Hello folks,
My main source of income is from a weekly newspaper I work for on a contract basis. It's traditionally been a sweet gig, I get paid more working part time (8-15 hours a week) then the dailies pay their entry level guys and it's given me the time to try and build my other business up. I've had some good success with my other stuff (events, sports, portraits, etc...) but the winds of change are blowing and I don't know how much longer I can count on the same amount of income coming from the paper. I quit a studio job that I was less then enthusiastic about doing senior portraits and sports candids and do NOT want to go back there (the pay and work was better then LifeTouch or any other 'family portrait studio', but it wasn't enough to keep me happy). I've never really gotten into weddings on my own due to the commitment I had to keep to the paper, but I have an opportunity to partner with another photographer who is pretty much in the same position I'm in. We're looking to diversify our business so that we're not so reliant on any one type of photography, trend or client type. I have computer viewing stations for event photography, a studio, going to expand into a store-front studio this coming year, a room mate with a 44" printer, dye-subs, ink jets, even video after finishing a course in TV/Video Production. I have some game plans for expanding my business but would like to know what else you wedding guys do. My big thing is I could fill my weekends easily, but what do I do during the week? It's a rare Tuesday where I'm actually doing something (besides checking out FM)
So how did you guys expand from wedding photography and what do you do?
We're looking to diversify our business so that we're not so reliant on any one type of photography, trend or client type.
Hi Nathan,
Keep in mind you can't be all things to all people. Pinpoint who you are, who your customer is, what areas of photography you can be proficient, profitable and happy with, and have a firm business plan on how you'll succeed.
If you don't have business, marketing and bookkeeping experience you'll either need to gain that or hire it out. It's possible be busy all of the time, have great cash flow and yet not really be profitable. Many small start-ups get stuck in that cycle. Run your business, don't let it run you.
As always, have valid exit strategies and know how either one or both of you would be able to get out. It'll save a lot of pain, issues and feeling trapped, but it'll also make a stronger business when you make decisions that don't put your exit strategies at risk.
To start brainstorming the areas of photography to concentrate on, list 5-10 areas of photography you're interested in and have your potential partner do the same. Research what the profit and demand is, if it's local or national, and how you'll be able to compete in those markets. Also, which areas will allow for the same gear to be used or will some require great additional expense without as much satisfaction and profit? That should help you narrow your field quite a bit.
I am highly diversified for a few reasons. First and most importantly, I would get totally bored just doing weddings, or just doing portraiture etc. Also, I absolutely love almost every type of photography (weddings to landscapes etc), and finally our wedding season here is very seasonal in the desert. So I keep myself engaged (and my bank account in the black) in the summer by shooting a lot of commercial and landscape work. I am not a wedding photographer. I am a photographer.
And when marketing efforts are firing on all cylinders, I'm shooting a wedding on Saturday and shooting commercial/real estate/landscape during the week. and that's when I'm the most content, when I'm photographically engaged in so many wide facets of the art and the business.
One point I think you may be missing is that you implied that if you're shooting weddings on the weekends you wouldn't have anything to do during the week. Being a full time wedding photographer is a full time job, with the processing, client communications, album design, print order processing, marketing efforts etc. It's one of the reasons I only book 1 wedding a month, that's all I have time for with my other commercial and landscape work.
Some of the biggest mistakes we have made as photographers is diversifying to much. I know you read diversify in Rangefinder and other magazines. Each area of photography has it's ins and outs. If you try to do to much you will end up unsuccesful in all areas. Whats the saying.
Jack of all trades master of none.
We make a lot more money shooting weddings and doing corporate work. The family portraits and seniors take a lot of time and because we haven't structured them properly end up loosing us money because we could be doing other things to strengthen our bread and butter.
Just sharing my thoughts I know there are a lot of photographers that diversify and it works well for them. Biggest thing I think is to pick the ones you love to do and become a master at them. Master of the business and shooting end.
archangel wrote:
Some of the biggest mistakes we have made as photographers is diversifying to much. I know you read diversify in Rangefinder and other magazines. Each area of photography has it's ins and outs. If you try to do to much you will end up unsuccesful in all areas. Whats the saying.
Jack of all trades master of none.
We make a lot more money shooting weddings and doing corporate work. The family portraits and seniors take a lot of time and because we haven't structured them properly end up loosing us money because we could be doing other things to strengthen our bread and butter.
Just sharing my thoughts I know there are a lot of photographers that diversify and it works well for them. Biggest thing I think is to pick the ones you love to do and become a master at them. Master of the business and shooting end....Show more →
Yes, I agree. I said in an earlier post that I'm "highly diversified", but I actually focus on a few niches (namely commercial, landscape, and real estate). I don't market portraits, events etc as I don't enjoy them as much, and frankly there are too many others in my market that are better at in than I am! And that's an important distinction for anyone thinking of diversifying their professional photography. You must be able to differentiate yourself in that market, and in my opinion you must enjoy it! For example I'll never be successful shooting senior portraits because I can't get excited about doing it. My dad always said to do what you love, the money will come. This is a great model to follow if you can afford it
I agree too. If you are running three businesses and at once, and still only making a nominal income, then you need to make sure that you focus on one until it stands on its own. You can charge $10,000 to shoot a wedding when you are a specialist in a very defined field (like modern photojournalism wedding photography) because clients know that that is all that you do and you do it well. Then, when that becomes a success, start to focus on side income endeavors. Wedding photography is not something to take lightly and you should remember that you are capturing memories for someone that will be with them forever. So you need to be sure that what you are doing in that type of business you do VERY well.
Also, my goal with business, is that it works for me, and not me work for my business, which means that we want to work less, make more, and enjoy things (like our marriage) and have that be our number one priority.
It is good to pursue other businesses so to not be stuck if you happen to have a bad year, but you will always be successful if you have the ability to leave the cave, kill it and drag it home.
archangel wrote:
Some of the biggest mistakes we have made as photographers is diversifying to much. I know you read diversify in Rangefinder and other magazines. Each area of photography has it's ins and outs. If you try to do to much you will end up unsuccesful in all areas. Whats the saying.
Jack of all trades master of none.
On the contrary, my wedding photography experience made me a much better concert photographer (learning how to anticipate the moment, deal with mixed lighting, etc), and my fashion photography made me a better wedding photographer (in vogue posing and lighting techniques etc) and so and etc....
