What got your business going?

cdifoto wrote in post #15221616
Generally speaking, you usually just offer it regardless of what people say or think of it. You say we're dismissive of you, but you're as equally dismissive of those of us who don't subscribe to your way of thinking.

To be honest, the maker of this specific thread has dismissed a lot of what Glumpy has said. He has his own ideas, and I honestly believe that this thread is just to show case his ideas, and he just want's us to glorify them. He has shot down all of what glumpy has said, tried to pitch ideas in my place of business for himself, and he kinda just keeps going on and on with the same stuff.

I totally agree with what your saying, if this thread was a platform for an actual general discussion, but it's not, its just someone trying to pitch ideas that he wants to try, or have tried, and it doesn't work, and now he wants to know what we have done to be successful.

Just my opinion though....

I was thinking of what glumpy says in general, not just here. GerryDavid always has been a poster of musings and glumpy seems to have a hate-on for anyone who prefers craftsmanship over volume.

behindtheglass wrote in post #15222495
To be honest, the maker of this specific thread has dismissed a lot of what Glumpy has said. He has his own ideas, and I honestly believe that this thread is just to show case his ideas, and he just want's us to glorify them. He has shot down all of what glumpy has said, tried to pitch ideas in my place of business for himself, and he kinda just keeps going on and on with the same stuff.

I totally agree with what your saying, if this thread was a platform for an actual general discussion, but it's not, its just someone trying to pitch ideas that he wants to try, or have tried, and it doesn't work, and now he wants to know what we have done to be successful.

Just my opinion though....

The OP is CameraMan. I thought this thread was a place to share ideas on how to get a business going, and I was just sharing one that was shared with me.

I'm sorry for pitching ideas for your place of work, I didn't realize that was a touchy subject for you.

Who is to say it doesn't work? It has worked for others, and I am still in the process of applying it to my business. I'm still working on the marketing material to use to present to the various places of business in town that I want to built a business partnership with.

I'm not saying this idea is the only way to go, its not, and it wasn't my intention to "keep going on and on". I'm just explaining things further against someone that seems to think their way is the only way to go.

I haven't had time to approach the cancer center yet. But thanks to another photographer's marketing tips that I learned yesterday I have a new approach to asking them that will be mutually beneficial to both of us, and build a good partnership with the them. The only problem is my schedule.

cdifoto wrote in post #15222519
GerryDavid always has been a poster of musings.

I think I should say thank you?

GerryDavid wrote in post #15222655
T
Who is to say it doesn't work?

...but the thread is about what got your business going. You are pitching ideas that you hope will get your business going: a huge difference.

The OP is wanting people to share what has worked for them: you effectively hijacked the thread when instead of talking about what has worked for your business you wanted feedback on your "idea." The thread isn't about what you think might work. Its about what does work. Its a shame that what should have been a constructive thread has turned into yet another discussion about one of your "pie in the sky" schemes. When you've teamed up with a car dealership and it is working and you are making money from the relationship then your contribution would be relevant to the thread.

Luck

glumpy wrote in post #15212699
I started a new business this year that will net well over $100K by Calendar years end. I haven't got a website or gone near faceache but have picked up work for more than the next 6 moths in addition to the last 8 months totally from getting on the phone, making appointments and going to show people what I can do. In some cases I have spent 55 min out of an hour talking to them about whatever and only spoken about my work for the last 5 min.

Is this a photography business? WOW....Tell me more. Netting over 100K in your first year, just by shaking hands and showing your work. What are you doing?

mikekelley wrote in post #15222831
Luck

Yeah, That's a big part of it.

I always believed you made your own luck then my accountant made it clear that as much against the principals of his game that is, There was no way he didn't think it was hugely significant in a LOT of successful businesses.

I'd say my own thing was a combination of luck and recognising an opportunity and going with it. That also required open mindedness in being prepared to do something that had never even crossed my mind before rather than dismissing anything that didn't fit in with my single minded ambitions.

glumpy wrote in post #15223135
What I'm Doing is Firstly making money,
Secondly , Pi$$ing people off on forums because I'm not doing it the way they think it should be done.

I'll PM you so as not to incur the wrath of the artistic tunnel Visioned.

I am waiting for it.....

glumpy wrote in post #15223135
What I'm Doing is Firstly making money,
Secondly , Pi$$ing people off on forums because I'm not doing it the way they think it should be done.

Do you honestly believe people are actually getting pissed off at you on here??

glumpy wrote in post #15223135
I'll PM you so as not to incur the wrath of the artistic tunnel Visioned.

You could just get specific out here in public. No need to PM individuals.

glumpy wrote in post #15223121
I don't know how many times I have to say it but once again for the those that feel insecure and the Dummies up the back of the class, I have NO problem with fine, creative photography.

It' is in fact what I would like to do to massage my own ego as some obviously prioritise it here. The POINT I don't know how to spell out any clearer is that -I- have not been able to work out how to make as much money and get as much work with the creative type work as I have volume work.

That said, ATM I am working on re-establishing my glamour work because I do like the creative and artistic side of photography and want to get back to some of that myself.
The fact I now have a good business that fully supports me will allow me to put the time and investment into it to get it up and running quickly and returning a profit as well.

