How do you handle competition?

[dmmiller]

I'm curious.. how do you all handle competitors? Ones that arent very nice and do everything they can to steal your business? Ones that go behind your back and try and find out everything your doing?
I'm in a situation like this and I'm not knowing how to handle it.
I'm trying to just do my thing and not let him bother me too much, but its easier said than done.

So I just thought i'd throw the question out there and see what anyone has done being in this situation.

TIA!

[adsayer]

wasn't on a business scale in the sense that my livelihood depended on it, but the competitive nature with nightclub stuff is sometimes interesting particularly at big events. Most are friendly and just enjoy a bit of a chitchat inbetween shoots, some are very very very competitive and get annoyed if you're on their 'patch'. I keep it friendly, let my work speak for itself, but constantly make my work 'evolve', I'm always thinking of new ideas and working out how to change how I light my subjects, how I can add my own unique punch to the pictures that keeps me ahead of the locals.

as with any business you have to constantly reinvent yourself (or in photography, reinvent your style) to keep ahead.

or failing that stomp on their camera gear if they get too close

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[S.Horton]

Ignore them entirely.

Focus on increasing your bookings and sales.

If they do something you think may be interference with your contracts, that's a matter for an attorney to handle for you. Example: You booked a gig, the competitor goes to the person who has a contract with you, trashes your reputation and then they get the business.

When you say "goes behind your back" -- what are they doing, and how do you know it?

[elysium]

Something like Adam above.

I was shooting nightclubs and had one exculsive venue and needed someone to cover me when I went away for a few weeks so a friend filled in. I told him everything in terms of the basics to get him going. Few weeks later, he stole my job by randomly telling lies about the authenticity of my work. It was a second source of income so I was not really bothered.

That friend came back seeking further advise and I just told him that he was on his own and left him to figure it out in a calm manner.

If it was any other business, I really wouldnt hold much on it since its still part time for me. If it was full time, I would make sure im signed on a monthly/yearly contract since my funds would be derived from that. I would most likely be more proactive.

[Robert16]

Keep focussed on your own business. If someone is sniffing around trying to find out what you are doing there is a good chance that they have no ideas of their own. Competition is always going to be there and some will do there utmost to undercut your prices, badmouth you etc. Rise above it. Desiderata

[CamDiver]

I normally use the tried and tested plan of superglue to the toilet seat, that normally does the trick!! Either that or I get a friend of mine, let's call him 'arry, to pay the aggressive competitor a visit. Works every time......

Cheers,
Mark.

[sebmour]

I let them do what they do. It doesn't matter since my clients do not hire me for price but for the quality of my work. In my area, we have issues with the government workers stating that they are photographers. They shoot on week-ends and do not care as much for the quality of the work and the satisfaction of their client since they already pay the bills with their daily jobs! But that's fine with me, since they take the cheap and boring clients and I get all the good stuff :P

Here a question for you,

How does your competitor know what job your have or what you are doing?

[Bosscat]

Just deliver a better product.

[dmmiller]

Thanks everyone for you advice and humor. ;)

I know what he's doing from people coming up and telling me he's asking lots of questions about what I do and how I do it. We are both new to this, and are trying to make a go of it, in a very small town, with the same sporting events.
Since I'm trying new things, he's doing the same. (which I understand is part of the business) But he's also questioning "how" i'm getting contracts. The way he posed the question, lead people to believe he thought I was doing favors. kwim?

But I'll just try and just do my own thing and let him crash and burn on his own. :)
thanks again for your advice and feedback, I really appreciate it.

[BlackJagger]

Sadly from the sounds of it there isn't much you can do but outshine him. If he was to start taking a more direct approach to attacking you and making you lose business you may have a case, but to be honest with you I don't know american law very well, in Canada it would fall under Tort Law. Good luck, think of it as flatery, you are definitely doing something right to have someone questioning how you are getting all the contracts.

Cheers,
Josh

[dmmiller]

Thanks Josh.. thats very kind of you to say.
I will do my best to outshine him. :)

[ssim]

I take a couple of hours every week to review the websites of competitors and google to see what is happening in the local market.

From what you have explained I can't see that he is doing anything really wrong. So he asked how you are getting a contract, big deal and so what if someone tells him. I am sure that you have enquired about how others have done certain things in business. I know that things in smaller markets can get personal but don't let it go there.

Focus on what you do and do it well. If he copies you consider it a compliment. It is absolutely impossible for every photographer to be unique in product offerings from every other photographer. It also sounds like there is some bad blood between you two and this happens in small markets. This is business and as such things get cut throat. If a person that is running a business and does not pay attention to the competition, everything from product offerings to contracts, then they are doing things right, imo.

As I said, focus on what you do if you do it well. You cannot control what others do and if he is doing nothing illegal don't let it eat you up but I get the feeling that this is eating at you pretty good.

[Mike30D]

Improve in the marketing area of your business. Maybe change up your offerings, continue to deliver a outstanding product. Also, remember to "over-deliver" to your clients. Not all the time, but once in awhile a little a$$ kissing goes a long way. Thank you cards, maybe something like a gift card to clients who refer you to a someone else who books you (not sure if you shoot other things besides sports).

[ChrisRabior]

There's nothing like a baseball bat to the kneecap....




And of course +1 to what was said above. If you're in a market in a big city (or nearby multiple big cities), this is the norm. Shooters come and go, contracts come and go, and yet there's always going to be work. While it may seem like it would be good to not have competition, it's really not. You'd never be able to cover everything on your own, and without competition, there's nobody to compare your work to.

Be friendly with the guy. You never know when a good connection with a fellow photographer could land you access to events or even a paying job.

But then again, if the guy's more of a jackass and there's no chance of a civil relationship.. there's always the bat option.

[dmmiller]

LOL @ the Bat idea Chris.
Thanks again everyone. I like to hear others advice, especially ones that are experienced in this environment. I'm not out to get anyone, or be the only one in this market. I just wasnt too sure how cut-throat this field is or can be. :)
From being on here for a short time, I see there are a lot of really nice helpful people. I've learned so much from all of you.. and I know I'll learn much more with each day.

[ChrisRabior]

It doesn't matter what part of the world you shoot in, there's going to be different types. Some are going to go out of their way to usher you in and welcome you with open arms, others are going to be snide, unpleasant, irritable, and all around crappy to be around, and you'll find some at every degree in between those two extremes. To top it off, added to their demeanor, you'll have the same spread apply equally for people who could operate their camera with proficiency drunk, drugged, and blindfolded.. all the way to the other extreme where they aren't even quite sure how to use their camera.

As I said, get in with the pleasant ones, help those who ask for advice, and be sure to establish yourself as a courteous professional who is easy to work alongside, and the positivity is eventually going to reciprocate in one form or another.

[noxcuses1]

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

[Vascilli]

The best way to beat competition is to be better than them.

..Marketing helps. :D

[WillMass]

There may, or may not much you can do. It depends on the particulars, and to some degree, what kind of work you are doing. You haven't really provided enough info, and I can't tell what kind of work you're pursuing, from the flickr page you've included.

[Mark1]

Keep in mind 80% of your business in non-photo stuff. Sounds like he does not understand that. Keep your self active on the marketing side of your business and you will do fine. If you are getting the contracts your customer service would seem to be OK.