Helping out & sharing each other's work & photography ideas

jasonsony735 · 12 Feb 2016 at 16:05

Columbo said:
You don't need a YouTube channel to get 20 weddings per year, we've got 28 booked this year and 15 already for next year. Let your work and successes speak for themselves, Facebook has done wonders for us simply by letting the clients tell an honest story that everyone can see.

Though I'm not full time my business partner is and we've now got our own studio which is just about fully booked. What also made a huge difference to us is networking, we offered services to florists, hair stylists, beauticians, dress makers etc for free who all have us in their shops now as 'recommended' photographers and we've also just won a contract in local Sure Start centres for the next 12 months.

Also think about its impact on you and your hobby, I do zero hobby photography these days simply because between my full time job as a senior manager, photography business, actual photography and editing, my wife and 8 year old daughter I don't have the time and if truth be told I miss it a lot.

This is Fantastic info Thank you so much for sharing this dude

I'm going to get on twitter and the social networks tonight and try link up with others in my field in my area and see if we can work together.

Steve M · 12 Feb 2016 at 16:06

jasonsony735 said:
Its not about money at all

jasonsony735 said:
I know some photographers have a big following & get over 20 + weddings a year , it's early days but I'd like to aim for this in the next coming years

So you'll be doing these 20 weddings a year for free too then?

Raymond Lin · 12 Feb 2016 at 16:10

But what about this from last month?

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18711698&highlight=username_jasonsony735

jasonsony735 said:
Would like some feed back on the best way about making my hobby a full time job, I have been building up a profile over the past 2 years so I've got the basics in place , I have a linked FB page - Twitter & a main web site but its still currently only a hobby.

I only currently advertise on the likes of FB and people come to me and ask me to do photos for them witch I do as I want to build a profile up in a wide range of areas ,

Currently I enjoy landscape photography most and photographed 4 weddings last year witch I really enjoyed and feel this would bring in the best income plus its a weekend job most of the time so free's up week days to do other projects , From looking online Family studio and children photography is very popular at the moment after doing some research this is what most mums with children go for and I feel I could offer a lot better photography than the likes of most people currently doing it in my area. If I went in this direction I would need to invest in a studio kit and some flash lights and backdrops ect .

from a photography point of view what is best to do ? offer one type of photography or cover all areas ?

If I make this my full time job then one I want everyone one of my clients to love my photography so my clients will always come first and secondly make a decent yearly turn over.

Here is my Hobby website I have been building up over the past 2 years so any comments on how I can improve it would be greatly appreciated.

www.jasonsturgess.co.uk

Steve M · 12 Feb 2016 at 16:13

This thread is pure comedy! OP, why are you at pains to deny you're in this just for the money? You clearly are!

Rroff · 12 Feb 2016 at 16:23

Steve M said:
Seems to me though there's no real passion for photography what so ever, and the primary aim is just to make money.

I've worked with him - though don't know him that well - he was very passionate about photography, though only just starting into it, at the time from what I remember.

Raymond Lin · 12 Feb 2016 at 16:37

I just want to add that nobody would criticise you for wanting to use YouTube or social media to get more business, or asking for advice to how to get more business but at least be upfront about it. Please stop denying that is what you are trying to do, we can all see through it. The more you try to deny it, the worse it comes across.

Btw, just a heads up, it is against forum rules to put the URL of your own business on here.

jasonsony735 · 12 Feb 2016 at 17:00

Rroff said:
I've worked with him - though don't know him that well - he was very passionate about photography, though only just starting into it, at the time from what I remember.

I have already asked in another post about how to make more money with photography

, this post is about helping each other out and ways too expand in photography , not just helping me but everyone who wants to expand in the photography industry. by means of social networking with others to FB , Twitter & Instra

D.P. · 12 Feb 2016 at 18:14

Raymond Lin said:
I just want to add that nobody would criticise you for wanting to use YouTube or social media to get more business, or asking for advice to how to get more business but at least be upfront about it. Please stop denying that is what you are trying to do, we can all see through it. The more you try to deny it, the worse it comes across.

Btw, just a heads up, it is against forum rules to put the URL of your own business on here.

This really. Everyone wants to quite their boring 9-5 office job and make a living from their favourite hobby. Some people on this forum have done just that with photography.
I think about it a lot, but this warning form Colombo sums it up:

Also think about its impact on you and your hobby, I do zero hobby photography these days simply because between my full time job as a senior manager, photography business, actual photography and editing, my wife and 8 year old daughter I don't have the time and if truth be told I miss it a lot.

I don't want to turn something I love into something I just do to generate money.