As I have also spelled out to you clearly before, making money IS my priority in photography and it's actually YOU whom is demonstrating the hatred against that as you have been told this before and keep manipulating and ignoring that in order to have a go at what I say.

NO matter how people rant on against that, I"m happy as a pig in mug because I have EXCEEDED my goal. Clearly the people lambasting what I have done are still struggling to reach theirs. I have experienced living day to day with the arse out of my pants and accounting for every cent and I don't like it at all. If others whom display personality traits that will preclude them from ever getting near what they say they want to achieve want to live like that while they are chasing their artistic dreams, good luck to them.
I'll do anything to avoid that again and keep what I have now.

So far what I have not seen amongst the artistic crowd is anyone with any info on how they are making as much as I am doing the work they champion.
As has been said and defended so vehemently, not everyone wants to make money, The fact is I do and I'm merely DOING it the best way I know how.

If an opportunity came along for me to make more money still running a garbage Business, then I'd drop photography like a hot potato and do that.

Where the hatred seems to be is with people making money and not treating photography as a holy grail of some sort that is done for art only.

When have I ever said I don't make money? Clearly you have reading comprehension problems in addition to delusions of grandeur.

cdifoto wrote in post #15223272
You could just get specific out here in public. No need to PM individuals.

Ssshhhhh! its a secret.....

Kronie wrote in post #15223282
Ssshhhhh! its a secret.....

Oh right, right. You can copy & paste it here after he messages it to you.

(Well, I'm closing my eyes as I jump into the water)

Well Glumpy,

I know you come across to many here as crass and arrogant...but for me, you've generally spelled out the basics of running your own self-employed business. I have no reason to believe you aren't successful at what you do. As someone who has run their own business for the last 23 years, I also know (in my current industry) what it takes to generate business...and that doesn't necessary mean the quality has to lack to the point of a poor product...you fit your product a specific market. There may be many types of "markets" out there and I don't see why you can't cater to more than one. There are balances. I sure don't want to get into this discussion too deeply, but I've been contemplating slowly starting a photography BUSINESS. Like many here, I would like to produce the BEST images that I can. But I also am trying to figure out how to do that AND generate the income I would need to leave my current business (as I'm tired, bored, and looking for something new).

Watching the 'tude that's going on in this thread, I don't know why the discussion has deteriorated. Read Glumpy's message #40 word for word. I believe he clearly spells out where he's coming from, and as a businessman, I don't see where the rub is. You provide a product to fit your market. If there is market for green screen work, why NOT give it a try? It can be just ONE part of your business. Why not surround it with portraits of your best work with your card and contact information? I, for one, would not look at that as a photographer that does crappy "green screen" work if I saw him advertising his best work on the side. That's Marketing...getting your face out there to the masses and attracting the public to your business. In my business, if I'm dropping off work at one client, I'm talking it up with others in the office, I'm walking down the street to another potential client to drop off cards...I'm following an worker who quit one office to go to another and getting my foot in the door of the other office. It's business. Like someone said, this is "The Business of Photography" section

The ONLY way I'm doing this, is if I CAN make a living at it. Why not try some of the mentioned "easy money" methods & events to pay the bills TO ALLOW the ability to do the creative side? I think that's all Glumpy saying...why is that a bad thing?

Glumpy, You can PM me with your plan...I'd welcome the information.

CDIfoto...I've read your messages and I also respect you but I wouldn't be putting MY plan out on the general forum and I don't see a need to see his work. You damn well know, in this atmosphere, all that would do is lead to everyone ripping apart something because "hey, this is the internet and I can do that!"...it would be pointless to those that are actually open to more information…I’ll take it on the side and at face value.

It might not be exactly what I'm looking for...I don't know...but you keep an open mind, take the parts that work for you, and make something out of it that fits your plan.

Thank You Allen K.
I'm glad someone was able to understand what I have been saying.

I really don't mean to get involved in hefty arguments here, but for some reason when GerryDavid said he wanted to work with a car dealership to give some sort of promotion on a "portrait session" I was thinking something along the lines of the client with his newly bought automobile etc. However, when I read that it was a "glamour portrait" and car dealership, does not make sense to me at all. Sure you can associate people who spend a lot on cars on wanting to spend a lot on something of quality, but you can't really group car buyers and people looking to get portraits done in the same basket. Thats just the way I see it. Could be wrong.

Anyway, on to my story, I have only gone "pro" for this past summer, so definitely a new comer. On the side of luck, I have been very luck to have had some amazing clients thus far, while I won't be making record revenue this year, I was still busy in doing shoot for clients and got the chance to meet some really amazing people in the process, some of which i have remained close friends with. I was lucky to land my real first client and pretty much the work spoke for itself. I got contacted by 2 local businesses for shoots and have since had an ad in a magazine published with my photo, and have 2 sets on ADV.1's website (a wheel company in the states). That was just off 2 photoshoots alone. I have done numerous other private shoots since then. Due to my target market, things have slowed down for the year as most of the nice cars are tucked away for the winter. Will be spending the next couple of months thinking of ways to get more business and look forward to what spring in 2013 will hold!