Category: business

Photographers need to lead an organization of one

by Stanley Learybusiness / Nikon D3s / Nikon D750
 
Fujifilm X-E2, FUJINON XF 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4, 1/60

Col. Tom Clark, director for Citadel’s Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics, spoke last night to the Atlanta Citadel Club. Clark brought his leadership tool bag, and the first thing he pulled out of the bag was a hammer.

When he was a cadet at the Citadel, this was the tool used by the leadership at that time. But, of course, the downside of this being your only tool is applying a hammer to every situation doesn’t get the results you need.

“Ever tried hammering a screw?” was a question he asked us.

Fujifilm X-E2, FUJINON XF 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4, 1/60

Then he pulled out a screwdriver with many different tips that I could switch out.

This tool reminds us that we must look at the head of the screw and figure out which of the tips: Flat Head, Philips, Square, or something else is needed to fit the head of the screw.

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 900, ƒ/5.6, 1/80

Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A, also has a leadership tool bag he uses when talking to people about leadership. Dan Cathy has a slinky as one of his tools. Dan says:

Just as one end of the Slinky has to be the first to descend a staircase in order to put the whole thing in motion, leaders must be the first to move forward in any endeavor in order to put the rest of the team in unified motion. Just as the Slinky won’t work without one part of it “leading the charge”, any team endeavor we desire to complete—whether as a family, a group of friends, or an entire organization—will not happen unless a leader takes the first step. Let’s remember this the next time we’re on the precipice of a new endeavor, and let’s be leaders who get the whole thing moving.

Nikon D750,  AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 7200, ƒ/5.6, 1/500

Col. Tom Clark and Dan Cathy are leaders who teach leadership to people. They realize that these tool bags filled with examples are those “visual” reminders that help people grasp the concepts of good leadership and remind them to put those into practice.

Fujifilm X-E2, FUJINON XF 18-55mm, ISO 1250, ƒ/4, 1/250

Compass as Ethics Tool

A compass is a relatively simple instrument based on a simple concept. Its northward-facing needle is a consistent and accurate indicator of physical direction. By placing “moral” in front of the compass, we evoke a clear picture of mental processes that point a person in a particular order in life. These processes are consistent and accurate indicators upon which personal belief and action can be based.

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

No system of morality is accepted as universal. Many people use their faith as the set of doctrines that will be their true north for their morality compass.

Leadership? But it is just me.

You may have passed over all those leadership books because you are an independent photographer. You don’t even use assistants, so how could this help me?

Glenn Gutek wrote, “Great Leadership Starts With Leading an Organization of One.” These are some great tips. However, there are two that I think many photographers would benefit from using that I want to highlight:

  1. Control Time–You should be focusing on your top priorities for that moment. When you get up and start your day, the first things you do for your business should be the highest priority. When you finish your day and go home, you should focus your preferences on your family and what is most important. Knowing how to get the most out of your time during the day is an excellent leadership skill.
  2. Temper Emotions–I struggle with it the most. The reason it is such a struggle is that I am so passionate about my work. You have to be to get emotionally impactful images. 
Gutek said about tempering emotions, “at times, it is critical to practice the discipline of being dispassionate.
 
Being dispassionate allows a leader to protect the environment from becoming toxic and engaging in the wrong battles. Leaders should fuel their energy by investing in their passions, but keep things from running off the rails by not pouring gas on a volatile situation.”
 
Fuji X-E2, FUJINON XF 55-200mm, ISO 200, ƒ/7.1, 1/750

You are playing Chess, not Checkers.

 
The greatest thing you will learn in dealing with clients is how different every situation is from one another.
 
Almost nothing looks more orderly than chess pieces before a match starts. The first move, however, begins a spiral into chaos. After both players move, 400 possible board setups exist. After the second pair of turns, there are 197,742 possible games, and after three moves, 121 million. – Popular Science

James 1:5

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

All these tool bags of leaders have one thing in common–Strategy. A strategy is a high-level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty. Strategy is essential because the resources available to achieve these goals are usually limited. Strategy generally involves setting goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, and mobilizing resources to execute the actions. 
 

Does your tool bag have only a hammer? What are you doing to learn the best tools to put into your leadership toolkit bag? 

