• Newsletter
    • Newsletter Back Issues
  • Advertise
  • About ATP
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Resources

Logo

Navigation
Menu 
  • MEMBERS HOME
    • Main Site
  • BEGINNERS
    • INTRODUCTION
    • EQUIPMENT
    • MEMORY CARDS
    • COMPUTERS
    • BASIC SHOOTING TECHNIQUES
      • TECHNIQUES
      • VIEWFINDER
      • FOCUSSING
      • METERING
      • SETTINGS
      • COMPOSITION
      • LIGHTING
      • COLOUR OR B & W
      • PORTRAIT OR LANDSCAPE
      • THE SUBJECT
      • FILTERS
      • ACCESSORIES
    • TRANSFERRING IMAGES
    • ORGANISING FOLDERS
    • FORMATS – JPEG/RAW
    • SOFTWARE
    • PROCESSING
    • PRINTING
  • DSLR TRAINING
    • DSLR INTRO
      • DSLR INTRO
      • AUTO ISO
      • LIGHT
      • EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION
      • SHUTTER SPEEDS
      • APERTURES
      • ISO
    • CAMERA MODES
    • OTHER BUTTONS AND SYMBOLS
      • DEPTH OF FIELD PREVIEW
      • EXPOSURE LOCK
      • WHITE BALANCE
    • METERING
      • EVALUATIVE METERING
      • CENTRE WEIGHTED METERING
      • SPOT METERING
    • LIGHTING
      • LIGHTING – DAYLIGHT/NATURAL
      • LIGHTING – FLASH/SPEEDLIGHT
      • LIGHTING – FILL IN FLASH
      • LIGHTING – DIRECT FLASH
      • LIGHTING – BOUNCED FLASH
      • LIGHTING – OFF CAMERA FLASH
      • LIGHTING – TTL DEDICATED FLASH
      • LIGHTING – RING FLASH
      • LIGHTING – REFLECTORS
      • LIGHTING – DIFFUSERS
    • COMPOSITION
      • COMPOSITION – INANIMATE/STILL
      • COMPOSITION – MOVING
      • COMPOSITION – RULE OF THIRDS
      • COMPOSITION – FOREGROUND INTEREST
      • COMPOSITION – POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SPACE
    • LENSES
      • LENSES – INTRODUCTION
      • LENSES – LANDSCAPE
      • LENSES – PORTRAIT
      • LENSES – CLOSE UP
      • LENSES – PRODUCT
      • LENSES – SPORT AND WILDLIFE
      • LENSES – WEDDINGS
      • LENSES – CROP FACTOR
    • BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
    • DIGITAL IMAGING
  • STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
    • INTRODUCTION
    • EQUIPMENT
    • TRADITIONAL vs MICROSTOCK
    • STOCK AGENCIES
    • EXCLUSIVE OR NON EXCLUSIVE
    • GO IT ALONE
    • WHICH LICENSE?
    • STANDARDS
    • STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY STORYBOARDING
    • CONCEPTS AND SUBJECTS
      • STILL LIFE, FOOD AND OBJECTS
      • NATURE ANIMALS AND PETS
      • LANDSCAPES
      • TRAVEL
      • PEOPLE
      • BUSINESS
      • FAMILY
      • ENVIRONMENT
      • CURRENT AFFAIRS
      • PROPERTY
      • LIFESTYLE
      • TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGY
      • SPORTS
      • DIGITAL ARTWORK
    • REJECTIONS
    • STOCK LIGHTING
    • STOCK PHOTO COLOURS
    • STOCK COMPOSITION
    • CAMERA SETTINGS
    • RAW/JPEG PROCESSING
    • USING PHOTOSHOP
    • NOISE AND GRAIN
    • KEYWORDING STOCK PHOTOS
    • UPLOAD YOUR BEST
    • CONSISTENCY
    • PHOTOGRAPHER COMPETITION
    • SETTING UP A STUDIO
    • COPYRIGHT
    • GETTING SEEN
    • FUTURE PROOFING
    • STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY EARNINGS
  • BUSINESS
    • BUSINESS INTRO
    • GETTING STARTED
    • FORMULATE A PLAN
    • VISUALISE IT
    • ALLY YOURSELF
