What is your success story?

The latest article in the photography news is about a one million dollar settlement between a wedding photographer and a couple. To make a long story short the couple felt that it was OK to bash on this photographer and destroy her business, all because they signed a contract that sounds like to me they did not bother to read. If you would like to read the story here is the link

So how does this relate to your success story? Well I bring it up because very rarely does a photographer actually win in court, or at least that is what the news would like to have us believe. I will be perfectly honest I am really not sure. I also bring it up because for the photography world it is a sucess story in a sense. Why? Well because the photographer won, and monetarily she was rewarded for following her contract and being a great photographer and business owner, however she also lost alot... Like her whole business and studio because of one couple. So for her this was a failure.

This case was a success for the industry, but a damaging experience over all for the photographer, yet I am sure she will tell you about all of her previous successes and what her proudest moments were.

When I read this article it made me think about a few things. Some of which I have already mentioned, but the main thing was, what is my success story? What does it look like? What do I want it to be? How do I KNOW that I have made it?

And the answer I came up with...... I DON'T KNOW. I realized that in not knowing this I was actually hurting my business, that I am just floating along and I have no solid purpose, no idea of what success looks like for me. Which explains why I have been feeling defeated and usesless when it comes to my photography. I have no idea what my success story is suppose to look like, which means I have no goals or idea as what I want to work towards. Crazy I know.

Once I discovered this I took some time and finally put together my success story. One that I can now focus my business on and start working towards.

My success story is to make this a profitable business, one that I can support my family, and use to travel. My success story is every smile and every client that falls in love with their images, and themselves at the same time. Not only is this about me, (which I know is selfish) but it also about the client. However I have also recently learned that in order to be successful in what you are doing you have to be selfish too.

What do I mean? For example everyone enters into a small business, and starts there own for what reasons? They don't want to work for someone, they don't want someone else setting their hours, they feel they can do it better, they want to show the world that they are someone and not dependent on others. In all of these examples it is for the person, and what they want. It is how they want their life to be, how they want to control it etc. There is nothing in any of these that benefits anyone but that person. So they are all for selfish reasons. Is there something wrong with that? No not all. In fact it can be a good thing. In being selfish it forces a person to focus on what they want and if to be a  business owner is one of them it is going to force them to move forward, because if they do not, they are not going to survive. They are not going to obtain the things they want and they are not going to satisfy the selfish side of themselves.

I am sure that now you are thinking that I am saying that you have to be a selfish person in order to be a great business owner, but I really am not. Remember what I said in my success story and what it would look like. There is more to it than just me. This is because I am a person that likes to please other people as well. With that in mind it drives me in more ways than one. I want to support my family and not have to work a nine to five job, but I also want my clients to feel amazing. For me this is a win win situation.

Lets talk about it. What are your selfish reasons for entering business? What is your success story? Or what do you want your success story to look like?

Leave your answers in the comments below, you never know what you may say may help another person.

Life- It can be a real soul sucker.

Life, well lets put it bluntly, sucks from time to time. It is never all roses, peach pies and sunshine, even though I am sure that there are a ton of use that either portray it that way in our blogs, or our photos, or even in our social media. How often do you make things sound like roses and such when really your life is just hell?

I am sure you are wondering why I am asking this, and yes there really is a reason.

I just went through it.

Here is a bit of the back story, the whole story is pretty long and quite honestly I am not sure that I can actually type it all out with out bursting into tears. If that happens I will never finish this post. So here goes with the short version.

Several months ago my step dad went out to do one of his favorite things, fishing. A storm came up, and flipped the boat that he and is brother in law were in. My step dad was unable to make it to shore. When my mom called me and told me what had happened it hurt, but it hurt more to hear my mother in tears because she is not one to cry.

Within a few weeks my mothers health began to just fall apart, she had a stroke, a heart attack and two surgeries, and I didn't get to talk to her on Mothers Day because of complications from one of the surgeries that left her on a ventilator for several days. She spent almost a full month in the hospital.

Fast forward about 5 weeks and I was there with her this time, and we were going back for two more surgeries in order to complete what they were not able to complete on the first go because my mom was to unstable at the time. Well the first procedure went well. Awesome! I could breath a little. Then the second one. The last words I spoke to my mother was "Now Mom no funny business in the OR. I will see you when you are done." No I love you or nothing (Which I now regret). Well my mom developed complications and they were severe. She had a major stroke, and this is one that she was never going to recover from. She never woke up. I made the most horrible decision of my life, and removed care from my mother, and held her hand and cried as I watched her slip away. When she was gone I died a little inside.

I will tell you I miss her like crazy, but there is something that I hang on to more then anything. My mom was so worried that I was not getting to take the time to photograph anything that she would apologize over and over. I would tell her it was ok, but she didn't want me to lose my touch. So she made it a point to take me out to see the wild horses that live in her area. I took pictures of them, but I really needed more then 200mm. We also went to one of the National Parks, and although she was not feeling up to hiking we stopped at all the sites and she would push me out and tell me to go and take those photos.

Even though she was not getting out and taking photos with me, she enjoyed watching me do something that I enjoyed. And now I cling to that. It makes every photo I take, every trip that I plan to go and take photos that much more important. It gives me a chance to think of her as happy, even if it was only for a few moments.

So life sucks. Believe me right now I feel like I know it better than anyone. But you still have to make it what you want it to be. There is nothing more to it than that.

Let your photography remind you of the times when life didn't suck so much, let it help you get back on the right path, and above all, never lose your joy for it. Sometimes it can be the only calm in the storm at that moment.

I know this has not been a fun and enlightening post, but it is one that I had to share. I promise not to be so drab and sad next time. However I hope that if you are reading this and life is sucking for you.... and your soul is fulling away due to the stress that
1. You know you are not alone
2. This gives you a chance to find a way to feel better.

If you have suggestions, or things you would like to learn about, please list them below. I would love to touch on a subject of your interest, and use it to expand all of our knowledge.

Until next time!

What Does Success Feel Like for a Photographer?

When a person picks up a camera, applies for a business license, and begins down the road of business ownership there is a goal. For some it is to make money, for others it is to make great art, and yet for others it is to make other people feel good about themselves. These are the main goals that a person has in mind with each photo that they take and process. So this leads to the question of, what is success?

I am not sure that this is something that I can honestly answer for everyone that owns a photography business or takes a single picture. Each definition of success is going to be different from person to person and situation to situation. I can really only speak for myself. I can give you my thoughts and my experiences and from there maybe this will help you make your own decisions on your feelings of success.

When I first picked up a camera success to me was having a usable image for whatever I was doing. If it was just creating a memory or if it was creating a project for school. I just needed it to be better then what I could draw, and lets be honest, I am no artist, so that is something that is not hard to beat. However this was success for me as a child with a little point and shoot film camera. Things have changed since then.

Success for me as  photographer is so much different then what it use to be. It is more then just pleasing myself, and being able to produce an image of something better then I could draw it on paper. Now it is about how an image makes someone react, how it makes them feel about it, or about themselves. It is more about what another person feels then what I honestly feel, unless of course I am taking the image for personal projects.

