Giving Back
Photo World I offer a free coaching call. Scroll to the bottom of this page if you are interested. One thing I do for every call is get to know you and your business. Following the call I give a thank you gift for having done the call. I don't want to share everything, but highlight 1 point on the gift.
Giving back to your community. In the episode I read word for word how I view this point and what I include in this gift. In short I have found giving back to your community does many things and it is different for each of us. It can be for a feel goof feeling, maybe to help out for a cause you believe in, or just to show that you are motivated to be a part of your community.
Whatever the reason giving back is a beautiful thing. Take it one step further and incorporate your skill, talent, and passion for photography and creatively look for ways to overlap your photography work with community service. Perhaps you could do photos for a local animal shelter so they have quality images.
Happy Shooting!
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Cost of Doing Business
Photo World there is an old saying: It takes money to make money. That saying is so true and truer still when it comes to marketing. Marketing is one of the costs of doing business, in fact, it is the largest cost of doing business. In today's episode I break down three marketing strategies I have tried over the past few years. Admittedly, over one dozen attempts at marketing have taken place for Rob Krueger Photography and most have failed miserably. A few have been successful and have become the new standard for all future marketing.
Photo World you have everything to risk when you start marketing your business. It can be costly... at first. Hopefully, those trial and error tests of marketing will open up the opportunity your business needs. One marketing avenue I had used was Google ads. My experience wasn't typical but I confidently feel it is a valuable option for most photography businesses.
I have had my own ups and downs when it comes to marketing and today I only discuss the idea of paid marketing. a brief mention to word of mouth as well as social media marketing is worth remembering. The fact that we have a free (social media) option for marketing our businesses is brilliant. On the one hand that is part of the reason the market feels saturated at times. However, saturated markets is a myth.
Happy Shooting!
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Rule of Thirds Pricing
Photo World, making up what you do with your pricing is hard enough. I spent years, with trial and error, figuring out an efficient way to make life easier when it comes to talking money. I have created a rule of thirds pricing...
- Have a set pricing for your customers
- Define who your customer is and how you would charge them
- Give appropriate breaks to the right people
I have broken my customer base into 3 main categories, hence the rule of thirds. One has three sub categories within it. You'll have to listen to get the who scoop.
If you have been having trouble determining your pricing for new customers, family, friends, referrals, or repeat clients maybe this episode will help you. I know when you’re starting out it seems more important to just book the work or sell the art just for the sake of doing so. Newer photographers often make the mistake of taking what they can get and breaking their own pricing rules. These simple rules I have laid out will help guide you to a more successful pricing structure and a good path to improving your own pricing model in the future.
Happy Shooting!
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People Person
There is no rule in business that says you must be a people person but I like to lean on logic when I question these types of things. In a truly logical sense, in every career or job, in every industry, there are people involved. Either you are getting something done/created for other people or you are having work done for you. Your business really revolves around the idea that someone is on the other end of just about everything your do. With that, being a people person could just be the most important skill you develop for your business. I will say when I got started as a photographer people were the one subject I never wanted to deal with. However, I had a benefit most don't get; I was able to watch a pro photographer in action. Not just a pro photographer but one who was already in business for 20 years when I started working for him, one who was an excellent people person, and one who genuinely knew how to interact with others. I learned how to be a people person.
Happy Shooting!
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Network Time
Photo World it is time to get back to business. Admittedly, the show has been struggling these past few weeks and the content has suffered. However, you still mean a great deal to me and I want you to know there are many great things to come. That being said it is time to get back in gear... it is time to talk business.
If you recall I had a few episodes focused on the startup of a photography business and how to go about doing that. This is a continuation of that track. When I started I would say my greatest failure was never networking in my industry. I always thought networking was about talking yourself up and trying to impress those around you with your successes. I know now that is a horrible way to network. If you don't believe me, try it. Talk yourself up to everyone around you and then star to listen for everyone talking about you. Not in a good way but talking about how annoyed they are with you. Or look at it from the other side. Think of those people who always have to one up you. Not a fan right?
Happy Shooting!
