you go – naming and pricing issues resolved! Now get out there and, as the goddess of victory once said, “Just Do It!” Remember, nothing in your business is written in blood or set in stone – you can change anything and everything any time you want. You are empowered, you are in control, you are in charge. Blow past the simple stuff and get out there, market yourself in your community, take photos and evolve your art, and make some money for yourself and your family. :-)

]]> By: Outlaw Photographer James Taylor http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-4758 Outlaw Photographer James Taylor Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:51:30 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-4758 Julia, thank you for your kind words and your readership! I'm glad you're getting some real benefit from the site. Keep reading articles here on PTP, I've covered a lot of the problems you face, and will be writing more on all these topics in the future. Specifically, I've written about naming your business here: <a href="http://parttimephoto.com/how-to-name-your-photography-business/" rel="nofollow">http://parttimephoto.com/how-to-name-your-photography-business/</a> As you have more questions, please don't hesitate to post or e-mail and ask! Do keep me posted on your adventure into part time professional photography! Julia, thank you for your kind words and your readership! I’m glad you’re getting some real benefit from the site. Keep reading articles here on PTP, I’ve covered a lot of the problems you face, and will be writing more on all these topics in the future.

Specifically, I’ve written about naming your business here: http://parttimephoto.com/how-to-name-your-photography-business/

As you have more questions, please don’t hesitate to post or e-mail and ask! Do keep me posted on your adventure into part time professional photography!

]]> By: Julia http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-4724 Julia Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:47:59 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-4724 Hi, I am a digital photography student and I have been struggling with trying to come up with a business name and how to charge for photo's and everything else that goes along with it. I came across your site and I have started reading the blogs and felt such relief with a few things, I'm still trying to figure out what name to use, every one that I come up with seems to have been taken alread =( frustrating. The 2nd task for me is to get clients, I'm so nervous with just going up to someone and asking them If I can take pictures of them, So far I take pictures of my family but I don't know, i'm not very confident in myself and I get discouraged easily. Do you have a blog on how to come up with a business name? Thank you for all your information on this site it is very helpful. Julia Hi,

I am a digital photography student and I have been struggling with trying to come up with a business name and how to charge for photo’s and everything else that goes along with it. I came across your site and I have started reading the blogs and felt such relief with a few things, I’m still trying to figure out what name to use, every one that I come up with seems to have been taken alread =( frustrating. The 2nd task for me is to get clients, I’m so nervous with just going up to someone and asking them If I can take pictures of them, So far I take pictures of my family but I don’t know, i’m not very confident in myself and I get discouraged easily. Do you have a blog on how to come up with a business name?

Thank you for all your information on this site it is very helpful.

Julia

]]> By: Outlaw Photographer James Taylor http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-4561 Outlaw Photographer James Taylor Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:14:01 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-4561 Thank you for your kind words and your readership, Paige! Certainly, feel free to comment on any post, drop me an e-mail (that's the best way to reach me), or give me a call - I'm more than happy to help in any way I can. Thank you for your kind words and your readership, Paige! Certainly, feel free to comment on any post, drop me an e-mail (that’s the best way to reach me), or give me a call – I’m more than happy to help in any way I can.

]]> By: Paige http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-4516 Paige Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:38:13 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-4516 Along with everyone else, I just want to THANK you! I'm not finished going through all of your posts quite yet, but the info is sooooo helpful! I do have a few questions, maybe could email you? Thanks for taking the time to do this!! Along with everyone else, I just want to THANK you! I’m not finished going through all of your posts quite yet, but the info is sooooo helpful! I do have a few questions, maybe could email you?

Thanks for taking the time to do this!!

]]> By: Outlaw Photographer James Taylor http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1000 Outlaw Photographer James Taylor Sat, 04 Dec 2010 02:06:26 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-1000 Leila, your comments thrill me! Thank you so much for your kindness and your readership, I truly do appreciate it. Congratulations on 20 years in the motion picture industry! That's a wonderful accomplishment in itself. And also on your two young children - I have a 6 year old girl, a 3 year old boy, and a 4 week old baby girl. Children are far more fun than I could have ever imagined in my younger years! Your photography is wonderful - a great mix of fashion, fun, personal, and personality. Most importantly, you have an eye for moments and images that tell much bigger stories than the 1/250th of a second captured. There is depth and richness, not just to the art, but to the content, which is a huge leap from the realm of amateur to professional. Your portfolio shows the maturity of an artist who understands that technical perfection is secondary to the story told by a piece of art. You have all the ingredients to be wonderfully successful as a portrait artist, or really as any kind of artist. So many photographers these days spend so much time obsessing and arguing and pining over technicalities, over perfect lighting and perfect camera settings and perfect lens sharpness and perfect Photoshopping and perfect pricing. If they spent half as much time invested in the soul of their art instead of the vanity of their tools, they might be earning a lot more and pining a lot less. The only suggestions I could make for your portfolio are to stay focused on your target market - if it's portraiture clients, I'd pull some of the still life and commercial pieces, either to a separate gallery or a separate site if you're looking for those clients - and to tighten the cull of your displayed images. You have a wonderful breadth to your portfolio, so there's no reason to include images that are weak in artistic or salable merit. Your art is consistently good enough to make the less meaningful, 'standard' images stand out - that's entirely a good problem to have. Thank you again for your kind words and your readership! Please do keep me posted, here on the site or at James@outlawphotography.net, on the progress of your adventure back into professional photography. With a portfolio like yours, I have no doubt it will be a most successful one! Leila, your comments thrill me! Thank you so much for your kindness and your readership, I truly do appreciate it.