For example when I take a landscape photo I want the person viewing it to be sucked into the scene and feel like they are there, that they can smell the dirt, and the plants that are around them, they can hear the stream that is rushing by at their feet. The viewer should have the want in their heart to know where this place is because they want to go there, and dangle their feet in the water, smell the field of flowers and feel the sun dance across their shoulders.

With a portrait I want my client to feel as though they are amazing in their own skin. That what they are seeing before them is a truly beautiful reflection of them in the mirror, but also an honest one. I will admit that I do draw the line with changing peoples appearances to fit their needs versus the truth. But I want people to see themselves as the amazing individuals that they are. I don't think that society as a whole takes the time out to recognize that anymore. Especially women. With the social expectations that are set upon women and girls I think it has created monsters, and I want to break that norm, so for me if I can reach a young lady or woman and show them with a portrait how beautiful they are that is success for me.

Success feels different for each photographer. For some it is based upon the number of clients they have per year. Others it is the amount of money in their bank account at the end of the day and then there are those that are like me. Success is based completely on an opinion of another in hopes to make their day a little brighter, or to give them a moment to escape the hustle and bustle of the world for just a second and remember what it is like to be in the quiet even if it is just for a moment.

What does success feel like for you?

I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

The 5 Essential Elements of a Great Photo

Have you ever sat and looked at your photos and wondered "Why do my photos not look like I pictured in my head?" "What am I doing wrong?" "Do I even really have a clue about what I am doing?"

I am pretty sure that you know exactly what you are doing. You understand how the exposure triangle works, you know how your camera works and you have the basics of how to put everything together, but for some reason things are not clicking together for you. I know that I have struggled with this. I still do. I feel like I am meeting all the bench marks that all of the famous photographers tell you that you should be hitting but there is something that is still missing. So I did some digging into my photos and then did some of my own research and discovered that there are five areas that are essential to making a photo great, and I noticed that I am not always hitting the mark with some of them.

LIGHT- Strange to think that this is the first element to point out, however I believe that this is SO important. I am sure that like myself you have read a ton of articles talking about the importance of light and making sure that it is right for the image that you are trying to create. I will be the first to admit that I am no expert however there are several things that I have noticed when I do not pay attention to light. For example when I am on the field shooting sports events I am always looking for the next great action shot, however I have had the light kill several amazing shots for me. I made poor judgement of the light like shooting from a shaded area into a sunny area, or there were times I was night shooting and my camera and lens just could not keep up, and therefore the epic shots were grainy and out of focus. Light can do so much for you and reduce a huge amount of work in post processing as long as you are paying attention. It can give the illusion of an increased depth of field, it can cause more drama in a photo or it can assist with drawing the eye of the viewer to a specific part of the image. All of this saves time in post processing.


IMPACT- What causes you to stop and take notice of a location, or maybe even a photo? Is it the colors, the scene, the light? Most of the time it is the IMPACT the photo has on you. It may not be something that you catch right away, but typically if something has an impact on you it draws you back time and time again. This is something that you want your photo to have. If your photo has great impact on the viewer it will draw them back time and time again. As they return to your photo in most cases they are not returning alone, especially if they are excited about it, because it is a photo that is near and dear their heart. They are more willing to share this photo and the story of the photo. Sometimes that story may not be what you were trying to portray, but because of the impact the image had on the viewer they are able to create their own story, and with that it gains even more meaning and importance to that particular individual. 

Even though there is not much going on in this photo what kind of impact does it give? For some it is a beautiful dog, for others it is much more. For example it is a beautiful dog that is in total control of her space and commands the attention of all of those around her. She protects the ones that she loves ferociously, and above all she is not afraid of what may lie ahead of her. 

COMPOSITION-  With every photo the composition is key in most cases. If in every single photo you took you placed your subject in the center, and there was not much else what good does it do for the viewer? Honestly not much. The photo could be a great one, but because of the composition the impact is lessened or the story of the photo is not told as it should and therefore the viewer becomes disinterested and more likely to move on to another image, and will also more then likely forget the image that they have just looked at. You want to have strong composition in every photo. You want to use guidelines such as the Rule of Thirds to assist you in this process. You can also use items within the photo to pull your viewer through the photo. 

For example in this shot the subject is in the center of the frame. However, because of the placement of his left knee, and right elbow, it gives the illusion that the subject is going to run right out of the photo and into your lap! This composition can draw the viewer in as they try to determine what the player is thinking as he is moving with the ball and it begins to tell its own story as the viewer makes decisions on what is happening just outside of the frame in their minds.

CREATIVITY- You want people to look at your photos right? I am sure that if you are reading this that you are looking for ways to get more people to look at your photos without you having to shove them in their face and almost beg them to look. One way to get people interested is to be creative. I mean this is one of the reasons that you picked up your camera right? Don't just take a picture of a tree, if you want the picture of the tree that is great, but find a way to make it creative.

Look at this photo. On its face there is nothing interesting about heavy machinery. However, with the colors, the composition and the light within this photo it changes. You can see more of a story here. It is almost like this is some sort monster that is coming in and destroying the forest and the homes of the animals that live there. If you see a scene that catches your eye there is a reason for it, there is something there, a story so to speak, all you have to do is find a way to creatively tell it within your photo.

COMMUNICATION-  In order for a photo to be successful it has to be able to communicate to the viewer. It has to be able to tell a story, show the emotion, and at the same time be able to draw the viewer in to that story. Does this mean that the photo has to be complex and full of different items. NO!! It can be as simple as the photos I have shown above. You do not have to over load your photo with complex thoughts or ways to try and convey the message that you are trying to get the viewer to see. Sometimes, all it takes is the ability to capture the feeling, or emotion if you will that you are feeling at the time that you take the image. For example in the construction image, There is not a lot going on, however there is a kind of sadness, fear, loss, and disappointment that can be detected due to the destruction that is documented. There is also a sense of overpowerment, and dominance with the presentation of a large machine in an area, that in most cases is out of the norm. Communication with any photo is key as the photographer is not always going to be there to explain it. Therefore when you are composing a photo keep that thought in mind and remember to not over think what you are trying to say with the shot.

What are important elements to a photo that I have not listed? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments! Please leave your comments below so I can add to this article.


Further reading and resources for this article:
5 Fundamental Elements of Great Photographs
Perfect Photography- The Ten Essential Elements
The 5 Elements of Captive Photography

The 5 Best Ways to Deal with Photographer Burnout

I am sure that each and every single one of us has dealt with burnout at some point or another in our lives. It may be happening to some right now for example.

The first time I experienced true burnout I was a nurse. I had been a nurse in a Neotatal Unit for over a year, and I was also active duty. Between the duties that I was required to do as a Soldier, and the stress load of the patients that I was caring for I finally just burned out.

Burn out for me at the time looked like this, no motivation, no will to move, no drive to go to work or be a Soldier, loss of interest in everything, lack of participation with my family. I really just wanted to lay in bed, and well... just lay there. I lived in Hawaii at the time and my favorite place to be was with my children and at the beach, and I just had no desire to be there, at all. It took roughly a month or so, and about three weeks off from work before I could move past my burnout and get back to normal.

