If you're pitching to tourism boards, don't just show them landscape shots... make sure you get photos of the *_activities_* that are available in their location/destination. I see absolutely _no point at all_ in shooting empty landscape photographs with _no people_ in them *unless* your images are intended for use in _calendars._
I've applied a lot of your tips to my photography business and I have improved my services a great deal. Thank you for putting out such quality content! Please don't ever stop. You're providing a great deal of value to people who are genuinely interested in turning their photography skills into paying clients.
I use a simple strategy for pricing when working with commercial shoot. 1.) Find out and understand what the client wants; 2.) Ask them what their budget is; 3.) Then them what you can do in that budget limit.
No ads talk, no course promotion, just straight to the point. In the real you have to be more salemen in these days, than photographer. I am on my track for 10 years, and main part is still about communication, and chasing the new jobs :)
It is so great hearing tips about being versatile as a photographer - often I hear that new photographers much choose a niche and it is so confusing, because it is difficult to know what you enjoy before you actually start doing it. I am still in the early days of my photography business, but I have been taking photographs for many years, but I am now at a point in my life where I can take it more seriously and build a business with it, so these tips were well received, thanks so much.
As a working professional for over a dozen years my take on this is to be versatile as a photographer, but hone down the marketing as necessary. So it you do landscapes, portraits and product photography, you need to target your portfolio and communications to each segment, as people looking for portrait photography will only be confused by pictures of shampoo and perfume bottles.
It’s a sleepless 3 am here with thoughts running in my mind about how I am going to build my career,portfolio and make my living from this field. Left my full time job with financial back up for 6 months and here I am in the 5th month of it.. and then this video comes to my feed and making me confident again now.. Thanks Sean.. Hope I’ll be sharing my story to some beginners in few years about how I overcame these crucial part of my journey!
I’m a professional guitar player and it’s funny how much photography is the same as far as business goes. I always wanted to get into photography and have been trying to practice taking good photos with my iPhone lol…got some great ones , but just got a Canon Rebel T7 as an entry to photography. I’m excited to practice and perhaps one day get paid to take photos. Subscribed ! The comments on community were really great! Thanks for a great video
Thanks man. I really want to start off a photography business, kind of bored about doing a corporate job. Your video was absolutely helpful and got a lots of insight. Again thank you so much.
Honestly, this one video really opened my mind and gave me the direction of how I can pitch myself to clients. I'm beginner and really want to pursue photography as my career. This is going to be tough one but easy things doesn’t excites more. A great thanku Sean for informative videos like this. I had been watching you since last 2 years. Y're true master🙏🏻
I think it is important to note that outreach does not always result in immediate responses. Often, someone needing photos will remember you contacted them weeks ago, and then respond.
100%, very true. People don’t want to spend the time researching this stuff, especially employees who’ve been asked by their boss to find a photographer. They’ll go to whoever is convenient or who they remember. Gotta plant those seeds!
Have been taking photos for fun as a hobby. Toyed with the idea of starting a photography business but felt like my photos aren't good enough and there are already a bunch of good photographers out there. Photography isn't as niche as it was last time. Everyone can take photos now. So thank you so much Sean for this motivating and insightful video!
Great Video Mate - I started my photography business back in 2017 with a Panasonic G7 and Two kit lenses :) and I have to agree, the early days of doing shoots and learning on the job were SUPER fun :) Miss them a lot :) Great Video again - Thank You 🙏
Good, sound advice. Re: niches - some might already have a personal style or interest they love - it is advantageous to recognize this as it easier to do targeted and more effective marketing.
Thank you so much Sean! You made a seemingly scary process so easy to digest! Thank you again for sharing, so excited to embark on my professional photography journey! Much love! 🫂🫶🏽
Really good information. Pretty much everything you discussed in this video are things I am trying to work through right now as a photographer that just made the jump into full time. Thank you for the pointers!
Thank you so much!!! I have been doing portraits and events for free. Everyone has told me to start charging but I am too nervous. Trying to branch out for more options so i can make money doing other things so i can build up better.
... but so many *travel* shooters are _photo-journalists_ and their style of marketing (client base) is totally different, and editorial fees for shoots and images are _low,_ especially if you agree to sell your photos as "stock" on a _royalty-free_ basis.
