Customer Reviews

How to Create a High Profit Photography Business in Any Market

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book because of other readers' reviews. I was deluded. I want to start a photography business, and except for some very flimsy public relations information and a few general suggestions about business practices, it gave me nothing. Nada. As soon as it came today, I plowed into it looking for help. I don't need a lesson on lighting, thank you very much. I don't need to know that the author has a high end studio that I can't afford yet. I don't need to know that telephone manners are important. Not yet. I want to know how to get launched, how to set up accounts, what I need for permission forms, what copyright issues I'm facing, and there's only a meager dry crust of bread in this book.

While there are some very useful suggestions in this book no matter what type of business you have, it is mostly geared to selling to an upscale crowd at extremely high prices. I was looking for other suggestions and ways to be profitable in my photography business - not just charging high prices and targeting the rich. If you are established in the photography business, have a fancy studio, and already have a large customer base, this may be the book for you to push you over the top. But if you are just getting started, want to keep your overhead low, and are targeting a larger clientele, this is not the book for you.

James Williams has a talented ability- he is able to express in meticulous, yet straightforward terms, how to start and maintain a successful photography business. What sets this book apart from the others is Williams' skill in maintaining a balance between the "how to business" and the "how to photography". This is the best book to give you a photography 101 course, with underlining principles of business, management, and marketing. Williams utilizes his expertise in understanding the nature of effectiveness and efficiency, and he does such without flaw.

In other photography books, writers come off as arrogant, or they try to lure in consumers with cheap parlor tricks, such as "with my simple, fail-safe technique, you'll make $100,000 by the end of the year!" Williams avoids these gimmicky tactics, thus he is evidently a photographer and writer for the every man. Instead, he divulges useful and important skills such as proper lighting and posing techniques, as well as large groups and family sessions. Then he dissects the anatomy of the consumer process- from the very start (the telephone call and mailings), to the session (how to make a comfortable atmosphere for your client), and finally to the ordering (how to "sell the sizzle").

Being in the market myself for about 4 years now, I was able to retain a lot of useful tips. Other books are devoted often times to special topics, and to me they read like manuals more than helpful guides.

His book may be slim (weighing in at only 120 odd pages), but the scope and range are wide, and the thought is deep. While some portions of the book seem redundant, you will defiantly come out ahead, with a broad knowledge of maybe not how to thrive and dominate, but certainly how to be a success in the photography market.

This book is very dynamic, more so than some of the other photo books I've looked at. Although a few pages have blatantly obvious information (keep your studio clean, answer the phone when it rings, etc.), there is enough useful information to make it worth your while. One page has a series of 6 images, all with the same model and pose. In each picture Williams goes from one light, to two lights, to three, etc., and he makes you see the difference in various dynamic lighting. This is something the author does a lot, makes a point in the text, then amplifies it using images and models. He even has full copies of his very wedding pricing brochures and senior mail-outs as examples and biases for his business points. Great read for anyone looking to learn about photography or entrepreneurship.

Great book! The author is very inspiring with both his business and photography skills. I loved his term "success leaves clues" referring to how successful businesses leave clues along the way to becoming a profitable business. The author's first clue for his book is on his cover, a little league individual with main and fill lighting with a pleasing ratio and background. Not your run of the mill little league photo, most photographers would use a block wall! The book is written with honesty and he is very humbling on his success, and love for his trade. No matter if you are just starting out or have owned a studio for years you will see the rewards by purchasing this book. I have been a portrait photographer for 15 years and have gained some useful tools from this book.

As an amateur photographer and an educator/administrator of 35 years, I find Mr. Williams' book fascinating and very enlightening for any individual who may be contemplating starting a photography business. It is well written, comprehensive, and extremely thorough as it addresses two major areas. The first area is business and deals with commonsense practices that include proven strategies and techniques of how to successfully manage your business, as well as market and price your photography skills.

The second area deals with creating high quality photography and using proven methods to obtain that quality. Mr. Williams demonstrates how to create beautiful photos using proper lighting, poses, lens selection, etc.

This book is extremely helpful to amateurs who want to start a business or improve their photography skills.

Mr. Williams articulates both the areas of business and high quality photography in a must-read book that I highly recommend.

I found this to be a great book about the business of running a successful photography studio. It is easy to read, well illustrated and to the point.

The author is a well rounded photographer that is very good at many aspects of photography. His philosophy of diversification can make any professional photographer much more profitable.

Of special note in this book is the exquisite lighting of the portraits. The author shows how proper lighting can bring life to an otherwise ordinary portrait. This book covers portrait lighting far better than most books devoted to the topic.

This book does a good job a mentioning all aspects of a successful photography business, from great lighting, treating your clients, and marketing. I think anyone who applies the information in this book to their own photography business will only prosper from it.

Through lavish text and beautiful photography, Mr. Williams has provided a roadmap to photography business success.

This book starts with business basics that should be second nature to every photographer, but sadly they are not. As Mr. Williams points out, so many photographers drop the ball on some of the basics of operating a business. Little things like answering the telephone are often overlooked.

This book really shines with the posing and lighting. Through a series of portraits of the same subject, Mr. Williams shows the effect of each light on the finished portrait and how proper lighting can set you apart from the competition. His posing is meticulous and flattering.

The ideas, marketing pieces and little tips make this book worth ten times the cover price. EVERY photographer will be able to get something from the book to help them grow their photography business.

I read this book first day I've got it. Great material about how to start your own company and what is common mistakes. This book is not about how to create best portrait in the business, its about how to treat customer right and sell your work. Actually, only 50% of the pictures was great, the other half didn't like so much. Thats why I striped one star. This guy is better businessman than a photographer, so if you dream about starting your own photography business you have to read this book. It is very simple and straight to the point. But If you want to take a great pictures just for fun, you should pass. He gave very clear formula to the success only your job is to make it happen.