1. Alan Myers, Photographer.
2. Going on 7 years in business.
3. I started making photos as a serious amateur about 30 years ago.
4. Advice... sorry... can't keep to just one point:
Keep your mind open and keep learning. If I ever stop learning and expanding myself, someone please take me out back and put me out of my misery.
There are always new opportunities, if you just allow yourself to see them.
Constantly strive to become the very best at your specialization.
Speaking of which, specialization is very important, but keep your eye on the big picture anyway. And don't be afraid to change directions or try something new. Too much specialization for too long can easily turn into a bad thing... a rut.
The attitude you bring to your work will show to everyone around you all the time: If you are positive, upbeat and solution-oriented, they will know it. If you aren't... well, they will realize that too. How you approach things shows in your writing, conversations, even in the way you react unconsciously.
More face-to-face and telephone conversations, less email and texting.
Challenge yourself every chance you get. That can be to try something new, or to do something you do every day, but do it differently. Don't be afraid to take on a project that you aren't sure you are capable of... stretch yourself and your capabilites.
Always give your customers more and better than they expected. It's far better to surprise each and every customer with an unexpected bonus, than to cut your prices to the bone in hopes of gaining new business. Referrals will always be the best business you will get, so be sure you earn them on every job.
People who think they know it all don't. We're be lucky if we reach the point where we have a clearer picture of just how much we don't know.
You are your own toughest competition. People get in their own way, talk themselves out of trying things and think they can't do things. I bet far more fail for these reasons, than are "beaten by the competition".
Make a list of highly successful people... Now try to get a copy of any autobiographies about them and read. I think you will find a common thread in all of them.... Successful people fail far more often than they succeed, but they keep on trying anyway. That's why they succeed in the end.
Be very wary of anyone who says "forget about" anything. That means one of three things: They've never tried it, but have formed a strong opinion anyway. They've tried it, sort of, and failed. Or, they are wildly successful at it and trying to steer you away from "their little secret".
Leverage your work. In other words, if you shoot events and sell prints, also get releases so you can sell stock. If you travel to a location to shoot, be sure to let all your customers know well in advance in case they need photos from the same location. Tis better to have two, or three assignments tied to a trip, than a single one. If you have a pile of photos from previous jobs, go through them on a rainy evening when you have time and pick out a half dozen to sell as fine art. Or put together a book.
I could go on, but to wrap this up...
Believe 25% of what you read on blogs and the Internet. Maybe only 15%. Problem is, which 15-25% can you believe, and which 75-85% should you distrust?
Finally, spend half as much time blogging, twice as much time prospecting for new customers.
5. I have hundreds of favorite photos. Can't choose just one.
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