This is a more difficult approach to take and there isn't a huge market for it. Client work is much more in demand and accessible to us as photographers, and it also pays much better. Photo journalism is rewarding and exciting, but I wouldn't expect to get paid much from it. The same goes for stock photography, unless you've been consistently uploading to stock sites for years you are much better off putting your energy towards scoring clients or creating content for social media.
great advice, thanks! I'm definitely going to follow you. I've been shooting weddings for the past 14 years. However, this will be my last year with weddings and moving on to more freelance stuff.
Can you do a more pricing video and how exactly can you secure branded deals? Which client niches pay the most? Technology/gear or actual hotels/resorts?
I wish I saw this before I started, I AGREE WITH EVERY TIP! LOL but, I was aggressive and fell in love with photography and its been history ever since!
Great video Sean, thank you. I am curious to know how you would (as a beginner) deliver work to the clients without the paid subscription gallery tools. Did you start out with cloud based storage websites? Looking forward to checking out your other videos and links.
Great video, appreciate the advice! One thing you didn’t mention that I am curious about is do you think people prefer to work with photographers that have the proper qualifications??
Thanks for sharing this great video! 👍 Regarding social media presence, what would you advise in the following situation: I’m about to launch my business in product photography but I already have an account focusing on rather interior, lifestyle photography than product shots… would you recommend to create a separate one for the latter -and starting from zero🤯 ? -which I find quite a hassle 😢 Or, could it possibly work as well if I incorporate my product shots onto the existing account..? I’m curious about your thoughts
Thank you so much for the info in this video! I would definitely be interested in a video about base rate. I've alway sshad issues with my rates for shoots. I personally each price based on the shoot, and really only have the base rate for myself, but of course, people always want to know my rates, and it's hard to answer because I need details about the shoot before I can offer a proper quote...
@@seandalt Ah well I had to leave as well so can not answer your question now untill I venture back. But from my friends I hear, life is more or less the same there as pre-covid. Only that the weed is legal now, which scares me off but... not that it would really change things a lot =D
Always curious about the barrier to entry when it comes to paid landscape photography. In other words, since we're not starting with REI or on assignment with Nat Geo, in what way does landscape photography apply to let's say smaller, more local businesses? How can we market, use it to target, and ultimately utilize it (landscape photography) as a business tool? Thanks Sean!
Great question! It's more difficult to monetize landscape photography in particular, but it's possible. One way is by working with tourism boards/travel companies (the latter being easier to score) but landscapes only comprise one part of these jobs (the other being several styles of photography highlighting various activities/experiences in said location). The content creator approach works well for landscape as well, and while it can take more time build up, it allows you the ultimate freedom to shoot whatever you want. Ideally, you just strike a middle ground. When you go out to shoot your landscapes, bring a product or a model to include in your scene. More often than not a photo with a subject is more marketable for your portfolio than just a pure landscape photo. And you can still shoot the landscape while you're there in between shots with the model/product :) Few photographers put in the time to venture out to epic locations to shoot products/models, so that background in landscape photography and location scouting lends incredibly well to the industry.
@@seandalt Great points, and thank you for taking the time to give that insight! I've been fortunate lately to have done 2 trips shooting photos and videos for my friend's culinary travel company - he is an award winning chef and his company operates primarily in Northern Italy...so the landscapes (both photo and video) aren't necessarily a huge focus of theirs. We do get some landscape shots and drone footage though from time to time. But it's more the people, food, other chefs, wine, etc that they want their content focused around. Which makes total sense. That said, I'm also heading back to Switzerland (I found your channel through the Switzerland challenge actually - great video series!) next month for my 3rd time back there and thinking about pitching local apparel companies on kind of rugged/hiking/lifestyle type photos. Or thereabouts haha. Thanks again for your detailed response Sean! Sincerely appreciate it!
Please can you teach us about pricing 🥺 and I guess it depends from country to country? What's the best way to sell our work in another country in advance? I mean, before we do a photography business trip?
