Magic Monday: Why you need friends!

Another re-post, but it goes hand in hand with last week!  Please share your opinions and comments!

(image taken in Williamsburg, Virginia in October 2008. Nothing like a group of school girl friends!)

Originally posted March 2009

Ever heard the phrase, “Your network is your net worth” ?  In the photography industry this couldn’t be more true.  To go along with last weeks post on sharing and being a “happy photographer” I thought I’d share a few real life examples of how having friends in this industry have indeed “saved my life more than once” as I stated last week.

Case #1.

It was my third wedding. I thought I had downloaded the pictures to my computer so I automatically re-formatted my card not realizing that I had really just DELETED ALL MY WEDDING RECEPTION PHOTOS for my client.

Let us ponder upon the grave feeling of disaster that I felt in that moment. The supreme humiliation at my lack of professionalism, and my horrific imagination at the confrontation that I would soon have in trying to explain to my client that I had just lost their pictures. The pictures that could never be repeated. Never re-shot . A once in a lifetime moment that would never happen again, and now was lost forever.

To my extreme gratitude, my discovery actually happened in the presence of another photographer friend. When he discovered what I was suddenly weeping and whaling about, he said,

Hey! You can get them back! Don’t worry!”

Of course I suddenly perked up. He suggested calling Pictureline, which happens to have some recovery software. I called them up, explained my situation, and since I had only reformatted the card, and not yet taken any other pictures, they said that they were almost certain that they could recover them all. Yes, it cost me $40… but I would gladly gladly pay $40 any day over facing a wedding client to inform them that they would go through this life never having a record of their day).

Would I have known this on my own?  Nope.  He saved my professional life that day.  Helps to have friends who may know more than you do :)

Case #2.

I’m shooting a wedding and just finishing the bride/groom shots before an  hour break prior to the reception.

My camera dies.

Dies as in no longer working and there is still the reception ahead of us.

And…I don’t have a back-up camera.  (*Note:  Don’t ever shoot a wedding without a back up camera.  I won’t tell you how many I’ve shot without one, but it only takes once to learn!)

The only available store to rent a camera–which would have been the first option–is already closed.  What to do?

I call a photographer friend who also shoots Nikon.  He’s not busy for the night and actually drives to a freeway exit to meet me, switches me cameras–Yes.  He lets me borrow HIS camera, which was an upgrade from mine, AND took mine in return to see if he could figure out the problem!  Save my life?  Absolutely.  Absolutely.

Case #3.

And what about all the questions that I’ve had about pricing?  About teaching?  About branding and marketing?  How about post processing?  Yes, I’ve learned a lot from online forums, blogs, and books.  But… what a great gift it has been to have great friends that I can email or call and discuss simple matters with that have gone through the same thing?  Some of these awesome friends, I’ve still not met in person, but we’re great email/facebook buddies!  We have a great time helping each other out and discussing our current business questions or problems.

Benefits of Having Friends:

1.  Two heads are better than one.  By bouncing ideas off each other you can usually have greater results and help both parties out.

2.  Referrals?  Are you booked for a certain date a client needs?  How nice to be able to offer a referral that you trust.  This makes you look better as a professional, and indeed it helps your friend!  AND… it invites reciprocation!  When your friend is booked, they have a great referral coming your direction as well.

3.  Learn from others mistakes.  We can help each other avoid pitfalls or mistakes we’ve made by sharing our experiences with one another.  This helps improve an entire industry.

4.  Friends are fun!  Several of my photography friends have become more than “photography” friends.  We’re able to rejoice in the cool personal things that happen in each of our lives, and be a support and friend for things OTHER than photography.  Friendships enrich our life, and make us better people.

How do you find friends in the industry?

For those that are just starting out, it might seem sort of daunting to make friends  with other photographers.  How do you do that?  Here’s a few things that have worked for me.

1.  Email a photographer you admire!  Tell them what you like about their work.  (Be specific!!!) Tell them you’d like to be friends!  (yes, its bold and upfront, but I have friendships that started out this way!)