    • SELF CONTROL
    • DECISION MAKING
    • YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS
    • RENDER HUMBLE SERVICE
    • BUSINESS COMPETITION
    • KNOWLEDGE
    • REFERENCES AND TESTIMONIALS
    • WORK FOR FREE
    • QUALITY QUANTITY SPIRIT
    • HEALTH AND WELLNESS
    • ADVERTISING
    • MARKETING AND BRANDING
    • SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
    • INTERNET AND WEBSITES
    • NETWORKING
    • LOSS LEADERS
    • TRADING SERVICES
    • THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
    • CREATE A PORTFOLIO
    • MAKE MONEY
    • TAX AND ACCOUNTS
    • FINANCING AND LAUNCHING
    • EQUIPMENT AND COSTING
    • PHOTOGRAPHY INSURANCE
    • PRICING
    • FORWARD PLANNING
    • DON’T GIVE UP
    • QUESTIONS
    • CLOSE OF BUSINESS
    • BUSINESS RESOURCES
  • WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
    • DVD 1
      • 1 – INTRODUCTION
      • 2 – WHY WEDDINGS
      • 3 – ABOUT WEDDINGS
      • 4 – EQUIPMENT
      • 5 – PLAN AND PREP
    • DVD 2
      • 1 – BRIDAL PREPARATIONS
      • 2 – THE CEREMONY
      • 3 – GROUPS AND FORMALS
      • 4 – SPECIAL PORTRAITS
      • 5 – RECEPTION
      • 6 – BOUQUET SHOT
      • 7 – BRIDAL PREP PHOTOS
      • 8 – CEREMONY PHOTOS
      • 9 – GROUP AND FORMAL PHOTOS
      • 10 – SPECIAL PORTRAIT PHOTOS
      • 11 – RECEPTION PHOTOS
      • 12 – CAMERA SETTINGS
      • 13 – FLASH SETTINGS
    • DVD 3
      • 1 – INTRO TO VIDEO
      • 2 – VIDEOS AND SLIDESHOWS
      • 3 – LIGHTING
      • 4 – LOW LIGHT TUTORIAL
      • 5 – LIGHTING PHOTOS
      • 6 – VIDEO EDITING
      • 7 – SLIDESHOW SOFTWARE
    • DVD 4
      • 1 – INTRO AT VENUE
      • 2 – BRIDAL PREP AND FLASH
      • 3 – BRIDAL PREP REAL WEDDING
      • 4 – SALVAGING POOR IMAGES
      • 5 – BRIDAL PREP AND NATURAL LIGHT
      • 6 – BRIDAL PREP AND DETAILS
      • 7 – BRIDAL PREP PORTRAITS
    • DVD 5
      • 1 – BRIDE ENTERING CHURCH
      • 2 – CHURCH CAMERA SETTINGS
      • 3 – CHURCH CEREMONY
      • 4 – REGISTRY OFFICE CEREMONY
      • 5 – GARDEN PORTRAITS
      • 6 – ROCK PORTRAITS
      • 7 – GRUNGE PORTRAITS
      • 8 – GROUP SHOTS
    • DVD 6
      • 1 – RECEPTION VENUE
      • 2 – CAMERA SETTINGS
      • 3 – BRIDE AND GROOM ENTERING
      • 4 – CUTTING THE CAKE
      • 5 – THE SPEECHES
      • 6 – FIRST DANCE
      • 7 – PROBLEM IMAGE CORRECTION
      • 8 – ACTUAL WEDDING REVIEW
    • DVD 7
      • 1 – INTRODUCTION
      • 2 – NETWORKING
      • 3 – BRANDING
      • 4 – ONLINE PRESENCE
      • 5 – WEBSITES AND BLOGGING
      • 6 – SOCIAL MEDIA
      • 7 – ONLINE ADVERTISING
      • 8 – PRESS RELEASES
      • 9 – PORTFOLIOS
      • 10 – WEDDING FAIRS
      • 11 – DOOR KNOCKING
      • 12 – OFFLINE ADVERTISING
      • 13 – PRICING AND END
    • BONUS DVD 8
      • INTERVIEW WITH WEDDING PLANNER
      • INTERVIEW WITH PHOTOBOOK MAKER
      • INTERVIEW WITH WEDDING COUPLE
      • INTERVIEW WITH PRO PHOTOGRAPHER
      • BONUS eBOOK DOWNLOADS
        • THE BLUEPRINT eBOOK
        • HOW TO SELL STOCK PHOTOS
        • THE BUSINESS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
        • PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPHY
        • LET THEM EAT CAKE
        • THINK AND GROW RICH
  • MAIN SITE

