software presets as you go. This way you
will have multiple ‘looks’ to hand at all times,
allowing you to tailor your images for all client
needs, without laborious self-retraining on
each editing workflow.
A common area of frustration among
traditional high-street photographers is the
need for a social media presence, which is
essential in order to be visible and relevant
to clients. To save this from eating into your
working day, schedule social posts to coincide
with image backups, which can take up to an
hour for large shoots. Select a couple of files
to use and write a short post or two about
the shoot while you are waiting for files to
copy. Blogging about a shoot can also subtly
promote your expertise – readers may not
necessarily be interested in the details of your
working day, but the use of correct keywords
will go a long way towards advertising your
specialisms and experience to a wider
audience (see page 74).
Sometimes new styles require new
equipment. Using cameras purchased a
decade ago is financially prudent but can hold
you back creatively. Consider upgrading your
bodies to newer, higher resolution, lower noise
models for better performance. Meanwhile, try
switching to mirrorless models if you are faced
with the need to travel more, saving space and
money when transporting your gear. Both of
these strategies are good investments if they
enable you to capture the types of image the
modern client wants to see and pay for.
© Susan Porter-ThomasLEAD YOUR MARKET