Now I realize that photographers burnout is going to look a little bit different. I see it from time to time in different Facebook groups. I see statements such as "I don't even want to touch my camera anymore", "Photography isn't fun anymore", "I think it is time for me to get a real job. I just can't do this anymore" "Photography is the same thing over and over. I am bored". I am sure there are a number of other statements but these are just a few. It is statements like these that come from people that you would never expect. People who you know love their jobs, and LOVE making people happy with photos. This is when you know that you have hit burnout. So once you realize that you are there, what do you do?

Here are 5 of the best ways that I have seen talked about by people such as Jim Harmer from Improve Photography, Nick Page from Nick Page Photography.

1. Take a break-

    As with everything in life there are times that you just need to take a step back from what you are doing, and in some cases even walk away for a time. When you take the time to take a break you give your brain a chance to reset, and to look at situations differently versus continuing to bang your head on a wall because something is not working the way that you want it too. Taking a break can give you the chance to breath, and in taking that breath you are giving your chance to reevaluate and look for different ways to handle a situation before moving forward. Sometimes it is a change in direction, or just a simple change in method that can save you from going through burn out.

2. Do something for you-

    Have you ever thought as you were editing a session about how much you resent what you are doing? Have you ever questioned why you are doing what you are doing? This is an indication that you are burning out. Take a time out and do something for you! Create a fun project that reminds you why you fell in love with your camera and why you wanted to share your art with the world. You want to make sure that you are taking the time to do your own personal projects as well as putting food on the table. If you do not do this, well it could cause you to become resentful towards your clients or others and lash out, and in the end it could cause an end of your business, or cause you to walk away from photography altogether.

3. Try something new in photography-

    What do you normally shoot? If you shoot portraits, change it up and try and your hand at some landscapes. Are you a newborn shooter? Try shooting pets! It never hurts to change genres for a while. One it helps to build a new skill set for you, but it also gives you a chance to take a break, do something for yourself and you may find that this new genre is something that you enjoy and may want to eventually add into your arsenal of daily shoots. The human brain enjoys a challenge, changing it up and learning something new presents a new challenge. What is the worst that can happen? You realize that you are not a fan of the genre. Either way you learned something new, and you may learn some new techniques that you can still add to what you are currently doing.

4, Learn to say NO-

    No... One of the most difficult words that we may ever have to say. When it comes to your children it is super easy right? You have to learn to make it easy when it comes to clients and sometimes even family and friends when dealing with your business. As much as you want to make everyone happy and you want to take every single shoot that comes your way realize that there is a time that you just have to say no. These times can happen when you are already completely booked. You have to say no. If you over book your self you are going to be pushing on the back end to get photos edited and out to clients and you are going to have people breathing down your throat not understanding what is going on. This just adds to the stress and the more stress that you have the quicker you are going to burn out. Another reason to say no is when you know in your heart that the client that you are talking to is just not for you. It doesn't matter what the reason is, if they do not fit your business model or there is something that is telling you to say no, you need to be able to do it. Otherwise this particular client is going to be a very stressful point in your life until to commitment to them is over, and if this is a wedding client this could drag on for months. As hard as it may be to say, sometimes you just have to say no.

5. Take time to enjoy life-

     Above all take the time to enjoy life. Take a vacation from time to time. Spend time with your significant other, your children, or other family. Go to the beach, or the lake or whatever. Maybe you take your camera, maybe you don't. Either way, make some memories with the ones that you love. Don't work yourself into the ground. Enjoy every moment that you can in your life.

If you take the time to live your life to the fullest and also balance your photography career your life will be very full, however I truly believe that you prevent yourself from burning out, and you also not regret one moment in your life!


What are some suggestions that you have for preventing burnout? What would add to this? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to expand this article out to help even more people and the more suggestions I have the better!

For further articles on photography burnout here are some links

Photography Burnout what it is and how to recover
You Can Overcome Photography Burnout
5 Tips on How to Avoid Photographer Burnout
Tips to Avoid Creative Burnout

When is it time to take a break?

For my regular readers I am sure that you have noticed that I have not posted in over a month. There is a very real reason as to why I have not done so. I have honestly been overwhelmed with life. I had a death in the family of someone that was very close and that death has caused a ripple effect throughout my life, and even through my blogging and my business. I have also had some medical issues that I have had to take care of, so this has all just dropped at once.

With all of the things that have just happened back to back I felt that it was time for me to take a break from blogging and from my photography, and I will be honest, it was a struggle to even look at my computer or my camera. It was a huge weight that I just could not deal with at that moment. I am not sure that it was the best answer in regards to my blog because I am sure that I have lost traction in gaining any kind of traffic for the moment, and in regards to my business it is small so I am sure no one really noticed, but emotionally it was just to much for me.

When is the right time to take a break? I have come to the conclusion that taking a break is when you stop caring about the product that you are producing. I knew that if I forced myself to blog, or to have sessions that they would  not be the best. I am sure that they would not have been worth the time that I put into them, because it would not have been all that great. The content for the blog would have been horrible, and my photography the editing would have been horrible, if done at all. I just couldn't see myself putting out that kind of work.

I have never been in this position before, and I would love to hear some suggestions on how to handle this from all of you.

How do you handle your business when a major life event happens?

How do you determine when you need to take a break?

How do you determine how long the break needs to be?

How do you bring yourself back when the time comes?


Please share your answers in the comments. I am sure I am not the only one with these questions. Thank you all for your answers and your support.

Review of the Sigma 24-70mm F 2.8

Disclaimer

 There are affiliate links in this post, these links are used to help keep the lights on here at the home of this blog. If you choose to click on the link and make a purchase via Amazon I am humbled and appreciate all the support you are willing to give. These links do not add anything to your price. Thank you again for your support of this blog and taking the time to read this review!

I purchased this lens because I did not have a great portrait lens and I was hoping that this would be the lens that I could use for that reason. It has meant all those expectations and more. 

Here are some examples of photos taken with this lens. (Yes there are some edits, however I do not do heavy editing) 

Each image was shot with the Sigma 24-70mm with a Nikon D7100. 

As I mentioned before there is some post editing but there is not much in the way of post editing. This lens is pretty solid in my personal opinion. I love the fact that images are solid out to the edge of the frame, and the fall off is barely noticeable. It has performed well outdoors as well as indoors. I have used this lens for portraits and I have also used it to shoot basketball in some very horrible lighting situations and it has survived the struggle. The images are sharp and the color is on point.

I will admit that the lens is on the heavy side, however it can take a beating. I have had a child knock my whole bag with this lens out of the stands at a basketball game and it survived and has worked flawlessly after the fall. I do prefer to use this lens wide open versus stopping down as I have seen a change in the quality of the photos that I take, and I must admit here that I am still trying to figure out if it is me or if it is the lens. 

Overall if I had to make the choice again I would definitely purchase this lens again. It is one of my main lens and is a workhorse for me. It produces quality photos that not only I am happy with but more importantly my clients are happy with, which is the main concern for me. 