Tip on dealing with depression that often comes with freelancing

by Stanley Learybusiness / Nikon D2X / Nikon D3s / Nikon D4

Nikon D4, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 7200, ƒ/5.6, 1/250

Ernest Hemingway used this long quotation from Ephesians in his book The Sun Also Rises:

“What profit hath a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goes down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.”

Hemingway thought the characters in The Sun Also Rises may have been “battered” but were not lost.

Do you feel “Battered”?

For many reasons, you, too, may feel frustrated and even depressed with your plot in life.

Are you suffering from any of these:

  • Loss of a client
  • Not sure what potential clients want or need
  • Camera gear is old and not financially able to upgrade
  • Feeling betrayed by another photographer
  • Losing clients to younger photographers
  • Feeling old
Fujifilm X-E2, FUJINON XF 18-55mm, ISO 500, ƒ/4, 1/500

“I have told you these things so you may have peace in me. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33 I cannot tell you to read or take something; it will all be better. However, I can say from my life experiences that it can suck all you are dealing with. One of the best things when feeling this way is having someone there with you who listens and doesn’t give advice but is willing to be with you during this time.

Nikon D2X, Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX, 100, ƒ/7.1, 1/640

Psalms 23:4 is a Bible verse that reminds me that I am not alone:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and staff comfort me.

– Psalm 23:4

You may feel like Joseph and Mary are on their way to Bethlehem. You are going there to pay your taxes, and you arrive, and you have nowhere to stay. It is the end of the year, and you also have a child on the way.

I doubt they were excited about this trip and all they were dealing with.

Nikon D3S, Nikon 24-120mm ƒ/3.5-5.6, ISO 200, ƒ/8, 1/500

Carry one another’s burdens.

Galatians 6:2 – Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way, you will follow Christ’s teachings.

Now, I highly recommend helping others when you are down. However, if you cannot do so, this is a clear sign that you must see a doctor.

It will help you to get your attention off of your problems. Sometimes, we get into such a hole that we can’t see anything else or find the way out. Helping others works to break this cycle and opens our vision. It gives perspective and shows that your problems are not insurmountable.

When I started giving my time and talents to others, things finally turned around for me. Now let me tell you, just because you start helping someone doesn’t mean there is instant gratification for the work you are doing.

Like the mule here helping carry the farmer’s burden, you, too, will feel the weight of your work. Helping others will once again reveal you’re true self-worth. It will show you that you have value and can make a difference.

While helping with other people’s burdens, which sometimes are wounds, you will help heal yourself.

You will find that you aren’t the only one with problems. We know this intellectually, but seeing it firsthand is healing. Sometimes, we feel like we have been singled out for pain. We are not that special. It comes to all. Receive healing as you work to heal others. Do something; get out.

First questions to ask when doing a story

by Stanley Learybusiness

For most of my career, I thought I understood communication pretty well. But then, I worked on staff as a photographer who went out and captured stories.

Here is the basic process of that communication for most of my life:

First, I captured content, which was the Message, and I became the Messenger, using my camera to connect with the Audience.

From the first time I picked up the camera in the early 1980s until about 1995, the only way the Audience saw my work was in print. So, this is how I communicated with the Audience in newspapers, magazines, brochures, posters, and other printed material.

Now all the other messengers I worked with would have competition through the years and still do. So we entered our work [Message] into competitions judged by other [Messengers] and then received our accolades if we won awards.

I have won many different awards through the years.

A little side note is I stopped entering many competitions because the people I admired most [Messengers] were not entering those same competitions. However, I still had my work entered by the institutions I worked with and still won those awards.

I had it all wrong

The problem now with the industry is that jobs are disappearing from those traditional institutions like newspapers. The [Audience] has slowly been leaving. There are many reasons for this, but I believe one problem is as journalists, we may have been asking the five Ws:

 

  • Who did that?
  • What happened?
  • Where did it take place?
  • When did it take place?
  • Why did that happen?

I was good at asking these questions of the subjects of the stories. I also added the sixth question that a seasoned journalist always added–How did it happen?

While working on my master’s degree in communication, I decided to do this at a Seminary. It was one of the best things I ever did. First, I had some of the same core classes the M. Div. students take. Then, later, when I met my wife, she could use some of my libraries when she did her M. Div.

