paparazzinick wrote:
Yes, I just want to be fucking like everyone else.
That sentence could be taken several ways
For me, it always seems that golf courses are the worst for people saying "this is where most photographers go." I had a lady this year look at me with a gaping mouth like I was speaking Greek when I specifically said that I did not want to go where everyone else did.
canerino wrote:
Around this time, Tony mentioned that he was thinking about adding an associate photographer. I messaged him and then we chatted on the phone and had the loose structure of how our business relationship would look. We met and hammered out some details and the rest is history.
NOT being behind the computer during my free time was most important to me (aside from working for amazing people). My current situation is ideal for me:
1) I have a studio manager who handles all incoming inquiries. She sends them my pricing information and asks the prospective client to respond to me if she wants to set up a consultation.
2) I set up a meeting when the client contacts me. I've been Skyping a lot of my meetings lately (which has been great).
3) The clients then contact my studio manager if they are interested in booking. The client gets an electronic contract that they e-sign and they send the deposit to Tony.
4) My studio manager sends a prewedding questionnaire about 1 month prior to the wedding date.
5) I meet (usually via Skype) to 'timeline' the day and review the questionnaire.
6) I shoot the wedding.
7) I cull the wedding and upload the images to a shared dropbox with my studio manager.
8) I process for the blog.
9) My studio manager processes the images, puts them on a private online gallery, and designs the album.
10) My studio manager delivers the products.
I mention all of this because I really view my setup as ideal for someone in my position (full time job, married, kids, etc). I get to do the parts of the business I love the most and maintain balance in the other parts of my life. ...Show more →
This does sound like a nice setup, Im glad this worked out for you like it did. Im struggling right now like you were before you teamed up with Tony.
I'm so happy I'm not taking clients anymore. So sick of not getting any work, no emails nothing. What's funny is I had my whole site deleted and ended up with one image from a wedding... got two emails to do family pics.... so I added a few more and got a wedding inquiry... I thought what the hell so I replied with info and of course as always I never get a reply. But zero fu˘ks are given. I'm so sick of this business and happy i sold it all. Its incredibly depressing to me and very self.destructive to say the least.
I was talking with a dr at work today that's getting married... was asking her about emails and what she's finding.... and it just brought up that crappy feeling all over again. Those of you that have made it... go play the lotto... you obviously have some luck mixed in there... nothing good ever happens for me so Idk why I stuck it out for 5-6 years... good riddance lol...
The more I stopped caring about making money, the more I started to love this business. Guess what? The money keeps flowing in. I raised my rates. The money keeps coming. I'm happy.
jcolman wrote:
The more I stopped caring about making money, the more I started to love this business. Guess what? The money keeps flowing in. I raised my rates. The money keeps coming. I'm happy.
Exactly. I run my business as if I do this solely for my own enjoyment. The happier I am, the better the clients I attract and the more money they spend.
Just had a great wedding a few weeks ago..Nicest people..I actually felt a bond.. and today I get the question that almost ruptured that respect we built.. question asked..here it is..
"Can I have BIGGER files or give me the raws.." I got so pissed..What for i asked....."I want to give big prints to my family".. I said BUY THEN them.. Man when is the day when clients will understand that we SELL PHOTOS!!!!! Dam..... Love capturing this special day for people but I hate when you get close to them and they all of a sudden forget theirs a business behind the friendship..
Edward. That's a pretty accurate depiction of me, in general.