As a freelancer, please make sure you can deliver something decent. Pictures are probably the last 10% of what you do, the other is relationships, understanding the client and what they want. I always work on the rule that I’m only as good as my last job. So don’t look at the banger you took 5 years ago, one bad job and word gets around. Pricing is all about you, workout what you need to earn to live the life you want and break the hours of available time to ‘work’ into a monetary value to achieve that, that’s the price…. If you love it, it doesn’t feel like hard work, so it’s easy to under value. And in the sea of instagram, you aren’t competing with smart phones and the average joe, so don’t be put off by everyone having in g a camera and taking snaps… in a see of poop the good stuff stand a out and if someone does manage a better pic than you, so what, you can’t be everywhere at every angle.
I have been thinking about trying going pro in photography, full time. I am quite scared to try as I feel like the market is too saturated, also as phone cameras get better i am worried its a job that might drastically slow down
I really love this video - such useful tips on starting a photography business. I really love the imposter syndrome part (I still struggle a little with it!). I’m secretly (but now not so secret) hoping you would come on my podcast. I would absolutely love it!
dude whattt how’d u make 10k … im so curious where to look for clients. I have an a6600 with a sigma 56mm f1.4, helios 44-2, and a few sony and vintage zooms and primes 😭
Hi, I'm thinking of taking jobs as a photographer, but I am underage, I've already quite mastered my camera if I say so myself, do you think it is possible to start even though I'm still underage?
Is it possible to start with my iphone? I know I have an eye for good shots but I've never taken it seriously because I can't afford thousands of dollars worth of gear.
Just checked Photographs in my Area.... they´re waaay worse than I thought ! I could alrerady keep up easily! didn´t expect that! thanks for the reminder that I probably have imposter syndrome
![[#2024MAMA] BIGBANG (빅뱅) - 뱅뱅뱅 (BANG BANG BANG) + FANTASTIC BABY | Mnet 241123 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EQsYfiPR9uM/mqdefault.jpg)
I would love a video on pricing!
me too :)
Great idea!
If you're pitching to tourism boards, don't just show them landscape shots... make sure you get photos of the *_activities_* that are available in their location/destination. I see absolutely _no point at all_ in shooting empty landscape photographs with _no people_ in them *unless* your images are intended for use in _calendars._
100%, landscapes are only a small part of a tourism board job
Thanks for being one of the few content creators to give free, meaningful advice without any traps or hurdles!
Absolutely man, this industry can be a bit confusing. Happy to shed some insight on it!
Amen!
Wow indeed@@seandalt
I've applied a lot of your tips to my photography business and I have improved my services a great deal. Thank you for putting out such quality content! Please don't ever stop. You're providing a great deal of value to people who are genuinely interested in turning their photography skills into paying clients.
loving these tips, please please I beg for you to make a more in depth video on pricing, its honestly a headache at this point for me
I use a simple strategy for pricing when working with commercial shoot. 1.) Find out and understand what the client wants; 2.) Ask them what their budget is; 3.) Then them what you can do in that budget limit.
No ads talk, no course promotion, just straight to the point. In the real you have to be more salemen in these days, than photographer. I am on my track for 10 years, and main part is still about communication, and chasing the new jobs :)
It is so great hearing tips about being versatile as a photographer - often I hear that new photographers much choose a niche and it is so confusing, because it is difficult to know what you enjoy before you actually start doing it. I am still in the early days of my photography business, but I have been taking photographs for many years, but I am now at a point in my life where I can take it more seriously and build a business with it, so these tips were well received, thanks so much.
As a working professional for over a dozen years my take on this is to be versatile as a photographer, but hone down the marketing as necessary. So it you do landscapes, portraits and product photography, you need to target your portfolio and communications to each segment, as people looking for portrait photography will only be confused by pictures of shampoo and perfume bottles.
It’s a sleepless 3 am here with thoughts running in my mind about how I am going to build my career,portfolio and make my living from this field. Left my full time job with financial back up for 6 months and here I am in the 5th month of it.. and then this video comes to my feed and making me confident again now.. Thanks Sean.. Hope I’ll be sharing my story to some beginners in few years about how I overcame these crucial part of my journey!
this was nice. thank u for sharing.
checking in with this comment, how are things going for you now?
How’s it going?
you got it man!! i’m in the same boat with you too!!
I’m here to also see how it’s going?
