I am sick.to.death of all the talk about your/our competition. Other photographers are not our competition. There’s only one YOU. There’s only one Elizabeth Halford and my clients aren’t doing price comparisons on photographers. My clients love me and hire me for my art. I’m an artist. You want me? You hire me! You want cheap? Hire someone else.
It’s taken me years to get to the point where I can say that. “I am an artist”. It’s a vulnerable thing to say because it puts me in the firing line of anyone and everyone who thinks they’re better than me to scoff. It would be much more comfortable to simply fade into the mass of other photographers who don’t stand out and not draw attention to myself.
So the following statement is being made from the stance that I’m an artist and my products are a luxury item. Mkay? Here goes…
Other photographers are not my competition. You know who is? Apple. Starbucks. Disney World.
My competition are all the other luxury items and brands selling the idea that their products will enrich and enhance the lives of those who spend their money on them. The stuff that claims to add value to their lives.
If you want to stand out, if you want to draw attention to your business and nab the love and respect of people who don’t even yet know how your photography can enhance their lives, stop trying to one-up other photographers. One-up Starbucks. One-up Apple. They sell the hell out of the concept that they add value to your life. If you want clients who spend money on the nicer things in life, you need to chase those masses. Not the ones on Groupon clambering over each other for the next $10 photographer.
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