I would love to hear your experiences with this lens, or why you are looking to purchase this lens! Lets talk about it in the comments below or feel free to send me an email and we can chat via email! 

10 Smart Questions to Ask Yourself About that next lens purchase

OHHHH!!!! A New Lens! I REALLY NEED A new one!

Now, I know that each and every single one of us have seen the new lens that Tamron and Sigma are talking about and that are hitting the market currently and we are all drooling over them. I am sure that there are several of us out there that have already emptied our pockets to get our hands on some of these lens. I know that if I was able to I would in a heart beat. However as luck would have it..... the pocketbook is currently empty and I cannot just run out and purchase any lens that I wish. 

I have learned that with the inability to purchase lens whenever I feel the need to do so that I must really question myself before I do it. I have to be able to prove to myself that the lens is going to do more then make me feel good, or be more then a bragging piece in my bag of gear. It has to be something that is going to be essential and that I am going to use on the regular and that it is going to earn its keep once I have purchased it. So there are 10 questions that I ask myself before I purchase a lens and if I can answer properly to all 10 then the lens will end up coming home!

1. Is this lens something I want or something that I actually need? 

When I first started out I had a kit lens and I wanted every lens known to man. So it was there on my wish list and I was trying to find a way to get all of them. However as I have grown over time certain lens I have learned are slow, or redundant, or are not going to help me. I have learned to research my lens now and I realize not all of them are not for me and therefore I do not need every single piece of glass that every single pro recommends.

2. How often am I really going to use this lens?

I do not want to spend $1,000 or more on something that is going to do nothing more then sit and collect dust in my bag, or on my shelf at home. That is a pointless endeavor. I am not trying to purchase a paperweight. I need lens that are going to help me grow and help me become better. Therefore if the lens is not going to do that, there is no reason for the purchase.

3. Do I have another lens currently that can accomplish the same thing already? 

This question tends to be when it comes to upgrading a lens. For example Sigma has the new 24-70 F 2.8 Art that is rumored to be releasing this year according to Petapixel. I already have a Sigma 24-70 F 2.8. Do I need a new one because it is an Art lens?  I really don't think so. At this point from what I can see the speed of the lens holds out to be the same, and even though it is an Art lens I just can not justify a possible $1,700 on a lens that I basically already own.

4. Is the lens really worth the price? 

In most cases this can be a hard question to answer. I guess this is something that is going to be of a personal choice for you. A month ago I had to send my Sigma 70-200mm in for repair, however before I did I took to Facebook asking for suggestions on quick fixes with an issue I was having. I did not want to be without  one of my favorite lens if I didn't have too. In one of the groups a gentleman informed me that the problem I was having was the reason that he switched to only purchasing brand name lens like Canon and Nikor, he was tired of the compatibility issues and a few other things that he mentioned. So to him the higher price for the name brand was now worth it.

5. Is the lens durable? 

I need a lens that is durable. I am not saying one that I can throw on the ground and stomp on, but one that is not going to break at the first sign of abuse.

6. How heavy is the lens?

I want a great lens as much as the next photographer, however I also want to save my back. If a lens is heavy it is going to be one that I am not going to want to carry on a regular basis this could cause it to become a rather expensive paper weight.

7. Is the lens weather sealed?

This may or may not be a question that you ask yourself. I shoot outdoors a lot and there are a number of times that I have been caught out in the rain. I want to know that even if I am caught in the rain that my gear is going to be ok. So I need to know that the lens has some sort of weather sealing to it. Now, if you plan on shooting indoors all the time, then this may be something that you do not need to consider.

8, Do I really NEED this lens?

This is a question I think I struggle the most with. Do I really need the lens to make my life easier, and make better images, or is this another item, another want, that maybe I just really don't NEED to have. Another way to look at this is can I live without it?

9. Should this be a now purchase or a later purchase? 

There are times that a lens has to be a now purchase based upon what is going on in your business. At other times this is something that can wait. I also like to look at this is a sort of cooling off period. It gives you a chance to re evaluate your answers to all of these questions, make sure that you are not manipulating yourself for new gear, and gives you the chance to ensure that this is going to be a solid purchase for you and your business.

10. Does this lens offer everything that I need?

Seems odd to have to think about this, but believe it or not you should. You don't want to buy a lens and then realize that it does not have everything that you need. Do you need things like auto focus and image stabilization? If so you need to make sure that the lens that you are looking at has these features. If it doesn't then there is no reason for you to even consider the purchase any further.

What questions do you ask yourself before you purchase a lens, or any equipment for that matter? What questions would you add to this list? What would you take out of this list? Leave your comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic!

What is a business Avatar and to you really need one?

I have decided that this year is going to be a year of growth, and understanding for me and for my business. Business is something that is not my strong suite. I have no idea how to really market myself, other then through my children and their school activities, and of course the occasional Thumbtack request, and I honestly up until this point have had no idea what I want to shoot. In order to function more effectively in business I have realized that many people have suggested creating client avatars. Well that is great, but why should and I and what the heck is an avatar?

First a business avatar. This is a person, an ideal client if you will that you create. The person that you want to market too. This is the one that you want in front of your camera daily. Is this a real person? Technically no, it is someone that you have made up with all of the ideal qualities that you are looking for in a client. Rachel Brenke from the Business Bytes Podcast discusses this in episode 12 of her podcast. She has even named her avatar! As she describes it her avatar is very real, and not in a crazy way this is how she figures how how to go about marketing to her avatar as she is her ideal client. Jamie from the Modern Tog recommends that you know these things about your avatar:

• Who are they?
• What are their demographics? 
• What are their interests?
• What are their beliefs?
• What are their hobbies?
• Where do they hang out? 
• Why do they want to have photos done?

The more that you know about your business avatar, the more you will understand your ideal client and have the chance to make that ideal client be more comfortable and be more willing to book with you because it is you versus anyone else that they may have talked to before you.

Do you really need a business avatar? I will be perfectly honest with you, I have no idea. However, from the outside looking in it seems that having an avatar would make things so much easier when it comes to marketing. It helps to narrow things down, it helps you to focus on what you really want to do. You are able to start thinking about where you need to focus your energy regarding how to reach your clients when you are trying to market. I can see where this will reduce the amount of time that you are spinning your wheels trying to figure out where to find those much needed clients, while in the mean time shooting clients that you are just not interested in. I also think that this could help you find more clients purely because it is going to make you focus on your work. Your work is going to be tailored to that ideal client, and instead of just having everything from pets to weddings they are going to see you as someone that knows your stuff in a particular genre of photography.

I have sat down and taken the time to make my avatar. I want to see if this is something that is going to work for me. My avatar at the moment is not super tailored, however I do believe that as I move forward that this will continue to evolve to some point. I will talk you through my avatar, and I will explain some of my sticking points as I go through.



My Business Avatar Donna

Donna is a female that is between the ages of 18 and 50. She is your typical country girl with the boots and the wrangler jeans and the great summer tan. She may or may not be married, with or with out kids. (This is one of my huge sticking points)

She enjoys the outdoors, sports, hiking, going to the lake, beach, traveling etc.

