Fundy SOS - Album Design Software, Online Album Proofing, Work Flow Software, Photography Pricing Software » Featured Photographer

Featured Photographer: Laura Novak

"Fundy" — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 06:00:25 +0000

How did you get started in photography?

I started out mainly photographing weddings, assisting a wedding photographer in college when I was living in the Boston area. After college I moved from Boston to Delaware and started my own photography business as a wedding photographer and loved all the wonderful people I met on that journey. After a few years, my wedding clients started having children and asked me to photograph their kids and this is when I absolutely fell in love with children’s portraiture. Since then, I have been photographing fewer weddings and more children – and now I book a few select weddings a year and mainly fill my calendar with families.

Who have been your influences in photography?

Truly… my clients inspire and influence my photography. The more I have an opportunity to get to know my clients, the better the images are. My favorite images are always of families that I know really well because by letting me ‘in’ I have more of an opportunity to tell their story through photography in a meaningful way. My best new ideas come from talking with customers and learning about what is important to them.

How would you define your style of photography?

I would say that my style is connected. It’s really important to me to be present during the photo sessions, to bring my heart and soul to the session and connect with my subject. Children know when you are just humoring them, or if you really care. They are very intuitive. I love to make images that tell the story of who a person is, my favorite images are often of customers I have known for a long time because I develop a relationship with the child and then communicate who they are through the photograph. I love it when a client says “wow, that is SO my child.” To me, the creative process of achieving a great image is a collaborative effort between myself and the subject.

What is one thing that has helped you grow your business?

Creating beautiful collections for the walls of our studio to give customer ideas of what to do in their homes. I think as a portrait photographer it’s really important to be able to show ideas and wall collections to your customers so they can imagine what the concept would look like in their homes. Now that we are onto our our third studio we have learned how to present our ideas and concept to clients in a way that is exciting to them. It’s important to me to create a space where immediately when the customer walks in they experience the five senses right away – smell (we usually have a candle lit), taste (there is usually candy out), sight (a simple, easy display to look at along with fresh flowers), touch (we usually try to have something tactile they can touch) and sound (we often have a light, relaxing XM station playing). Being able to host our clients in this way I think enhances the experience we are able to provide them.

Developing a strong team with positive people who have great values. Everyone in our company is required to read ‘how to win friends and influence people’ by dale Carnegie when they first start with us. The title is a little funny but it’s simply a book on practicing old fashioned values and simply how to be a nice person.

What is one failure that helped you grow as a business person or artist?

I love moving forward on a lot of different ideas at once, and over time I’m learning the importance of focus. It’s not only important for me, but for my staff, who needs leadership from me in the form of constantly communicating a consistent direction without switching gears every time I have a new idea. I still have new ideas all the time so I have make sure to stop myself and prioritize (it’s a work in progress!).

What is one piece of advice that you would give to a person that is in the first few years of their photography business?

Start out with a business plan – know how much money you need to get going, the kind of customers you want to bring in the door and take the time to understand what is going to be required. Most people I have talked to in my workshops (women especially) fall into the photography by accident and don’t really have a plan for what they are going to charge, how they are going to get customers, how much money it is going to take to start and when they can start taking a salary. Then they are not taken very seriously by their spouses or family and become upset or frustrated which creates conflict. It’s always best to establish expectations in advance – for yourself and everyone else in your life!

Laura Novak is a marketing and pricing guru. I love her stuff. I learned a ton from her Strategy Avenue DVD and Work Book. You can get 50% off the price of Strategy Avenue with the code “fallsale”. Additionally, check out her “Living the Dream” workshop. It is an experience you’ll never forget.

Sarah Petty – on why albums increase sales

"Fundy" — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:05:51 +0000

Why adding albums to your portrait mix can help you overcome objections, build loyalty and increase your sales.

As small business owners, we create our product mix for many reasons. Some products we offer simply because they are so cool and they separate us from the competition. And we offer some products, like albums, because they overcome objections, increase sales and encourage loyalty.

One of the main reasons we offer albums and books is to overcome objections. Have you ever been in a sales presentation and heard a client say “oh, I don’t have any wall space left,” or “I don’t hang large portraits of my family on the walls.” Well, I have great news for you. Albums are a fantastic alternative to wall portraits for your clients. Albums allow your clients to have more images without taking up wall space. We also know that with this generation, everyone is looking for (or at least asking about) digital files. Ask your client when the last time was that she printed the photos on her camera and then remind her that with an album, she will have these images to enjoy for many, many years.

Many times, you can build loyalty with your clients by getting them into an album program. You can create a baby plan where you add images from every session to the album. You could also make the albums part of a series so they have a smaller album from every session. Clients will keep coming back for years to have these keepsakes.

The key is to identify your clients needs prior to the session. When you can provide them with an album option, it will increase your sales. If you can determine that albums would meet their needs, you can make sure to photograph your subject so that you have enough pages for the album. An album is a great product for large families because you can photograph so many combinations. You can group mom with each child, dad with each child, the boys, the girls, serious, everyone giggling, the kids carrying the littlest child, etc. When we shoot this way, the parents can’t say no to all of the images, making a book or album the perfect solution for them.

Sarah Petty

I would like to give a personal thanks to Sarah Pettty for writing this article for us. She’s a busy photographer with a genius mind for marketing and a heart of gold. If you are struggling with marketing your business, there is no better way to ramp up your business with the Joy of Marketing. This year, Sarah has a brand new event. The Joystart Your Year event. I recommend everyone check it out here.