My communications program was in the education school, and I had to take some basic education classes. So what would typically be a one-year master’s program was two years.

Now I learned in Seminary through preaching and education classes as you need to concentrate on the Audience. The education classes drove this home to me.

Communication experts didn’t pay as much attention to the Audience except to write at a particular grade level. That was all I ever heard about getting to know your Audience up until then.

In the youth education class, I learned that when working with high school students, you must understand their perspectives. For example, talking to theater students using sports metaphors is about as successful as expecting a toddler to read my dissertation paper.

We learned that for education to take place, the educator [Messenger] had to close the loop. So they gave tests that helped the teacher and the student know if the [Message] was received and understood.

Why should the audience care?

We have all been in school and asked the teacher why I needed to know this stuff. Maybe you were lucky like I have been and then had a teacher take the time to help me understand why knowing the material will help me in life.

We need to reverse the process if we want to be effective as communicators. First, we need to start just like teachers and understand our Audience. Then we find the stories that are most relevant to them.

Often teachers give tests on the first of the year to look at what skills the students lack that they must know before going to the next grade. So now they know what the audience needs.

NGO Example

Let’s say you are working for an NGO as a communicator. First, you must always start with who your Audience is, and secondly, why should they care?

I was helping coffee growers in Mexico communicate to their Audience potential buyers of coffee in the United States. But why should someone even consider buying coffee from them versus just buying Folgers coffee, for example?

I interviewed an American who had been buying and selling coffee in his coffee shop in California. I think he helped me answer the WHY? for the Audience. Listen and see if you agree.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4QNgR9t7Qo]
Where should you first start when telling a story? THE AUDIENCE

Photographers who want to get noticed need to be on Instagram

by Stanley Learybusiness
 

Like me, you are trying to figure out all the social media possibilities. There are many to choose from to help market your brand.

I am falling in love with Instagram.

It is a photographer’s friend. It lets you post your photos, tag them, and write a complete caption if you choose. You are not limited to the 140 characters of Twitter.

One of the people I like to follow is my friend Alex Garcia. Here is a link to his work https://www.instagram.com/alexgarciaimages/

Another photographer I like to follow is Dave Black. https://www.instagram.com/daveblackphoto/

You were limited to a square image space when it first came out. Well, that is why I didn’t enjoy the medium, but then Instagram finally allowed you to post rectangle proportions.

Now the cool thing with any social media is the #hashtag. #Hashtag is when you keyword your photo so that others who are following this keyword will be able to find your picture amongst the millions posting daily. For example, I tagged the above image with #TybeeIsland & #Lighthouse.

Now here I didn’t do such an excellent job with my post. I didn’t use the #hashtag for Romania or the town name. I did, however, use them in the location, which is almost as good. So be sure and use both.

When I posted this photo, I used the #hashtag #headshot and #actress, and within a minute, I had people in Hollywood like the image in the industry. Woo Hoo!!!!!

Did I get a job? Unfortunately, no. However, I am making a connection now within the industry.

 

In this photo, I tagged #IslandBreezeiwt, the name of the company that this dancer performs with in Hawaii and around the world. So to be sure they see it, you would tag the photo @IslandBreezeiwt because this is the name of their account.

Start typing @nameofcompany and see if it pops up as a choice. Suppose it does, be sure to use this if you want that company to see your photo.

Talk about getting the marketing department’s attention. That’s what I am talking about!!

 

Why # and @?

Without using a # or @, your photo is not discoverable. It is the same as walking into your public library and just sticking an image between the books on the shelf and leaving. But, on the other hand, you may hope people find it, and someone day might stumble over it.

However, people use the web much like the public library; they use search terms to help them find the things they are interested in. If you have no tags on your photos, they will not pop up on their feed.

Captions alone are not very helpful for searching as a #hashtag. The @ symbol sends an alert to those with that account. The odds increase by using the @ character with their name that they will see it if they check their account. They will most likely get an email when you link to them like this.

Once people see your image and maybe even like it, they can click on your account name, go to all your pictures, and see your account like mine here. https://www.instagram.com/stanleyleary/

My marketing strategy always drives everyone to my main website, where my complete portfolio, blog, contact information, and more reside. I want everyone to find me quickly and to connect.

