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Transcript

This week’s episode is “Your Must Know List.”

Right then, first up is …
Understand Your Equipment
Now, this is super important. Understanding how a camera and lens work together to capture a photo is crucial.

You need to know how to use the camera menu. When you are mid-session and need to change something, you need to be quick. You can’t waste time fiddling around.

When I was shooting weddings, I hired a second shooter. They came to me during the family photos and said their camera wouldn’t focus; everything was out of focus.

I looked at the switch on the side of the lens and moved it from MF (Manual Focus) to AF (Auto Focus). Problem solved.

What worried me was they said they hadn’t known what that switch was for. I didn’t hire them again.

One of the biggest things photographers don’t understand is …

Depth of Field
You need to know how the aperture blades in the lens control how deep into the frame is in focus.

A few years ago, I watched a YouTube video by a now well-known wedding photographer. He used prime lenses with a maximum aperture of f/1.4. He shot every photo at f/1.4 because it gave him a consistent depth of field.

But it didn’t. The only way the depth of field would be the same shot to shot is if he stood at exactly the same distance from the subjects every time.

He didn’t, and on top of that, he showed some of his group shots, and half of the people were out of focus.

That is because he didn’t understand the depth of field. He should have used a different aperture, like f/2.8 or f/4, to get a deeper depth of field and all the people in focus.

Understanding depth of field will allow you to produce quality work.

Next is …
Shooting in Manual or Aperture Priority
So many new photographers think that using AUTO mode is okay. Well, they might as well be using a point-and-shoot camera. They are letting the camera decide everything.

It’s difficult to be creative when you aren’t making any decisions. Using manual or aperture modes opens up the creative world.

In my manual framework, the first setting you decide on is Aperture. You need to know how much depth you need in focus to capture the subject.

Is the subject moving fast? If so, you need a fast shutter speed, like 1/800, to freeze the action. You can use a shutter speed of 1/100 or even slower when the subject is still.

If you are shooting in AUTO mode and the subject is moving fast, the camera might use a slow shutter speed, and the photo will be blurry.

So, learn how to shoot in manual mode and aperture priority. You can’t be creative in full Auto mode. I don’t have a problem with semi-auto modes like Aperture Priority or Manual mode with auto ISO. These modes are perfect for shooting in constantly changing conditions, and you still control creativity.
Communication
I’ve covered this in my last two episodes, so I won’t go into too much depth.

You need to talk to your customers and find out what they want from the photoshoot. Tell them what you will do for them, and put all that information into a contract.

Customers don’t want to be surprised with extra charges after the shoot. Put everything down on paper and keep your customers happy.

Make it Easy for Customers
Make their journey from finding out about you to receiving the photos as smooth as possible.

Reply to emails promptly, call people back on time, and always under-promise and over-deliver.

If you run ads on social media, the clickable link should take them to your portfolio. The portfolio should have easy-to-see links to a contact or booking form.

Website visitors shouldn’t have difficulty finding ways to contact you. Your prices should be readily available. If you don’t want to put your pricelist on your website, use the “prices starting from” method and offer the full pricelist in return for their information.

You need to avoid being clunky. If they have to wait too long they will go somewhere else.

How to Get Customers
Again, I’ve covered this in the last few episodes.

If you are using social media, you need to direct people to your website. This is where they will see what you can do, how much it costs, and how they can book you.

The same goes for direct marketing when handing out business cards and brochures. They need to direct people to your website.

Every business needs a form on its website for visitors to sign up for more information or special offers. To do this, you need to get yourself an email list account.

I use ConvertKit, which is now called Kit. You can get yourself a free list for up to 1000 emails. That is more than big enough.

When someone visits your website and is just thinking about hiring a photographer, you can give them a way to keep in touch.

Then, when you decide to do some Fall mini-sessions, you can send the offer to your mailing list first before you spend money on paid ads.

Once you get going, your mailing list will be the easiest way to get bookings.

Do the Customers Like You?
Now, this is part of good communication. If you did the session, everything went smoothly, and they loved the photos, you need to know.

So how do you find out? Well, you ask them. It could be as simple as a phone call or a feedback form you handed them with the photos.

You could also have a feedback form on your website and link to it in a follow-up email.

The reason you need this is for testimonials. Testimonials show potential customers that you are up to the job. Working with you is going to make them happy.

The more glowing testimonials you have on your website, the easier it is to get bookings.

Basic Editing
You need to know how to edit a RAW file. I know I spout on about shooting in RAW a lot, but you need to do it. JPEGs are fine if you are shooting and printing at an event, but for everything else, you should use RAW.

Okay, so being able to do a basic edit of a RAW file is a must. It isn’t difficult. So many beginner photographers shoot JPEGs and don’t edit them. Shooting in RAW and doing a basic edit will set you apart.
Once you get more experienced, you can try more complex edits and really raise your quality. The better your product is, the more you can charge.

There is no downside to being able to edit.

Okay, those are the things I feel you must know. I’m sure I’ll think of something else I could have added later.

Right, like I always say, if you need help with anything, you can find me in the Facebook group, Messenger, and Instagram.

The transcript for this episode is in the show notes and over at photographysidehustle.com/182.

And I want to thank all the veterans out there, as tomorrow is Veterans and Remembrance Day, depending on where you are in the world.

I’ll be back next week with more waffle, talk to you soon, bye.