Her hobbies consist of animals and sports

Regarding beliefs she has an open opinion about things, strong family values, and the need to close to her family.

She likes the idea of having photos done, but for occasions, such as graduation, engagements, weddings and family sessions. She is also a big supporter of action shots during sporting events. (This is my other sticking point)



As you can see I have a few points that I am not sure are very defined for my avatar. The first is the swing in age. The reason I have left this swing is because I love shooting senior photos, however I need to be able to market not only to the mother but to the senior as well. I also need to be able to market to the newly engaged, and the sporty individual that wants action shots of either herself or maybe her children when they are playing. Which makes the other sticking point of is she married with or without kids hard because of the swing from one end of the dynamic to the other. My second sticking point is that I want to shoot the highlights of life. Graduation, engagements, the occasional wedding, and family sessions along with the heart stopping action of sports. This leaves me in a very open field. I guess more of an artsy documentary of life. But these are the areas of life that I love and that I enjoy shooting. So somehow I have to find a way to market to someone that fits in this platform, however I am a little nervous that there may not be anyone that fits into this particular platform.

Do you have a business avatar? What does yours look like? What suggestions do you have for mine? Please leave comments below or if you would like to have private conversations please contact me using the contact me information box on the right side of your screen. I look forward to having great discussions with all of you!

*Disclaimer* The links that are in this blog post ARE NOT affiliate links. I believe in giving credit where credit is due. These two ladies have helped to open my eyes in this area and if you are interested in what they can do for you I highly recommend that you follow the links and see what they can help you with!

Are you happy?

What am I doing wrong?

Why is this not working?

Why can't I make this work?

Where are all the clients?

Why are my clients being SO DIFFICULT with me?

Are these some thoughts that you have run through your mind? Are these thoughts that are currently an everyday pattern for you? Do you wake up and go to bed thinking about these kind of things? If the answer to all of these questions is yes then it is time to 

STOP!

If these are the thoughts that are running through your head on a regular basis I am assuming that it is because you are struggling somewhere within your business. Something is just not going your way. If everything was going your way I am pretty sure that you would not be here right now trying to figure out if you are happy or not. So lets talk about this just a little bit.

I struggle with this thought process all the time. Part of the reason that I struggle is because I am a perfectionist. I always have been. I want to be at the top of my game, I want everyone in the area to know who I am and that I am good at whatever it is I am doing at the time. I want them to want to be my client. This is a great way to be, but it also bites me in the rear on a regular basis, and here is why. I SUCK at marketing myself. I want my work to speak for itself and I want the word of mouth just to do the work for me, however I have come to realize that word of mouth needs a little bit of help from time to time. Especially in an area where the market is very saturated and it can be a struggle to stand out from others. 

So like you I was trapped in the mind set that I just laid out above. I really believed that there was something that was just not right with me. The sad part is that I was letting this take over and affect me in more ways then one. I was beginning to resent the idea of having a business, I was not touching my camera. In fact I would tuck it away so that I wasn't able to see my bag and that way I could walk by it and "forget" it when we were going places that I should have had it with me. I was coming to the point that I just wanted nothing to do with photography. When I realized this I became very sad.

I was sad and I was disappointed with myself. I had allowed the business end of things to suck all of the joy and happiness out of photography and ruin it for me. I had allowed what I thought was failure and who knows what else to take away from what I was accomplishing. I was providing an amazing gift to the people that I had photographed. Memories of graduations, sporting events and weddings. Things that they would not have had if I had not been there per their request. I did not give myself enough credit for the little wins that I had with my business. 

I realized that I needed to stop and figure out what gives me the greatest joy when it comes to my business and photography as a whole. If I couldn't figure that part out then there would be no reason for me to continue forward and fight to maintain something that was floundering at best in a sea full of photographers that are just as qualified as myself to push that shutter button.

What does give me the greatest joy with photography? The smiles and heart warming thank yous at the completion of a session, especially with the seniors that I shoot. I love being able to give them images that they thought were not attainable, and encourage them and get them to realize that they look great, even when they do not believe it themselves. I take great joy in being able to break the negative thought processes for young ladies, and even if it is only for a moment get them to understand that they are beautiful, despite what is said by anyone around them. I love seeing the sports players get on Instagram and Facebook and show off their photos and talk about how great they are in a sport, and how they proudly show off a photo. (My sports photos are typically action shots or if I do the posed, I try to make them more interesting then the traditional shots). With a lot of words I guess you could say very easily that I get my greats joy from others happiness with themselves. 

Now that you have had time to stop and think about it, and regroup, are you happy with your photography, and with your business? 

What gives you the greatest joy with photography? 

I would love to discuss your answers in the comments below or via email if you are uncomfortable with placing it in the comments below.  I look forward to hearing from you all soon! Take care and have a great week!

If failure truly failure?

"Failure doesn't mean you are a failure. It just means you haven't succeeded yet"

-Robert Schuller

Over the last few months I have been struggling to meet the goals that I have set for my business for the year. They are small goals. Things like: Increase profit to $1,000 this year. Increase followers on Facebook and Twitter. Develop a strong business and marketing plan and stick to it. Increase clients by ten.  It all seems simple, however the more that I am diving into it, and wanting to make this work, the more that I am realizing that it is not as simple as I thought that it was going to be. 

I will admit that I am a bit stressed about the whole thing, and I have fallen into the trap of feeling as though I am failing. I have set goals for my business and for my blog, and for whatever reason I am just not meeting them like I should be. I blame myself for not being knowledgeable enough in business and blogging, and this leads to believing that I am failing. However, am I really failing? 

I am slowly growing my knowledge as my photographer, and as I grow I make sure that I am sharing that knowledge here with you. What does that do for me? Well it does two things, one it helps me to cement what I am doing in my head and helps me to remember it. When I was in the military we were taught with one method. It was the "See one, do one, teach one" method. he way that it works is that you have something demonstrated to you, then you perform the action, once you have performed it successfully you must teach it to the next person. This was something that I did not think would work when I was first introduced to it, however I have now realized that I am learning and maintaining more knowledge when I practice this method. The second thing that it is doing for me is it is helping me accomplish the goal of 8 blog posts a month for me here. If I am learning or improving on something at least 8 times a month that means that I am also sharing it here with you. Two birds with one stone. So, is this really failing? (as long as I am consistent)

I struggle with the idea that my business is more of a hobby then it is a business. However after watching a few videos from the The ModernTog I have come to realize that this is something that I need to shift my mindset on. Once I start treating it like a business and not a hobby I am sure things will begin to change. I have also learned from The Business Bytes Podcast that is run by Rachel Brenke at the Law Tog that I need a client avatar. Sounds weird, but believe it or not it has helped me move from treating my business as a hobby to a business. I am now trying to find ways to appeal to that person/avatar, and find ways to reach them and get them to want to book with me. So, I am not exactly succeeding yet, but am I really failing?

