The Fast Track Photographer Business Plan: Build a Successful Photography Venture from the Ground Up [Paperback]

Dane Sanders (Author), David DuChemin (Foreword)

Book Description

Release date: December 14, 2010

NEW RULES FOR A NEW BUSINESS WORLD

Thinking about starting a photography business? The first thing you need to know is that the rules have changed. Yesterday’s business models have collapsed. Creating a successful business in today’s "Digi-Flat" era requires a sharp new approach, one that Dane Sanders has practiced successfully and taught at Fast Track workshops and seminars all around the world. Some of the things you'll learn in this book:

How to turn the very technologies that are "killing" professional photography—such as the Internet—into your tools of success

-How to lead your business, not let your business lead you
    
-How systematizing, scaling, and outsourcing are critical concepts even for a one-person business

-How to radically rethink marketing, sales, and customer service for the 21st century

-How to hone a creative vision that works—the most powerful step you can take as a businessperson

The Fast Track Photographer Business Plan is not about building a "traditional" business plan that looks good on paper and impresses investors. It's about creating a vibrant, living business plan that will help you thrive in today's digital "Wild West," where creative content is freely distributed, where no one plays by the rules anymore, and where customers have unprecedented freedom in choosing what to buy and whom to hire. It's a groundbreaking look at running a creative business. Whether you're an amateur looking to go pro or a professional whose business has stalled, Dane's practical, on-the-ground advice will launch you on the fast track to business success.

Includes free access to Dane's online "stress test" to diagnose your business's strengths—as well as where it needs help!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a must for the modern-day photographer."
—Jeremy Cowart, celebrity photographer and founder of Help-Portrait

"Unusually forward-thinking and fresh. Dane's advice will help prepare current and future photographers for the ever-changing photography market ahead."
—Vincent Laforet, Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer

About the Author

DANE SANDERS is a noted photographer, author, and speaker. Both he and his work have been featured in numerous photography publications. Author of Fast Track Photographer and host of weekly online broadcast www.AskDane.com, Dane offers Fast Track workshops around the world and has given platform talks at WPPI, Photo Plus Expo, and Imaging USA. He can be found at www.danesanders.com.

DAVID DUCHEMIN is a Vancouver-based international assignment photographer specializing in humanitarian and world photography. David is a passionate contributor to the international photography community and the bestselling author of Within the Frame, VisionMongers, and Vision & Voice. David's work can be found online at www.pixelatedimage.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Amphoto Books; Original edition (December 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817400001
• ISBN-13: 978-0817400002
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Equipment, Techniques & Reference > Professional

More About the Author

Photo District News named Dane Sanders one of the 30 most influential living photographers of the last decade. His work has been featured in Rangefinder, Professional Photographer, Resource, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Shutterbug, Photojojo & Design Aglow.

He is the author of "Fast Track Photographer" as well as "The Fast Track Photographer Business Plan" - both published by Random House. He also created the Photographer DNA (pDNA) & Business Stress Test (bST) as well as a host of other resources for photographers. Dane has taught at Photo Plus Expo, WPPI, Imaging USA, SXSW, Brooks Institute as well as international events throughout North America, South America, Europe & Asia.

You can also follow @/+ danesanders on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Google+.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 52 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Not an expert source July 27, 2011

By M. Read

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

From the minute this book arrived at my door, I was began to question whether or not I had made a smart purchase. I bought John Harrington's "Best Business Practices for Photographers" at the same time; it was a tome, giant, thick, textbook-like. "Fast Track Business Plan" on the other hand was about the size of novels I read in elementary school. However, I wanted to give it a chance, so I flipped through it and finding a couple of parts that seemed like they might be valuable, I decided to read it. As I began to read the first few chapters, I again became more suspect of the book's value. Much of the content seemed to be philosophical, rather than practical; it read more like a self-help book instead of a business text. On top of that, there were several plugs for the author's previous book and the repeated suggestion that you take the author's pDNA assessment online, which either required you buy the first book or pay $15. These all should have been red flags, but I reminded myself that I had found areas later in the book that seemed like they would be of value, so I pressed on.

