Background of Grant a Portrait Photographer
1) Your first name, or alias : Grant Business: Freelance Photography... Wedding, Portrait, Live Events(Sports, Concerts, Conventions), Headshots, some Commercial & Product, Boudoir & Lingerie.
Your job's common name: Professional Photography
Your title: Photographer
Years in field? : 10 years
_X_College: Type of degree(s) (please no acronyms):
Bach. Science in Business Administration
3) Size of the organization you work for:
_X_Self |
___2-5 Persons |
___6-20 Persons |
___21-100 Persons |
___101+ Persons |
4) Size of the location of your organization. (The population of the local metropolitan area if applicable)
___1-5000 |
___5001-30000 |
___30,001-150k |
___150,001-500k |
_X_500,000+ |
5)_Your yearly salary (gross):
6)_Job description (summary of your duties): [Describe (a)things you accomplish, (b)equipment you work with, (c)management tasks you perform, (d) percent of time at each kind of task (if applicable), etc.]
As a self-employed business, I perform all tasks required to operate a business. Finding new business, taking the Photos, managing equipment needs with cash flows, customer care, follow-up, customer-care, follow-up(did I mention customer care and follow-up!)
7) What jobs are above and below you on the organization chart?
Above: none
Below: none
8) How did you get into this career? And what was your career path to your present position?
Personal Choice... after many successful years in corporate management.
Stresses and Rewards of a Portrait Photographer
9) What are the greatest stresses, what causes you the most anxiety? (List as many as you want to)
Being a sole proprietor, the single most difficult task is staying focused on the business of being in business. It is so easy to get distracted when you are your own boss!
10) What are the most rewarding aspects that make it all worth while? (List as many as you like)
I love what I do(and I get paid for it!)... I can decide when and how hard I work( a two edged sword!)
11) Do you work closely with persons outside your organization? Please comment on those relationships. Are they stressful or pleasant and why. [Not just clientele, i.e., teachers who have to deal with parents etc.]
The business of photography is a relationship based business. It's all about people and relationships.
Challenges of a Portrait Photographer
12) What problems will be addressed by your industry (affecting your position) in the next five years?
New technologies are effecting changes in may areas of the business... if you don't keep up... you can't survive.
Basic Skills of a Portrait Photographer
13) We know you most probably use all these skills at one time or another, but on a basic level, what skills does your job demand? Check all that apply.
_X_Creativity |
___Emotional Distancing |
_X_Emotional Involvement |
_X_Language |
_X_Manual Dexterity |
___Musical Interpretation |
_X_Numeracy |
___Physical Ability |
_X_Persistence |
_X_Social Skills |
_X_Time Management |
_X_Visual Interpret. |
Advice of a Portrait Photographer
14) As a conclusion, what words of advice would you give a person entering your field in the next four years? (i.e., education, internship, find a mentor, jump right in, etc.)
I believe any of the above choices could be appropriate! The more you do the better you get... the better you get the more you do!
15) Comments and/or relevant web site link:
Great photography is Not about having the best or latest equipment. It is primarily about understanding what your client's "vision" is; and capturing that on film