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Talk Yourself Up
Sometimes you need to talk yourself up. Photo World, the way we handle our internal reactions will often determine our external reality. I have spoken about mindset and maintaining professionalism in the past but what about those times when it seems like nothing is going your way? What about when you are feeling a creative block? How about times when rejection clouds your mood? There are plenty of things to think about when something doesn’t go our way. However, it is difficult to maintain a positive attitude. Start with a slight hesitation and replay this thought: When and if you are ever feeling down, do not listen to yourself; but instead, talk to yourself.
This isn’t some trick to get yourself feeling better or some roundabout way to talk yourself up. This is a simple statement to remind you of a better approach to improving your thought process. Next episode I will go over a few ways to rethink rejection and how to find the positive moment.
Photo World can you think of a time when you needed to talk yourself up? Share your story in the comments section below. We all learn from our own experiences but we can learn even more when we hear it from others. It helps to know we are not alone in all of this nor are we the only ones going through a rough time. Share to help talk one another up and not just ourselves.
Happy Shooting!
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What They Did
I want to wrap up my thoughts from the last episode… I talks about starting out and there have been a few dedicated episodes with that same idea in mind, but it is really leading us to today’s topic. I had heard, and I don’t know if this is his quote, businessman Dave Ramsey mention to one of h callers; “When you want to be thinner you talk to thin people, ask them what they did. When you want to be rich you talk to rich people, ask them what they did.” That ignited the exact same principal in me when concerning photography. When you want to be a more successful photographer you talk to successful photographers, ask them what they did. Directly asking someone who they became successful is not really the best strategy, but there are ways of learning the steps those, whose work you admire, did what they did to accomplish for where they are at now.
As a good start you should begin with who do you surround yourself with? What are they like? Do you wish you were in the same position they are in? If you are wanting what those around you have then you may be in the right crowd. If you would never want what those around you have, stop having those individuals around you. Remove yourself from instability and immerse yourself in opportunity. Opportunity is nothing more than being prepared and keeping a look out for it. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. So it helps to know who they are, but more importantly, what they did. Choose your friends wisely.
Happy Shooting!
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Rocky Start
Photo World there are always so many things that come across my desk (screen) and I find once in a while, I see things that strike a chord with me. Recently, a story was shared withe me about another "photographer" who borrowed a few pictures to supplement their own portfolio in hopes to sell to new clients. They had said, once they were caught, that they would remove those borrowed images when they built a stronger portfolio. Photo World, if you were ever wondering how to get started in this industry there are hundreds of ways to do it. Some are better than others, but there are an oblivious few that should never be used.
On the other end of the spectrum, as a professional, I don't know if there is much I can do if and when I ever come across this situation with my images. Would I be mad, upset, or vengeful? Maybe all three, maybe none at all. This episode isn't meant to be some sort of anti-theft device and I do steer away from the topic a bit but just another one of those things where it has been brought to my attention.
Happy Shooting!
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Manual Mode
Photo World how could I go through each priority mode and not finally speak on Manual Mode. However, I don’t really do that much here. I should have called this episode Rob Mode because I selfishly only talk about how I shoot and how I couple Manual Mode with my Metering. Although, Manual Mode is really “insert name here” Mode every time. If you think about how we create images, and you will hear me speak to the topic of “Style” here today, we will find it all starts from our own understanding of our gear and how we use it to create our looks. Admittedly, some of the thoughts seem disconnected but I do tie up my point in the end and hopefully give you a rough outline to doing what you love for a living. Ultimately, this is a show to help the “enter your current photographic level here” photographer to gain knowledge and experience to move forward and grow toward the next level of their journey. Whatever that may be.
We will make our way back to the business stuff soon enough. I wanted to break for a few episodes to really break down some areas on the camera in hopes to offer insight or possibility in using those options. Sometimes we get so set in what is comfortable nothing great can happen anymore because the possible is so beyond the realm of comfort.
Happy Shooting!
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Program Mode
Photo World in my opinion Program mode is the transitional mode between auto and manual. Now if you have played with or made some understanding of how to effectively use the shutter priority and aperture priority modes then you are going to feel very comfortable with the Program Mode. Basically the camera will decide for you what the exposure will be with the exception of ISO. However, just like the other two priority modes you can enable that setting as well.
