I’ve been trying to teach photographers that there are essentially two teams left in the photo world: Team Cheapo or Team HighEnd (the middle is gone). Of those two, only one has a chance at long-term survival for the individual photographer. I’m sure you can guess which that is– HighEnd.
Now, HighEnd means different things to different people, and that is fine, but what it doesn’t mean is trying to skate by on the cheap. To be in the HighEnd world will require effort and investment in your business. You can’t do it for a buck and a quarter and good intentions.
Most importantly, it means making great work, of course. That always always comes first.
But, it also means promoting your work as a high value offering. You must value it highly yourself, and you have to put it out to the world that way too. This post from Fresh Produce (Art Producer) shows this concept well in the stock world. Read the interview and look at how Trunk Archive has positioned itself, and how well it is doing in that rarefied atmosphere.
Cheapo can kiss my Polish dupa. You want to make money in this business, join the HighEnd team.
Right On!
I am applying Team High End and Team Cheapo to everything else in my life. Thank you Auntie Leslie. Thank you
Personally I had it with shitty commissions. I’ve either been getting clients that argue with me about final invoice or get clients that have an ok budget but the work is crap.
I feel like I’ve been on a sinking ship and now I’m making some major changes to grow to the high end.
The measures are pretty drastic for some but its what I got to do right now and in the long run it will be worth it.
What has happened to the eons old tradition of working your way up the ladder?
@Rich
You do that (theoretically) as an employee.
You are a businessperson and you cave to control how your business is positioned.
-Leslie
Yes, Leslie, as an employee. And how many photographers started out at the bottom of the ladder assisting. Then, after a period of time, experience and knowledge gained, built their own business, and if they had the talent, luck (do not discount that), and business acumen, rose to the top. That’s still going from bottom to top, through a variety of sources.
Rich, you are confusing my point. I’m not speaking to how one becomes a business. I am saying once you are a commercial photographer and you are running your own business, you have to make a choice how you will position that business. I say that in today’s business climate, just about the only way to be successful is to position high.
-Leslie
Sorry, I got it.
I think it will be hard for most indpendent photogs to become high end. High end means a crew or staff. Most of us do not have the experance like that. Were indpendant by nature.