If you are a photographer, you need to be on Instagram because this is where people look for photography and photographers.

Could you not take my word for it? Read this article 160+ Interesting Instagram Statistics. 


Show & Tell Marketing for the Photographer

by Stanley Learybusiness
 

When the stars all align for you–take advantage of the moment. For me, my moment is now. My daughter is in the musical Into The Woods this April at her high school. She is the witch in the play. [Much of the type on our banner and posters are controlled by the licensing contract we signed to do the space]

The school buys the rights to produce the show. So they need to recover around $10,000 for the total costs of putting on the play. One of the ways they will recover the price is ticket sales. Another way is selling ads for the program. The last method is through donations.

Parents volunteer to help build the set, costumes, ticket sales, ushering, and many other roles to help keep our costs down.

The 6′ x 9′ Banner in front of the school was near the corner with a traffic light.

My wife and I volunteered to help with the PR since we both work in the industry. I was very excited about shooting some promotional photos of the primary characters for the musical. I had been researching other promotional shoots for Into The Woods and started thinking we could do some of what I saw with the Disney production.

I figured that much of our audience would be more familiar with the movie with Meryle Streep and Johnny Depp than the play productions. As a nod to the film is why I shot the poster shot in this style.

The school has had banners of the sports teams for a couple of years in front of the school. I think this is now a trend around the country. But unfortunately, the art kids don’t have the same backing and promotions due to more parents and the community not supporting them in the same way.

While a banner in front of the school helps just like a billboard promotes a product, the other thing the banner does is help celebrate our arts kids.

I also bought the domain name RHSIntoTheWoods.com to help us with promoting the play and directing everyone to the website where they can buy tickets. But, of course, you can also buy them–HINT HINT!!

 
Click on the photo to enlarge.

I decided I would pay for the banner and all the photo shoots. Paying for the banner was my way of helping as one of the parents. My wife came up with the concept of the Rate Card.

The Rate Card we designed was an 8.5″x11″ postcard. On the front was the poster, and on the back were the prices for the ads for the program. Each student/family is given 10 of these with a cover letter to call on businesses and individuals to take out ads. The company can then easily use the card as a poster in their store window or on the wall to promote the play.

Next, we started to use social media to promote the play. We are using all small events like putting up the banner as a good reason to post photos and always the #IntoTheWoods and pushing them to the website RHSIntoTheWoods.com.

We use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to help promote the musical. For example, we did individual shots of the cast members so we could post about each of them rather than using the same image over and over.

The banner again also is a way to celebrate the kids.

Besides this marketing campaign helping the school sell tickets, if this is more successful than in past years, I will have a great example to show all my clients and potential clients how I can help promote their brands using images to engage the audience.

Click on the image to see a larger version.

So here are the headshots I also did for the program and other PR uses.

 
Click on the image to see a larger version.

Now there is a considerable risk in doing all this work–if the sales are not better than in previous years, I will not have proved that my photography has helped with the promotion of a musical. So while there may be other circumstances that could impact it other than my photography, I will still not be able to show it was relevant.

Are you willing to take on a personal project and show that your photography can make a difference in your community?

It is time for ASMP and NPPA to combine

by Stanley Learybusiness / Nikon D750
 
Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 5000, ƒ/4, 1/100

I have been at the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference for the past few days. Through the years, many who have attended the conference have been members of either NPPA or ASMP. Many like myself have been members of both organizations.

Don Winslow is the editor of the News Photographer Magazine for NPPA and is in the photo above. I commented to him about how we should combine the two organizations. Don said that sounds like a great blog post.

Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 3600, ƒ/4, 1/250

I am tired of being a naysayer about things in the industry. I can continue to be a whiner about the changes I don’t like, or I can put forth this idea that many of my friends and I have discussed through the years.

I think their members should combine them because when I looked around the room, I saw people like Stacy Pearsall, Anacleto Rapping, Brad Smith, and Dave Black, and none of them were the staff. They are now all freelancers or, a better term, independent contractors.

The most significant difference between the two organizations is that NPPA was primarily staff photographers and ASMP was freelancers.

In an earlier blog post, I wrote:

You’ve probably heard that by 2020, 40% of the U.S. workforce will be independent workers. Today, there are already 53 million Americans (34% of the workforce) that fall into this category. That number is growing based on a number of factors. Some from employers who see this as a better choice and many employees who want more control over their lives as well. 