Yes, please make a more detailed video on pricing. Love your content
I’m a professional guitar player and it’s funny how much photography is the same as far as business goes. I always wanted to get into photography and have been trying to practice taking good photos with my iPhone lol…got some great ones , but just got a Canon Rebel T7 as an entry to photography. I’m excited to practice and perhaps one day get paid to take photos. Subscribed ! The comments on community were really great! Thanks for a great video
Thanks man. I really want to start off a photography business, kind of bored about doing a corporate job. Your video was absolutely helpful and got a lots of insight. Again thank you so much.
This helped way more than any other videos I’ve seen! Thank you so much!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for the comment!
Thank you for this information. I just bought a Fujifilm TX3 and a mirrorless basic camera. I cannot wait to start practicing with them.
Beautiful little camera, enjoy it!
Honestly, this one video really opened my mind and gave me the direction of how I can pitch myself to clients.
I'm beginner and really want to pursue photography as my career. This is going to be tough one but easy things doesn’t excites more.
A great thanku Sean for informative videos like this. I had been watching you since last 2 years. Y're true master🙏🏻
Love to hear it man, thanks for the comment and glad you found the video helpful! Glad you're here and thanks for the support!
@@seandalt yo man! Just bring these information-packed videos. I appreciate your efforts in content. My support is with you🤞🏻
Thank you for the inspiration Sean.
I think it is important to note that outreach does not always result in immediate responses. Often, someone needing photos will remember you contacted them weeks ago, and then respond.
100%, very true. People don’t want to spend the time researching this stuff, especially employees who’ve been asked by their boss to find a photographer. They’ll go to whoever is convenient or who they remember. Gotta plant those seeds!
Have been taking photos for fun as a hobby. Toyed with the idea of starting a photography business but felt like my photos aren't good enough and there are already a bunch of good photographers out there. Photography isn't as niche as it was last time. Everyone can take photos now. So thank you so much Sean for this motivating and insightful video!
Great Video Mate - I started my photography business back in 2017 with a Panasonic G7 and Two kit lenses :) and I have to agree, the early days of doing shoots and learning on the job were SUPER fun :) Miss them a lot :) Great Video again - Thank You 🙏
Good, sound advice. Re: niches - some might already have a personal style or interest they love - it is advantageous to recognize this as it easier to do targeted and more effective marketing.
Thank you so much Sean! You made a seemingly scary process so easy to digest! Thank you again for sharing, so excited to embark on my professional photography journey! Much love! 🫂🫶🏽
Really good information. Pretty much everything you discussed in this video are things I am trying to work through right now as a photographer that just made the jump into full time. Thank you for the pointers!
What a video and inspired me to take the leap. Clear, concise and helpful advice. Thank you!
So stoked to hear this. You got it!
you broke this down perfectly! thank you sooo much!
Yes please Sean I would love a discussion on pricing?
Had to share this video with a few fellow photographer friends! Thanks for the awesome advice! 💯👏🏼
Thank you so much!!! I have been doing portraits and events for free. Everyone has told me to start charging but I am too nervous. Trying to branch out for more options so i can make money doing other things so i can build up better.
Loved this video! You seem so genuine. Thank you.
Thank you for giving a unique advice which i was looking for from the past 5 years.
... but so many *travel* shooters are _photo-journalists_ and their style of marketing (client base) is totally different, and editorial fees for shoots and images are _low,_ especially if you agree to sell your photos as "stock" on a _royalty-free_ basis.
This is a more difficult approach to take and there isn't a huge market for it. Client work is much more in demand and accessible to us as photographers, and it also pays much better. Photo journalism is rewarding and exciting, but I wouldn't expect to get paid much from it. The same goes for stock photography, unless you've been consistently uploading to stock sites for years you are much better off putting your energy towards scoring clients or creating content for social media.
This is the best starting tips video for beginners
Thank you for the helpful video!
So greatful I found you on RUclips I will try what you suggested and see if it works if it does I'm sticking with you kid ..
Wonderful information and realistic.
Glad you found it useful my man!
great advice, thanks! I'm definitely going to follow you. I've been shooting weddings for the past 14 years. However, this will be my last year with weddings and moving on to more freelance stuff.
Appreciate the comment Joe, thank you. Weddings are great but exhausting hey? Hope you can find your footing shooting other stuff!
@@seandalt thank you!
Love The Thailand part I have 17 years in and out of Thailand, Cambodia. Great places. R.
Really enjoyed this video. Helpful, practical and simple advice. Thanks so much.
