Featured Photographer-Sue Bryce

If you are a long time reader, then you know that my idol is Contemporary Glamour Portrait Photographer, Sue Bryce. When she agreed to answer my interview questions, I was thrilled! If you haven't read about her journey, please do so-she's a rags to riches photographer, and her story is wonderful!

Featured Photographer

Sue Bryce

Where is home?

Although I was born and brought up in New Zealand, home for me now is Sydney, Australia

How long have you been a photographer?

I have been in the Professional Photographic industry for 22 years, the first 4 years as a photographic retouch artist for professionals while I was shooting part time and the last 18 years in studio shooting portraits.

When did you get the ah-ha moment when you knew you wanted to become a photographer?

Working as a retoucher and seeing my first glamour shoot come though. It was 1990 Glamour was the biggest trend in Photography in the world at the time. I saw it and said to myself “I want to do that!” I was a girlie girl, I was never interested in shooting weddings or families.

How would you describe your style?

Contemporary Portrait. Modern Glamour or Fashion Inspired Portraits

What is the best part of being a photographer?

Being Creative. I never want to work in an office and I love that I can work my own hours. I don’t imagine working in the same place everyday. Wearing a grey suit. I love the hours and the creative process behind shooting and marketing my business.


Can you tell us what's in the bag?

Canon 1Dmk iv, Canon 5dmk ii, 50mm 1.0, 35mm 1.4, 24-105mm f4, Fuji X100

Which lens is your favorite and why?

35mm because it shoots at 1.4 and it just gets you close enough but it’s also wide, it’s great for video. I love it! In saying that I have had the 24-105mm in my kit for years. It is the most versatile shooting lens for close quarters/

Give us one way you market your business, please!

Only one! But I have so many!

Marketing should be the most creative part of your business not just photography. Once you learn to be creative in your marketing and think outside the square you will stand out from the rest.

Also, create a marketing plan to work for your business – don’t look at what every other photographer is doing, look at what others in the consumer markets are doing.
65% of people are watching YouTube over TV if you are not creating multimedia product for your business you are not competing in today's market. Connection communication is the new marketing.

What advice would you like to give other photographers?

Listen to your clients! They are one that is paying you. Ask them how they truly want to be photographed and then really listen to the answer. I know they choose a particular photographer for their style, but We are there to provide a service.

Seven essentials to starting a photography business

Photography is not a cheap business to start.

A lot of people think that all you need is a good camera and talent and you are good to go.

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

The truth is, there are many investments to make when starting a photography business. This is probably true with most start up businesses. It takes money to make money-plain and simple.

But, what do you really need to start a photography business?

There are many hits and misses in the photography field. You have to experiment with products and you might end up with purchases you find out your don't need. There also are many people out there trying to cash in on the growing amount of newbie photographers out there, so it's hard not to get talked into unnecessary products.

That being said, let's talk about the bare essentials...

1. Gear

Having the right equipment goes without saying. You will need a good body and at least one good prime, though you will want different lens for different situations-and I haven't met a photographer yet that could stand just having one lens! ;)

If you are setting up a studio, you'll need the proper lighting equipment which can be purchased inexpensively if you do your research. I found a great deal for under $400 on Amazon.

I would recommend a good flash as well. Depending on what brand you use, there are many off brand flashes that are compatible with your camera.

2. A Way to Connect with Potential Clients

If you want the world to know you are open for business, you will need a website or blog. Almost everyone these days has at least a blog or Facebook. It's our way to let people know we exist. For businesses, it's an extension of their storefront, or for people working from home, it is their storefront.

There are inexpensive blog platforms, or even free ones (I still believe in Blogger). Especially when you are just starting out. If you want to invest in themes, or hire a designer, that's cool too.

Once you figured out the route you want to take, you'll need to think of a good domain name. Using your business name is the best route. After you set up your website or blog, start writing. Add lots of photos to showcase your work. Submit it to search engines and connect with other businesses related to yours.

3. Invest in Marketing

Marketing is a must for any business. There are many free marketing routes (a whole other post) but, you really need to invest in a good marketing source until your business gets rolling.
A cheaper investment are business cards. Vistaprint is awesome, as well as Moo Cards (I love Moo!) Hand them out to everyone you come in contact with. I know this will be hard at first, but once you get used to it, it will come naturally. You never know who might be your next client!