Chauncy Lennon, who runs JPMorgan’s workforce initiatives said:
“The workforce of the past was organized around company. The workforce of the future is organized around the worker. If we can’t find the right people, it’s going to hurt our bottom line.”

Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/640

Many NPPA members like Bill Bangham [pictured above] are joining ASMP for similar reasons I did so back in 1987. They see how important it is to help the freelancer.

NPPA has had to catch up with ASMP to help its members understand business practices.

Due to the decline of staff jobs and even the number of independent photographers, these two organizations have fewer members. At one time, the NPPA had a membership of 15,000+; today, they are closer to 5,000.

I believe that the members of both organizations have more in common than different and, therefore, would benefit from combining the two organizations.

How all this would happen, I do not have that worked out in my head, but I know they need each other more today than at any additional time.

I do know that one of the biggest hurdles to overcome is the cost of membership. We have so many NPPA members living in poverty or so close that every little penny counts.

Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 6400, ƒ/4, 1/100

Here is Anacleto Rapping teaching a class at the workshop. He has always been on staff like the LA Times and Brooks Institute before the past couple of years, having to run his own business. We need his talent and knowledge to help grow our industry.

Many NPPA members make around $24,000 salary. Without employers paying their dues, they don’t have the funds to join.

I know the cost of ASMP membership is well worth it for the freelancer. It is more valuable early in your career since they can help you navigate the business aspect better than you going alone.

Since the executive director of ASMP was on the board of NPPA and NPPA needs an executive director, why not just combine the two organizations and let Tom Kennedy and the boards help lead us to a healthier organization than two struggling organizations?

Photographers what is it that you provide your customers?

by Stanley Learybusiness
 
Link to Amazon

Today I met and listened to Matthew Kelly, the New York Times bestselling author of The Rhythm of Life and twenty other books published in more than twenty-five languages and sold more than 15 million copies.

Kelly says, “To win their hearts, you must take care of their legitimate physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs.”

Professional photographers need to know they are problem solvers if they want to stay in business. People don’t need photos; they need photos that solve their problems.

When you learn to tap into others’ dreams and aspirations and help them attain them, you connect with the real issues in their hearts.

Read his book to help you understand why people dream. Kelly says, “If you help your people accomplish their dreams, they will massively invest in your company.”

Earlier in the day, another Keynote speaker I listened to helped me to understand Habitudes.

Dr. Tim Elmore is the founder and president of Growing Leaders (www.GrowingLeaders.com), an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization created to develop emerging leaders.

You may want to pick up his book Habitudes Book #1: The Art of Self-Leadership.

He shared one thing that I think many photographers need to hear. He shared how one company that made bits had a sales meeting with a new CEO. After everyone spoke on the sales that quarter about how they were the #1-bit manufacturer, the CEO got up and said we are not in the bit industry–We are in the hole industry.

When you lose focus on what you are there to do, then the industry can leave you.

Photographers, you have been too long in the picture business. Our pictures help people in industries solve their problems by helping those bit makers to visualize the holes they are creating.

Tip today is to analyze what you are doing for customers. For example, are you making bits or making holes?

How a photo agency can help you

by Stanley Learybusiness

My good friend Ken Touchton and I are covering a Georgia Tech football game. Ken has been one of my best business mentors.

Both Ken and I worked with the photo agency Black Star.

Black Star, also known as Black Star Publishing Company, was started by refugees from Germany who had established photographic agencies there in the 1920s. Today it is a New York City-based photographic agency with offices in London and White Plains, New York. It was the first privately owned picture agency in the United States and introduced numerous new techniques in photography and illustrated journalism. Life magazine’s editor Henry Luce relied on them for coverage.

Black Star was formed in December 1935. The three founders were Kurt Safranski, Ernest Mayer, and Kurt Kornfeld. In 1964, the company was sold to Howard Chapnick.

He taught annual workshops at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In 1994 he published a book called Truth Needs No Ally: Inside Photojournalism, summarizing his many years of experience in dealing with photojournalists and sharing it with those who want to be one.

