i always here branding guys/gals say don't show birthday parties, graduations, 1st communions, why exactly is this? is it just that ideally you have to have a dedicated site to your specialty and one for everything else? i think being able to do any type of photography adds to your credibility.. is this crazy thoughts?
DingAnSich wrote:
i always here branding guys/gals say don't show birthday parties, graduations, 1st communions, why exactly is this? is it just that ideally you have to have a dedicated site to your specialty and one for everything else? i think being able to do any type of photography adds to your credibility.. is this crazy thoughts?
I have both my weddings site and my "normal" site. even though my "normal" site does not actually have any weddings galleries on it, I get wedding inquiries through it.
In meetings I like to talk about how I got into photography through skateboarding and snowboarding with pals, and how that photography experience helps shape my vision etc.
Well you can certainly photograph anything you want, but if you are trying to run a profitable business it will never work. Bold statement, no? It is just reality, and could take a whole novel worth of information to tell you why.
Say you own a BMW. You like your car and enjoy driving it. It breaks down and needs repair. Who would you rather call? 1. BMW specialist or dealership ($1800) 2. BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi and Porsche specialist ($1600) 3. Joe Mechanic ($1100)
You need to know that there are two types of people in this world: 1 - has more time than money, 2 - has more money than time. Some people shop on price, others shop on value. What value does mechanic #1 bring to the table vs #3? As a consumer, I would assume (myself trying to justify my decision, basically fabricating why I made my choice) that mechanic #1 will give me the best repair, best warranty on their service, and will give me less troubles down the road. #2 will likely give me equally good service, might take a little longer, might not have as long of a warranty. #3 will give me the best price, but the question of quality will pop in my mind. Why would I think the quality would change? First thought would be "why is he charging less for the same repair?"
I could go on. Everyone decides to buy goods & services for thousands of different reasons. Just pick which kind of business you want to be, and then be the best at it. No reason #3 can't be making a lot of money if you advertise, brand and provide accordingly.
To help my mechanic story, I forgot to add a more "generic" type of car owner.
You own a Ford Fiesta. You don't necessarily enjoy it, but you NEED it because its your only mode of transportation. The attachment you have to your vehicle is no where near the same level of attachment as a BMW owner is to their car. Most likely a person with little to no emotional/personal connection to the service/good they need to purchase, they will pick mechanic #3, the cheaper option.
When you get consumers that have an emotional tie to a service/good, they have very specific reasons for purchasing. Thats when price becomes much less relavant, and making sure they get exactly what they are looking for is far more important than what it costs.
Great book to read by Seth Godin, "All marketers are liars".
MattSepeta wrote:
I have both my weddings site and my "normal" site. even though my "normal" site does not actually have any weddings galleries on it, I get wedding inquiries through it.
In meetings I like to talk about how I got into photography through skateboarding and snowboarding with pals, and how that photography experience helps shape my vision etc.
thanks matt. btw... u have some crazy shit on your site.. nice.
DingAnSich wrote:
ur not getting the question jack.
I get it.
Shooting anything else than weddings and portraits will devalue your brand. By taking on other work not related to your main genre of work (and sharing it online), you're telling the world that you aren't a successful wedding photographer - but rather a photographer who's desperate for money.
Shooting anything else than weddings and portraits will devalue your brand. By taking on other work not related to your main genre of work (and sharing it online), you're telling the world that you aren't a successful wedding photographer - but rather a photographer who's desperate for money.
Shooting anything else than weddings and portraits will devalue your brand. By taking on other work not related to your main genre of work (and sharing it online), you're telling the world that you aren't a successful wedding photographer - but rather a photographer who's desperate for money.
or you like making photos (other than weddings and portraits) and enjoy sharing them?
marti.g3 wrote:
Oh that is so false. I know many very successful photographers in So. Cal. who show wedding, newborn, children's, family and high school senior on their blog and site.
I just looked at your "personal" gallery on your website. Are you desperate for money ?
thank you marti.. didn't think i was totally out of line. like it's a bad thing that you can photograph anything?
marti.g3 wrote:
I was responding to the other poster about being desperate. I agree with you. I think that posting a variety of work in a style that keeps with one's brand is not detrimental. Saying one is desperate for money is just dumb.
DingAnSich wrote:
thanks matt. btw... u have some crazy shit on your site.. nice.
thanks man appreciate it
While I dont think I would have "other" shots on my weddings site, I think showing your over-all photographic capabilities, in one way or another, is nothing but good.
Many clients at initial meetings bring up my non-wedding work anyways, so now I make a point to talk about it / show it
While I dont think I would have "other" shots on my weddings site, I think showing your over-all photographic capabilities, in one way or another, is nothing but good.
Many clients at initial meetings bring up my non-wedding work anyways, so now I make a point to talk about it / show it
NO DOUBT.. my site is shit right now and in the final stages of getting something new and differentiating that.. that's all i was referring too because of my own frustration.
Specialization can be a very strong branding tool, but so can diversification. It's probably important to remember that most branding blogs speak in generalities because they're trying to reach as many people as possible. But even then, the people running the branding blogs have themselves diversified their brands (or started new ones) by having a branding brand.
When you look at companies like Under Armour, you can see both the power of specialization and of diversification. It's usually just a matter of timing... and they took their time. Most photographers aren't willing/able to do that.
PatFurey89 wrote:
By taking on other work not related to your main genre of work (and sharing it online), you're telling the world that you aren't a successful wedding photographer - but rather a photographer who's desperate for money.
I don't fully agree.
What if your other work is higher end than wedding photography, not your wedding photography, but like the entire industry? I shoot commercial work that pays $2500-3000 an hour.
What if your other work is higher end than wedding photography, not your wedding photography, but like the entire industry? I shoot commercial work that pays $2500-3000 an hour.
