You Can’t Please Everyone
Welcome to another one of my photography blogs. You work hard and play hard. The harder you work the better the rewards. That is a true statement. When you work toward something you will find yourself building something that is fulfilling as well as creative. That being said sometimes you cannot please all of your clients through no fault of your own. People are people and as photographer we have to remember that. ESPECIALLY as photographers we have to remember that everyone is different and that we are not mind readers.
Client satisfaction is the number one goal for all working photographers. We have to take great photos and deliver a high end product so that we get repeat business, as well a referrals, and establish a great reputation. Sometimes photographers will come across people that do not know how to be people and or polite. It happens. Most people are completely awesome and if you work hard they will give you that pat on the back and a “Good job, kid.” Sometimes clients assume that because they are paying you it means that you are their slave and can be yelled at or talked down to.
Others will just try and tear you down. Why? Because they have nothing better to do or because they are just unhappy with themselves.
Photographers: Do not let these people get to you. You have to remain calm and professional at all times and show the bad apples that you are better than that. Be firm.
Clients may on occasion issue you a complaint about something that could have easily been remedied with proper communication (on their end). When you offer services it is of the utmost importance to be clear about exactly what you do and what you CAN do in post work. This also means that you may have to hold certain clients hands through the entire photography process so that they can suss out exactly what they want. This can be a daunting task because it’s very easy to be dismissive. Be a pro and hang in there. No one is a mind reader.
It’s really easy to bitch and moan about other people but in the photography profession ALL you deal with is people so sometimes you have to take attitudes with a grain of salt. Don’t be a pushover but establish yourself ahead of your shoot so that nothing unforeseen pops up. Sometimes you may have to remind clients that when you order food at a restaurant you can’t talk the waiter or chef into giving you free grub. If someone gets mad that you are charging for extras then let them get mad. It’s not a poor reflection upon you as a photographer at all as long as you tell them ahead of time.
Again, this doesn’t happen all the time but if it does just stay cool and be cool.
Now, bring the ruckus.
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Social Media Strategy
“No man is an island.”
The saying is very true. If you want to show people your work nowadays you have to get out there on any social media site you can and shamelessly self promote your work. You initial social media strategy should be targeting your in-house fanbase (family and friends) and of course have the content necessary to promote. Anything that pertains to your brand that you throw out there into the ether will stick somehow and drive traffic to your site, raise awareness of your brand, and would no doubt increase business in the long run. If you are doing it on your own without outside SEO help then the hill you are climbing will be that much steeper. That’s not to say it can’t be done!
Having a Facebook page is one thing, but combining that with a Twitter account, Pinterest account, Four Square, PayPal, Blog roll, or what have you, would set you apart from most of your competition. Photography is a large niche business and if you are on a coastal city like NYC or LA you are scraping tooth and nail to get noticed. My advice is to hang in there because as a very wise man once said; “The cream always rises to the top.” There is nothing wrong with healthy competition but sometimes you also have to develop a thick skin. However, if you are in another part of the country where competition is not really felt, then you can use varying forms of social media to bring your work to the forefront of your area as well as being renown in another location other than your home town. Most photographers that I’m familiar with are from other parts of the country. I’m in New York and it seems like in a city of over ten million people that 9.9 million are also photographers or at least they are when it comes to their food. Speaking of which, another GREAT social media strategy is a little app called Instagram. It works wonders.
It’s important to Tweet. post, pin, and blog relative items that have to do with your brand and it also does not hurt to interact with clients, other photographers, or anyone in the industry, or anyone WANTING to break into the industry and this means artists, actors, models, and performers. You never know WHO you may meet and what it may lead to. Think about your burgeoning business as an adventure and a good social media strategy is a big part of that adventure.
Thank you all and I hope to shoot you at least once if you are in NYC!
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