The more I network with my peers and attend business seminars, the more I realize how fast things change, as far as marketing and ways to stay in touch with your customers! Just being good at your craft as a photographer isn’t enough to sustain a business, unfortunately. It’s increasingly necessary to use social networking as a medium of advertising, as far as finding new prospective clients and keeping in touch with your existing clients….so it’s a brilliant tool if used for that! With more saturation, I have learned that your work must stand out, but also your company image and brand. People recognize what they see multiple times. It’s usually not until then that they become familiar with it. Part of this image is how polished you are when speaking to your audience, how well you listen to their needs, the design and ease of use of your website, and presentation. As much as some photographers don’t like spending hours on end marketing on the web, it’s necessary these days.

I have personally found customers appreciate a user friendly website and straightforward approach to doing business. Most of my business is word of mouth which is the best kind! I also try to maintain a search engine and social media presence, and local presence by networking. If you look for wedding or portrait photographers in Nashville, there are TONS popping up every day it seems….not all of them are qualified by any means! Many got their first SLR for Christmas and think they can make easy money at it and offer ridiculously low priced shoots….because they don’t have overhead or understand business. Once they get out, knowing they had no skills to support their effort, others pop up. It can be a frustrating thing to many professional photographers, because the service provided and the type of expense it takes to run this business are different from the yesterday’s entrepreneur. It may cheapen public view of our industry….and yes, it is frustrating having to spend extra effort to educate people about what makes a professional a professional…..but it’s not changing. So, we might as well embrace it, and spend the extra time blogging and networking, so we can continue to stand out amongst a sea of others……some qualified, some not so much.

I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now, but had to get over my Summer lull before blowing the rest of my advertising budget, LOL….I have joined several other wedding vendor portal sites in the past and I stuck with one of them for 2 years, with minimal result, or even contact from potential clients….of course with the exception of a few shallow inquiries with price being their only concern, and a budget of zero, LOL! Well, when I joined TWESA and have real wedding professionals as colleagues, from photographers and videographers, to venues and hotel managers, caterers, limo companies, DJ’s, etc. and then I realized how the people that populated those sites did not match up, vendor or clientele wise.

Wedding Wire has all those things. Vendors of all types in all areas, and with me being a featured member under Nashville wedding photographers, I am one of 20 on that first page that brides will see. What I feel best about is that I am competing with some of the very best in the city, many are TWESA members as well…..and there are no “Uncle Ted” shooters who got their first camera for Christmas and now want to make money at photography. So, that should raise the bar as far as the inquiries and the viewers. That way it puts me in there with only quality vendors, which represents me better. As part of my membership I also have the same online storefronts on of course www.weddingwire.com but also  http://www.marthastewartweddings.com ,

http://www.weddingbee.com/wedding-vendor/jay-farrell-photography?utm_source=weddingwire&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=vendor-storefront-preview,

http://www.projectwedding.com/vendor/show/jay-farrell-photography?utm_campaign=vendor-storefront-preview&utm_medium=display&utm_source=weddingwire,

http://www.pingg.com/content/WeddingWire/Vendor?vendor_id=3b43a184c110e54b ,

http://www.celebrations.com/vendor/profile/jay-farrell-photography/3b43a184c110e54b,

http://www.weddingaces.com/photographers/nashville-tn/jay-farrell-photography/3b43a184c110e54b-page1.html ,

and http://bestnashvilleweddings.com/vendor/3b43a184c110e54b-page1.html so hopefully all those resources will help more wedding clients find me, I look forward to a prosperous journey with the Wedding Wire family!

Please forgive me if any of this is ever repeated, but lots happening all in a short time frame in the land of Jay Farrell Photography!! First, new site features…..on the home page, there are links to my Facebook fan page as well as my Twitter page. This is another medium to stay in touch with both prospective clients and active / past clients, as well as form new networking relationships! My Twitter page is www.twitter.com/jayfarrellphoto and my Facebook page is www.facebook.com/jayfarrellphotography .  There is also a new testimonials page up, which displays some actual client reviews of my services provided to them.