Howard Chapnick was a principal founder of the W. Eugene Smith competition and Memorial Fund, which awards grants for projects in humanistic photography. After he died in 1996, this Fund established in his memory a gift to encourage and support leadership in fields ancillary to photojournalism.

 I was talking with Ken the other day, and he let me know how he first started to work with Howard Chapnick.

Now the way it worked in those 1970s – 1990s, the agencies signed on photographers, and if you signed on first in New York City, then if the job called for your skills, you were the first they contacted.

Well, when Ken was talking to Howard about working for them, Howard pointed out where he lived or mentioned moving to they already had photographers.

Ken said to Howard, “Well, Howard, I need you to handle my administrative side for me. I will find the clients, bring them to you, and ask you to help negotiate rates and collect my payment.”

HUGE TIP!!!!!

If you are starting and don’t know the business side of this industry, then what Ken Touchton did in the 1970s was a brilliant move. While taking this approach, Ken gave up a sizable chunk of money for the clients he found. Agencies often take 20% – 50% of the billings, which can be substantial.

Ken knew and admitted up front to himself that Black Star, specifically Howard Chapnick, could do a better job of knowing a reasonable rate for the work he was doing and negotiate a better deal than Ken could do by himself.

Put yourself into Howard Chapnick’s shoes. Which photographer do you want to represent? Do you want to describe someone you have to go and find a business for or the photographer bringing you a business?

It didn’t take long before Ken wasn’t just bringing business to Black Star but now getting business from them.

Now there are so many things I learned from Ken about business and my time working with Howard Chapnick, but I want to be sure and point out what Ken and I discovered through the years.

We learned to listen to those photographers whose business success was extraordinary. Sometimes their photography was mediocre, but we did notice they understood how to put food on the table. One of those was Howard Chapnick. He didn’t take photos for a living but helped administer some of the most outstanding photographers ever careers.

Black Star photographers include Robert Capa, Andreas Feininger, Germaine Krull, Philippe Halsman, W. Eugene Smith, Bill Brandt, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Charles Moore, Lee Lockwood, and my mentors Don Rutledge and Ken Touchton.

Summary: If you are not good with the industry’s business side, partner with someone who is, and you will do much better than going it alone.

Warning Signs for Becoming a Professional Photographer

by Stanley Learybusiness / Nikon D750
[Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 1600, ƒ/18, 1/500]

While taking my drive around the Big Island of Hawaii last week, I turn onto the 4 mile scenic route
of Old Mamalahoa Highway just outside of Hilo, Hawaii. About halfway on the road we came across this beautiful view of a bay area.

This was next to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. What a wonderful exotic part of the Big Island. Through the years the views have been changing. More and more fences are going up alongside these views with signs of warning.

Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 12800, ƒ/18, 1/500

You see the entire Island is a volcano. The rocks are quite porous and can easily break off. One of the years when I visited a large section of the Volcanoes National Park broke off and fell into the sea. It was about the size of a football field. Some people died when that happened.

Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 800, ƒ/4, 1/500

Scenes like this of Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii are one of the things drawing people into thinking that if this is what a photographer does then sign me up.

The lure of what photographers get to take photos of is what draws way too many people into this industry and then without warning many people have the ground fall away underneath them and they often do not survive the industry.

Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/640

There are signs when you go to the Black Sands beach telling you to not touch the turtles and to stay 15 feet away and that includes when taking pictures.

Photographers it seems need a lot of signs to tell them what not to do, because they seem to just take unnecessary risks.

Signs are now going up

I think slowly people are getting the message that being a photographer isn’t as easy as it seems. There are now warning signs all over the industry.

My friend called me while I was in Hawaii. I had asked if he could help me with a project and be a shooter for me. He was sick when I asked and was going in the next day to work and would check with his boss.

He was calling to let me know half of the staff was laid off. My friend was now very available to help me.

Just in the past few months other icons also were slicing their staffs.

More and more of my friends no longer had staff jobs.

Shortly after Sports Illustrated laid off the staff of photographers even my friend Brad Smith the director of photography lost his job with a few others.

What this means

If you want to be a teacher, lawyer, fireman and most any other profession you just go and study and become that professional. You graduate from a degree program and apply to be a staff employee somewhere.