Program mode wants good safe exposure for the situation the camera is presented with. Offering you the cleanest images with everything being considered. Now this is where Program mode is actually kind of cool… you may change the shutter or the aperture depending on a sharpness, depth of filed, freezing or blurring motion, and even creative attributes. No matter what you change or how you decide to do so the camera will automatically come up with the equivalent exposure. This is the main feature to Program mode because it acts as an exposure safety net. There will be limitations because one setting will affect the other, those settings being shutter speed and aperture, but you have a lot of latitude especially when you are unsure.
A tip I had heard about but have never practiced myself, if you typically shoot in manual, put your camera in Program Mode when you pack your camera bag. This way when and if you come across something that needs to be captured at a moment’s notice you can easily open your bag, grab your camera, turn it on, and shoot with safe exposure settings to ensure capturing that photo. Then you may switch over to manual or where ever you would like and shoot like you normally would. I could see that being a good practice for many photographers who actively react when they see a picture worthy scene.
Happy Shooting!
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Aperture Priority Mode
Hey Photo World! I need to clear up one small detail from the last episode on Shutter Priority. I never mentioned that many of you may see is as "Tv" mode or "Time Value". This is the standard for Canon as well as a few other cameras out there. Today I go over the Aperture Priority Mode or as you Canon users will see "Av" or "Aperture Value". Let me cut to the chase because I am going to sound like a broken record if I don't just lay this out there now. These modes or any modes for that matter are useless, unless you try them out and see where they can benefit your photography and work. I still feel Manual it he best way to learn and shoot. You get to a point in your photography where complete control is necessary and extremely beneficial to your image making.
With that said, Aperture Priority Mode is as restricting as the Shutter Priority Mode. You may engage the option to select your ISO or leave it to the camera, but this is only to get "correct exposure". That is a whole other topic itself.
Happy Shooting!
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Shutter Priority Mode
Photo World I am on this “what does every little thing in my camera do and how can it be helpful to me?” kick. I know that’s not really a thing but for me blabbing on like I do it is an important enough discussion to have. Also, it gets my attention because there are so many functions I almost never use and perhaps it is because I don’t know as much as I would like about it. It isn’t 100% of the time but I would say I shoot exclusively in Manual exposure. Today, and the rest of this week, I want to walk through other Priority Modes that most DSLR’s offer and maybe why it would be something worth using or at least trying out. Photo World, that brings me to today’s topic: Shutter Priority Mode. The Shutter Priority is exactly like it sounds… You choose the shutter and the camera will do the rest. This is a great little tool for things like Sports or something where you need the speed for really freezing the image. There is more to say about it so that’s where having a podcast comes in handy – free to listen and I don’t have to write more about it. Next time on Take & Talk Pics I will be going over Aperture Priority Mode.
Happy Shooting!
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Nikon CLS
There are specific sensor receptors to interact with the Creative Lighting System or CLS. The number one complaint is the flash wont fire because of too much sun or there isn’t enough power from the on camera flash. There are so many “reasons” people have for why they think it won’t work and the number one actual problem is user error. Not having the sensor aiming back at the camera or master flash and incorrect or insufficient power from the commander flash are also a big problem for an effective CLS. If you know your gear and you practice how you plan on using it long before you actually put it to use on the job you have a much better chance at being successful with that gear. This has never been truer than when using CLS. It isn’t a complicated system however it can be a limiting system if you are not fully prepared.
Choose the Chanel, Choose the Group, You can shoot in TTL or Manual.
The coolest thing about the Creative Lighting System is: wireless wasn't always affordable and this function for off camera flash has been around for a number of years. TTL wireless is only just becoming affordable and I know many of my students starting out are still not able/willing to make the investment for that function, but CLS offers it. Lastly and the best one by far is High Speed Sync (HSS) with off camera lighting, especially in TTL, is still a bit pricey and the cheaper versions seem to have bad reviews across the board, but you guessed it CLS even includes that.
More info on Nikon CLS:
https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9520/~/nikon-creative-lighting-system-(cls)
Happy Shooting!
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