Congratulations on 20 years in the motion picture industry! That’s a wonderful accomplishment in itself. And also on your two young children – I have a 6 year old girl, a 3 year old boy, and a 4 week old baby girl. Children are far more fun than I could have ever imagined in my younger years!

Your photography is wonderful – a great mix of fashion, fun, personal, and personality. Most importantly, you have an eye for moments and images that tell much bigger stories than the 1/250th of a second captured. There is depth and richness, not just to the art, but to the content, which is a huge leap from the realm of amateur to professional. Your portfolio shows the maturity of an artist who understands that technical perfection is secondary to the story told by a piece of art. You have all the ingredients to be wonderfully successful as a portrait artist, or really as any kind of artist.

So many photographers these days spend so much time obsessing and arguing and pining over technicalities, over perfect lighting and perfect camera settings and perfect lens sharpness and perfect Photoshopping and perfect pricing. If they spent half as much time invested in the soul of their art instead of the vanity of their tools, they might be earning a lot more and pining a lot less.

The only suggestions I could make for your portfolio are to stay focused on your target market – if it’s portraiture clients, I’d pull some of the still life and commercial pieces, either to a separate gallery or a separate site if you’re looking for those clients – and to tighten the cull of your displayed images. You have a wonderful breadth to your portfolio, so there’s no reason to include images that are weak in artistic or salable merit. Your art is consistently good enough to make the less meaningful, ‘standard’ images stand out – that’s entirely a good problem to have.

Thank you again for your kind words and your readership! Please do keep me posted, here on the site or at James@outlawphotography.net, on the progress of your adventure back into professional photography. With a portfolio like yours, I have no doubt it will be a most successful one!

]]> By: Leila http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-995 Leila Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:09:16 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-995 dear james: i just cannot tell you how THRILLED i am to have stumbled upon your site just recently... it is EXACTLY what i've been searching for as i am a full time mom now who studied photography at school and did a few jobs before falling into the world of international independent motion picture licensing & distribution (will be 20 years in may of 2011!) and the birth of my beloved children (girl 6, boy 4) in 2004 and 2006. i am trying to get back into the business of photography and your words of advice, your sense of humor, your extremely eloquent and straight to the point posts are just fantastic and so appreciated! i created a website last year (myself on a mac) but was not happy with it took it down while i think about what to do next but i've included a slideshow which you can view if you like. i would be so very grateful for any candid feedback on the images. some are scanned, thus the not so sharp quality. i want to thank you again and again for taking the time to share your wonderful knowledge and priceless experience with the world and i truly feel blessed to have come across your site... i truly cannot say enough! warmest regards, leila dear james: i just cannot tell you how THRILLED i am to have stumbled upon your site just recently… it is EXACTLY what i’ve been searching for as i am a full time mom now who studied photography at school and did a few jobs before falling into the world of international independent motion picture licensing & distribution (will be 20 years in may of 2011!) and the birth of my beloved children (girl 6, boy 4) in 2004 and 2006. i am trying to get back into the business of photography and your words of advice, your sense of humor, your extremely eloquent and straight to the point posts are just fantastic and so appreciated! i created a website last year (myself on a mac) but was not happy with it took it down while i think about what to do next but i’ve included a slideshow which you can view if you like. i would be so very grateful for any candid feedback on the images. some are scanned, thus the not so sharp quality. i want to thank you again and again for taking the time to share your wonderful knowledge and priceless experience with the world and i truly feel blessed to have come across your site… i truly cannot say enough! warmest regards, leila

]]> By: Outlaw Photographer James Taylor http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-656 Outlaw Photographer James Taylor Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:33:20 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-656 Thank you for your kind words Tiffany! I'm glad that you're getting some real value out of the site. Please keep me posted on what you learn with your new price list! You're welcome to e-mail me any time at James@outlawphotography.net. Thank you for your kind words Tiffany! I’m glad that you’re getting some real value out of the site. Please keep me posted on what you learn with your new price list! You’re welcome to e-mail me any time at James@outlawphotography.net.

]]> By: Tiffany Lombardi http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-655 Tiffany Lombardi Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:04:40 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-655 Hi, found your site the other day...thank you, thank you, thank you! I found your logic on everything to make sense and its so simple. Thank you for your hard work. I now have a price list and a handle on my business I didn’t have before. Tiffany Hi,
found your site the other day…thank you, thank you, thank you! I found your logic on everything to make sense and its so simple. Thank you for your hard work. I now have a price list and a handle on my business I didn’t have before.
Tiffany

]]> By: Outlaw Photographer James Taylor http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Outlaw Photographer James Taylor Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:06:58 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-180 Thank you so much for visiting and your kind words! If there's any topic you would like me to cover, please don't hesitate to let me know. I appreciate your readership! Thank you so much for visiting and your kind words! If there’s any topic you would like me to cover, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I appreciate your readership!

]]> By: Nallely http://parttimephoto.com/how-can-i-find-time-to-be-a-part-time-photographer-your-first-customer-series-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Nallely Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:11:18 +0000 http://parttimephoto.com/?p=104#comment-169 Hi, I just found your site. I haven't gone through all the posts but so far I've found this so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!! Hi, I just found your site. I haven’t gone through all the posts but so far I’ve found this so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!

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