4. Get Insured!

Yes, there was an exclamation point there. It is very important to get yourself insured. You never know what might happen. Even if you don't do weddings, things can go wrong.

5. Editing Software

Even the best photographers use some kind of editing software. If you are into actions or textures, you will need to invest in editing software. There are expensive ones, like Photoshop, and there are more reasonable software like Paint Shop or Lightroom. What you choose is mainly your taste and what you can afford. Photoshop does have a lot of free help on the Internet and many assume that everyone uses Photoshop, so they gear products towards that product.

6. Training
I suggest ongoing learning. This does not have to be expensive. For every paid training out there, you will find double free help. I cannot afford $400 for an ebook, can you? Check YouTube-this has taught me a lot.

7. A Computer

Having a computer is a must. You don't need a Mac, but it has to be able to handle big files. I actually have three computers now, but I started out with one. You can find good deals at Walmart or eBay if you wait for sales.

One last tip: Make sure you invest back into your business and start a savings for unexpected expenses, like broken camera lens or marketing.

Don't let these steps discourage you from starting your photography business. Have fun and though it's an investment initially, soon you will reap the rewards!

Featured Photographer

There are some photographer blogs that I follow just to drool over their amazing photos. I like certain styles, and PeekaBoo Photos is one of my favorites! I love the backgrounds she uses. Very tasteful and vintage looking. Photo envy!!!

Here is how she knew that photography was her calling...

As long as I can remember I've been into art. I grew up with both a grandma and mom that we're very talented artists. However, I didn't start playing with a camera seriously until college. I majored in graphic design and was required to take a couple of photography classes. I was immediately hooked. After winning a few school awards and feeling pretty confident, I got a job doing some product and lifestyle shots and learned a lot.


Once I had my first baby I decided I wanted to quit my job and start a photography studio in our basement. We invested in some lights and basic studio equipment and went for it. After a couple of years we got so busy that my husband quit his job and started helping full time. He started doing all the outside family shoots and weddings. I started focusing more on newborns and kids in the studio. We continually try to keep things fresh and new and not get stuck with the same backdrops, floors, styles, etc. We don't get bored and people keep coming back for different looks. With #4 child on the way, we're now in the process of trying to scale back the number of shoots we do by continuing to raise our prices. It doesn't seem to work. But it's a good problem to have.

Learn how to use Natural Light

I'm so excited!!

Digital Photography School has done it again-another great ebook has just launched!

Natural Light- Mastering a photographer's greatest tool.

As the title says - this eBook is all about learning to observe and harness natural light to take beautiful images. I was just thinking about natural light the other day and how photographers should use it more. Images just look more beautiful and natural.

I understand that sometimes it's impossible to use natural light, but when you can, wouldn't it be great to know just HOW to take advantage of it?


What's in the book:

-Learn to understand the essential qualities of natural light
-Master the technical components you’ll need to work with natural light, including exposure, metering, and the histogram
-Learn expert methods to control natural light to suit your creative needs
-Grasp the potential of harsh light, diffused light, fog, twilight, and other settings
-Learn to sculpt light, create light interplay, reveal silhouettes, and more
-Practice professional post-processing techniques to enhance natural light
-Harness the countless creative possibilities that natural light affords

Lots of detailed photos and great advice for photographers wanting to bring natural lighting into their world.



Because it’s packed with real-world advice, Mitchell has built a successful photography career by learning to harness natural light in any situation. His hard-won advice will save you years of trial and error, and help you get more from your photography, starting today.

This ebook covers all aspects of photography using natural light. It gives you the skills you need to conduct your own experiments with natural light—to breathtaking effect. Mitchell’s hands-on advice leads you from the essentials to more advanced aspects of natural-light photography. His field guide to natural light is supported by detailed case studies, tips and tricks, and clear illustrations to help you build up your skills super-fast.

Here is the great part...

You don’t need an expensive camera, high-end equipment, or stunning subjects to get real value from this ebook. Mitchell targets his advice to the photographer who wants to use natural light to maximum effect in every image they make

Wait. There's more!

It's 25% off - normally $19.99 we're launching this for 14.99!!
(for a limited time - 2 weeks)
If you were wanting to learn how to use natural light, now is a great time to purchase this!

