How close are you to quitting?

September 25, 2012

Screen Shot 2012-09-24 at 7.52.42 PM Into the Wild is a film about a man named Christopher McCandless who gives up on the life that’s expected of him. He gives up everything he has to go on an adventure and ends up living wild. Long story short {SPOILER AHEAD!} he eats some berries and becomes gravely ill. Since he was taking pictures and journaling the whole way through, he documents his last days where he basically just resigns himself to the fact that he’s about to die. He crawls into his sleeping bag and dies. Just 20 miles from town. Now, these were the movie events and not really how it happened. In real life, he starved to death and it took him 113 days to die. Plenty of time to somehow get help considering how far he’d come already and the obstacles he’d already faced and overcome. Perhaps he didn’t know how close he really was to a town? I don’t know. But it begs the question:

How close are you to quitting?

Your breakthrough could be closer than you think.

So tell me…what’s making you want to give it up?

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Sara J

Ha. You are right. I haven’t met everyone. And believe it or not, about 10 minutes ago a neighbor/past client emailed me about wanting to do a session in October. :) That keeps me limping along. There *are* people out there who really value what me and the other people commenting here today are trying to provide. But those people are getting harder and harder to find. I’m also not sure how much your suggestion of getting out of my town or advertising elsewhere applies to me. I live 15 minutes outside of Denver, CO, not in a small town. This isn’t a situation of the 25 mile radius around my house. It’s all over the area. The moms in my area want everything on a disc for $100, and they do in other neighborhoods as well. I’m not sure where else to go. I can’t afford to advertise in every neighborhood publication. Every pediatrician’s office or children’s clothing boutique I’ve ever set foot in already has another photographer’s images hanging on their walls.
elizabethhalford

Yea but you know what else all those moms want? An iPad {$400+}, an iPhone {$300+}, the latest clothes, the hottest stroller. They want to buy status. They want to one-up the other moms. Part of that has to do with achieving the things which others deem nearly unachievable. And they don’t realise they’re buying into this – they just are. Being cheap or the same price, the same services, the same products as everyone else doesn’t make your photography something to attain or achieve. It just puts it in the same category of the other expenses which they say they “can’t afford” because they’re too busy chasing down highly priced items & luxury brands and then upgrading those things when they fall out of fashion. Unfortunately, unless you’re poised to start a company with professionals running all your departments, you not only have to be the talent, but you have to run PR, advertising/marketing, debt collecting, product fulfillment, customer service. This makes photography one heck of a hard business to stick with!
Jamie

Im definitly close but so still have a little determination left my main this is i want higher end clients but live in a small town. . . so the thing that makes me want to quit is NOT having any clients right now and NOT knowing where/how to market
Jamie

Oh and also it makes me want to quit when the other photogs in town in town are WAY cheaper and are getting all of the business i wish i had. it just makes me sad.
Sara J

Yes, it sure does make it hard to stick with. :) You are right – a lot of these moms do have iPhones and nice strollers – myself included. Except that my iPhone is the previous version and came for $100 with my two-year contract, and I bought the stroller used. People are getting frugal. On the flip side, my grocery budget is probably larger than my neighbor’s because I value mostly organic food. But I don’t value the latest and greatest Apple product the day it is released. It seems that more people do value electronics and trendy diaper bags more than heirloom photo albums. In order to save money, they can just get a photographer to take their photos on a disc for $100 and then go make their own album from Shutterfly.

I understand how negative I am sounding, and I appreciate so much that you are trying to build me and the rest of your readers up. It’s just I’ve tried over and over and I’m growing weary. How many times can you continue to offer mini sessions, donate to school fundraising auctions, send a personalized email to the mother on the email message board looking for newborn photography, etc – only to turn up nothing? After a while, the only thing you can do is look inward and decide that either your skills don’t match your prices, or too many people are starting to value price over quality. Again, I’m speaking in generalities – there are some out there that value quality photography, but I’m not finding enough of them to sustain a profitable business.