When it comes to owning your own business and doing what you love you have to define what failure really is. This is something that I believe only you can define, and that no one else can define for you because it is going to be different from person to person, and situation to situation. For example, for some people not being able to support their family and being full time is a failure. Not being  on page one of the google search is a failure. At this point in my business my belief is that if I drain the fun out of photography and I lose my love for it, that is when I have failed as a business. I am running my business for fun and to help my family, however I do not want it to consume my life and make it to where I no longer love going out and taking photos and making people feel amazing about themselves. When I lose that, that is when I will tell you that I have failed.

I am sure that there are a number of you out there that question your sanity and think that you are failing every single day, but are you really failing? Did you wake up this morning? Did you get out of bed? Did you accomplish your morning routine with your family? Now that you are sitting in front of your computer are you getting ready to work toward some goal? If you have gotten this far into this post, then trust me my friend you are not failing! You have already succeeded a lot already today! Take those successes and continue to apply them to the things that you need to get done for you and for your business. If that means that you have a full day of editing ahead of you, well I am sure that you have a coffee pot full and ready to go. If it is a day full of shooting, I am sure the batteries are charged and you are ready to go. These things are also successes. Never discount the small things. Always try to look for the wins, not the failures. A failure is nothing but a bump in the road to teach you something in order to grow. All you have to do is learn your lesson and move forward from that moment and apply what you have learned from that lesson. 

What are some wins for you? What are you struggling with? How do you view failure? Lets talk about it! Leave your comments in the comments below or if you would like to  discuss it personally please contact me via email. You can find the contact box on the right side of your screen. 

*Disclaimer* The links that are in this blog post ARE NOT affiliate links. I believe in giving credit where credit is due. These two ladies have helped to open my eyes in this area and if you are interested in what they can do for you I highly recommend that you follow the links and see what they can help you with!

What do you see?

I have a tendency to struggle with a lot of things when it comes to photography, and if you have been reading this blog for a while you are very well aware of the fact that I struggle. I am slow to learn, and I am slow to grasp and maintain an idea or a concept. I struggle a lot with this blog too. There are times that I wonder if I really help anyone with the things that I write, or if I am investing all of this time and effort and it is not helping anyone.

I have also realized that thought processes like this is a huge road block for me and has taken the fun out of photography. The last time that I touched a camera was a few weeks ago at my son's last basketball game. When I realized this I also realized that I was cheating myself, and I was losing the chance to practice.

I am not going to sit here and tell you that I take my DSLR and practice every day and that I take everywhere with me. However I do have a camera that I barely use that does travel with me everyday. So I thought about all the times that I could have used my camera that I have and chose not to because it was not my DSLR. What are the things that I have missed? Where could I have had the chance to learn and grow as a photographer and didn't take it because I felt that I didn't have a camera with me?

I have decided that is now time to stop making excuses and to start practicing when ever I have the chance to do so. Even if this means that I am going to be using my Iphone 7 Plus camera rather then my DSLR. In essence I am going to slow down and take time to stop and smell the roses.

Stopping and smelling the roses... Isn't that what photography is all about? It makes stop and take a moment to admire the beauty in something that catches our eye at that particular moment. I think sometimes we all need that a little more in our day to day lives.

Here is my first of photo of this. It caught my eye as I was out on my walk today.

What do you see? Where do you think I was? What camera did I use? And what did I use to edit this photo with?

So this is my challenge to you! Take a moment and "Stop and smell the roses!" And then come right back here and leave your "roses" for the rest of us to enjoy!

Please your answers to the questions in the comments below, and also if you have decided that it is time for you to show down and smell the roses, I would love to see your photos from that as well. Please leave a link or post them directly in the comments! I look forward to seeing everyone's answers and work!

Sigma customer service, my personal experience

Within this post are embedded affiliate links to Amazon. As a small reminder I only make a small commission from any sales from these links in order to maintain my blog. Thank you so much for your support in advance!


It Happens to Everyone

A few weeks ago I experienced what every photographer fears, a mechanical failure. I was at my son's basketball game, and I was clicking away trying to get some amazing action shots that will one day be printed and make it into his scrapbook when I realized that there was an issue. I was shooting with my Nikon D7100 and I had my Sigma 70-200mm. I  thought at first that I was imagining things, because this was me, and I am always so careful with my gear that there is no way that there was an issue, but I was wrong. Throughout the rest of the quarter I could not get the lens to lock on a focus, I couldn't even get it to manually focus. I thought that it was all very odd. So my first thought was that it had been working fine a few nights ago and my other son's wrestling tournament so it had to be me. I was missing something. The first thing I thought of was that the contact points were dirty. So I took the lens off and cleaned all the contact points the best that I could. Once this was completed, I replaced the lens, and magically it would focus again, but it lasted for exactly three shots. At this point I was very concerned that there was something very wrong with either the camera or my favorite lens. I removed the lens and placed my Sigma 24-70mm on the camera and it immediately focused and was ready to work. This let me know that it was the lens and not the camera that was the issue.

When I got home I took to Facebook and all of my reliable photography groups and explained what happened in hopes that there was something that I was missing, maybe I had accidentally changed a setting and didn't realize it, bumped something, anything that would fix the issue. After many suggestions and all of the simple fixes didn't correct the issue I knew there was no other option. I had to send my lens to Sigma. Thankfully it is still under warranty, however, this was not something that I wanted to do. I did not want to be without my lens for who knows how long.

Prepping to Send it Off

I will admit that I have never had to use the warranty or ever send my camera gear in for repair before so this was all a new experience for me. I first went to the Sigma website and signed up for a customer account which was super easy. After this was completed my husband discovered that you could file a warranty claim on line. So we went ahead and filed. The form was pretty basic. It asked about the type of lens the serial number, the dealer it was purchased from, the date it was purchased, the camera that the lens was being used on, and at the bottom it asked what was wrong with the lens. When I filled this part out I was very specific and described everything that was going on and everything that I had tried as well. Once it was completed we received an automated email from Sigma with the address to ship too and advice in regards to shipping. They recommend that we make sure that we ship the package with a tracking number and that it was insured. Once that was taken care of I pulled out the warranty form and read it. There was a sticker that was suppose to be filled out by the dealer, however my dealer had not done this. So I filled out the dealer information after contacting them and also placed all of my information on the form. The dealer also recommended that we send a copy of the sales receipt in case there was any question since this was something that was purchased online. Once this was all done I placed the lens back in the original box with as much packaging as I could find to protect it on its journey and took it to the local UPS store.

The Wait

This was the worst part of the whole ordeal, and honestly probably my only complaint with Sigma about dealing with them. I mailed my lens to them on the 21st of Feb, and it arrived to them on the 23rd of Feb. The only reason that I know that it got there is because I was tracking it. I never received contact from them that it had arrived. Once it was there it was radio silence until the 27th when I received another email, and all it contained was the statement of what was wrong, how they fixed it, that it was covered by warranty and a tracking number because it was already on the way back! I received it on the 1st of March. The reason that I say that this is a complaint is because I received no kind of contact with a real person, it was all automation. Not to mention I had to monitor when my lens arrived as they did not notify me that it had arrived or anything. I am a person that enjoys some kind of contact when dealing with things like this, and this was a tad difficult for me.

