As seen on Twitter...

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by White House Custom Color

"If you want to have a successful pro #photog business then you need to be a marketer first and a photographer second.

I've seen this thrown around before, but I thought it was interesting that it came from a major printing company.

Thoughts? Opinions? Sarcastic Comments?

[CaptainTom]

LIfe sucks, but that's not the question is it ?

I agree.

[Jeff_Green]

Oh, I think that can apply to just about any business, whether it is through word of mouth or actually advertisement.

If marketing isn't a primary concern then your business will never build no matter how good a photographer you are. Of course that doesn't mean that just because being a photographer is second that it means you don't have to be good.

Of course that is just my opinion and I am right.

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

Of course that is just my opinion and I am right.

HAHAHAHAH!!!! I love you.... more than my luggage at least.

[bellaceleste]

i agree 100%

honestly i think about 15% is photography, the rest business

[Jake]

*I agree with what's been said.

*Except the part about Jeff being right.

[Howard Barlow]

It is a true statement.

[Jeff_Green]

* I agree with what Jake said except the part where he doesn't think I am right... see my previous post.

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

HAHAHAHAH!!!! I love you.... more than my luggage at least.

That says something. I am sure your luggage is Louis Vuitton, right?? lol

[ChristopherCoy]

Updated posts:

Originally Posted by White House Custom Color

Wow poor wording on our sheduled tip tweet! All we wanted to say was when building your biz dont forget the importance of marketing.

Originally Posted by White House Custom Color

Unfortunately we've seen too many great photographers whose businesses don't make it because of poor marketing and busines mgmt.

I guess they got there asses handed to them via Twitter... LOL

[tc95]

Chris...with anything it's all about Branding...!!! You have to create a brand...which in this light is you...figure out what is your nitch/specialty...Have a catchy logo...and hope to that everything falls into place the way it should...!!!

Good Buisness - 25% Brand/Marketing -15% Product - 10% Salesman-Ship - & - 50% Luck or being in the right place at the right time...!!!


But you did not need me to tell you this...you can look at any college level Buissness text book and it will tell you this...

[Faith]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

Of course that is just my opinion and I am right.

Ha, ha!! I agree with you though (and not just because you're right .)

I was surprised that it came from a printing house too, but I do have respect for honesty and was happy when I saw it come across my Twitter feed. I wish more people who jump into the industry before they have a clue what they're doing would take that advice to heart, but I doubt it really affected anyone except those who already knew what WHCC was talking about. Everyone else just thinks "Oh, that doesn't apply to me!"

I agree with you too, Tony. I'm not sure I agree with your breakdown about 50% of it about being in the right place at the right time, but I do believe that if you don't position yourself to be in the right place, you won't gain from that element of the success factor.

[brad]

Sorry, they are incorrect.


And not in the way you think.


You are a business person who provides photography services. You are not a photographer.

If the "business" does not come first, your business will fail. Period.


** can't take credit for this, it was in something I read recently from a business photography blog.. but it rings very, very true.

[Randy Chambers]

+1
I have heard this statement for so many different fields.
If you are artistic only, you need someone with a business acumen to keep you from failing.

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by brad

Sorry, they are incorrect.

Please see my first post. Evidently you missed the part that said I was right.