I'm getting several requests from people wanting to come shoot with us so they can learn how to be photographers; this is NOT a request to be a second shooter, and many will stay around the area. Am I training my competition? Should I do it to reach out to the community and not be all high and mighty? If so, where do you draw the line between philanthropy and protecting the inner workings of your business?
If any of you think this is okay to do, just how close around you (mile radius, with regards to where they live around you) would you allow people to come shoot with you? I'm really uncomfortable with it and wanted to know what the norm is.
Try doing a workshop and charge them, see how serious they are. Otherwise I would ask them about seeing their portfolio and offer to have them second shoot. Trying to train someone "to be a photographer" at a real wedding or e-session is just a waste of yours and your clients time.
I also find it odd getting these requests. Got one from a local fellow on this forum who turns out to have his own business/website already set up. Nice enough guy, but gee whiz. Training my direct competition makes no sense to me.
I have one person who I help. She is a fan - referred a great model, came and helped with the shoot and turned out to be a really swell person. I'm ok with that. Not so much with sharing marketing and business strategies via email followed with second shooting.
Cathy Yount wrote:
I'm really uncomfortable with it and wanted to know what the norm is.
The norm is that if it makes you uncomfortable - follow your instinct. And, worse than training your competition you are training the folk that will undercut your pice all the way down to that special range between free and desperate.
First, if you teach someone photography, they will not all become competitors, some could be backup shooters for you, some will just become friends and some will decide photography is not for them. One thing I can guarantee is that you will learn from the people you are teaching. Because they don't learn from you doesn't mean they cannot learn somewhere else and then they certainly will not feel to bad about competing with you. Competitors don't usually badmouth their friends. Who knows, this could just be a big advertising campaign for you. You could get referrals and overflows. Its far better to compete with friends than with unknowns. Also, if a customer ask you about the other person you can say "Yes they are very nice and have taken photography classes from me" The only time you shouldn't help your competitors, in my opinion, is if they are much better than you and you cannot keep up.
Thanks Red...great POV and sage advice, as always.
Carmina, I feel you on that one. I get a gut instinct that it isn't a good idea, but I don't want to be so closed off that I seem like a hermit. We love doing things for the community...however, I know that there is a line I have to draw, and I'm trying to find out what that is.
Chris, if anyone does shoot with me, second shooter or anything else, the first thing that I tell them is that I don't have time to teach them on the job.
Photography is one of the few arts where the mentoring process is still a major part of the scene, off the top of my head the only other I can name is the recording/performing arts. When you and your business feel it is time to start taking mentorships, do it. Comb portfolio's, have a few meetings, and then invest in the individual(s) that best meets both your needs (hard working, honest, etc.) and theirs (ie. Young, eager, looking at photography as a profession, not a side interest). Sure, you may train a direct competitor, but if your business is in a good place a new face that stands by the same business morals (because this is more than just a teach me) as yourself won't kill you, will it?
Present it like an internship. Tell them what your expectations are, and note that you cannot take every application of interest. Who knows, maybe you'll grow a studio?? As part of this process myself right now, this is how photographers are homegrown. It's great, and I learn a ton. It's work, but I love it.
Note this I found on a studio's website about interns/assistants.
Cathy,
I found it effective to make a FAQ page on my blog that directs photographers to common questions and gives answers about 2nd shooting and assisting. I don't give any advice that would hurt my business and I tell them that. I'm also clear about what I require from 2nds and assistants and some other things.
I find that is not only less time consuming, but it also keeps my conscience clear as I have a tendency to want to respond personally to each email. If you want the link, I can PM it to you...
Also, I set up a separate email for photographers who'd like to assist me. I ask them to send me a link to their portfolio to that email address. I do this simply to make photographers go one step further and put some effort into it. Hardly anyone follows through on that.
I'll offer some perspective. When I had a studio 20 years ago, not a week went by that I didn't have at least one person come by the studio looking for training. They'd ask for a job, but when told I wasn't hiring, many would offer to work for free. This is not new.
The local public high school had a class for Juniors and Seniors where they could mentor with someone in their field of interest. I mentored some students and had a great time and met some wonderful young people.
I think about my clients. I'm there to do a job, I don't want to be distracted or have my subjects distracted.
I'd direct them towards workshops and seminars where they can learn in the right environment.
jeremy_clay wrote:
God I love 'View previous versions'.
I do the nearly same thing as Tony re: followup emails for email contacts.
Ya, I'm a bundle of laughs.
My Mom does stock trading and she is always stunned by how many people think she will teach them how. She will not do it for a number of reasons.
1) It took her 6 months of 9 to 5 self teaching to figure it out. Significant time investment.
2) She has picked up little things through sheer effort and force of will, she doesn't want to just hand that information over to wannabe's.
3) It is the most risky business EVER and doesn't want to someone to lose all their money based on information she shared. She wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
I'm an open book, but only with folks who have integrity with their art, their businesses, and industry standards. The best situation is trading with someone with expertise which you can benefit from. One guy helped me with some tax work. Another works at Adobe.
I always ask prospectives what their goals are. If they're not committed to make a decent living eventually, forget it.
Personal litmus tests are things like: They don't advertise $1000 or lower on CL. They aren't Uncle Bobbin' their friends/relatives weddings. (Or if they did, they really regret it.) Red flags: A lack of interest in business, portfolio full of obviously copied poses or work from shootouts and workshops.
Collaborating with your competition is great, as long as they're the ones RAISING the bar not lowering it, its all good. =)
Get togethers with your local market photographers are fun, but being selective with whom you're trading your unique experiences and insider knowledge with, is just smart business.
Also, an option is to offer paid one-on-one sessions or consultations. True, we are training our competition with our blogs and sites to an extent but its still your choice to whom you give out things like your interactive style, client repoire, marketing, sales techniques, etc. And THOSE are the things that make the biggest difference anyway.
I think Red and Maurice and a lot of people gave some sage advice here. It depends on the person, the situation, etc. Ultimately if you feel a bit odd, then don't do it.
We are working with one local here, but that's because he's a recent graduate who is moving on to college in the fall. He's very driven and is excited about learning. Instead of teaching him, we're working on some of my personal projects that I haven't had time to do during the busy part of the season (FL summers are very light in terms of weddings/portraits). We'll both learn more about lighting, posing, and style together. I'm not worried about training my competition because it will be at least 4 years before he'll be my competition - and it's doubtful that he'll be in my area then. If he's super awesome and becomes a better photographer than me, then I'll probably be learning from him. (PS to Danial and Evan - he's headed up to Vandy in the Fall).
I think it's different depending on who it is and what his or her goals are. I'm VERY thankful for the woman who helped me out - we've developed a great relationship. Heck, I shot her engagement shoot two weeks ago. She taught me not to undercut, gave me second shooting opportunities, and took me out to dinner a few times. She did it the right way. Kind of like what Maurice was saying.
Anyway, it sounds like your situation is a bit different, so I think you should go with your gut.