Also, the new proofing and print store is up and running…..this is a very valuable tool for wedding and portrait photographers. The client no longer has to be in the middle for family and guests placing photo / print orders (Or get stuck paying for them, LOL). Also, now we are accepting credit and debit cards as a method of payment! Last but certainly not least, we will be attending as a vendor, the October 30, 2011 bridal show at The Factory in Franklin, put on by Here Comes The Brides! Now getting additional mounted prints ready for display, as well as sale sheets, show specials, and take away brochures for all attendees of the show! I am certainly excited about it and I will have at least one assistant with me to help entertain guests…..so mark your calendar and come see us there!! Info here www.herecomethebridesbridalshow.com/event_listing.html

For two years now I have been with www.photobiz.com for website and hosting providing / managing. It was a decision I made when I just really decided I needed flexibility to easily update my own website with photos, text, or SEO info / tags. Sure, there are advantages to custom websites but it’s so hit and miss to find a good reliable web consultant that you can afford. Photobiz offers many different templates that have different custom options, which ensures a unique property to each website. There are some drawbacks to template websites, to some people, but so far I have not found any that apply to me and my use of the website.

The interface is very user friendly, much like updating a social network page. The setup costs and hosting costs are quite reasonable….my own website is easy to browse and navigate through, loads in fast enough time, and comes with good support. No down time that I have discovered either. I’ve heard nothing but compliments from clients. As my needs have changed, they have always been ahead of the curve and provided me ways to have the features I need, such as my client proofing area and print store. They really think of everything. The thing I like most, you can call them or put in a support ticket, and you get help fast, from an always friendly and professional staff member. They know most of us aren’t web experts and there are no stupid questions. I have gotten lots of SEO help from their experts as well which is appreciated, and it all comes with my service!

I just appreciate the good service I have gotten and how they take ownership in your issue or question…..and if they don’t know the answer, they consult with others on the team who will. They cater to professional photographers and know what photographers want and need for their business. Most of their clients are commercial photographers, wedding photographers, and portrait photographers from what I have seen. I have been well pleased with them and wanted to give them a little plug!

This is pretty general and random, and has nothing to do with photography, but lots of people use iTunes and this could be helpful…..I am a Macintosh user, but really do not like iTunes because they control everything with iPad app downloads, yet they only have email support. So I’m not a fan….but so be it. I had my iPad in the local Nashville Green Hills Mall Apple store, getting help with it, and I get home, and see I was billed for a book that I did not order. I tracked the time of the transaction and it happened right there at the store, probably someone 3 feet away from me hacked my iTunes account. Well, it would be fun to beat them over the head with a rolling pin, but those people lurk in the shadows unfortunately.

I got my charges refunded and they disabled my debit card from my iTunes account…..and you have to have a method of payment on file even for free downloads or apps. Wonderful huh? I managed to get someone at Apple Care who gave me a great tip….and that is to never use bank cards linked to iTunes, but rather buy an iTunes card at any local store, and use it. That way the worst that can happen is they get what’s on the card and that is it…..and it does not affect your banking at all. But they are good about refunding unauthorized purchases……but that was a good tip and that is exactly what I have done. A $15.00 iTunes card, woohoo! LOL.

I had the pleasure very recently of working with a young man from LA who now lives here in Nashville, and has recently gotten agency representation for commercial modeling and acting. He came to me in need of agency headshots. When he arrived, I quickly saw that he had really strong unique features, as well as eyes…..and good jawline. So that was my assessment of the angle I would use. Then time to think about lighting. He doesn’t have hair on his head, so too much use of a hair or rim light may distract from his facial features, which we do want noticed first and foremost. I lit him in front with one un-diffused beauty dish at close range, did not light the white seamless background because I didn’t want too much competing contrast…..and I put that into practice a lot. The photo is not to be competed with as a result of a distracting background. But rather fade into it, especially with a headshot, where the viewer’s eye is supposed to notice the eyes and facial features. I used 2 20 degree grids from behind at maybe a 30 degree angle, at face level, from about an 8 foot range, to provide some brush light on the side of his face and jaw, without causing glare on top of his head. Similar to butterfly lighting, just changed the heights.

