Are you a web surfer? I’ll admit I am a bit of a web surfer, especially when it comes to my industry. I love to search the web and see what’s relevant to photography right now and how it might affect or influence my business. There is an increasing trend in our industry that kind of mimics the political discourse going on in our country right now. It’s like class warfare. On the one side, we have photographers that have been in this industry for a long time and have seen a lot of changes, mainly an increasing number of photographers. And then on the other hand, you have newer photographers that are trying to get into the market and find their own niche. Frankly, it’s something our industry wasn’t prepared for nor could we imagine it. I credit this largely to the transition from film cameras to digital cameras. The dilemma that our industry faces is that there is a barrage of negativity swirling around the influx of these newer photographers. The problem I have with this is that usually this negativity is unwarranted and harsh. It points to a more serious problem within our industry and that is the inability or desire to innovate.
It’s interesting to me how many “oldie” photographers as we call them in the industry are constantly doing blog posts about “newbie” photographers and what they should and shouldn’t be doing with their business. The fact is that all photographers were born the same as you and me; we didn’t come out holding a camera in our hands!! The biggest gripe I hear among “oldie” photographers is that the “newbie” photographers don’t charge enough and are undercutting the industry. This is true and false at the same time. It is true that charging too little for your time and your work will never result in a profitable business. That’s just a fact. My first year in business as a photographer, I charged far too little for my time and talent as evidenced by my first year taxes. I couldn’t believe that I had spent over $15,000 in photography expenses alone. It was truly astonishing! What makes this gripe false is that most legitimate photographers discover this pretty quickly and adjust their prices to reflect the value of their time, equipment costs, and any other expenses. So when I see a newbie charging very little for their work, I know that they will either figure it out eventually, or they will go out of business. Really I don’t know why there is such an upset in our industry over this. Everyone needs to start somewhere and I think it behooves more experienced photographers to not be so threatened by this influx.
Instead of having an industry wide pity party, why don’t we look at ways we can innovate within our own field? Why aren’t we focusing more on social media, specializing, and improving our photography craft? I saw this phrase on facebook the other day….
It says it all really. When I see a negative post about the changes in our industry from”oldie” photographers, I realize what they are really saying is: “I’m really scared. This is my livelihood and I’m feeling very insecure.” I get that and I can’t blame them for feeling that way. Most legitimate photographers are not photographers just because they love photography. Photographers have bills to pay just like everyone else. When I see someone trying to make their way in this industry I realize that everyone has to start somewhere and we should all try to cut the newbies a little slack and I mean that we should all use a little kindness in our words and in our actions.
Another trend I have noticed is the condescending way some photographers feel the need to educate their clients on what makes a good photograph. Clearly our clients have eyes and can judge style for themselves. They may not know the technicalities of correct white balance, shutter speed, ISO, and aperture value but that is why they are hiring YOU, the professional photographer. Your clients will choose you not because you talk down to them. Every photographer has a different style from the perspectives they have to the way they edit their work. Photography is art and it’s okay that not everyone is the same. Diversity provides more options in the marketplace, which is a benefit to the consumer. Can you imagine if our only options were stuck in a certain era? Just go onto Pinterest and see how much diversity has resulted in better photography. Ultimately, your clients will choose you because they like the style of your work and want that for themselves; plain and simple! As photographers, there is no need to use scare tactics to bring clients through our doors. Your work should speak for itself.
Lastly, if you consider yourself a newbie photographer, there are so many wonderful resources out there to help you have a successful photography business. Leah Remillet of GO4PROPHOTOS and Jodie Otte of J. Otte Photography, both talented photographers and successful business owners, regularly have blog posts designed to help you along your creative journey. I highly recommend taking a stroll through their resources. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic so leave your thoughts in the comments section below. Happy Wednesday!
Love the post! You say it all so well. Great things to think about. I look forward to more lessons.
Hi. Thank you so much for your words and wisdom. I am one of those “newbies’ and feel as though I gravitated towards Photography after getting my degree in Interior design and loving composition. Photography is all the things I loved about design and it has become a passion. I think you either have an eye or you don’t and if you have that you can learn the skills needed to take photos. You have inspired me to keep at it.