First steps

As I mentioned in this previous blog post, I was laid off, made redundant (call it what you will) from my last job where I worked as the in house photographer for almost ten years.

I also said in that post that I would use this opportunity to " detail how I’m managing to find photographic work which is my passion."

Well this is the story so far: 

I began a trial period of seeing if I can actually find clients and continue my work as a photographer. This period began on the 7th of May this year. (two weeks ago from today).

Here's what I've been doing:

1. Printed business cards
2. Had a cool letterhead designed (from a graphics designer colleague)
3. Edited the business section of my website. (all my links will point directly there, bypassing all the personal stuff)
4. Got voted in as a member of the Swiss Professional Photographers association (SBF).
5. Investigate competitor’s pricing structure.
6. Start Facebook business page. (right here. Feel free to go and "Like" it )
7. Begin sorting 2895 email contacts geographically in preparation for email campaign.
8. Visit businesses parks nearby and note the names of the companies and what they do.
9. Transfer these details into a spreadsheet and email group list
10. Attend local small business club meeting.
11. Meet with local a local businessman to discuss three projects with him for website design, product photography and social media campaign.
12. Meet with lighting designer to discuss a movie and presentation for his work.
13. Arrange an advert in Turkish for party photography.
14. Edit my pricing structure. (see number 5 above)
15. Had my services listed in the business directory of the local council pages

Here are some further details about some of the above points

1. Used Microsoft word and a pack of blank cards to keep the costs down. Later I'll probably get them done professionally.

3. Instead of people landing on the first page of my personal site, I use a link for all potential customers that sends them directly to the professional section.

5. This is always tricky because I am relatively "unknown" at the moment in the Swiss photography market. I don't want to price myself too low that I undercut the opposition but there again I can't be too high because not many firms know me yet. I'm going to base my pricing along the lines recommended by the SBF and maybe offer a slight discount to new customers for their first booking.


7. My previous employer gave a a list of some 2895 architects and designers etc who I think, may, from time to time, have a need for my photographic services. I am currently in the process of sending them an email to let them know who I am and how I may be able to help them.

10. I will be attending the local small business club meeting tomorrow (at the ungodly hour of 06:30). I'll be taking business cards with me and networking as much as possible.

11. On Sunday night I met with a local businessman who has three new start-ups that he may want me to do the design and visual side of things for.

 mind-mapping, beer and wine

Over some beers and wine, we used mind-maps to come up with a strategy and what I can do to help make his businesses grow. This is not only photography, but event organising, Twitter, Facebook pages and many other things too. I have two weeks to work on an offer for him.

13. I've attended a couple or Turkish "Sünnett" (young boy's coming of age) parties in the past and they're always big happy events. I'll be asking a Turkish friend to make me an advert (in Turkish) to advertise my services as an event photographer.

It's only been two weeks but I'm cautiously optimistic.

If you have any comments or questions, I'd be glad to hear them.

Thanks for reading.

Always check and double check...

T'was way back in the eighties. I was stringing in London and providing images for some twelve different newspapers and magazines.

One particular day found me at a function for the Restricted Growth Asociation (RGA) . It was a standard job. Just get some pics of The Duchess of Gloucester with the children. I was also told that the children were not to be identified.

Bang on time, the Duchess arrived with the normal entourage including the Mayor of London and associated members of the RGA board.

I shot away with my Canon A1 and a Vivitar 283 flash (which incidentally I still have).

The duchess was being shown around by a gentleman who was also affected with restricted growth.

I took my pictures and made sure the include the aforementioned gentleman.

Afterwards, I went to take my notebook out of my bag but discovered that I had left it in my motorbike locker. Still. I knew the Lord mayor's details as I'd photographed him several times previously. Same for the Duchess of Gloucester. All I had to do was memorise the short gentleman's name and I could leave.

I approached one of the Duchess' ladies in waiting and enquired as to the name of the gentleman. She told me.

"Really?" I asked.
"Yes" she replied. "Easy to remember eh?"
"Yes" I answered and left to do another couple of jobs.

I finally got around to developing the film later that night but blame it on the fumes of the D76 developing fluid because I had a mental blank as to the correct name of the man in the photos when suddenly it came back! It certainly was an easy enough to remember name.

I left the pictures on the desk of my picture editor with the names and captioning details of everyone involved and went home to bed. right and early the next morning, I went into the newspaper offices and got talking to
the picture editor.

"Tom. Are you sure about the names on this picture?"
"Yes. Why do you ask? Is there a problem?"
"Well I think that you may have made a mistake on this gentleman's name"
"Which one?" I asked
"The chap standing by the Duchess. The short gentleman"
"Oh." I replied. "I asked his name and of of the entourage told me he is called "Winston
Churchill" that's easy enough to remember"
"You absolutely sure?" he again asked
"Like I said, it's easy enough to remember. Check it out if you want"

 Not Winston Churchill

It's a good thing that he did because when it finally appeared in print, he was given the correct name of " William Shakespeare! "