The Arrival

When my lens came back I was very anxious to open it up and see if they had been able to fix my issues with the lens. I was not expecting what I saw.

When I opened the box as you can see there was nothing but bubble wrap. This was impressive to me to see this, considering that when I received this initially at purchase this was not how I received the lens. After I removed the bubble wrap from around the original box I opened the original box to see this.

Inside the case there is even more bubble wrap! Something I was not expecting, as this was not how I got it at the time of purchase. I then pulled the lens out of its case to see this. 

The lens hood was placed in a separate bag, and placed over the bubble wrap to hold it in place, when I removed the bubble wrap the lens was even in a separate bag. I was very impressed! Sigma took the time to ensure that nothing was going to happen to my lens on its return trip. 

Once all of the packing was removed I immediately placed my lens on my Nikon D7100 and it began to function flawlessly! I could not be more relieved. 

So overall I must say that Sigma and their customer service is impressive. It was extremely easy to file a claim and have it processed in a timely manner, and I really did not have much down time without my lens. As I stated above my only issue with the customer support is that I never heard from a live person, however a number of things are going that way so I guess there is not much room to complain, and my lens was taken care of with little cost to me. 

I hope that if you are ever in this situation that this is helpful to you and that it eases your mind when you are shipping off your expensive gear to the manufacturer for repair, and just know that you will have a good experience with Sigma. 

Have you had experiences with Sigma that you would like to share? Please leave them in the comments below! 

What can I do for you in 2017?

I have been writing this blog since 2015 and it is my hope that I have shared some valuable experiences with you all that has helped you in some way or another, even if it is just to let you know that you are not the only one that is struggling with something in photography. Which has been my ultimate goal.

Last month I decided to make a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish over the next year. I broke it up into several areas, personal, photography, and blogging. In each area I picked things I wanted to improve upon in order to grow and become a better person. So over the course of the last month I have been working on these items and trying to find avenues to improve. One of the areas that I try to get ideas from to help me move forward is podcasts. I recently listened to a podcast from Darren Rowse from ProBlogger and I realized that there may be more that I should be doing for my readers. In the podcast titled An Alternate Resolution to Transform your Blogging in 2017 Darren made the suggestion that bloggers at times are more worried about what their blog is doing for them, making an income, being a basis of content, being an outlet for the blogger to express themselves etc, however what is it really doing for their reader? This made me stop and think. I have spent the last few years trying to be a consistent blogger and sharing my experiences with you, good and bad, with the idea of being educational. But has it even been helpful? I do not have a huge reader base so the question becomes am I not doing enough for my readers?

I have decided that this is something that I need to focus more on this year. I want to interact more with my readers, and I want my content to be driven more by what the readers would like to see. With that thought in mind here it is....

What would you like to see more of in regards to content?

What do you think I should cover more of in 2017?

What would you like to learn more about this year?

What would it take for me to get you to join my email list and become an active participant with the blog?

Please leave your answers in the comments or email them to me personally. I want nothing more then to improve over the coming year and I need your help in order to do that. I am looking forward to all of the responses that I am able to get in order to shape this blog!

How should a photographer do a model call?

In my previous post, Model Calls, Do I need them to build a Portfolio?   I discussed my feelings about model calls and if they are really worth all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into them. There are a number of photographers out there that believe that they are worth it, so with this thought in mind I decided it might be helpful to put a post together with ideas that I have found across the internet and in groups that I am involved in to help you have the best experience with a model call.

The information that I am about to provide is going to come from responses that I got via Facebook when I asked,

"Has anyone here done a model call before? Any tips or tricks to make it run smooth? Any guidance you would give to someone that is considering doing one for the first time?" I am also going to provide some information that I have found from scouring the internet with the idea of being a photographer considering to model call for the first time.


During my Google search the first article I encountered was an article written my Rachel Brenke 5 Tips to Successful Portfolio Building. It seemed odd at first that this was the first article until I actually opened it up and read it. The article is based around  building a portfolio, however it does give pointers on what to do regarding model calls. Some of the biggest points that she made was that you need to make sure you have a model contract, model release, and print release. Also make sure that you have covered all the questions regarding what the model is going to get. Be as prepared as possible and more or less you are trying to make this to where the model cannot back out after they get their prints or digitals or whatever you are giving them and then  not allow you to publish your work.

As I continued my Google search I noticed a trending theme, use modeling agencies. I thought that this was kind of absurd to be honest. What modeling agency would want to work with someone like me? Here is what I discovered. Models need to have their own portfolios as well and those that are starting out typically do not have one. The smaller agencies do not have their own photographers and in most cases do not have the funds to create the portfolios for the models, so what they do is they send their girls to photographers who cold call or cold email them if they appear to be a good fit and it becomes a win win situation all the way around. The model gets the portfolio that she needs and the photographer gets the images they need to update their portfolio. There are some guidelines you may have to follow if you decide to use these photos for advertising (on billboards and such) or if you sell them, but that is as simple as contacting the agency to determine what the best course of action is.


Here are some of the Facebook responses that I got. I spent about a week collecting these answers from various groups with only posing the phrase that I mentioned above.


"Some have facebook groups that trade work, photographers, models and makeup artists(mua or ma) theres usually a trade for pics agreement (tfp). Might check your area. If you do use models, make sure to have them sign a release and make sure to list what the trade off is in the relase, like said number of digital photos for their modeling services."

"Make sure you have solid contracts AND model releases. Be 100% clear about what is included with your call and what is NOT included. Know exactly what you want to shoot, and why you want to shoot it and don't just take the first person who volunteers (unless they're exactly what you're looking for).you'll want to call them somehitng like "discounted portfolio building sessions" so you can still charge for them, but grow as well. I wouldn't offer to do them for free. Still make sure you have a good contract and release"

"Have a contract in place. Mine specifies thst if they rescind their permission to use the photos they owe me whatever the cost of that particular session is at the time they change their mind. I give digitals, so they only get 3 digital images, and they have to do an in person viewing to select them, no gallery is given. They can select more if they want. I also try to put the word out what I'm looking for by word of mouth rather than posting on fb"

"Prepare a list of criteria so you know who your ideal client would be. Create an online application for ppl to complete if they are interested and state that you will only contact those selected and who meet the criteria. This will save you tons of time and ensure that you get the most out of your casting call."

" Make sure to describe your ideal candidate. If you want a fashionable senior - ask them to send a picture that shows off their personal style! Or, if you're looking for an adventurous, in love couple, ask them to send a photo of them doing something they love. It tells you A LOT about them and you can choose accordingly!"

"Collect a retainer fee that is refundable when they attend the model call, to ensure attendance. Otherwise you may end up with no-shows."

"I have the best success with model calls when I plan the style I want, along with location etc. So they are images that showcase my style well for my website. I communicate lots with them a couple days before and then send a good morning text the day of and have had no problems with no shows"

" I do 5 digitals and I make the selections. They have the ability to select more if they like. Mine actually does go out via Facebook, on my biz page, you can look through if you like. But I may refrain from doing that in the future and offer it as a complimentary shoot to my friends/their friends and try to imply value/awesome gift for them more so than portfolio building/etc."