Ally Yourself

Ally Yourself With Others – Be Nice

Ally Yourself With Others

We will go into this in more detail later as it one of the most important aspects of running any business, after all, how far could your business go without people?

In a later chapter, we will talk about joint ventures and partnerships where relationships are vital but for now I just want to cover another aspect of teaming up with people.

When one person tries to figure out things…anything…for themselves, not only does it take time but you are also seeing things from a singular perspective. Who is to say whether you are right or wrong and even if you are right, is it the best answer or way of doing things?

It has been proven that when you get two, three or more people together in what is known as a mastermind group, things change…the whole dynamics change!

Ideas are bounced from one to another, they get expanded upon and manipulated until you thrash out the best possible scenario and actions to take.

You are working with the accumulated and combined experience of everyone involved and the more you talk, the more that experience comes through. Emailing won’t work, you need to be face to face.

Of course, if you are of a multi-personality nature, you will be able to perfect this by yourself but you still won’t have that combined experience and it is easier and sometimes more fun with other people.

But who do you ally with in a photography business? Surely if you speak to other photographers in your area, they will steal those ideas and ultimately your business?

Here are some ideas:

  1. Ally with family and friends that know you and your business

These people will be honest and critical with you but always take it with a pinch of salt. Family tend to want to “protect” you and will not always see great ideas in the way you do. Bounce ideas off them for things such as portrait shoot ideas, book and canvas print layouts, digital imaging styles etc, but leave the business side for others.

  1. Ally with suppliers

Again, we are going to go into more detail later with regards to these types of relationships and which suppliers to approach, but will cover it in general here. Once you have a relationship established with suppliers, a wedding boutique for example, it is worth the time and effort to arrange a mastermind session (meeting) with them.

Take time to discuss things such as the best way to promote your business to their clients. What do they want? What are they like? What is the average budget? Where are they from? Where are they getting married generally? What comments do they give with regards to the photography/photographers?

By talking to these suppliers, you should be able to hone and perfect your marketing techniques a little better and reach your prospects easier and ultimately bringing in more business but remember to reciprocate.

Always try to give more than you receive or at the very least, try to give the perception that you are giving more. Help the suppliers to get more business too by offering to link to them through your website and to recommend them in your promotional material. Maybe even do a free product shoot for them for whatever it is they sell (cakes, dresses, venues etc)…be humble!

  1. Ally with “distant” photographers

Go to trade shows and seminars where there are other photographers who have no bearing or interest in your business or area. People love to talk and boast about how they are doing and how they are doing it so don’t be afraid to ask for advice and also give it where you can.

Once again, if you talk to someone for long enough, there will be things uncovered and discovered  that will help the both of you…guaranteed.

Talk to suppliers at the trade shows, many of them are photographers themselves and when they have an audience, they are more likely to answer your questions as honestly and openly as possible…they are there for trade and don’t want to be caught short or shown as being unhelpful!

Get yourself on a course or two and be the person that asks all the questions…any questions. The course instructor will not want to show ignorance or lack of knowledge by not answering you in most cases.

  1. Ally with photographers on Twitter and Facebook

Befriend other professional photographers on social media websites. I have done this for years long before social sites were around by creating Google Alerts and RSS feeds for websites of photographers, manufacturers, venues…anyone related to my business.

You can pick up some great tips, techniques and important info such as a new venue opening in your area (get in first), a new Photoshop or Lightroom technique, a new shooting technique or style that you would like to try yourself and so on.

Reading , talking and listening to people will get you a long way. If you simply shut yourself away thinking “you know best” you will slowly grind to a halt. Wedding photography in particular requires you to keep up with the times and be prepared to reinvent yourself along the way.

Keep all of these professional relationships current and keep in touch with the ones that “work” the best. New ideas can be found and created all the time.

Next Page – Self Control

Ally Yourself was last modified: February 14th, 2015 by Nick

No related posts.

Beginner Photography Tips Advanced Photography Tips
Stock Photography Tips Photography Business Advice
Wedding Photography Tips  

How to Profit from Customers

Social Media

Starting a Business

Quantum Leap Your Business

Like us at Facebook

Like us at Facebook

Top Posts & Pages

  • Stock Photography Earnings
    Stock Photography Earnings
  • 11 Ways to Make Money With Your Camera
    11 Ways to Make Money With Your Camera
  • Stock Photography Agencies
    Stock Photography Agencies
  • Introduction to Stock Photography
    Introduction to Stock Photography
  • Equipment for Stock Photography
    Equipment for Stock Photography
  • Stock Photo Rejections
    Stock Photo Rejections

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Please note your information is kept private and is not sold, shared or passed on to anyone else.

Join 21 other subscribers

Courses

Beginners
Advanced
Stock
Business
Weddings
  • Members Home
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

Copyright (c) 2017 Freefly Multimedia Ltd. Author: Nick Stubbs. All rights reserved.  |  Legal

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy