I Shoot People, Photographically Speaking!

"The Fast Track Photographer Business Plan," By Dane Sanders
(Design by Debbie Glasserman, Copyrighted Material)


Since the loss of Brian's mortgage business in 2009, we have been trying conventional means to earn a living. Basically our entire married life, and thus, our entire adult life, we have been in a "self-employed" business and job and we have found, with great risk, comes great reward. The Mortgage field is a brutal one, a job that has required many of the sacrifices that are common to building any type of business. Brian found a niche for himself and created an empire of business for the better part of 15 years that afforded us a beautiful home, enabled me to stay at home with our children and enjoy many amazing experiences in life. As we have laid that part of lives behind, we find the entrepreneurial spirit restless within us.

Brian has had a love and passion for photography for as long as I have known him and even it resonates even before that. He has tinkered with it over the years, often spending his personal time and money on cameras, equipment and books to hone in on his skill and natural ability to understand the technical side to things, ever-so-easily. However, in the past, I'd say, 4 years, we've been a little more deliberate in focusing our attention to this "hobby," as photography so often births-itself, and trying to gradually move it into a business. We began with landscapes, moved into family and senior portraits and then while in California, worked contractually with a local newspaper shooting sporting events and local highlights, collaborated an album for a local persimmon farmer, and most recently, with a business owner to capture still shots for a business who's mode of sales was through e-commerce.

All this, to document our journey and experience in the photography world that has led us to this place. Which is Where Exactly, you ask? Precisely my question! Returning to this impresario nudging, I begin a research that will hopefully be the foundation for a Photography Business launch in the upcoming year.

I picked up a book called, "Fast Track Photographer Business Plan," by Dane Sanders and have been diligently applying myself in education in all aspects pertaining to Photography. Although this book has not given an exact mathematical formula for a successful photography business, it has given me a great foundation on business principles. I have found that while reading, I often have similar ideals and ideas roaming around my head, but just haven't been able to frame it into words. The highlights for me have pointed to these concepts: 1) Defining Our Vision 2)Finding a Product/Service that our Target Audience/Clients are willing to pay for (Finding Your Sweet Spot) 3)Criteria for Pricing our Products - considering Overhead & Profit 4)Outsourcing/Scaling/Strategic Partners - Implementing partnerships that share the same Values as we do in our business (WWYD) 5) Marketing/Sales is about Inviting, not old school tactics using pressure and gimmicks, Appreciating & utilizing Touch Points.

One of the most exciting things in all this glory-less research has been the gradual formation and contemplation for our business. What is our Photographic Point of View? The 3 Main area's of emphasis seem to be coming into focus (no pun intended!) and it is Simply Exciting!