Your message came through very well and yes it was very worthwhile. I have been following your channel for several years now. When I found out you lived in Columbia I wrote a comment about my experience there as I attended anesthesia training at Richland Memorial Hospital, now Palmetto Hospital, and the Whale's Tail restaurant near lake Murrey where we students loved to hang out on "all you can eat " night. I am retired now from my career in anesthesia after 42 years. My grandkids started sports and that rekindled my interest in photography so I started a sport photography business, never ran a business before, only worked for PA anesthesia groups. But I'm getting around to my point finally, As I shoot highschool sports, I meet lots of parents and coaches. I'm polite and considerate and get along with the teams. I met the father of one of the girls on the softball team. Two years later I get a call form this man asking me to shoot corporate head shots at his company, I said yes, even though I had absolutely zero experience . The first shoot went well, I was on time, got set up quickly and didn't take lots of time with each client, called the day before to confirm the appointment and talked to the office manager about the set up. I shot tethered which the staff liked and got to pick the "best and next best" photo of them. Last week I just completed my fourth year shooting head shots for that company. I feel its all because of time I spent talking with him at the games and his getting to know me. He never asked much about the task and I don't have a page of Head Shots on my website or even that I do them, which I didn't at the time. By now, we have developed a comfortable friendship even with some of the staff that are still there. Unlike me, you have gobs of experience and have a sincere friendly personality as well, thats a winner in anybodies book. I built one of those 4x8 ft gator board set ups and plan on using it first time on senior photos in two weeks. If it doesn't fall apart. Thanks for sharing your commercial experience James, best regards to you and family. Ted in Sebastian Fl.
James, the best tasting candy doesn't always come in the most eyecatching wrappers. Your words of wisdom & transparency has helped me and, I'm pretty sure, countless others aspiring to someday be on your level. Live well, sir, and keep being a beacon to us. ~Blessings~
Thank you for taking the time to voice this message. It is indeed an important one that all of us should stop to think about. Thank you for also sharing your sense of FOMO seeing all the Media Days happen around you. It is comforting to know that it is human to be a little sad about missing out on things you used to be so heavily involved with. At the end of the day, definitely be grateful for the positives in life. The relationships you make can definitely play a part in your life journey. Your insight and helpful tips and especially these videos have helped me out in so many ways!
Hey James, They aren't always looking at dollar signs, sometimes they are looking at control. In Australia, about 8 years ago, a major sporting body met with the MLB from the US and it f**ked up everything for independent suppliers. From their meetings with MLB what the sporting body took away was how it was important for them to OWN EVERYTHING to do with their sport, including all photography. They even tried to stop reporting on scores by third-parties unless they paid for the right to do so. At the time I was working for the company that did photography and the weekly magazine for them and it all got taken in-house. Cost a bunch of people their jobs. They ended up doing it themselves for about a year and a half and then outsourced it again, the photography went to Getty, the magazine went to a publisher that cost them a bunch more money. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hey James, great video my friend..This is what I tell my students in my school...Build relationships and don't burn any bridges. The business will come.
I am currently watching this video from the identical hotel room. I see they furnish them the same all over the country. Side note. Great topic. A solid reputation and familiarity is a big deal.
Thank you for the video and the advise of forming relationships and being easy to work with clients. I have gotten work out of the blue from forming relationships.
I love your videos and absolutely agree that the relationships we make are HUGE asset in business. But as an industry I feel we have overshared our knowledge and skills to the point that it is getting nearly impossible to sustain our businesses.
What would your advice be for someone wanting to get into the profession? With most things moving in house at the pro and collegiate levels, would you recommend doing as much work as you could at high school levels and build a reputation with your work, and then try to start making relationships as your work is seen by more people? And as always, thanks for the videos. Love the sincerity and the way that you always share the knowledge!
You've just got to be passionate about the profession as a whole and see where it leads. You'll rely on that passion to hopefully get you through the hard times...
