You will find a whole lot of helpful reads on photographic strategies from simple camera use to lighting style, portraiture, post-processing and promotion. Depending on the kind of photography you would want to pursue and your level of expertise, books are largely dependent on personal preference. When coping with the intricacies of business contracts or marketing, no matter your photographic liking, there are many books that are must haves for the bookshelf.
Elyse Weissberg's "Successful Self Promotion for Photographers" is an excellent book. When presented with a number of choices of books to fulfill a requirement for a studio management class many moons ago, I opted for this publication and since then I haven't encountered reading so informative or jam-packed with needed information. If you want support enhancing your photography endeavors - pick up a copy right away.
The book is separated into ten sections, each one dealing with issues in developing, selling and promoting a photography business. "Dos" and "don'ts" can be found at the end of nearly every module for easy reference. I found this book to be well worth the $35 and strongly suggest it to any novice or expert portrait or wedding photographer.
Chapters one and two are stuffed with start up recommendations for beginners. Weissberg assembles a power packed list of promotional techniques and a solid outline with directions to enable readers to determine personalized objectives, the significance of staying true to a brand, an image, a service, an experience and a style that speaks to a targeted audience.
Seeking approaches to learn your market and form a portfolio to satisfy a specific clientele? Chapters three and four offer up in depth understanding of successful practices created to help appeal to the needs of your potential customers by showing your availability to fulfill their needs. This is accomplished easily by way of advertising and portfolios. The writer echoes at length about how such displays can be understood differently in a variety of market segments such as magazine, fine art, fashion and design and presents ideas for approaching the particular market.
If identifying your values is essential to being highly valued a photographer, then chapters five and six will offer you a restored viewpoint and enable you to discover your vision and voice. Only by realizing who you are can you find who your clients are. Weissberg sends you along with critical skills to creating a plan based upon audience, budget and taste.
Chapters seven through ten close with some other professional marketing and advertising ideas for photographers: from building brand identification, to creating promotions, mailings, and conversing in your customer's vocabulary. Not only will you develop packages and ads that speak volumes to your brand but this same voice or vision will ring in their minds and ears.
This is not only practical, but also an engaging read that will leave you with dozens of ideas for expanding your photography business and marketing methods. The biggest advantage of this book is the commonsensical matter offered; after completion I felt as though I had a talk with a fellow photographer or friend.
Ziem Nguyen Malkani is an Austin wedding photographer and available for travel in the US and Caribbean. She has a solid background in digital image processing and photography. Her wedding images have been featured in Town and Country and have also been given awards and national attention. To see more about Austin wedding photography visit her website at http://www.ziemphotography.com/.
No comments:
Post a Comment