Make a Plan

As with any new business the ability to succeed is greatly increased when a clear plan and goals are established. Your skill in photography though important in the fact that you have to be talented it is a very minimal part of being successful as a professional photographer. By developing a set of goals and the steps needed to achieve those goals you give yourself a clear direction to go in. My Grandpa in always reminding me of Alice in Wonderland when Alice comes to the fork in the road and meets the Cheshire cat and asks what path she should take. Alice is asked where she is trying to go and she replies “I don’t know” to which the Cheshire cat tells her then it does not matter what path she takes. Point being if you don’t know where you’re going you will have a hard time getting anywhere.

I found it easier to build my plan around my goals 6, 12, 18 and 24 month goals. Start with where you want to be in 6 months whether it’s an income level you want to attain a certain client you want to work with etc. just think about what you want for yourself in 6 months then think about the steps needed to get to those goals and write everything down.

Example

6 MONTH

● Create a solid client list for assisting work that will bring in an income of $2k-2.5k a month
● Research photographers hiring assistants and create mailing list
● Send mailers to clients every 6 weeks (15 mailers a week to keep work load spread out.)
● Call photographers 1 week after mailer sent

● Plan for the transition from photography assistant to professional commercial photographer
● Target Clients
● Marketing Plan
● Mailing List of Ad agencies
● Research companies and magazines buying the type of photography I do
● Send mailers to decision makers
● Call decision makers 1 week after mailer sent
● Get meetings to show portfolio
● Business Plan
● Develop cost of doing business and day rate
● Client licensing terms and prices
● Brand my business
● Logo for web and print material
● Print portfolio and books focused on target audience

As you start implementing your plan you will most likely come across things that don’t work or need to be changed but you will be making progress towered your goals.



Alleh Lindquist | Portland Fashion & Advertising Photographer