Many photographers at some point of their journeys have considered or decided to make their passion a career. They have decided to become a professional photographer. And it seems that many photographers go through a certain cycle of mistakes and errors during their photography journeys. Even so, it's important to realise that most accomplished professional photographers make mistakes. Some of them are so common and widespread that they don't even realise they are making them.
Here are 10 things a photographer considers to be a mistake in their profession.
1. Afraid to experiment
Professionals worry and are afraid that, they will waste a golden opportunity to photograph something they have always wanted to shoot by taking a risk. Listen to your heart, especially when it's telling you to give something exciting a try.
2. Copying others
Develop your own style and perfect it. And your style and skills are what potential clients will hire you for. Why don't you offer a unique and fresh style and set yourself apart from the rest of the pack?
3. Overestimate skills
Be confident in your skills and feel that you are ready to work with any clients. Take time to prepare and be ready of how to pose, direct and manage paying customers in the type of photography you choose to specialise. Go at your own pace and don't jump right into the professional photography without being ready.
4. Not learning business aspect of photography
Take your time to learn and practice how to budget, how to track and calculate your expenses and profit. Only knowing how to take amazing photographs doesn't mean you will be profitable, you also need to learn how to sustain your business.
5. Improper pricing structure
Set up sound pricing from the very beginning instead of lowering the price and later hoping to raise the price. When many new entrants enter into the professional photography, they try to undercut everyone to get more clients and then hope to raise their prices later. It sounds logical but you will get the clients who are bottom fishing for the cheapest photographer and not for the image quality or style you offer. And later when you decide to raise the price, all of these clients and their referrals would swing to the next photographer who currently offers the lowest prices. As well you will not appeal to the clients who perceive price as quality and they will not consider you.
6. Weak Portfolio
It is important to build a strong portfolio with quality and well crafted images. Photography portfolio is the best sales force you would ever have. Your photography portfolio is the first thing your client will ask to see and it is the showcase of your past work, skills, and style. So, consider time for photos assignments, discounted services for building your portfolio etc.
7. Fear to make mistakes and upgrade skills
You will not be the perfect photographer from first day but if you continue to do what you decided to do, you will surely be. You will grow overtime and your skills and images will improve, so accept it. Make your learning step go forward and improve everyday by learning from mistakes. Your photography skills will improve as you learn from your mistakes while exploring the world around you.
8. Trying to focus on everything
Try to specialise in the type of photography you would like to do in a long-term. You will have limited time to establish yourself and build the skills required to excel into your niche. In addition, you will network with people who share the same interest and will be able to learn from them if you start with the right style from the very beginning. Trying to do everything for everyone will make you an average photographer in many areas, not one of the best photographers in one area.
9. Poor workflow
Consider all the administrative tasks from booking to arranging a session, to shooting and post-processing your images. You will not have enough time to learn and offer services at the same time, or will not have adequate time. Take your time to learn these before starting to work with clients. You may find it easy but it's not. You will be spending no more than 20% of your time shooting and the rest of the time would be looking for clients, messaging and arranging sessions. So consider all the administrative tasks to perfect your workflow.
10. Not treating business seriously
Just because you have a website, great portfolio and professional gear, it doesn't mean the clients will die to hire you. You need to be committed to your clients, willing to go an extra mile to find, to excite and book them. You need to prove yourself to every client and try to win their business.
Once you consider these mistakes, you will fall in love with your profession and start upgrading your skills. For more information contact Louise Bagger Photography via email at louise@louisebagger.com.au and via phone at 0412 055 668.
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