"I require models to give model release or if defeats the purpose. And I pay my models rather than giving them images, it seems to work better to deter flaky people. They can purchase images if they choose to but they're not included in the deal at all"

After getting all of these responses I thought it was great. I felt like this is something that I could do, and it was even better that I was able to get some advice from people that had done them before and learn from their mistakes or the things that worked best for them. All of these answers that I received made sense to me, and for someone who has never done a model call gives a guideline of what I need to be preparing myself for.

1. Pre planning the shoot and what I want so that I can be up front with models with what my expectations of the shoot and of them are and I can also put it in writing.

2. MODEL RELEASES AND CONTRACTS! This is something that I would have never considered before considering the fact that this is a "we are working together" situation. I would have never thought to have a contract that was specific about what the model was going to get and also making sure that I had the model release, considering the fact that this is a model shoot it is something that in my head is implied. So much for being a trusting person.

3. Be picky about your models. This is something else I would have never considered. My thought initially would have been if they applied then they meet the criteria, but to stop and evaluate them as a whole and make sure that they are going to represent me as a photographer and my brand. That is something that to consider.

4. Require a retainer fee. This was a new one. Who doesn't love having free photos done? So if you know they are free why wouldn't you show up? I found out that this is actually a thing. Models opt to not show up. That just blows my mind. IT IS FREE!!! So in realizing that not all models are serious a refundable retainer fee now makes a lot of sense to me.

How do you feel about model calls? Are they worth it to you? Let me know in the comments! Or you can always add your email to our email list and join in on discussions, make suggestions for up coming posts, or even be a guest poster! I look forward to hearing from you all!

Model Calls, Do I need them to build a portfolio?

Over the last few weeks I have been looking through the many groups that I am in on social media and I have started to notice a theme as of late. I guess it is that time of year and everyone is wanting to update their portfolios so a lot of the discussions in the various groups have turned to how to do a model call and/or do I need to do a model call.

I will admit that this is something that I have thought about for a while. Is a model call something that I need to do? Is it something that I want to do? Is it something that is going to help me and my business? If so how is it going to help? I will admit there are several areas that I am not so sure that it will help, but I am sure that over all there are some benefits.

So the first thing to address is do I really need to do a model call? I think that this is a by photographer basis only. It depends on how much work you have been putting out in the previous year, and it depends on where you plan to take yourself this year. For example if you are strictly a family photographer but now you want to branch out to newborn photography I believe that a newborn model call is in order. One it helps you get clients in the door, and it gives you time to practice while there is little to no expectation from the client. This also gives you the chance to figure out several things about newborn photography. First, is this even something that you like? Lets be serious for a moment, why would you want to start offering services for something that you realize is just not "your thing"? It is not going to benefit you, your brand, and most of all it is not going to benefit your client. Second it gives you a chance to figure out your niche within that particular type of photography. For example do you prefer stylized newborn photography or do you prefer lifestyle newborn photography? These are all things that you have a chance to figure out just with a model call.

The second purpose to a model call is to build your portfolio in that particular genre. In order to get clients you have to look like you are already doing work in that area. No one paying money ever wants to be a guinea pig for a photographer. Your clients typically are going to pick you based upon previous work that they have seen of yours. However, if there is no previous work for them to look at, they are unable to believe that they are going to get a product that they love. They are also unable to determine your style, or concept without having previous sessions to view. Previous work can be crucial for getting the next client, and if you don't have it you are more than likely going to have less bookings then the photographer that has a portfolio with something to show.

Model calls are great for other reasons as well. For example maybe it is a slow month for you and you decide that it is time to tackle a project that you have been working on for months. You put together your model call, get a few willing participants and you are now able to complete the dream project that you have not had time to do, or did not have willing subjects to shoot for in months. Model calls are also great for just practice. Again, there may be some down time for you. You decide you want to work with your off camera flash and get better at that skill. You get a few models through a model call and practice. Not only are you getting the chance to practice a skill but you are also getting the chance to potentially create photos for your portfolio.

Now in the beginning I eluded to the fact that there are some times that I feel model calls are not worth it. First, they are not worth it if the model or the models parents are not going to let you publish your work. The whole purpose is to be able to publish your work and if you are unable to do so, you have just wasted your time and energy for almost nothing. I also do not feel model calls are needed every year just to update the current portfolio. For example, you as the photographer had a great year the previous year, and it is time to update the work that you show to new clients before they book. There is no reason to have a model call to create more photos when you have previous real clients that you can show off. Believe it or not I have actually seen where some have gotten a better reception from potential clients when they see that their friends or family are in the portfolio of the photographer. It gave that photographer the extra edge I believe in order to gain the trust of the client before the session even began. One last area that I am not keen about model calls is brides. I believe that the coordination for this in of itself would be horrendous first of all. People who are modeling as brides are not stressed, they are just models and they are doing it for fun. This is a far cry from the actual bride who is stressed, has a mother and a mother in law breathing down her neck over every little detail of the wedding, or is just the dreaded bridezilla that happens from time to time. The dynamic is completely changed in this area if you are using a model call. Not to mention if you use a model call for brides you will not have a wedding portfolio to show the end result... the wedding... to a client, and this can potentially be a discredit to you and your business.

Here are some other issues that I can also see with model calls. Typically for the model the shoot is free and it includes hair and makeup. How many of us can really do hair and makeup? I know I can't, I am a tomboy at heart so my answer to everything is a little bit of lip gloss and a ponytail. That is not going to work for a model call. So who is going to pay for the hair and makeup stylist, well, my friend that is going to be you. Unless of course there is some sort of crazy deal that you can work with them as well where maybe they use your photos in their portfolio, but that is a whole different ball of wax that I am not going to get into. So you are going to be out of pocket for this portion. Another issue you run into is the lack of listening on the end of the model. You may be going for a styled look, and you express this to the model, they agree yet on the day of the shoot they show up with sweats and a t-shirt and expect you to make them look amazing. Realize still that you are out of pocket for a makeup and hairstylist, and everything else is free.

My last big issue is the application process. I saved this one for last because I am not a fan of confrontation and I believe that there will be a huge amount here. When you put out on your social media sites that you are going to do a model call you are going to get potentially  a large number of responses. Now you have to go through each application and pick and choose which models you are going to use. This is going to leave some models complaining and whining and wanting to know why they were not good enough to be picked by you. This is something that I am just not good at dealing with, and therefore causes me to shy away from model calls all together.

So do you need model calls to build your portfolio? Maybe. It is going to be a case by case basis. Are model calls really worth it? I think that this is something that is also a case by cases basis. There are huge number of pros and cons that are associated with this, and well, it really boils down to personal choice.

Are there other subjects that you would like to see discussed here? Please leave suggestions in the comments below. Do you use model calls? What have been your experiences? I would love to hear your perspective on the topic, lets talk about it in the comments, or send me an email!

If you would like to help guide the topics of the blog, or give suggestions or even guest post, please add or email to the email list using the "Contact us" block in the side bar.