Last week on Valentine’s Day, I got engaged to my longtime girlfriend, Julie. I was warmly greeted with many kind blessings. Among the felicitations, some asked me the daunting question of who will photograph our wedding. As a photographer, I know of many good choices.
I imagined, if I weren’t a photographer, this question would truly be daunting. No one likes to hire the wrong photographer or wrong anything. So, how will the choosing begin?
To start, I already follow a number of peers who so happen to be creative inspirations. I know their stories. I know their styles. I know their ethics. I know much about them.
However, I only came to know them because they were well-known in the industry, which poses the question, “Is being popular to peers worth it?”
Who Is Your True Target Audience(s)?
Many thought leaders would say that you should focus all of your energy on your target audience. For the photo industry, that would be brides. Supposedly, being popular among peers is useless and at times stigmatized.
However, if you think about it, brides are full of skepticism and rightfully so. Additionally, with this economy, they all want to budget. Why? Because they don’t know you.
Conversely, you know your photography inspirations. You have learned from them. You might even have had drinks with them at a mutual conference. These social extroverts in the industry become strong contenders.
Building this longtime rapport only happens when the photographer is popular in the industry. And after a long relationship (even if online), you might even be inclined to pick the photographer before the venue and date.
Plus, there is bragging rights that so-and-so shot your wedding.
All in all, you are already using a lot of effort to stay relevant among your clients (e.g., brides). Take a tiny extra step to stay relevant among your peers.
There is a very good chance that it is your peers who will hire you because of your reputation. And they respect the craft enough to not discount your worth.
Lastly, you don’t need to be popular in the entire industry, just to those who matter, which a lot of times is a small circle.
Think about it.
Lawrence Chan
P.S. I want to share some kind words regarding my pricing and social media e-books!
P.P.S. When it came to picking out my ring for Julie, I was reminded of Apple’s “Crazy Ones.”
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.
Therefore, to be unique, I placed a round cut diamond (round peg) into an emerald cut halo setting (square hole). And being not so unique, I proposed to her in Paris.
Wise words and so thought-provoking. Here’s my tiny step to stay relevant! ;)
In all seriousness, as I scroll through my social media feeds and network at events and hear the same names mentioned over and over, I often find myself wondering how many more talented individuals in this industry are out there that I (we) still have not discovered.
Remember that you don’t need to be popular in the entire industry, just those who matter, even if that’s a small circle.
Hey Lawrence! First off, Congrats to you & Julie!
Secondly, if you’re popular among your peers because of your ethics, work, and story (as you suggest), then that is a great thing. But if you are popular because you’re hot, have great arms, clothes and a fluffy dog, well I’m not so sure I would want to be popular for that…at least not in the wedding photography community.
I see our community a lot like high-school; there are jocks and cool kids -with their faces all over big buses- and they are very popular. Kudos! Good for them!
But there are smarter, more artistic, and just down-right better photographers out there that are hardly known-anonymous if you will-that will in the end prevail and last, much like the former Geeks of high-school. They will have longer more successful careers than those popular jocks.
Just my 2 cents. Bragging rights are for people who need to feed their ego-and that’s one thing our industry does not need- another ego.
Missed you in providence at the G.O. Event-
SW
Congratulations Lawrence! Very exciting times for you and Julie.
My comment on this post is in complete agreement with Stephanie Wales.
I’m not popular. I’m not known. I was not popular in HS, or college. And as I’m living a very nomadic lifestyle at this point in my life, I’m not popular now. I do however have a small circle of people who know me and say they appreciate my work, but I don’t see the fruits of any sharing and referral. Popularity is way over rated in my opinion. I’m sorry, but it’s all about ego. I shoot for pay when I can and I’m happy with what I have.
I always enjoy reading your quite informative journal, even if so much doesn’t pertain to me. As I struggle continuously financially and do not attend WPPI and other high $$ functions and/or workshops, which may or may not give me more credence.
I am on a continual “seeking to learn new things” endeavor.
I shoot every day for myself, and I am for hire.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Deborah Flowers
Congratulations I love the ‘square peg’ inspiration for the ring… awesome!
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