I know the agency will not want this image as black and white, so of course I saved the retouched color version if they choose this particular headshot…..and I’m also not sure that they would like the cropping off the top of his head this way, since they are to push him to casting directors etc. and they want to show as much of him as possible with a headshot. I just saw this as a strong black and white, and played with the cropping for artistic value. I will post the uncropped version and the cropped version so you can judge for yourselves. I felt the cropped version placed his eyes, which are the focal point of this image, at the strongest composition plane of the frame. Though I feel either are composed correctly……..just a personal taste that can change how a photo is viewed. This way, the viewers’ eyes go straight to his eyes. The uncropped is still effective, and the difference may be subtle with respect to the overall outcome of the photo, but it’s all something to think about. Thinking of these details help photographers to stay on the cutting edge and not get complacent or repetitive.

My homeowners insurance company tells me that Tennessee is the 8th worst in the nation for lightning damage claims, and here I am, right smack in the middle, In Nashville, LOL! 2 years ago, I had a storm with lightning do a lot of damage to my electronics in my house…..the storm was very sudden and oddly enough, it was shortly after a photoshoot while I was retouching my work with my client here! It knocked out the power…..and it took out my computer, TV, cable modem and router, and cable box. The cable box was the only thing that was covered any other way than my own insurance. So I had no choice but to make a claim for replacement of the damaged items. Fortunately, I already had the RAW files backed up to my storage hard drive before the storm occurred….so the worst thing that could happen there was losing my work in Photoshop if the hard drive on my computer was fried. I’ve always preached about photographers having multiple means of backup.

Even though the damage was covered, it still caused a standstill with my business. So, I took it a step further for my new gear…..a Monster surge protector for the TV and related components. And an ACP surge protector with battery backup for my computer workstation……they guarantee replacement value of the components damaged when using that product if you register each component with them prior to sending registration in. Surge protectors are one of those things, that if you are going to bother getting one, get a good one. Even the best cannot stop all lightning damage to electronics, but it greatly reduces the chance of the inconvenient downtime. In fact, this was one of the images being worked on when this storm came through.

D’oh! Well…..one thing I committed to when I started this blog is to never backpedal, or censor others’ comments, good or bad. This means I can’t always be right, LOL. I thought this was the beginning of something good. I even had a Yelp representative call me and discuss advertising, and I was open to it for future advertising. I even made contact with a Nashville based rep. about partnering up for photography of some events. I told them I had to budget for www.weddingwire.com first, to be a premier member there, but then I’d get back with him, or he could call me later this year. I updated my business listing on Yelp, I mean the theory of the site is quite good. But there’s definitely a political agenda there, that I just don’t think is right. I had 4 customers of mine who were kind enough to review me, and each one of them were filtered by Yelp…..I understand the reason for a filter. It prevents bogus solicited reviews, and to prevent disgruntled ex employees from bashing a business…..in the interest of keeping reviews legit. I respect that. But they take it too far, and it’s all done by bot. Also, photographers won’t have the volume of business as a restaurant, where some getting filtered won’t hurt them so much.

All of mine were real customers who had done business with me. The reason they got filtered was that they did not have a complete profile with Yelp and they had not done other reviews yet. SO……I guess their opinion matters less just because they aren’t with the system, at least yet? It’s certainly a reasonable request for a business owner to seek client feedback…..it’s nice for them to know their voice matters as well. And it helps us do our job well and make necessary improvements. BUT for them to have to fill out more profile info and spend more time out of their day to review others JUST to make their review stick for my business……is not feasible, and cannot be expected of people. I started with one review, and eventually went back to do more. I’d never have been back and wasted my efforts if I found out my review didn’t stick because I hadn’t done enough. I told them I don’t need them, and SURE won’t be spending my advertising dollars with them since they want to run a dictatorship run by bots. Good riddance. May their fate end up like YellowBook.

