PYG - And Do it Now!

One of the first hurdles any upcoming photographer encounters is the most baffling, written about and subjective subjects there is; "How much do I charge?".

At first, you are just glad to be working in the field you love and can't believe you are being paid for it. Then, you can accept payments without a subliminal question mark on the end. Meanwhile, some peers do better and others do worse. "There but for the grace of God go I", you tell yourself when you see some, and with the others it's "What's (s)he know that I don't know?". You start to see the delineations - the haves and have nods, the sell outs and drop outs.

You find yourself surviving but not thriving so you do your research - read books. Advertising 101, how to build a service based business, success (insert subtitle here), creating a brand, branding, franchising, incorporating. What's wrong and what's right? Then you get caught up in other photographer's hype - DVD's that will make you / your studio rich, how to sell photos, all the things you think you need to succeed being taught by who - photographers who aren't doing what they do best - shoot photos. Always ask yourself, "Why is (s)he here?", when you attend one of those lectures / seminars etc... I will tell you why (s)he is there instead of shooting - three reasons really; money, money and mo' money. If you ever see a worthwhile and free lecture series, please let me and everyone know about it. It's about them branding their names and Proclaiming Themselves Great! Feel free to think ...

Sometimes clarity comes from unexpected places. Tonight talking to a friend - a fellow photographer who recently decided to do the teaching gig and get mostly out of the photo business - he said he once had a childlike epiphany talking to his brother who made pottery. "I was talking to my brother and trying to figure out why he was struggling to sell two dollar coffee cups while others were making stuff not nearly as good and charging ten. I told him, It just seems to me you should just Proclaim Yourself Great and charge ten!" He went on to relate that they still recall that moment many years later and how it changed things - changed everything.

If you really have what it takes, why not Proclaim Yourself Great (PYG) right now? I have seen this work first hand and it can carry you part of the way to your goals. There can be some pitfalls though - the main one being if you really aren't great or even good. How can you find that out? Be objective and look around at web sites, magazines and books. The thing about the PYG mentality is that it falls into one of those categories of "some people have it and some people don't". I know of people who can talk about themselves, their successes and conquests endlessly. Yet others have to have one word after another dragged out of them like a rope with knots in it. There are all shades of difference in between. If you are not a natural, you have to think of this as a game - one where you are playing the role of someone else. That someone is a successful, and talented musician or artist or photographer or business person. Gather the tools and play the role.

"But you still haven't answered the question. How much do I charge?" There are technical formulas to help answer that, but I am talking more about the intangible value you place on your work. The short answer is in three parts 1) be real, 2) charge what you believe in your heart you're worth and 3) Proclaim Yourself Great.

CLASS IS OVER

Well, the spring session of Digital Photography at UNT has ended. Anyone from the class willing to take the time to summarize the meetings, please do so here by replying to this post. Meanwhile, as promised, one of my favorite newfound sites MIKE COLON will blow you away as well. One of my many questions: How does he deal with music rights on this? A new friend of mine said he knew FRANK W. OCKENFELS as a youngster. Mr.Ockenfels is what I would consider a well hidden secret. I have seen little press on this guy, yet he is obviously a star. Does anyone know where his work is published on a regular basis? Another local photographer, GREG BLOMBERG recommended signing up at WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST ASSOCIATION as a way of generating interest in my wedding work. The process for joining WPJA is more interesting than most. First, you have to submit your site for review. Then, if you are accepted, you pay 240.usd a year to be listed on the site.

The first time I applied about two years ago, I received a very nice review and rejection stating that my site did not have enough candid work and had too many posed shots. Well, I have evolved since then, and I think they are realizing the income generaing tiger they have by the tail. SO, I applied again - and shazam - was accepted. Now all I have to do is fork over 240. dollars. Take a look at that list of photographers and multiply each by 240. I think I am in the wrong business.

Overall, you need to go to the site and look at many of the photographers listed there - most of them are the cream of the crop. There is an interesting trend developing where male photographers seem to be fronting their female spouses in the business - Leighanne Whittington - for Brooks Whittington, and Anne Stefanchik for Joseph V. Stefanchik. Go to the site and click on them all.

Gotta' go and break my piggy bank to come up with that 240.