I learned so much (and had some realizations) from the positive and helpful responses that I received in response to my blog post So...How Do Photographers Learn The Business. These 10 just stuck out to me most.
Photographers can learn the business/have realizations about the business by:
1) Realizing that it is not easy nor overnight and may involve emotional and financial fluctuation. Photography is a business of emotion. These are not reasons to give up. Photography is for a lifetime. It is a career and a path, which requires patience and the desire for longevity.
On career:
"If I were to graphically chart my 30 year photography career, it most definitely would look like a mountain range. A series of peaks and valleys. Sometimes I'm on the top. Sometimes I'm on the bottom. The point is...I'm still on the mountain. Because that's where all career photographers are - on the mountain!" ~ Jack Hollingsworth
On learning the business:
"It isn’t sexy, it isn’t easy, and it isn’t guaranteed. But it can be done." ~ Don Giannatti <--On point
2) Knowing when they are ready to make the leap, not just feeling that they are ready to make the leap (for those brand new). Feeling matters. But knowing is critical.
3) Relying on self when the determination is to be made for the merge of business and photography, profession and passion, not relying on the opinions of other photographers, especially in the social media world. Only the market determines when a photographer is ready to be a pro, not other photographers. Photographers have to be proficient in both the business and the art. Though it is often said that business skills matter more than art skills, with many photographers stepping their game up, it is better to simply be good at both. Photography industry has changed.
4) Talking with other creative professionals in non-competing fields (i.e. graphic design, videography etc) to get insights on their best business practices and experiences, just to add another dimension for perspective.
5) Actually allocating the time. Gear gets time. Art gets time. Of course the latter is critical. But learning the business must also get time too. As a good photographer advised, if photographers can buy 85 f/1.2L lenses, perhaps they can allocate a few dollars to business learning resources as well.
6) Taking the time to learn and knowing that there is no one road. The road can involve formal education, informal education, reading, subscribing to good business blogs (both photography and traditional business blogs), books and any sources of information available on the sales, marketing, communication and management that makes up photography business. Also, business in practice teaches. From the short time (in comparison to my time in photography as art) that I have done photography as business, I have learned a lot--some good lessons, some painful ones, all valuable. There is still more to learn, new ideas to try and new things to aspire to, rebuild, change and grow from.
7) Accepting that not every photographer desires to help and may even see other photographers only as competitors and threats. That is okay. As the philosopher rapper Jay-Z said, "on to the next one." While many photographers spend a great deal of time feigning humility, some are out there simply being kind and helping others in the most generous fashion. By aligning oneself with photographers willing to help and also becoming a source of help, photographers can learn more about the business. Also, photographers have to temper their questions. For example, a photographer can't ask a more established photographer "um, so how do I be like you, shoot like you, what lenses do you use and how can I be successful?" and expect an answer that will work. A photographer can ask "what is the next step to improve my marketing after I have accomplished A, B and C etc."
8) Attending (qualified) workshops on the subject or joining professional organizations. (I am looking into these for the future. I was in a professional organization in the past but I didn't renew membership at the time because I didn't see the benefits of membership outweighing the cost. I am considering a different one for the future.)
9) Not believing the hype. Just like Public Enemy said..."don't...don't, don't, don't believe the hype...hoooohoorraaaah." Social media hype, micro-celebrity, social voyeurism and/or becoming a fanboy/fangirl does not improve your photography business or learning. Respect for other photographers, asking for help, providing help and absorbing knowledge via social media does. If a photographer has been doing the damn thing longer than I have been alive? That has some merit. Certainly there are some young ones who understand the concepts and do well and are very helpful as well. However, trolling around hanging on a photographer's every word simply because they have more Twitter followers is not the best way to improve business acumen.
Um...wow, I have made 2 rap references in one blog? Funny. Usually I am bumping Evanescence or Fleetwood Mac (though a Jay-Z fan). Hehe. Well...on to number 10, which actually surprised me in recent times:
10) Seeing business as an art too. Whew. This one is a smidgin tricky for me as somehow when I was younger I adopted the idea that business itself is somewhat icky but art is pleasurable. This might be the emotional shrapnel of corporate America (with good cause). The truth is, both of my parents were artists as well as solopreneurs when I was growing up. Over time, I have changed that view. I chuckle with one of my MBA best friends that I read Harvard Business Review more than she does. When she revealed that business is really just another science of people (that's my background--studying people/behavior), and I read more Seth Godin, I began to view business as an art. It allowed a good paradigm shift in my views and gave me some positive ideas and thoughts for the future for things I want for Tru Shots.
Many of the topics shared (from the responses to the post mentioned above) were helpful to newer to biz folks like me (a couple or a few years), brand spankin' new photographers, and even well-seasoned ones (with decades under the belt). For that I was thankful. Special thanks to Don Gianatti for his blog and LIVE podcast on it and Craig Ferguson for his recent blog post on it. It is always about the learning, growing and sharing for me. And even when the topic is uncomfortable (like the biz of photography seems to be for many many photographers), it's important to keep the conversation going about it. I know more, feel better and am ready for some new things for the upcoming years. Cheers.
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