It’s a tough spot to be in, no one likes to lose business……but not everyone is a fit and not everyone can always be available for everything requested. Given the situation I am booked on the date when this potential client requests my services, or there is a budget conflict, etc. I find it is always better to try to help them even if I am not available. I have many photographer friends in my circle, and can pair them up with who I feel are the best candidates. Of course I only refer to those who I know are responsible and will do a good job for them. The client always appreciates that, having a referral generally raises the quality of their overall business experience and quality of product. That way, if they need me again for something else, they may think…..hey maybe we will call that nice photographer who sent us to his friend when we needed help, rather than say sorry, can’t help you and leave us hanging.

This does 2 things….it shows the client that you want their business, and even though you aren’t available, you still took time to carefully refer them to someone who can help…..also it provides work to a trusted colleague who may need it, and be available for them. People who do that for each other generally keep it going and it helps us keep that business in house! In the past year, I have gotten 3 wedding photography jobs this way myself, and at least one portrait photography session from other photographers when they weren’t available. And I will reciprocate when the time comes! I think it’s a nice, and responsible thing to do.

Absolutely! I will go out on a limb and say that it’s very necessary if you want to succeed as a photographer, amateur or professional. I never understood those who see others as a threat to them, or competition…..that’s really petty, and unintelligent. Here is why I say that. All of us have a different approach, different personality, and different style of work. I find it refreshing to have friends in the industry so we can discuss the changes, technical photography discussion, marketing and advertising, like what has and has not worked for us, social networking, etc. It helps avoid bad purchases by talking to others with experiences with those products. Also doing image critique with peers is very important…..a more objective point of view may catch something you missed. New website design or business card design, exchange opinions, etc. It’s good to know what’s happening out there, it helps us all know when we have to change with the tides, or hold our ground.

I’m very much an open book. It’s good karma, and besides…..I could tell someone everything I know, and their product will still be different. So really there’s no benefit to being paranoid. Plus it’s nice to have friends isn’t it? The tax deductible business dinner with drinks, etc. also is good for the soul, LOL! I have friends who range from amateur / hobbyist photographers, to professional or master photographers. Recently I have been to some TWESA functions, where I belong to( www.twesa.com  for wedding photographers and other wedding professionals.) Organizations have always had me on guard at first because it can feel clickish and political which is awkward for me……but as I’ve made my rounds and gotten to know people, it seems to be an open book with those people as well, which only helps us all better our product. And it’s going to be a good thing for me.

There are many photographers who have a controversial reputation, like Jock Sturges, Sally Mann, and David Hamilton…..the reason I don’t want to discuss them in this article is that the controversy they face is what got them started, and that’s how they remain. They face consequences somehow, and whether or not people agree with what they do, it’s all in a day’s work for them……and it’s all a matter of context. They aren’t trying to wear any other hats……Now then, the best example I can think of here, since we are in Nashville, is The Dixie Chicks. They have been around for a long time, and have gotten famous, and really connect with their audience! Even in the 90′s at their peak in country music genres, they had a country sound, but had a little edgy style that appealed to fans of other music genres as well…..that’s something I appreciated. They brought something new to Nashville. Years of touring and albums went by, and I’m sure many of you remember the incident that took place at a Texas concert, about 5 years ago. Singer, Natalie Maines made a disparaging remark about President George W. Bush, and how she thought he was an embarrassment to the State of Texas. They too are Texas natives.