Eventually, though, I came to the straw that broke the camel's back: the author revealed that he only began his photography business 7 years before writing this book (he started in 2003 and the copyright date on the book is 2010). I checked the copyright date on his first book and that was written in 2008. Could the author really have gained enough experience to warrant writing a book in only 5 or 7 years? Even if he had, would the advice remain true over in the long run, given that the author had not put it to the test for anymore than 7 years?

I was extremely suspicious now. I looked up the author on Google. He has a massive web presence; the first page and a half on the search results were for pages he owns, however, every single one was dedicated to his book or his speaking events, not his photography (with the exception of a small section of his personal site). Based on all that, it seems clear to me that the author is not a professional photographer (being defined as someone whose main source of income comes from making and licensing photographs) who wanted to share his knowledge from years of experience with others, but is in fact a professional speaker and author on the subject of photography. I want to be getting my information from the former, not the latter.

I returned the book.

Save your money and buy John Harrington's "Best Business Practices for Photographers" instead.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great photo business book, with a focus on vision December 24, 2010

By Chris Honiball

Format:Paperback

As a young photographer who's looking to build a photography business, this book by Dane Sanders has been an invaluable purchase. There are many different aspects to running a photography business - from actually taking photos, to dealing with clients, to planning shoots, to hiring assistants and makeup artists, to dealing with finances - the spectrum is broad. This book, while not comprehensive, provides useful hints and tips for structuring your photo business. It won't tell you exactly what to do and when to do it, but rather it provides a model for business and a push forward that will get you on your feet.

Here's what you'll find in this book:
-Discussion of the current state of the photography industry - and how to leverage the benefits of digital photography and the internet to benefit, rather than harm, your business.
-A solid discussion of the need for artistic vision - and a few tips on how to find it.
-Basic pricing theory and guidelines for a sustainable business.
-Theory behind branding.
-The importance of putting the client experience at the forefront of everything you do.
-Several real-life examples of photographers who have "made it".
-The importance of outsourcing things such as post-processing and automating regular tasks. In the same vein, the importance of creating SOPs for a smooth business operation. (In my opinion, this is the most valuable aspect of this book).
-A rough outline of a flexible, forward-looking business plan.

Throughout the book Dane also provides the reader with helpful exercises to ensure that they are actually employing, rather than simply reading about, the strategies he discusses.

If you're looking for a book that discusses the technicalities of running a business - tax laws, business forms, how to negotiate, and so forth, I'd recommend that you look elsewhere - most notably, to Best Business Practices for Photographers. However, if you're looking to start a photography business and need some direction on where to get started, look no further than this book.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Much needed book for these Digital Times! December 15, 2010

By LD Likes

Format:Paperback

Unlike any other, this book is about fitting "YOU" to the market place! Sub Titled Build a Successful Photography Venture from the Ground up by Dane Sanders. I consider this a Revolutionary and much needed book in the Photography Industry with these ever changing current times of internet and social media.

As Dane says in this book there is, "no one size fits all business plan". Emphasis is on defining your business vision and having it tied to a sound business plan of which he details through out the book. Included are step by step exercises and charts to help one get clear with their business goals.

What I really like about this book is that Dane starts the first 3 chapters on vision alone. And how important that is! I needed this book as I sometimes get side tracked from looking at the "Big Picture" as I am constantly dealing with the ever increasing technology that is now available for my photography business. Its practically a full time job in itself! I have many books on how to be a specific photographer but currently have been changing my goals, and needed a book that does not presuppose a direction. This book fills the bill!

Along with Vision Dane introduces new concepts in, Finding your Sweet Spot, Sales and Marketing, Focusing on your Strengths, Systematizing your work, Creating the right team and much much more! All the nuts and bolts of how to figure the numbers and creating an actual business plan that fits you are included.

On the back inside cover of the book is a code that you can punch into his web site to take a Business Stress Test (BST) test for free (which is normally $15.00). I'm looking forward to taking that test to see how my business shapes up!

CONCLUSION:

I highly recommend this book to anyone, photographer or otherwise, that is interested in starting, or restarting, a service based business!

Thanks Dane!

Dave Likes
L. David Likes Photography