Well that has majorly changed in photography. When I graduated from college I was hired by a newspaper. While there are some staff jobs, the number of them is drastically less than just a few years ago. Not only are there fewer staff jobs there are fewer newspapers.

You’ve probably heard that by 2020, 40% of the U.S. workforce will be independent workers. Today, there are already 53 million Americans (34% of the workforce) that fall into this category. That number is growing based on a number of factors. Some from employers who see this as a better choice and many employees who want more control over their lives as well.

Chauncy Lennon, who runs JPMorgan’s workforce initiatives said:

“The workforce of the past was organized around company. The workforce of the future is organized around the worker. If we can’t find the right people, it’s going to hurt our bottom line.”

Freelancing vs Staff

You need to know a lot more about the business side of your profession than if you were a staff employee. You need to understand the Cost of Doing Business and your business needs to solve a problem for someone or you are just not going to be in business very long at all. Here is a great blog for you to follow about the business side of photography http://blog.photoshelter.com/category/business/.

Nikon D750, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/1000

Just like these cowboys trying to rope a cow, it takes a lot of practice before you can turn pro.

2016 business tips for the freelancer to grow their business

by Stanley Learybusiness

These are some business tips for the freelancer to grow their business. You will need to do things as simple as contacting people through email and more this year.

Here is one blog post for those who have yet to take the plunge – 9 things you need to do before going freelance full-time.

Some tips will link you to past blog posts to help you explore each piece of information more in-depth.

  • Solve a problem, and then start the business – Your business is to solve a problem for another company. Ask yourself what business problems I am solving for my clients.
  • Photographer, are you Liked or Loved – You need table food and soul food. The best way to get both is the personal project that shows your business solution through a photo project, for example, that shows how you solved this problem for someone.
  • How much can you make as a photographer? – You need a good understanding of the cost of doing business. One key element is your family budget as well. If you don’t know your bills, how much you bring in, and the difference, you will probably fail in business.
  • When it comes to marketing: Act like a first-year student and not a senior – No one knows you, or what you do, so you will have to tell them and communicate how your services will benefit their bottom line.
  • Create a calendar with actions for you to do. Here are some things that should be on your list:
    1. People to contact by phone [weekly] – These are your clients and prospects.
    2. Targeted marketing campaign – this is where you write a letter that targets people in your database in a particular industry.
      1. Education Market
      2. Editorial Market
      3. Sports
      4. Medical
    3. Blog – this is where you share something that continues to build your reputation as an expert. I recommend three times a week.
    4.  E-Newsletter – I send one out monthly to my clients. The newsletter is just a way to reconnect with your audience. Remember to consider why they want to get this, not that you want them to hire you.
    5. Snail mail – you can send handwritten thank you cards to all your recently hired clients. Do this after each job. Maybe create a postcard or some other mailing. Remember, they have to physically touch this before it goes in the mail, whereas emails will get automatically deleted and never seen.
  • Networking events – You need to be out and meeting new people. I call this fishing with a big net.
  • Workshops – You need to continue to grow in knowledge, so plan to attend meetings throughout the year to help you expand your skills.

You may think of more things, but be sure you have a plan and are working on it.

Software recommendations for the freelancer starting out

by Stanley Learybusiness

As we start a new year, many are making resolutions. This is because we want to start on a good foot in the future.

I want to recommend to any photographer thinking of doing freelance to make it a goal of yours to manage the business side of photography as well, if not better than the photography side of the business.

fotoBiz X is the best way to manage your business in combination with Quickbooks, which I recommend. I recommend it highly because of a few things someone is starting needs more than anyone. It costs $299 and is worth the investment.

Probably the number one best-selling aspect of the software is the templates that are built into the software. No problem if you don’t know how to write a contract; there are some boilerplate templates. All of these templates have explanations and help support built into the software. Then if this isn’t enough, all those who use the software can also go to the online community forum to ask those unique questions and see if others have had experience.

The software helps you manage your contacts with your clients and prospects. I think the email templates are one of the best modules of the program.

When starting, you have no idea how to write a cover letter for anything you may need to do with your business. You can find an email template letter, and then after reading the letter, you will get a better handle on the topics you need to address. Then after reading the letter, the software lets you edit it and then save it as a template that you use going forward.

The wording in these letters is so professional and will help you get paid on time, thus improving your business’s cash flow.

