Networking for Photographers | You Can’t Go it Alone

One of the great things about being a self-employed photographer is that you have the freedom to be your own boss. Oftentimes, you can work from home–free from the corporate cubicle life and all the fun things that office life entails. You don’t have to worry about Bob borrowing your stapler and not returning it…or Linda talking your ear off about her very boring weekend. And perhaps the best thing of all, your company meetings are very short.

But if you think you don’t need anyone else to help your run your business, then you’re definitely in for a rude awakening! Networking and learning from others is just as crucial for photographers as it is for other professionals. I know I’ve certainly learned a lot from getting to know other photographers. Fortunately, in the internet age, there’s a lot of options for networking. If you’re an aspiring photographer or an established one looking to grow their business, I definitely recommend networking. Here are some avenues to explore:

1. Ye Olde Fashioned Meeting Face to Face. Yep, even in the age of texting and twitter, meeting in person is still one of the best ways to network. For photographers, that means actually meeting with other local photographers. Although you might be tempted to view them as your “competition,” in reality, they are really more of your colleagues. Once you’re booked, you’re booked. The same is true for your competition. So when they’re booked for a date, they can refer potential clients to you…and vice versa. Not only that, you can learn from one another, talk shop, and improve your business as you share a similar market. Getting to know my fellow wedding photographers here in Pittsburgh has helped me grow my business tremendously! Not only that, I’ve gained some awesome friends! So don’t be shy, get out there and meet!

2. Blog Reading. OK, sounds a little strange, but if you’re looking for inspiration and tips and techniques, I do recommend subscribing to several blogs that inspire you. Don’t be afraid to comment and learn! That’s where the networking comes in…you may learn about what’s new in the industry and gain a partnership in the process. At the same time, don’t go crazy and subscribe to 20 blogs…you’ll quickly loose your own sense of creativity as you seek to copy others’ work (plus you’ll never get anything done because you’ll be reading so many blogs!).

3. Forum Friends! Online forums aren’t just for nerds…well, OK, maybe they are…but there’s a forum for every nerd! Join one! There’s actually A LOT of photography forums out there…with varying levels of skills and membership requirements. Some forums are brand specific, like Photography-on-the-Net, catering to Canon aficionados. Others are associated with a company, like Digital Grin, which was started by Smugmug. These types of forums don’t generally charge for membership–anyone can join and participate in the discussion. The upside of which, is, well, that’s it’s free…the downside of which, is that well…anyone at any skill level can join. Then there’s a whole swathe of forums that require membership dues: places like the Digital Wedding Forum (DWF), the [b]school, and the i.c.e society. A lot of these forums were started by one photographer…and are generally filled with their groupies. I tried the DWF briefly, but was quickly overwhelmed by the number of members…and I didn’t see much of an advantage of it over any free forum out there. That’s not to say it’s not a great place for learning and connecting…just not for me. So what is my forum of choice? Well, it’s a small, rather unknown forum (but whose members are some of the best photographers in the world!) that my friend Milla introduced me to, the Foundation Workshop Forum. Although Jay likes to joke with me about hanging out with my “forum friends,” I can definitely say it’s helped me develop as a photographer and business owner in the few months of my membership. So, I definitely recommend joining an online discussion somewhere…get some critique and learn from others!

4. Sign-up for Workshops. Consider workshops as continuing education and a way to network. You’ll gain knowledge and get to talk with folks who are highly skilled and respected in the industry. We all have room for growth and areas for learning, so research workshops that will help you grow and develop. I just recently attended the OneLight Workshop here in Pittsburgh, which was excellent. Remember, there’s no magic bullet for success out there, so I’d avoid things that promise such fortune.

5. Lastly, Attend Conferences. Yes, even this old-fashioned form of networking is useful in today’s digital age. Not only will you hopefully learn from some of the brightest, but you’ll meet many folks like yourself, who can offer you insight and inspiration. I can definitely say attending WPPI in March this year helped me grow my business…plus it’s a lot of fun to see how many other photographers are out there! You’re definitely not alone….though you may be sitting at your computer all by yourself right now…

In conclusion, get connected!