Elizabeth Halford Photography {the blog} » pho•to•gra•phy {in real.plain.english}

Thank you for this! I’ve had these questions in the back of my mind ever since I started seriously thinking about starting my business. As I’m just in the beginning stages of building my portfolio now, this is a huge help! I was going to wait to start my Facebook page and website, instead, I think I’ll tackle that this week!
Becky

Thank you Elizabeth!  I’ve had many of these questions in my mind too.  What an excellent way to explain this process.  What do you think about including photos of your own children, not to overdo it, in your portfolio building?  

Easy as Pie Pricing is a must – especially for new photographers!

whoooo that was really needed! thank you!

I had this debate with my printing company… he pointed out a [horrible] photography business up the road… and, we both agreed, said business provided horrible photos (really sub-standard… although, who am I to critisize, right)… but, this particular company was bringing in hundreds of thousands of rands (sorry, maybe not huge in dollars, but anyway) EVERY month. So who’s the better photographer? Him or me? Or another way to look at it, is who is the professional? You can be the best photographer in the world… but if you’re not making any money… well, it’s just a really expensive hobby! A hobby is hardly a profession, right? There’s some great golfers out there… but if they’re not making any money out of it, they definately wouldn’t be considered professional players! The only thing that irks me is that the guys who come in and charge a pittance, provide a sub service, and quality, and are weekend warriors (just a side-line thing), make making an honest living out there for the photographers who do it full time, challenging. It’s hard to educate the consumer, BEFORE they see the difference, right? Whats your advise on that? Does it just come down to advertising and word of mouth?!

It’s always been drilled into me that to be considered a “professional” in this business, you need to not only make money from your sessions, but more importantly… PAY TAXES.   If you file a tax form on the money you make from doing a job.  That’s a profession.   I too, get tense when I hear of someone who has decided to pick up a camera then they start telling everyone they are a professional photographer.  My immediate comeback always wants to be “oh so you are paying taxes on your earnings?”    I know that may seem harsh.  We all started somewhere.  I literally spend 10-20 hours per week learning photography.  My degree is not in photography.  My degree is in marketing (which also tends to help me in my photog business).  :)
Excellent article.  Love this topic. 

Great Article Elizabeth!!! I see Pros take aweful portraits all the time and “ami’s” not charging doing a better job.
I say , the cutomer chose me for a reason and if  the customer can do better than me, that go for it ! This MWAC lady is soooo annoying.

Elizabeth, Thank you for a great read. I feel that success is determined when you are progressively working towards a worthy ideal. With anything you have to pay the price to excel. Whether that’s thru blood sweat and tears and endless hours doing self study or being instructed. Each person has their own journey. How you get there doesn’t matter. It’s the getting to your destination part that is. When on a journey One person may use GPS another may use a terrain map. Each choosing their own way but in the end they are are but tools. People need to stop worrying about competition. There is plenty for all levels. What we need to worry about is “creating” Don’t conform to what you “think” the masses want. By creating your vision you will always be representing your vision. Create be the best You you can be and the rest will be moments treasured in a journey. It’s always great to read your post. May this New Year bring you prosperity, peace and love. Thank you for being an inspiration.

I’ll have a bit of a ramble about it – not sure if it’ll come out as I intended, but here goes:

I don’t particularly like fauxtographers – they are annoying, and they possibly damage the image (no pun intended) of the photography profession as a whole, and devalue photography. But when compared to some other professions, do they cause as much harm to their clients?

People often comment on the fact that someone can just buy a camera and call themselves a professional photographer with little or no training. But the worse thing (in most cases, obviously there are exceptions such as weddings) that can happen is that the client gets back some crappy photos and because fauxtographers generally do not charge as much, the financial loss isn’t as great. Obviously no one wants to lose money no matter how little, and there will be disappointment there, but compared to mechanics, lawyers and health care professionals (doctors and nurses), etc. where a lack of training  can cause a great loss of money or even life…

I used to work as a mechanic and spent over 10 years doing this as my profession. Four of those years were spent in training, as an apprentice and in college on a day release basis (where you spend one working day in college per week). I took and passed over 10 exams in total, so I can call myself a qualified mechanic.

There are jobs people with little or no experience can do to cars, and with a little common sense some people can do some of the more involved stuff. But like fauxtographers, not everyone will take the time to research, etc. I have seen some really scary things over the years that could have cost a lot of money to rectify, or could even have caused someone to die. Things like brakes being incorrectly fitted so they barely worked, and where the driver’s floor had rusted away, someone painted some underseal to the bottom of the carpet so it looked like a solid floor (just a couple of examples).

