Marketing, accounting, and the “business” side of photography.
I recently read a book by fellow Ann Arborite, Fara Warner: The Power of the Purse. Fara evaluates the changes that big name companies implemented in order to (re)capture the market segment held by women. Learn how… McDonalds redirected their menu to appeal not just to kids, but to women looking for healthier alternative choices [...]
I just finished reading a book that really captures the heart of business relationships. Love is the Killer App, by Tim Sanders, discusses how the old method of “eat or be eaten” doesn’t work anymore. You just don’t get anywhere by playing cutthroat. Instead, you’ll find it a better use of your time to share [...]
A while back, I talked about mismanaging customer expectations. Well, I have a nice little story to share with you, let’s consider it a case study. I was interested in a new “widget” software. After doing some search online for widgets — I found a website offering free webinars on widgets, and how to use [...]
If you’re interested in learning how to efficiently run a volume photography business, you definitely need to attend one of Chris Wunder’s classes. Chris spoke at DPPA last night, and today he did a whole day program at JD Photo Imaging. I really enjoyed hearing what Chris had to share — it’s always nice to [...]
Do you say one thing but mean another? Sometimes, the message sent by our marketing pieces doesn’t convey the message we intend. A recent discussion on the PPA Forum reminded me of a similar discussion that always occurs when reading scuba diving magazines…. Any trained diver will tell you that it’s a no-no to wear [...]
Legalese can be a tricky thing to interpret. While you should definitely rely on your lawyer when it comes to determining the best legal decision, sometimes it is particularly helpful to have things translated into everyday terms so you can feel like you’re making an informed decision. And isn’t that what a good lawyer does? [...]
What do you do with your business while you’re “waiting” to hand out your business cards? Hopefully you don’t have enough free time to build a Taj Mahal out of cards, but we all have time we use unproductively. Sometimes when I get in that unproductive state of mind, it’s helpful for me to think [...]
This article was first published in the Professional Photographers of Michigan (PPM) newsletter, in August 2009. It used to be that having a website was optional; you didn’t need a web presence. But today, a website isn’t just a necessity; it’s the absolute minimum. You probably have a blog (or have been told you should [...]
What causes our customers to become frustrated with their experience? Is it really the quality of the service itself, or is it more of a communication problem? Did the client expect a seven course meal, but you provided them with fast food? If you watched That 70′s Show, you’ll know where I’m going with this. [...]
Sometimes the allure of an assignment can keep us from seeing the reality of the job. Is it really worth it to do a job for half price? What about for free? Would you pay someone to be allowed to do the job? …wait, isn’t something wrong with this picture? As professionals, we’re supposed to [...]
Betsy is a Michigan-based portrait photographer, and a contributing writer for Professional Photographer. In college, Betsy majored in Business Management and Studio Art, giving her a unique viewpoint of the industry.
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