Buy here

A valuable secret: The client questionnaire

Do you send a questionnaire form to your clients before a shoot? If not, you should! Questionnaire forms are a way to get to know who your clients are, what they’re all about, and what they’re looking for from you. I love that I'm able to plan a better session, which leads to a great sale afterwards. This also prepares you for any potential problems.

So, what’s the most effective client questionnaire? The answer lies in what you want to get out of your questionnaire. What are your goals? Getting to know them better? Finding out their style? Or, even finding out what it was about your style they like.

Whatever your reasons, write them down and then go from there on how to create the questions that will give you the answers you’re looking for!

I mainly shoot weddings as you probably know, so my questionnaire gears towards the couple's engagement session. What I like to find out is about how they met and what their interests are as a couple. I've learned not to give them to much freedom with location because they have a tendency to want to go way out of my travel radius, and since my engagements aren't extra, I lose money. If you are okay with traveling anywhere, then include that as a question.

Sample Form Questions

Here are some sample questions to help you get the ball rolling.

What are the names of everyone coming?
Why have you decided to have your portraits taken?
When was the last time you had your portraits taken?
Tell us about yourselves. What are your hobbies? What is one fun fact about each person?
Are there any shots, or sessions, that you’ve seen of ours that really stand out to you?
Are there any must-have photos?
Are there any specific ways you’d like to display your photos? (albums, digital files, canvases, etc.)
Which areas of your home are you hoping to decorate with your images?

If you are like me, you might like a little more help with ideas of what to ask your clients. It's good to have different sets of questions for different types of client sessions. The Modern Tog has a Photography Questionnaires for Client available. The questionnaire library comes with questionnaires for Weddings, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, and Senior Portraits.

Get yours here

When to Send the Form

Once you get your questions figured out, you want to send it out immediately. Make it easy for clients to fill out the form. You can use the contact form plug ins and turn it into a questionnaire form. There are also services you can use as well.

What to Do With the Answers
Once you get the form back, you can take their info and use it to give you inspiration. Also, on the business side, what can bring in bigger sales. For example, if they love wall canvases, make sure to get some epic shots that will look great as a huge wall display.

Have fun with your client forms. I like to write up a post on how my couples met and fell in love when posting about their session. They love reading about it as well and it's makes me stand out in their mind when someone asks if they know of any photographer. Make today the day you start using client questionnaires!

The Passion

I have a couple of weekends off before my wedding season will be taking over my life. This year will be my record for weddings. I know I should be excited. I love shooting weddings, but I'm actually regretting booking so many.

Why, you may ask?

Because I'll be so busy, I won't be seeing alot of the family. I know one may deem my business successful. I mean, I'm busy with clients, right?

Success comes in all forms. One may define success because they have riches. Another may associate it with doing something that you love. I like to think it's a combination of both, but to me, it cannot interfere with being a mom and wife-and me.

Entrepreneurs tend to get caught up in work and forget to take time off to live their life too. I think that if we don't do that, we will lose the passion that inspired us to do it in the first place. I'm afraid that I'm getting to that point right now. This is the very reason why I've sat down and took a long look at where I want my business to be a year from now.

I know I don't want to be the Jack of all trades if you may, in photography. I have a tendency of feeling guilty if I turn a client down because I don't want to take photos of babies, or shoot another birthday party.

I really would like to see myself shooting glamour by next year, in addition to weddings. Maybe offering the two as a package option for the bride for her husband. I think concentrating on a specific niche will make me feel less overwhelmed. This will help me get through this year, knowing it will be different next year.

I'm also allowing myself to take a vacation this summer as well. No work. No emails. Just the family and having fun.


Do you feel this way too? Are you overwhelmed with your business that you are losing your passion? What changes are you going to make, if any?

Creativelive

Have you heard of Creative live?

If you haven't, you have got to try it out. In fact, other than being busy with weddings, I've been over at Creativelive soaking up their training. I've been learning things from Sue Bryce, Bambi Cantrell, Don Giannatti and other great photographers.

ALL FOR FREE.

If you want to learn more about lighting, your camera, marketing and more and you are on a strict budget, I would suggest watching their online seminars. Now, there is a drawback if you don't want to give up a whole weekend, or week watching it, you can purchase them at a discount of $99, or $149 if you miss the discount time.

This week is The Fundamentals of Photography. I'm watching it right now as I type this!