Immediately following, that incident was all over the media, and radio stations boycotted the Dixie Chicks. They took some time off and regrouped, and later made more songs, and toured again, and it appears they came back even stronger and more unified. Seems they developed more of a cult following. Maybe that stunt wasn’t the best thing for their careers, or was it? If they just went away, or split up over it, that is an admission of wrongdoing, and shows they wouldn’t believe in each other or support each other. The fact that they remained unified, even to this day, and stuck by their statements, is far more respectable…..whether you agree with what was said or not. That to me shows backbone, and that they value freedom of speech. They’ve had their success, and they were willing to roll the dice…..and yet they made lemonade out of lemons. I’m the first to say I couldn’t care less about celebrities’ political opinions, shut up already…..but this is the first case that sticks in my mind where they all remained united, and took the consequences, yet didn’t back down. There’s a lot to be said for that. This could be one of my more controversial photos. It’s creative outlets like this, that help me exercise creativity when doing photography for all types of different clients I have…..whether wedding or commercial. It’s about a healthy balance that won’t cost you more than you can pay.

In my particular business, I have not had much demand to accept credit cards as a form of payment….though looking back, all along it may have been a nice convenience for some…..but was never a real issue. Most retail customers have paid cash and check, and companies always pay by check. But over the past few years, more and more small businesses have started accepting credit cards and debit cards, as a result of people not carrying around their checkbooks much anymore, or even carrying much, if any cash. I have not carried much cash in years, there’s really no need to with debit cards. So surely some of my own clients will be in the same boat and can save themselves at ATM trip if they choose. I did have one customer specifically ask about accepting credit cards, it would have been the best option for her. THAT got my attention. As well as an upcoming bridal show I will be participating in. That way, I am more likely to book wedding photography services right there, since I’m equipped to accept any form of payment.

I have always been un-trusting of credit card processing companies and ridiculous fees, and terminal fees, unfavorable contracts, especially since in comparison to restaurants and grocery stores, I do a lower volume of sales. So, I learned about Square, which is a free app for smart phones and iPads, where you get a free card reader and the vendor links their bank account / business account to Square, so payments go directly into it in 3 days. They charge a flat fee of 2.75% for Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. The customer signs on the touch screen and enters their email address where their receipt is emailed to. Now that I have an iPad, I can use this wonderful app! It can be used with a wifi connection or 3G connection. More information can be found here, about Square. www.squareup.com .

I say NO WAY!!! There are so many different styles of albums, that there is a variety for any taste, whether traditional or trendy. Anyone who has looked at a well done album with quality printing, could never say that a disc with photos has anywhere near the same impact. Think of it this way….brides hire a qualified wedding photographer to shoot their wedding, why? So that photographer can capture moments and tell a story about the wedding day they waited their whole life to have. I know many people these days want a disc of photos, which is fine, but without prints or albums, it’s not a real benefit. I have seen from experience, as well as experiences of other photographers, that most of the time the brides don’t get around to printing or making an album. Because they are trying to recupe funds after the wedding, and they just don’t have time…..or in many cases, the resources to work with the digital files to carry out the project. So, then what happens is that disc ends up in a sock drawer, and the photos from their wedding are on Facebook……and after 30-60 days of them being up, it becomes old news. Keep in mind, many viewers are not going to take time to look through hundreds of photos that are maybe 600 pixels high, especially if viewing on a phone, or at work, etc. So, therefore, the representation of their wedding as well as the photographer’s work is reduced to that. Not that posting wedding photos on social networks is wrong, it is a way to share….. but it shouldn’t stop there.

Though I do offer albums, I personally do not design albums in house. I have a company that specializes in that, and they can be directly in touch with the bride and even make designs, and allow for revisions. Coffee table books, print on pages, etc. I get them prints or properly sized digital files, etc. and it’s all underway. Albums can be expensive, I get that. But there are ways to do it without going broke. The less is more theory. This is where a professional wedding photographer educates their clients, without being pushy. About the value of a good quality print vs. a crappy glossy print from the drug store, as well as albums and the overall finished presentation. There’s nothing wrong with a crafty bride doing their own, but they should be armed with some good information from the photographer in doing so. For example quality of print etc. So, it almost seems penny wise and dollar foolish to invest in a wedding photographer, to tell the story of someone’s wedding day, without finishing how the story is told.