Review: Business Basics for the Successful Commercial Photographer 2nd ed.
Lately, I have been researching and reading articles, blog posts, books, and whatever else I could find that discusses the business side of commercial photography. Too often than I’d like, I’m left with questions unanswered along with the addition of new ones.
In Business Basics for the Successful Commercial Photographer 2nd ed, Leslie Burns takes you step-by-step through the entire process of your day-to-day operations as a commercial photographer. From her experience, Burns touches on several key points of commercial photography that can seem intimidating or overwhelming for photographers.
One of the first things a photographer should do when starting a business is to calculate their cost of doing business (CODB). For anyone struggling to come up with an accurate figure, Burns offers some valuable guidance and methods for coming up with this important number.
In addition to your CODB, Burns also gives insight on how you can calculate your fees. She explains in simple terms how to use your CODB to develop things like creative and license fees. If you are new to photography and unsure what fees are considered normal, this chapter will be a big help.
No one loves it, but paperwork is ugly and no one enjoys doing it, especially photographers. It’s why most eventually hire studio assistants or managers. But for those that have to sit back and do it on their own, Burns talks about how to handle the dreaded stacks of paper.
Without clients, you have no business. If you can’t get this through your head, there’s something severely wrong with you, and Burns will straighten out your way of thinking. From receiving their phone call to finishing their project, you will learn the importance of client relationships and how they greatly effect your business’ growth.
Without marketing your talent, no one will know who you are, and you will not have a steady stream of work coming through your doors. Burns tosses out a few ideas and tips on how you can go about getting the word out about your business and the type of photographic services you offer.
There are several more reasons to go out and snag a copy of this book for yourself, but I’ll leave them for you to discover. Regardless of your experience level, this is a great read! It’s very informative for any beginner and a terrific refresher for anyone who’s been in the game for a while. A big “Thanks!” to Leslie for this!