I’m not defending fauxtographers, or making excuses for them, etc. But perhaps we do need to put things into perspective. Or at least remember that while we don’t need formal training, the consequences of doing something wrong or not as well* are less because of that than of other professions.

A video of Zack Arias on about Amateur vs. Professinal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbOHbV5Xsn4

*I mean for fauxtographers – they are not likely to be hired by the likes of Adidas or similar big company where a budget can run into the tens of thousands, and where if the photographer does screw up, it can cost a lot of money.

This is a really great blog post!  I agree with you 100% and I’m often frustred by photographers who get so bothered about what other photographers are doing. 

Thank you for this. I agree with what many others have said that if you want to call yourself a professional, you’d better have the business side of things in order (taxes, insurance, etc). Beyond that, I think photographers just need to recognize that there will always be others of varying skill level. You can’t control who gets to create art – even if some of the art sucks.

I can’t help but rant a little against these  MWAC Attack videos and the “You Are Not a Photographer” site linked to below the videos. I kept having scenes from the movie “Mean Girls” flash through my head as I watched the videos and looked through the Not a Photographer web site. Some of the points trying to be made by MWAC Attack are fair. But other times, she just needs to get off her high horse. I have a great sense of humor that is quite sarcastic at time, and I still find these over the top. The “Not a Photographer” web site is even more troubling to me. (And no, my work isn’t featured there – apparently that’s the first retort given to anyone who criticizes the site.) These people are forgetting that everyone has the ability to improve. Are there people in business who shouldn’t be? Yep. But you know what – in a few short years they might be a photography rock star. It’s kind of like why you shouldn’t tease the nerdy kid in high school – because he or she might grow up to be Cameron Diaz or Steve Jobs. And what if someone who is just beginning, but is really working hard to learn how to shoot in manual and be a good photographer, sees a photo of their own on there? That’s pretty much enough to crush someone’s spirit forever, and cause them to give up when had they kept with it for another year or two, could have gone on to be a really talented photographer.

Instead of wasting my time submitting another photographer’s photo to the “Not a Photographer” web site, I will focus on MYSELF and my own business. There is always more to learn and improve upon, no matter how good you are. And if a local “fauxtographer” ever reaches out to me, I will not respond with the same cynical, sarcastic bitchiness featured on MWAC Attack and will instead try to provide some actual helpful mentoring. That seems to be a better way to help the industry.

So thank you, Elizabeth, for this post and for ALL of your blog entries – because they better the industry by building people up and improving them, rather than ripping apart the dreams of someone who is really trying to learn and get better, even though they are making some rookie mistakes.

I count myself as a pro. Why? Because I earn my living from my photography.
I class semi-pro as someone who earns “part” of their income from photography.

It has nothing to do with your training (or lack of it), nothing to do with any society accreditations and nothing to do with whatever the PRO down the road thinks (I find Taryn Van Rensburg’s comments and his use of the phrase “Weekend Warrior” speaks volumes about himself).

On the rare occasion I am in the company of an individual who rants about those “weekend warriors” or “Uncle Bob’s” who are taking business away from “us”, I usually test out their technical knowledge of photography and usually (always actually) find that they know bugger all themselves.
It’s usually a bitter wannabe who resents anyone else that is out there having a go and doing better than they are sat at home bitching on blogs!

Well said Sara, thank you for your thoughtful and kind words to us new ”photographers” who doubt ourselves often. Its people like you with your attitude that help us keep our head held high. Thank you.

Sorry if I’m the only stuck on this but I saw MWAC’s videos a couple of months ago and have been trying to look for sample of her work. I haven’t been able to see any.

I would love to see her work as well. She’s been pretty good at remaining anonymous. Hmmm…

There is that saying “Those that can, do. Those that can’t, teach”. I think there is *some* truth in that, but it is also a blanket statement that doesn’t apply to all. Teaching is not the easiest job in the world.

He is – I actually bought a workshop he did on creative live earlier this year, and spent ages the other day watching various videos with him in on youtube.

I absolutely agree with you that everyone needs to be committed to learning and improving.

But no one deserves to be mocked and criticized against their own will in a public forum.

