How to Become a Photographer

Adrian Monk's Epiphany on the Value of Photography

In the episode "Monk vs. The Cobra," lead character and show namesake Adrian Monk has an epiphany on the value of photography. In the episode, Adrian Monk 's life is placed in peril, whereby he encounters and has a long talk with his wife. Towards the end of that encounter, Monk, so enraptured by being in the presence of his  wife, blurts  out: 

"You're so beautiful, I should have taken more pictures."

Don't Sell Photography, Sell What Photography Does

Photographer, business consultant and owner of Stock Asylum, LLC, Ron Rovtar, posted a blog urging photographers to sell what photography does. In other words, don't sell that you can take a picture, sell the benefits that your pictures provide that other photographs can't or can't do dependably.

Some key quotes from the article:

• A picture isn't worth much. But what. . . the right picture does -- can easily be worth thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars to the company that uses it.
  
  
• The picture is almost always the first element of an ad, brochure, magazine cover or Web page that registers with a consumer. It is the handshake, the first impression. It is what cuts through the visual clutter and captures a consumer's attention . . . . [It] is the difference between reaching a target audience or failing to reach it.
  
  
• For [art designers and directors], the effective use of pictures equals success.

Ron writes the post from the view of art directors, designers and commercial users being the target audience [Ron owns a stock photo agency]. However, the principle and even his quotes are right on for whatever the audience it.

For weddings, engagement or couple photos, the right picture is priceless if it can serve as a constant reminder of the beauty and glory of that day, the vows and relationship, so much that a couple will want to hand it down to their children to have or display. Such picture may very well be one of the first things that strike a person when entering the living room, office or wherever it is displayed, making a positive first impression, communicating fidelity and relationship. And indeed, the wedding photo book may very well be what others use to determine the success of the wedding and post-celebration [the events, not the relationship]

Likewise, in concert and band photography, all Ron's points about capturing the attention of others and making a first impression are valid. As a music listener, I have definitely be drawn to check out the music and description of a band or album because I was so intrigued by the album cover picture or art. When I do band promo work, I tell bands that the cost is recovered by my photos helping bring their press kit to the top of the pile.

Leave your comments and ideas on how to apply these principles to your situation.

VALUE OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Quote from Time Magazine

Came across this great quote on the power and value of photography from Richard Lacayo in Time Magazine (issue, date, etc. to be determined:

We hear it sometimes that photographs are losing their power. In a world where every other cell phone has a built in camera and and all the people you know just posted their summer vacations, their snow angels, and their tonsillectomies online, there are just too many pictures out there. Plus, those picures are so easily manipulated and photoshopped, how do you know when to trust them anymore? And anyway, we've seen it all before. You can almost believe all that, right up until that moment you come across one picture that speaks to you, the one that takes your imperfectly formed feelings and judgements and snaps everything, if you'll excuse the expression, into focus.

It's the ability to get that "one picture" that distinguishes and substantiates the value of a professionally skilled photographer. Capturing or taking a mediocre capture and brining out the outstanding from it, that is the "art" of the professional.

Article on Justifying Cost of Photography to Customers

What price to charge for photography and prints is a common question for people trying to establish themselves as professional photographers and get paid. On the customer side, customers think you should be glad to have twenty bucks since their "talented" cousin who loves to photograph is happy to get that for his/her snap shots (never mind their mediocre quality). Professional Child Photographer Marianne Drenthe has a post on her site explaining why great custom photography costs more.

In explaining why professional photographers charge $40 or more for an 8x10 when Wal Mart charges less than $5 to print one, Marianne seeks to educate customers on 4 points:

• The amount of time put in by the photographer
• The costs involved in shooting professional photography
• Apples to oranges [in the quality and service being offered]
  
• The worth of the photographer's reputation and expertise

The context for the explanations is the portrait market for child photography; however, her points can be extrapolated to other markets.