I have clients that are well-to-do, and I also have clients that are not, but they still value what I do and they did payment plans to make it work. So I’ve learned that just looking for people with money isn’t the magic fix. It comes down to what they value. I don’t know how to find more of the ones who value what I’m trying to give them.
Sarah E

Any chance this is Sara Joy Photography?
lyndi

Don’t give up, just turn the corner. I know there are thousands of photographers away their product for free. Don’t resign yourself to that. Find a niche. Don’t compromise your art. If you’re doing what you truly love, what is your heart’s desire, good things can’t help but come your way.
I read an advertisement on Craigslist the other day for a $100 photo session, it was an hour or longer, 100 to 150 photos on a disk, cleaned up and available the next day. To me, that’s the equivalent to working at McDonalds. There is a “everything should be on sale” mentality in the US right now. People want a gift for enduring this horrible economy. But there is a place for art, because it makes people happy and brings them joy, and phtoos preserves those moments that people want to remember.
Don’t give up.
And thank you, Elizabeth. I needed to hear what you had to say, especially today.
SimplyAperture

My Background:I have primarily used b&w film, hand processed negatives and images but now I am transitioning to digital.
I can’t help but notice that so many photographers are so hard on these “cheaper” competitors. At what point is it okay for them to join you in the not-so-cheap catagory? At what point are you going to just except that yes they are cheaper, they are possibly lacking compostion and detail, and they just flat out suck? Do you want to attract some of these clients they are getting? I don’t.
I look at the details I produce, I research everything from the new photog techniques, new props, cameras, accessories, business models, editing software, printing labs, everything involving a photography business-This occurs on a daily basis. My prices are middle of the road and competitive. I hate that people are using instagram to advertise their business but I have come to realize that if everyone with and iPhone and a decent camera is going to take pictures LET THEM. People that actually “GET” photography will value what you have to offer and see straight through someone that has no clue! Be patient!
Sara J

No, I’m not Sara Joy. :)
http://www.facebook.com/frgrjenn Jennifer Pritchard

I just began but I am no where near quitting yet. I have read all these comments and had the same disapointments, in fact I started off being one of those stupid newbies not charging enough because I thought I wasn’t worth it and that I couldn’t get customers unless I did. I was extremely wrong. Times are slow, and clients are not comming in as they were a month ago. I get flagged on craigslist if I advertise for more than $35 lol. I know people out there are looking for the next great portrait innovations, sears, walmart, whatever studio and have a I want it now attitude. But you know what guys? Those are not the clients for us. They are going to always go for the cheapest thing and let the newbie photographers (that think they are) with no formal training have them. Guess what? They are going to get crappy, crappy pictures! Take pride in the fact that you are not sinking so low as to compete with them. You are all, ALL, better than them. @elizabethhalford:disqus has some great ideas and tips to help us all make more money. I wanted to inject a possitive note into this discussion. Fight for your right! I have talked to a lot of great photographers out there that are way better than me, and I have listened to them. They are who taught me I was doing the wrong thing and I changed it. An idea to all the newbies is to communicate and teach them what they are doing wrong! Take 10 minutes and email each of them posting $25 for everything on a disk and let them know how they could be making more money too. I know they want to and I wanted to as well. They will most likely listen to you. I never meant to be one that screwed up the market when I first started either. Let me tell you a couple stories here. I had a session about 2 weeks ago. She praised me on the fact that she was so tired of the retail industry making her buy thousands of prints in a bundle that she would never use and never wanted, of a crappy pose that they only spent 30 minutes with her child for. Think about that? What is that customer looking for? Quality, Value, Speed, Usefullness, A Need, and Personalization. This is the client you would sit down with to show her the images after her session, let her pick the poses out she wanted. Then instead of making her pick one pose for a package, customize it for her. Let her pick different poses in her package! Then it means something to her. She thinks you care about her and her needs.
2nd story, I had a client that had me for mini sessions. She went to someone else after me, even though she loved her images. She thought she would get something better. The customer service was horrible, the images were not great, and they were late. Guess what? She came back to me a month later and has now booked 3 sessions with me including her kids birthday party. She now says she will never use another photographer again. Sell yourself and sell your customer service skills, not just sell your products. That will help make a huge impact on your customers! I hope I have given you all a possitive note to end on and that you think about this before you quit!
Jenn S.

