I made this photograph of Elizabeth Taylor for part of an advertising campaign for Passion Perfume. Celebrities, however, just like the average business executive or the busy housewife have only so much time for photography. So naturally, since the tough part of the session is always in the lighting and setup, I went in close and produced several headshot portraits of Elizabeth at the same time.
“Ordinary people” love feeling like models and movie stars—so it’s your job not only to make them feel that way, but to capture them looking that way!
Our couple booked a formal portrait session (it could have been a formal bridal portrait for that matter). Once we got the hero shot (the money shot) in the can – meaning we captured a quantity of good images showing the couple with formal poses (which was the purpose of the booking), we transitioned to a fashion look (a more editorial look).
I heard a radio commercial yesterday where the announcer said “…You’re in the business of selling products. Did anyone ever teach your salesmen how to sell???” The company was offering sales training…
We, photographers, are in the same business. We’re selling products as well—a product of our art and vision (so first, we have to create an appealing product (!)), but, additionally, did anyone ever teach you how to sell?
Approximately 50% of American households have a dog. That dog is more important than any of our kids – we all know it ;). I’m kidding – I think I’m kidding.
So….
Ask your next portrait client – with children - to bring the family dog. If they agree, you can always do a shot like the one below (or a thousand other...
Everybody is a celebrity! In fact – that’s truer now than ever before – because everybody is always taking pictures of themselves and sending it to their “millions” of followers! Remember, the younger generations want fame more than they want money (very foolish, by the way ;)). Anyway, I always treat my clients like celebrities AND photograph them like celebrities – even if I’m doing a free
Combined in these 5 downloadable books ARE MORE THAN 700 PROFESSIONAL ASSIGNMENTS – that made me a small fortune - ALL DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. I went from shooting at $8 a day (yes, it’s true) to licensing commercial shots at $100,000 a year (and shooting portrait sessions that went beyond $100,000 as well).
In honor of my client, Pat Sajak, finally calling an end to his legendary run on Wheel of Fortune, let’s take a look at this shot of Pat that I made in my Culver City, California studio.
Portrait photographers should get customers in their studios at the lowest possible price. Reality: Even if you’re not making a dime, it’s worth getting the client (and certainly family portraits or groups) into the studio…
The key to making money in our business lies in creating images that the customer loves! You can’t sell it if you don’t shoot it! The key to making that philosophy a reality is that you must shoot a lot of images with variations because you will never ever know which ones your client will pick!
I will be writing to you shooters about the portrait business and commercial shooting as well; and how you get those jobs.
We are launching a New Education Program, aimed at benefiting photographers like you.