Featured Photographer: Rhee Bevere

"Fundy" — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:00:59 +0000

Rhee Bevere

How did you get started in photography? I’ve had an SLR in my hands since the sixth grade, but to go pro took an 8×10 Christmas gift and my old creative director barging into my office to say, “Ya know, you’re pretty good at advertising, but THIS is what you should be doing.” Light bulb moment! That was nine years ago. Sheesh, I’m dating myself. Who have been your influences in photography? I’m a wedding storyteller, so I appreciate those who excel at weaving a story and creating emotion the most, including classic cinema and early 20th century masters like Brassai, Frank, and Lange. But I’m constantly moved and impressed with other Bay Area photogs like Tanja Lippert, Anna Kuperberg and Jen Skog who are nothing like my style, but encourage me to take chances and break out every now and again. How would you define your style of photography? I call it CinemaFotography. Moment and emotion are everything to me! It’s a little lush but genuine, heavy on things I seek out rather than what’s just there in front of me. I’m constantly shooting and my team has to remind me to drink and eat. Except for cake. Must have cake. What has helped you grow your business? My clients. I feel super loved because they tell everyone they know how much fun and easy it was with me. My clients’ vendors and venues. They would see their clients’ albums or prints and start to recommend me. My team. Without them I’d be doing a ton of the nitty gritty and wouldn’t have any time to think about next steps and ideas. My post production and products. My albums are top of the line, as good as I can make ‘em. They’re such a huge investment for my clients, and for me – I’m super nit-picky when it comes to design and artworking my images! To have all that work in a substandard or non-proven album would kill me. My style. There are not many photogs who excel at those little moments. My couples seek me out because that’s exactly what they want. Our customer service. My studio manager is amazing! Handwritten thank you notes, surprise gifts, follow up calls, timeline help, bustling dresses when everyone’s forgotten how to do it…that’s us! My fellow photographers! Sometimes they create these amazing products or teach seminars that completely change my workflow. Like the Boutwells or Kevin Kubota with their actions, or YOU with Album Builder and Batch-O-Licious, or Yervant with his retouching tips, or Andrew and Rachel of LaCour developing ShootQ. And of course, the DWF and PPA. What is one thing that has helped you grow as an artist? Getting to know other photographers! I love seeing their work and being inspired, or having a network of friends I know I can count on with problems or advice. What is one failure that helped you grow as a business person/artist? That’s easy – the economic downturn caught me without as much in the bank as I should have had, and forced me to really look at the business side of what I do. To offset the lack of weddings, I decided to try portraiture, something I was not as strong with, and really force my comfort zone by offering boudoir and baby/child portraiture. Lucky for me all my past clients are having babies right now! What is one piece of advice that you would give to a person that is in the first few years of their photography business? Understand your craft, but even more so, understand the business of your craft. Charging next to nothing is fine with the first few weddings or sessions, but then really evaluate how much you want to make from your business and then price yourself accordingly. Fundy, your pricing calculator is a great resource for that very reason. Also, PPA’s Studio Management Services seminar is a MUST.

December Featured Photographer – Heidi Ann

"Fundy" — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:00:08 +0000

Heidi Ann is a Utah/California based wedding and portrait photographer. See more of her work here.

How did you get started in photography?

My dad gave me my first SLR when I was about 11. It was totally addictive.

Who have been your influences in photography?

Irving Penn and Richard Avedon

What is one thing that has helped you grow your business?

Having a great marketer push me forward. (Tim Uhl)

What is one thing that has helped you grow as an artist?

Letting go of the fear that I might not be able to do something and trying anyway. If it doesnt work out the way I hoped I always learn and grow from the experience.

What is one failure that helped you grow as a business person/artist?

The first time I tried to do a conceptual shoot. I never got the shot that I saw in my head. I learned SO much from that shoot and ended up with some beautiful images anyway.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to a person that is in the first few years of their photography business?

Believe in yourself and Embrace your failures. They are only failures if you dont learn anything from them. Not only accept critique, but seek it out. Don’t take it personal, but really take the opportunity to take that advice and apply it.

Heidi Ann is a Utah/California based wedding and portrait photographer. See more of her work here.

Featured Photographer – Frank Salas

"Fundy" — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:17:07 +0000

Frank Salas is a Master Photographer and will be holding an awesome Master Class at WPPI 2011. We’re so happy to have him as our current featured photographer.

How did you get started in photography?

It all started in my high school freshmen year photography class. By my junior year I got my first photography job working for a Wedding Photography studio. A family member was the head photographer looking for new recruits.

Who have been your influences in photography?

My early days of photography were in influenced by some of the great photographers such as Yousuf Karsh and Edward Weston and Richard Avedon. Later in my career I followed and study with Dean Collins, Victor Avila, and Monte Zucker.

How would you define your style of photography?

I like to think I have a variety of styles. I enjoy the refined lighting and fashion styles but I also enjoy the relaxed and organic feel to some of my images.

What is one thing that has helped you grow your business?

One of my successful attributes is always been to follow through with your clients! So many people make promises to get the job but never hold their end of the deal.

What is one thing that has helped you grow as an artist?

To never stop pushing yourself and to not believe you already know it all. Everyday I think of what I can do to improve and differentiate myself as an artist. Its something you never turn off!

What is one failure that helped you grow as a business person/artist?

Too sit back and think because your photography is so good people will pick up the phone and call you! Not so! Not advertising, not marketing, not networking is easy to do. Doing what ever it takes “attitude” is not easy but that’s why its called work.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to a person that is in the first few years of their photography business?

I always say put as much energy into learning your business such as marketing, advertising, networking and merchandising than you do researching and purchasing your new camera.

Frank is completely Fundy approved. Please be sure to check out his WPPI class at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, March 20th thru the 24th.

More details here. Bookmark this link to see more featured photographers in the coming months.