2.  Contact another photographer you admire and ask about possibly shadowing them on a shoot.  Many photographers would welcome the option to have an assistant for the day to help be an extra pair of hands.

3.  Join organizations like PPA, or IPPA.  They have seasonal meetings and conventions that are a great opportunity to meet other people with the same interest.  (I have to admit that I’m not actually a part of any of these organizations, but I have heard great things.  Perhaps someday when my life slows a bit I’ll look into it.)

4.  Take a photography class or attend a workshop.  This is a great opportunity to meet like minded people who have the same interest, have the same questions, or maybe have experiences that you can both benefit from.  One of the things that I have loved about my photography classes that I have taught, is the awesome camaraderie that has developed among my students!  They become friends!  Many of them have networked with each other!  There are plenty of workshops available as well that offer this great opportunity.  The workshops that I have attended have connected me with several new friends.

To all my photo friends out there (you know who you are) thank you for all the ways you have blessed my life!  I’m a better photographer because of our conversations, our emails, our experiences together, our debates, and more.

Caution:

Just like any relationship out there, there must be an equal give and take.

If one goes about developing a “network” simply based on what they can get from someone or how they personally can benefit, it likely will not be the experience that you are hoping for.

Some of my photographic education, previous website and blog, as well as a portion of my marketing, have been obtained on trade.  Although I didn’t pay money for these services, I gave a valued service in return so that both parties benefited.  To continually take, take, take, from someone, can cause the giver to feel used and resentful and likely damage an existing relationship or keep a relationship from developing.

If you want to build a network of friends, think of some ways that you can help that person. Think of what you can offer to someone else.  (Maybe its not even photography related–in many of my cases it wasn’t.) If you would like lessons or tips or help from someone, think of something you can do in return.

***Never ever expect things from someone, or feel entitled to obtain things from someone because of an existing relationship. Maybe the person you want to be mentored by and learn from is a family member, or already a close friend, or a neighbor, or an acquaintance, or goes to the same church, or is in your yoga class…

Please do not allow yourself to feel entitled to benefit and learn from all their knowledge and their experience–gained through hard work, money spent, trial, blood, sweat, and tears–just because of an existing relationship. Sometimes, these relationships are even more important to feed.  Think of how you can give something in return. Think about what you can do to help them in exchange for them helping you.

Many people will be happy to share and develop a friendship initially, and will continue to be happy in giving and sharing, when they are reciprocated in their efforts.  We can all be creative in how to give and do something for someone else.

Think “Win. Win.”

Your network is your net worth.


avatarBrooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah. She is a proud new mother to a perfect baby boy. During the day she uses her BM and MM in Music Composition to write silly songs to make small people smile and laugh. During the nights and select mornings Brooke teaches private photography lessons as well as monthly photography classes in Logan, Utah. During the weekend she dreams up crazy and fun photo shoots for her fabulous subjects. Brooke welcomes comments, questions, new friendships, new clients, and new coats and hats for her growing collection.

8 Responses

  1. Love your unselfish outlook on photography and on life Brooke. Thanks for sharing what you’ve learned!

  2. Oh reflecting on the past can bring back such bad memories… For me it hasn’t necessarily been any issues with a camera, but more about having CRANKY clients. You should post something about that : ) I agree with having a backup camera though. If not, just stop shooting events that can only happen on one particular day. If you have something go wrong, reschedule the shoot, and give them a discount : )

  3. I loved this post the first time you posted it as well as now. It rings true all of the time. I was one of those photographers who learned “most” of what I know on my own, which felt empowering in one way, but isolated in another way, and now I am feeling some of the effects of it (not bad, just not as rewarding as having awesome cool photog friends!). Thanks for reminding me that I need to get on it to try and reach out more and just have fun finding other photographers who love what they do as much as me! It really is more about having fun, creating lasting relationships, and less about business. Thanks for sharing this Brooke!

  4. I don’t know HOW I missed this post!! I’m normally a religious MMonday reader! It really made me think on what I can give to people. I LOVE being in an industry where they are a fair share involved who want to help! It’s a decision you make from the get-go to be a giving photographer. I’m going to make that decision….right now…. Yes, I’m going to give!

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