Actually, at most fine Art Schools, which is usually where you learn traditional photography (in my day, anyway), they required our fine art professors to take sabbaticals and be involved in their profession. Our photography teachers took a whole year for sabbaticals and were showcased in Galleries and each one worked on their own projects throughout the year, and were featured in magazine work/galleries/blogged about, and in general, you know, DOING. So I highly disagree that teachers failed at “doing”. It is mostly an idiotic statement.

bravo bravo!! way to hit the nail on the head!! :)

I have to admit I let the MWAC lady get to me.  I bought a camera as a hobby as I love taking pictures of flowers and wildlife.  Tired of the box store pictures I started taking portraits of my own kids.  Soon people were asking me to take their kids pictures and paying me (yes, I pay the taxes on it).  I didn’t advertise in anyway.  I research and read enough to probably be considered a full time college student.  This year I am launching an actual business, registered and all official.  P equals professional, right?  Thanks for putting it all into perspective.  I wont give up on my dream to have my own business doing something I love! 

great articles
now, make a photography business is easy
just invest a camera

Thank you!

You are refreshing! I am not a photographer, but I still enjoy reading your down to earth blog posts & you sharing your journey. And I always share them with my photog friends. Thanks!

This was such an incredibly helpful post for me. I’m starting my maternity leave in a couple months and during that time I plan to do some “re-branding” in many different ways and forms. I’ll hopefully get some time to do some more research, and this post has really sparked a drive in me to do this sooner than later. I HATE taking pictures of newborns, but LOVE taking pictures of little kids….I hate weddings, but love doing couple shoots….I absolutely can’t stand extended family shoots, but love the small family shoot….all of this kind of stuff I need to hash threw in my brain and come up with a “business plan”. Its really scary, cause I’m like how you were – I love the money. But, I also know that with a third child on the way I want to work less, but make more. You are inspirational. Thank you…keep giving us snippets of your brilliant business mind – its a gift.

Great post.  I love doing seniors!  But will not do infants.  I don’t have a lot of experience yet as I am just starting out, but it is good to admit that already there are somethings I like to shoot and other things that don’t inspire me at all.  Events don’t inspire me.  And I want  so badly to learn how to do beloved sessions, or to incorporate that in all my shoots.

Thanks for the post! I find it so interesting that we all are drawn to different subjects. I like still life, glamour and love the kind of surreal fantasy look to photos.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I feel like that answers some of the questions I sent in an email, so I appreciate.  I love following your journey of discovery yourself as a phtographer.  And I appreciate you sharing that knowledge with us! 

amazing!!!!! i loved the part about branding it according to who you are! i have so many of these feelings and now i realize its okay to pick and choose. thank you

BRAVO!  That is what I did for the last three weeks – really the last six – took time since moving to our new location to turn my business into ME!  What moves me and makes me swoon during a session!  I’m more excited then ever before to be a photographer!   I am doing it for THE LOVE of what I capture and create.  Not because I have to be what others are – but because I can bring all that I am to my clients!   Hugs from the states!   

I love this post – thanks for sharing!  I’m not a photographer (though I do have the desire to learn to better use my camera…hehe), but I have been feeling this way about some areas of my life and what an inspiration it was to stumble upon your blog (via pinterest) and read exactly what I needed to hear.  I’m ready to walk into 2012 no longer doing what I don’t want to do but setting myself up and preparing for the things that I do want.  Thanks again and wishing you the best in 2012 in your life and business!  :-)

I grew so much after a local photographer took me under her wing as her second shooter. Now, I’ve grown even more in the last year. People forget that we all start somewhere. I’m STILL growing… and always hope to be! There is no shame in making mistakes. The shame is in thinking you are so good, that you don’t need any improvement. That is when you lose your creative juice and you start banging out session after session, each looking exactly as the one before, only with different bodies posing in the same old poses.

While “MWACs” might not be on a professional level technically, a lot of them come to the table with fire and passion and ideas that I don’t think I ever could come up with.

Also, as a photographer who is NOT a mother (and won’t be one for quite some time), I could stand to learn a TON from a Mother With A Camera… like how to wrangle one year olds for their One Year sessions. Those kids can MOVE.

I watched the video to the link you posted and it’hard to tell what the intention is but I do sense a bit of us vs. them or moms vs. photography students who actually went to school for photography don’t you know and how dare you think you can get paid $$ to take photos, you’re just a mom……whatever the case may be Elizabeth in the end, you create beautiful images that people love and you have many fans.  

I just watched the video and I find it offensive. As a mom who’s also a photographer I find her “sarcasm” (if that’s what it is) doesn’t come off well and her glibness and ditsy attitude does all us moms with cameras a disservice. I wish she’d go away.

I totally agree. She needs to go Far far Awa. I do not get her satire.