This is one of the most helpful videos I’ve watched in a long time, thank you! Also would def be interested in a pricing video 😄
Can you do a more pricing video and how exactly can you secure branded deals? Which client niches pay the most? Technology/gear or actual hotels/resorts?
Excellent work, Sir!
I wish I saw this before I started, I AGREE WITH EVERY TIP! LOL but, I was aggressive and fell in love with photography and its been history ever since!
It's such an addicting hobby, ride that wave!
Been a photographer and content creator for Harley since 2019! =) You can make a career out of a hobby!
@@seandalt
Thanku for this great video, really helpful, now i know how to start a photography business cause i had no idea where to start and now i do, thanku.
Awesome video, thank you for the tips! And I'd love a video about pricing.
This is so helpful and encouraging. Thanks Sean!
Great video Sean, thank you. I am curious to know how you would (as a beginner) deliver work to the clients without the paid subscription gallery tools. Did you start out with cloud based storage websites? Looking forward to checking out your other videos and links.
Thank you for watching Leigh! Dropbox and google drive are great for that :)
I am happy to do photography for free with experienced people.
So much great advice and insights packed into this video, thanks for sharing your experience Sean! 👏
Yesh this is really helpful. thanks sean!
Absolutely my man!
Great video, appreciate the advice!
One thing you didn’t mention that I am curious about is do you think people prefer to work with photographers that have the proper qualifications??
Solid principles and mindset in this video, great conversation dude!
Love your tips, very on point, thanks alot for sharing them!
Absolutely, thank you for watching!
Thank you very much Sean for sharing! I will learn from you then! Cheer from Cambodia.
Dope video man! Defo learned alot of tips to help build a successful business! 🔥
loved this video, but would also love a pricing video! thanks!
Thank you for the video, really! It's what I needed. The imposter syndrome is not easy to deal with
Need more detailed video on pricing
Thanks for sharing this great video! 👍
Regarding social media presence, what would you advise in the following situation: I’m about to launch my business in product photography but I already have an account focusing on rather interior, lifestyle photography than product shots… would you recommend to create a separate one for the latter -and starting from zero🤯 ? -which I find quite a hassle 😢 Or, could it possibly work as well if I incorporate my product shots onto the existing account..? I’m curious about your thoughts
thank you @Sean
Always providing the value dude ❤
THANK YOU SIR I LIKE YOUR TIPS I WILL APPLIED YOUR TIPS IN MY PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS
🙏👁
100%, I got you!
Imposter syndrome… right on! Thank you so much for this video ✌🏼
Just found your channel! Thanks for sharing so much valuable info. ❤ The link for the workshop in the description does not work? 🤔
Thank you Nicole! Appreciate the love :) the workshop is not currently available but you can join the waitlist for when I release it again :)
Such helpful information! Thank you Sean!
Amazing video! Thanks a million!
Awesome video! Thank you so much
Thank you so much for the info in this video! I would definitely be interested in a video about base rate. I've alway sshad issues with my rates for shoots. I personally each price based on the shoot, and really only have the base rate for myself, but of course, people always want to know my rates, and it's hard to answer because I need details about the shoot before I can offer a proper quote...
Hey man, great advice really. See you in Phuket or Hua Hin someday, maybe ;)
Thank you my man! I don’t venture down there too often anymore, how do you find living in the south?
@@seandalt Ah well I had to leave as well so can not answer your question now untill I venture back. But from my friends I hear, life is more or less the same there as pre-covid. Only that the weed is legal now, which scares me off but... not that it would really change things a lot =D
Always curious about the barrier to entry when it comes to paid landscape photography. In other words, since we're not starting with REI or on assignment with Nat Geo, in what way does landscape photography apply to let's say smaller, more local businesses? How can we market, use it to target, and ultimately utilize it (landscape photography) as a business tool? Thanks Sean!
Great question! It's more difficult to monetize landscape photography in particular, but it's possible. One way is by working with tourism boards/travel companies (the latter being easier to score) but landscapes only comprise one part of these jobs (the other being several styles of photography highlighting various activities/experiences in said location). The content creator approach works well for landscape as well, and while it can take more time build up, it allows you the ultimate freedom to shoot whatever you want.
