Hone in!

I’ve recently been reviewing a number of my clients’ website bios and they often go like this:

1.Open on a description of photographers’ style and feel.

(Are you seriously telling discerning visual decision makers how to think about the work after they’ve probably already seen it? )

2. Go on to explain ‘my first camera’ and a litany of schools, institutes and even the names of photographers assisted.

(A lack of self confidence often inspires this barrage. A reader may be tempted to use the photographer you assisted. Just sayin’.)

3. Maybe some personal info. A grandma that inspired. A memory.

(Hmm, now this is getting interesting, only by now your dream client has already given up and stopped reading because of the previous paragraphs which I guarantee have already exceeded their time limit if not bored them to tears)

4. Awards, competitions, accolades, clients, I really want to help YOU build your brand, yada yada…

(Trying to sell to people who sell is a BIG mistake. Lists of facts. Uugh. Snore…)

5. The alternative photographer’s version: Something completely abstract and minimalist that doesn’t really tell me anything except maybe you have a motorbike.

(Yep, so you’re cool, but probably too cool. in fact you definitely wouldn’t use the word ‘Cool’ . It would not be cool enough. You may also have issues talking to the client or CD in a coherent manner, lest it ruins your image. Or maybe not, but that’s the perception.)

Are you doing any of this?

OK so some of this info is useful but where are YOU in all this? No, I mean YOU?

I can tell you where you are. Somewhere in paragraph 3. When you were a kid. The hazy days spent on the farm with your favourite dog. The dream to capture the sparkle and bottle it forever. To share the joyful memories of your grandma cooking.. The desperate need to show the truth, because you were lied to. This is who you are, and this is how you became an image maker.

The key to this is honing in on what matters and removing the fluffy stuff.

I ask this of all my clients.

Hone in on the interesting and unique, whether it’s your purpose, your story, or your images.

There are lots of ways to get noticed. But only one way to get really noticed and respected and commissioned to shoot more of what you love. It’s to be completely, authentically and uniquely you.

Surround yourself with people who support you to do what you love, and help you see the uniqueness that is you. Whatever that means.

I am here to help. But I’m only interested in helping photographers who want to be known for what they love shooting. Who are not afraid of the truth, and who want to know how to leverage that.