Business Training

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on June 17, 2009 at 8:45am

I have been in the business of photogrpahy for a long time. The biggest mistake I have made is not getting more business training. I always thought that if I could just make great photographs the rest would take care of itself. Well now I can make, and do make, great photographs and the rest hasn't taken care of itself. The biggest skill you need to be successsful in photography is that of marketing effectively and managing effectively. I know numbers of photographers whose work isn't very good but they are profitable. The most important thing you can learn is marketing and management.

Permalink Reply by Keith Birmingham on June 21, 2009 at 3:53pm

I agree with Nathan. Good marketing and sound business practices are where the money is made. I am currently reading "The Real Business of Photography" by Ricard Weisgrau. It is co-published by ASMP. I stopped by a college last week with the intention of enrolling in a Photoshop course and a business course. At ate 60, with my youthful disdain for classrooms, I think I am better of with on-line classes or books through professional organizations.

Permalink Reply by Ethiriel Photography on April 12, 2011 at 2:56am

If you are interested in learning photoshop, you may be interested in checking out my website.  I offer free online photoshop tutorials and encourage people to contact me with any problems they have or tutorials they would like to see.

The site is still in its infancy at the moment and I am aiming for it to be an informative site where fellow photographers and digital artists will be able to gain the free resources they need without  any hidden fees along the way which so often happens :)

Permalink Reply by Brian Haferkamp on February 4, 2011 at 8:50pm

Most photographers would tell you that their success is about 80% business management and 20% their photography. You have to have both, but when you start doing something for money it's a small business -- you have to treat it as such. This is an area most photographers are either completely lost, completely uncomfortable learning, or both. If you can improve your own business skills, it will put you ahead of many others in the long run. 

 

Because of this, I'm going to start a blog in the next couple of months that focuses on equipping photographers with the appropriate resources and information to improve their business sense and help them become better small business managers. My advice: Read as much as you can and learn everything you can, whether that's online or in a business course or both. As Nathan pointed out, there are plenty of average photographers who are doing well because they understand the business side of photography. Just think if you're a great photographer with good business knowledge. That's an exciting future.