Learning From The Best - vol.1

One thing that I'm learning in the photography world is that things change quickly and in order to keep up you must do some very simple let time consuming things:
1)networking
2)study others and learn from them
3)pass on what you have learn t from #2 (above)
4)no matter how successful you become, always stay grounded
5)always put family and friends first - they were their before your camera was!
6)enjoy every minute of it because you never know when it may get taken away from you.

With all this being said over the next few weeks I want to share with you some of the people in the industry that I have much respect for. My respect is not just due to the face that each of these people have great talent and skills when they have a camera in hand but they are also very kind people. Each one of them shares there knowledge and encourages people like myself to always better myself.

The first person I'd like to share with you is Becker or better known in the industry as [b]. Tonight I was reading his blog (which I'm sharing with you on the right of the page). I was amazed at some of the simple yet effective "trade secrets" that he shared. Now I wasn't amazed that he was sharing them but that they were so simple yet something not many of of do in our everyday working life. They are listed below. I encourage each of you to check out his website and blog they are both great sites and full of information. Enjoy!

START of Becker:

10 Things to do in '07 to help your business

These aren't "resolutions" but merely suggestions to help you grow your business in 2007:

10. Blog more often. Include links to all of the other vendors you work with and also try to add a few personal entries in there. In this business, being personable is more important than being professional.

9. Check this blog every Tuesday for fresh nuggests of info.

8. Return calls and emails to your clients within 24 hours (if not faster).

7. Be your own biggest fan and take pride in what you do. [ b ] passionate!

6. Quit wasting money on advertising in magazines and instead invest it in education and personal promotions. Go to at least 1 workshop or seminar per quarter (pixelicious is a growing list of workshops and events for photographers). Invest those ad dollars into better branding, a better website and/or new sample albums.

5. Pay yourself first (Read the Richest Man in Babylon). Also remember it's not how much you make, but how much you keep that counts.

4. Set aside one hour per week to just call a few of your future brides and check in with them. Ask them how the planning is coming along and see if there is anything you can do to help.

3. Get more involved in networking with other photographers. Places like OSP, SimplePhoto.tv and DWF are good places to start. Do you best to turn "the competition" into a referral source. Make sure to return the favor and hook a brutha up when your booked.

2. Tighten up your workflow. The more efficient you are, the more profitable you become.

1. Give back. Pay it forward. If someone has helped you along the way, do your best to try to help out someone else who is starting out.

I hope 2007 is the best year ever for you!

END of Becker

Thank you Becker for all the great information!