Ideally, you just strike a middle ground. When you go out to shoot your landscapes, bring a product or a model to include in your scene. More often than not a photo with a subject is more marketable for your portfolio than just a pure landscape photo. And you can still shoot the landscape while you're there in between shots with the model/product :) Few photographers put in the time to venture out to epic locations to shoot products/models, so that background in landscape photography and location scouting lends incredibly well to the industry.
@@seandalt Great points, and thank you for taking the time to give that insight! I've been fortunate lately to have done 2 trips shooting photos and videos for my friend's culinary travel company - he is an award winning chef and his company operates primarily in Northern Italy...so the landscapes (both photo and video) aren't necessarily a huge focus of theirs. We do get some landscape shots and drone footage though from time to time. But it's more the people, food, other chefs, wine, etc that they want their content focused around. Which makes total sense. That said, I'm also heading back to Switzerland (I found your channel through the Switzerland challenge actually - great video series!) next month for my 3rd time back there and thinking about pitching local apparel companies on kind of rugged/hiking/lifestyle type photos. Or thereabouts haha. Thanks again for your detailed response Sean! Sincerely appreciate it!
Please can you teach us about pricing 🥺 and I guess it depends from country to country? What's the best way to sell our work in another country in advance? I mean, before we do a photography business trip?
This was fantastic.
Where do you find models for your shoots? Also thank you for this video!
Depends! I have built up quite a few connections with models I can always shoot with. Met through friends and IG. IG is always a good place to start.
Great video, I would like to know what focal length and aperture did you shoot this video on?
Pricing advice pleaseee 🙏
As a freelancer, please make sure you can deliver something decent. Pictures are probably the last 10% of what you do, the other is relationships, understanding the client and what they want. I always work on the rule that I’m only as good as my last job. So don’t look at the banger you took 5 years ago, one bad job and word gets around.
Pricing is all about you, workout what you need to earn to live the life you want and break the hours of available time to ‘work’ into a monetary value to achieve that, that’s the price…. If you love it, it doesn’t feel like hard work, so it’s easy to under value. And in the sea of instagram, you aren’t competing with smart phones and the average joe, so don’t be put off by everyone having in g a camera and taking snaps… in a see of poop the good stuff stand a out and if someone does manage a better pic than you, so what, you can’t be everywhere at every angle.
Do you have a sample of the cold email that you'd reach out to cafes in the US?
Great tips!
Good job friend
I have been thinking about trying going pro in photography, full time. I am quite scared to try as I feel like the market is too saturated, also as phone cameras get better i am worried its a job that might drastically slow down
this video really gave me the bost thank you i wanted to ask you about thailand its good there to start a photography buisness?
I really love this video - such useful tips on starting a photography business. I really love the imposter syndrome part (I still struggle a little with it!). I’m secretly (but now not so secret) hoping you would come on my podcast. I would absolutely love it!
Are those base rates per hour or total job?
You rock! Thanks for the info!
100%! Thanks for watching Shawn
pricing video would be lovely
Thanks!!
Congrats 🎉
How many photos should you aim for in a portfolio before outreaching to customers?
20 is good
with product photography how much do you charge and how many photos do we give them back?
Please make the pricing video pleasesssse
dude whattt how’d u make 10k … im so curious where to look for clients. I have an a6600 with a sigma 56mm f1.4, helios 44-2, and a few sony and vintage zooms and primes 😭
Thank you
Thanks for watching my man!
Sean, I dont have my camera yet, but what are your thoughts on using pictures ive taken on my iPhone Pro Max to start building
Hi, I'm thinking of taking jobs as a photographer, but I am underage, I've already quite mastered my camera if I say so myself, do you think it is possible to start even though I'm still underage?
What happened to the free 1h workshop? not done yet or gone?
Is there any website or link to join a photographer for asia country ?
Is it possible to start with my iphone? I know I have an eye for good shots but I've never taken it seriously because I can't afford thousands of dollars worth of gear.
As a photographer, now you have to be a videographer to stay up to date. 😂
Definitely helps!
Good video,new subscriber!
Just checked Photographs in my Area.... they´re waaay worse than I thought ! I could alrerady keep up easily! didn´t expect that! thanks for the reminder that I probably have imposter syndrome
Instantly subscribed 😅
Nice video😊
Thank you brother!