Getting The Bigger Picture Of Delivering A Professional Portrait Photographer Nanaimo

By Ryan Graham


It has taken months of planning and preparation. There is electricity in the air. Or, it could be the unsettled anxiety brought on by the rain clouds still hanging ominously overhead. This is meant to be an outdoor event. The wedding planner s conferring with the groom. They are debating arranging shelter in the form of gazebos. The groom s hesitant, as that might interfere with the seating arrangements. The bride would not be too impressed. You empathize with them. But your real concern is how none of your equipment is waterproof! It is your first big gig. And you are already having doubts about running a professional portrait photographer Nanaimo.

With the massive uptrend of people wishing to join the ranks of wedding photographers, the profession s garnered a somewhat glamorous mystique. Aspirants lose sight of it being work, until they start getting booked, that is. They find themselves commuting to, sometimes, foreign locations at odd hours. In a business built on referrals, reputation is everything. So, catering to unusual requests from clients simply comes with the territory. In a sense, it is like working in the service industry.

When it comes to capturing momentous occasions meant as keepsakes for future generations, photos, especially in imperishable digital format, tend to stand the test of time. So being tasked with capturing said images carries with it a certain burden of responsibility. More so if one is actually being paid to do it. It is understandable then why most couples are very particular when it comes to selecting a photographer for something as life changing as their wedding. Should you offer your services and they do not let you down gently, try and remember that it is not about you. It is always going to be all about them.

All one can do is keep developing their skills. And one day you will get lucky, with luck defined as opportunity meets preparation. It all starts with being prepared. If you are truly passionate about your craft, and make no mistake, photography is a craft, you will be taking every opportunity to bring your A game to the table. It is all about show and prove, so showmanship counts. It is not just about what you do, but how you do it.

For a wedding photographer, the quality of relationships one builds has a direct correlation to the volume and quality of clients one attracts. And when spending weeks and months accompanying people during one of the most emotionally tumultuous episodes in their lives, the bonds formed can last a lifetime. As well as the grudges. But the value of displaying one s authentic self cannot be overstated. Since most people possess an uncanny ability for seeing through false pretences.

Eventually, once the bookings start coming in, great care must be taken to not overcommit yourself. Not as easy as it sounds. Every client places a slightly different set of demands on your time. Which is why itis standard practice for many photographers to only accept about fifty percent, or less, of the work they are offered. If you cannot get by without letting some offers go, it is probably time to raise your rates.

So, when a shoot scheduled for 5 hours becomes 10 hours because your clients insisted on your services at the after party, or an unplanned night shoot, scheduling conflicts are bound to happen. Especially since the most time consuming aspect of the work does not even happen at the photoshoot. Bear in mind, all their pictures will still need to be edited, processed, packaged, and, as per their request, transferred to a personalized photo album or flash drive. All this accomplished on your own time, of course.

Which is why health is wealth. One s not only expected to, but required to go that extra mile in providing consistently value added service to all their clients. That is key to building a profitable reputation. Which takes time. It takes energy. But instead of developing tunnel vision, it is just as important for one to take some time out for themselves occasionally. A little R&R helps one reassess their goals, getting back in touch with family and friends, and remembering why they decided to become professional capturers of moments in the first place.




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