I first saw these (or the first two) posted over on http://youarenotaphotographer.com a couple of days ago.

I know we all have to start somewhere, and for most of us, our first photos are often terrible or just plain “meh”. But the more we practice, the better we get. Some of us get better than others and some of us get better faster.

The term MWAC I’ve always seen as being applied to those Mums/Moms who play at being a professional photographer and *think* they are already “good” because their friend say so and have no real interest in improving, or don’t think they need to, or think they are not doing anything wrong.

This is what sets you and (hopefully) all of your readers apart. You *may* have started out as a “MWAC”, but you did not stay there very long – you are now a “proper” professional photographer in both photographic skill and in a business sense. And I doubt anyone could call you otherwise.

As for your readers – most are here as they want to learn and improve.

Which is what, I believe, makes all the difference – being aware of your abilities and weaknesses and wanting to improve.  And not like those who don’t try, and just keep offering poor photos and poor business services.

I found the videos on Rock the Shot and I agree with what a few people said on there. I don’t think she was making fun of the mom who becomes a professional (which I am as well). I think she was making fun of the mom who buys a beginner SLR, never learns how to use it and takes a few pictures of her and her friends’ kids and thinks she’s a professional. I’ve heard so many professionals get frustrated when they lose a client because “their friend has an slr and can just take them”. I’ve even had one of those do that to me back when I was first starting out but I looked at it as she wasn’t the right client for me. Not all photographers think that way though and so I think this MWAC attack may be one of those who is frustrated by the moms that call themselves professionals when they are not. I agree it’s funny and I agree it can come off mean, everyone has to start out somewhere but I think it could also be a lesson that photography isn’t as easy as it seems so those that really love it have to be willing to work for it.

I think she is mean…I think a LOT of photographers are mean. They are most likely insecure about their skills and feel that they have to break down other people’s confidence to build themselves up. And in the end, who CARES if people are crappy photographers? More business for the good ones. I am 100% against snarky rude things when it comes to people’s passions.

Ha! I love that you just described your children as being ‘at your disposal’. lol

I totally agree with you. All of start somewhere, heck when I look back at my work from back in the day I want to kick myself in the butt haha, but that is life. Being a MWAC doesn’t have to be negative us photographers/women should be helping one another and standing by each other instead of trying to knock each other down and make others feel inferior.

I so totally agree with you. What’s the point in trying to rip apart other photographers and mothers for that matter? lol I guess being a mom with a camera is bad but what about fathers with a camera?

I find it interesting that there’s isn’t the same kind of uproar over aspiring artists (fine artists with pencils and brushes).  They aren’t demeaned for not having training and in some cases, they become greater because they’ve stayed out of the art schools.  I’ve found the MWAC term to be offensive and I fear many of these other “professionals” that seem to make a sport out of humiliating those with cameras who are learning.  I also think there’s a difference between the aspiring professional and those who are out there stealing images and deceptively marketing themselves as professionals.

overall, I find it so disappointing how “mean” our world has become but then, maybe the world has always been mean and I’m just finally growing up and seeing it.

“I still look back at the previous year’s sessions and see how I have grown. Shouldn’t it always be that way? Heaven forbid that I should get to a point where there’s no more room to grow. That’s the day I’ll throw in the towel.”
THIS!There are so many paths to being the best you can be in *any* field. I don’t see how anyone has the right to judge which path is more professional than another. That being said, I do believe that whatever education a person can get – whether it be a degree, certification, online courses, mentoring – is of value and if you have the opportunity, go for it!
Ultimately, although I do find her videos amusing, I believe that “Missy” is doing more damage than good by fueling the extraordinary amount of estrogen in the portrait photography world  into a feeding frenzy. It might have been more helpful if she’d altered the plot a little, to that of someone realizing that she’s an MWAC delivering sub-standard product (not according to her cheapie clients, but according to her professional photography colleagues) and what she can do to change that to be the best MWAC she can be! A little more constructive than destructive, I think.

Let me tell ya… I find this woman hilarious.  After having a tough day, and stumbling across your site again, Elizabeth, I can’t thank you enough for posting about her. I watched all six videos, and haven’t stopped smiling, {my cheeks hurt!} since viewing these. I do feel sorry for those of you who do take this to heart, but she is so comical.  Puppy Knuckes? Anyone? ;o) 

Here’s another way to add the copyright symbol:
http://bermangraphics.com/tips/copyright-symbol.htm

Great article!  Answered a question I’ve had for quite a while. . . branding vs. watermarking!  Sweet :~}