What a great topic! I love reading your blog! I think it has been really hard for professionals because the market has really changed. I believe that Facebook and social media has made it really easy for people to view bad photography and our eyes have adjusted to a more less formal, artistic style. It’s kind of like clothes anymore – wear what you like and go for it! It’s not going away! The equipment is just getting better and better!

I am not relying on this as a full time income, but do charge over $150 per session for portraits and offer professional printing. I have had to adjust to reality. I kinda think of it as a painting or acting career- you either like it and want to pay top dollar or not, art is being about who you are and hoping other people “get it”. They don’t call it “starving artists” for nothing! Keep current and do what you can to not burn out, if you find a niche, ride the wave, because as soon as you post, it will be stolen. And you can’t really not post – so…
Hopefully, lots of beginners are reading this blog and getting a reality check – it’s not going to last, if the passion isn’t there!
To all of us who are truly “in it” let’s continually get more creative with business solutions to a problem not going anywhere anytime soon:)
Paul S

Probably people want their photos on a DVD rather than solely buying print products, because we have the year 2012. Starting with that (handing out the digital files) as a base and additionally offering print products but not having your business model relying on these print sales, might get you some more clients. And if your quality is higher than the $100 shooters’ people will eventually notice. Put your best work on your website, advertise on Facebook and Craigslist, spray out some offers to get clients. The more clients, the more word-of-mouth.
Becca

This is good advice, but I don’t know how you’d really start. The only thing I can suggest is to not give discounts to lower ranking personnel. I’ve made a personal decision (I’m an officer’s wife) to never hire anyone who does that no matter how good their photography seems to be. It speaks to their professionalism. If they’re incapable of being professional in their pricing structure, then I can’t expect them to be professional in other aspects of their business.
It might take time, but eventually your work will speak for itself.
http://www.hildebrandphoto.com Dawn

My workflow is killing me. I have a lot of clients lined up to photograph but no time to do anything but emails, post production and sales meetings. I’m not doing an ounce of social media, no time. I’m being buried alive under office work and daily responsibilities like eating, bathing, feeding the dog.But seriously, it’s horrible.
Sara Rose

Thank you for this article Elizabeth! I am still working a day job, but my main goal is to quit by the new year. I have picked up in business immensely in the past year, and am looking forward to 2013! I am fortunate enough to not be a mom, or have anyone depending on me except myself, so living within my means is not as hard as it seems for others out there. For all the people having discouraging thoughts, I have been there. I graduated college in 2005 with a BFA in Photography, and saw the digital age of photography boom in front of me. I saw people who graduated after me with a Graphic Design Degree go into business as Wedding and Portrait Photographers. I was MAD. I was discouraged! I also saw that guy who had waaaay more money than I did, or that kid whose mommy and daddy gave them a ‘graduation gift of $30,000′ to start up. I was working a $9/hour job, and I had NO idea what to do, but I powered through, and taught myself what I needed to know about everything digital. I am still learning, but fortunately have a foundation in the fundamentals of photography. I have an ‘eye’ and I am talented! Tell yourself that every day! You stand out! Remember that Uncle Bob, and Aunt Jane just bought a camera they could afford that a salesman made mad commission off of. They shoot in Auto, and will take any opportunity to ask me at a wedding how they should be shooting. I kindly hand them my card, and let them know that I charge hourly for one on one consultation, and when I am not working I would love to get together to teach them about their camera. For years, I shot with a camera that was not ‘good enough’ for the events I was shooting, but I managed to produce beautiful images that made my clients smile! If you are curious on how to sell a product, go work at a retail boutique. Get some real life experience, and see that yes, you do have to ‘pressure’ your client a little bit to make a decision. I like to call it ‘coaxing.’ They will thank you and leave your meeting with a smile and something they cherish for a lifetime. I used to have the hardest time selling myself, but could sell the whazoooo out of some shoes. I remembered that, and applied my selling techniques to my photographic art. I figured out what I didn’t have that the shoes did-A BRAND. A ‘I’m going to go into that store and spend no less than x amount of money on one pair of shoes’ Brand. I also told myself that I am done wasting my time on this job, or that job, and that whatever it takes, I will do it to make it happen!

