Fast Track Photographer, Revised and Expanded Edition: Leverage Your Unique Strengths for a More Successful Photography Business

275 Pages·2010·0.33 MB·English

by  Dane Sanders

I dedicate this book to Tamara Anne Sanders—my
partner until the end.
CONTENTS
Foreword Momentum, by Richard N. Bolles
Preface: Setting You Up to Win
GETTING STARTED | THE REAL YOU
Finding Your Edge
Where’s the Real Value?
Learning to Fish
You Can Do This
Where Most Photographers Go Wrong
Two Main Paths
An Exit Strategy
Attitude Is Everything
How Best to Use This Book
CHAPTER 1 | A NEW ERA
The Grumpies
The Grumpy Photographer Life Cycle (a.k.a. the Road to
Hell)
A Beth or a Franz?
The State of Our Age: Globalization and Photography
The Digi-flat Era
We Live on Krypton
“The Words of the Prophets Are Written on the Subway
Walls”
Starting Off Right
Learning How to Dance
CHAPTER 2 | THE POWER OF CHOOSING YOUR
OWN ADVENTURE
A Star Is Born
Flat = Opportunity
A New Era in Professional Photography
Freelance or Signature Brand?
Change Is Here, and It’s Neither Good Nor Bad
The New Market—Where Do You Fit?
The Best in the World
Fixing Weakness vs. Maximizing Strength
The Photographer’s Twist
Embracing Our New Culture
Choose Your Own Adventure
From Being Controlled to Being in Control
CHAPTER 3 | PHOTOGRAPHER BY DESIGN
Don’t Just Invent Yourself, Design Yourself
Being You-Nique
The Photographer DNA (pDNA) Assessment Tool
Go Take the Test
Welcome Back!
Discovery
What’s Next?
The Power of the Fast Track System
CHAPTER 4 | TRUE CONFESSIONS
The Fraud
The New Me Was the Old Me
Blogs, Pods, and Vodcasts
My “Aha” Moment
Attack of the Grumpies
But There Was a Problem
Why I’m Telling You My Story
Wait a Second…
Expect Change
CHAPTER 5 | DREAM A DREAM WITH ME
“Photojojo Is Your Friend”
Owning Your Limits and Shooting for the Stars
Who’s Behind the Curtain?
The Lover’s Affections
Change Your Job, Keep Your Heart
Global Reach Means a More Customized Clientele
One Thousand True Fans
Serving Two Masters
Insert Your Dreams Here
Round One: Imagining Life as a Freelance Photographer
Round Two: Imagining Life as a Signature Brand
Photographer
Round Three: Remembering the Dream
Your Dreams Will Define Your End Game
Going Behind the Curtain Yourself
CHAPTER 6 | TIME TO MAKE A DECISION
Interpreting Your pDNA
Getting Started
Life Must Be Factored In
Looking at Your Results
It’s Time to Do It
Intermission
“Choose Your Own Adventure” Time
CHAPTER 7 | THE SIGNATURE BRAND
PHOTOGRAPHER
“I Wanna Be Like Mike”
The Mike I Wanted to Be Like
So What about You?
Congratulations, You’re in the Marketing Business!
I’ve Got My Brand, Now What Do I Do With it?
I Don’t Want to Sell Anything…
Don’t Sell It, Solve It
From Prospect to Pursuer
Be Prepared to Remodel
Everyone’s World Is Flat—Be Known for the Right
Reasons
The 80:20 Principle and You
CHAPTER 8 | THE FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
(AND OTHER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES)
Becoming a Freelancer with a Smile on Your Face
Just Remember…
Your Value Is Different as a Freelance Photographer
Your “You-Niqueness” in the Freelance World
Finding Work
Spec Work
The Role of Second Shooter: Partner, Network, and Learn
Going the “Hybrid” Route
Opting to Remain a Non-Professional
CHAPTER 9 | THE BUSINESS OF BEING A
PHOTOGRAPHER
The Tragedy of Being Trained
You Are Now a Business Owner
Start-up Blues
Getting Organized
Some Global Ideas to Keep in Mind
Strengthen Your Backbone
Automarket
Scaling at the Right Cost