Their series of collection letters helps you navigate the steps to getting paid from a bad client. Too many young photographers make mistakes of taking a collection to a level five threatening letter when a gentle reminder is sometimes all that is needed.

It also comes with fotoQuote, which will help you understand licensing of images and how to price them.

Using fotoQuote with Quickbooks is a great combination. Here is the explanation for the integration:

The difference between QuickBooks and fotoBiz is that fotoBiz is explicitly written for the independent freelance photographer and handles your business and image management in ways specific to the industry. 

With fotoBiz, your invoicing includes language protecting your intellectual property rights, which a generic program like QuickBooks doesn’t do. While fotoBiz helps you to track and run many types of sales reports, it is not intended to be a bookkeeping program. FotoBiz X is designed to be used in conjunction with QuickBooks. You can export a group of invoices (for example, by invoice date) or export individual invoice data. The export will create a file in a .iif format for import into QuickBooks.

I can honestly say that my biggest mistake running my freelance business for so many years was not buying this software earlier. I am positive that had I bought this and then dedicated some time to studying all that it can do, I would have been much more profitable earlier in my career.

Here are a few videos explaining the software that I recommend you watch.

fotoBiz X Overview

Duplicating Documents in fotoBiz X

Image License Tracking in fotoBiz X

APP Tip for tracking business mileage for IRS Taxes

by Stanley Learybusiness

When photography is your business then you need to be tracking your mileage and vehicle expenses for tax purposes.

Why is mileage log important to me?

The IRS also requires you to keep detailed records. IRS Publication 463 Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses Table 5-1 “How To Prove Certain Business Expenses” states

“For car expenses, the cost of the car and any improvements, the date you started using it for business, the mileage for each business use, and the total miles for the year.”

For the past 30+ years I have tracked all my mileage and expenses by hand.

This week I just started trying a new system. If you have a smartphone this is really cool and easy way to track your mileage. I recommend you checking out TripLog for use with your Android Device or iPhone.

TipLog Highlights

  • The most popular GPS mileage tracking app with over 300,000 downloads
  • The only app that AUTO STARTS when connected to power or Bluetooth devices
  • The only mileage tracking app that reads a vehicle’s odometer from OBD-II devices
  • Sync and merge data to TripLog Web from multiple devices with Fleet Management
  • The most comprehensive reports compliant to IRS TAX returns

Click on image to see larger

Besides downloading the APP I also bought the OBD-II device recommended by TripLog.



BAFX Bluetooth
OBD2 scan tool 
(recommended)

This cost $23.99 from Amazon. Had it the following day after I ordered it. The thing it does is syne the odometer. Side benefit it also has capability to tell you about your car. Read & Clear diagnostic trouble codes for the check engine light, both generic & manufacturer specific codes. Get REAL-TIME sensor information right on your phone! EOT, RPM, Speed, DPF Temp, Balance Rates, O2 Readings & so MUCH more! Even pre-test for emissions testing! Get you 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 & 1 Mile times right on your phone!

You can have the APP show up three different ways on your phone. Just start button, larger 2×2 with Odometer showing, start button, type of mileage and the click to the APP.

I like the one on the bottom in the photo above. Instead of Mileage Today I have it set to show my Odometer.

It is very customizable for your taste.

You can set a default category for your trips. You can also assign a category to a specific place. So if you go to the bank on a regular basis for business then you can set that as a default for that location. If you go to your doctor you can then assign that to be tracked as medical.

Really is a time saver when you are doing your taxes later.

Generate HTML and CSV (spreadsheet) reports from the app

Open TripLog > Reports tab > Email Reports button > follow the instructions > send reports through email.

You can open both CSV and HTML files in Excel.

This is the web interface. You can do a lot more with a paid subscription of $10, $25 or $45 a year. The $25 a year is what I will be doing. You can use all the functions for 30 days for free before choosing a plan.

You can generate reports right from your phone and email them.

Summary

While you will spend sometime to set this up and understand all that it can do for you, once you have done this then the APP can do much of the tracking automatically. I am just tapping start and stop for trips at the moment.

I am getting used to the APP and how it works with my Toyota Sienna this December before I totally switch over to this to track all my expenses with the vehicle for TAX year 2016.