For those of you who had a bad 2012, put it behind you and just wait, 2013 is going to be AWESOME!!!
wowB27

I know how you feel, I’m pretty much in the same boat! I’ve taken a break after realizing I wasn’t charging enough for all of the work I was doing. I figured after all was said and done, sometimes i was losing money. It’s hard because it’s the friends/family and friends of friends that want a deal (in my situation) they want it all for nothing and I feel I get taken advantage of a lot. I used to love to take my camera everywhere and now I leave it at home because I’m expected to photograph most things I’m invited to. (I get the invite, say sure I’ll go and then they say, hey can you bring your camera?) That gets me all the time because they wait until after I confirm that I’m going and they ask. I guess it’s their way of not paying me and figure well since you’re going to be there anyway lol . I’m trying to regroup myself because it is my passion, but I also need to get a thicker skin when it comes to my work and my time. It’s also hard because I stay at home and take care of my two year old and I have a nine year old. So I haven’t had much time for me lately. I just need to figure out a different approach and stick with it and if they don’t like it, I need to learn to just say sorry those are my prices and not feel bad. Hang in there and regroup, enjoy your family! :)

Brandy
Fury

Oh ladies…you’re not leaving much room for hope for a budding photog in an oversaturated market. It feels like EVERYONE in my mother’s groups had their hubbies buy them an expensive camera and now they are a photog! (yes, my hubby bought mine but i’m actually studying and working and learing and creating amazing stuff….) someone recently asked me to shoot a birth in her place, i could keep the entire $300. $300 for a birth! for probably at least 12+ hours just at the shoot alone, and then to go home and edit? wtf? NO WAY. and that’s the going rate for birth photography around here. The downfall of fancy cameras being so accessible I guess. I love photography, I’ve got the eye…I’ve got the talent…but I don’t know if I have what it takes to do this…..
Joseph K

So many of these comments resonate in my heart. I’m at the point of quitting, although I’ve only been “in business” for two years and keep telling myself to “hang in there” because the miracle might happen – the dream client could call, book me, spend the $ I know I’m worth and then become the walking billboard for my services that will bring in new clients like a flood … But realistically, there are 100+ photographers in my immediate area (10 mile radius – a northern suburb of Austin). I can’t seem to generate one new client a month. I don’t have the funds to throw into marketing. I work a full-time job, so I don’t have the time I want and need to devote to this business. I had a dream. After getting screwed over by my wedding photographer, I vowed to get into this business to make a difference. My wedding photographer hired models to fill up his website and then wrote all sorts of flowery-fiction pretending they were real clients. His career catapulted to the top because of lies, deception and fakery. I can’t seem to book new clients or get clients I have to invest in anything other than a measly $150 session fee – and they want all the images on a disk. I refuse. They don’t order anything. I’ve tweaked my website, I’ve fixed my SEO, I am a perfectionist with my edits yet I still offer a two-week turnaround. I show up within the top ten results on Google for my targeted keywords and niche. I’ve partnered with local companies. I just finished my P&L for last year and made a profit of just under $200. I love taking portraits, but I also expected to make at least some good money out of this as a part time job. I wanted my wife not to have to work so she can do what she loves – be with the kids. She works a part time job where other photographers come in and spend – in one visit – what she makes in two weeks. We struggle to put food on the table. It’s just not what I thought it would/could be. Still, I can’t bring myself to sell my equipment because the miracle might happen and my business might turn that corner. But I think I should stop deluding myself. It was over before it began. People loved me when I was doing portraits on the cheap to build my portfolio. I had two clients in December. Even though they told me their goal was to buy wall portraits, they bought 4×6′s (while insisting the photos were wonderful!). One of them laughed at me and scolded me for charging $40 for matted 8×10′s, saying “I just didn’t expect someone doing this part time to charge that much for paper.” I’m not in the paper business, jerk. You wanted to hire me because you thought my art was exceptional, then you just wanted images on a disk. It’s really frustrating. I spend SO MANY hours on the business and marketing end trying to up my game all to no avail. I’m on a rant, and I thank you for letting me vent. I guess I’ll hold out hope a little while longer … if my efforts don’t pay off soon, I’ll be selling my equipment to put food in my family’s bellies. There will be ten new photographers tomorrow to take my place …