Get In Community – Google Can Only Take You So Far

When I was a newbie photographer, I had a lot of questions. Heck, I’m several years in, and I still have a lot of questions. Google is a great tool, but sometimes, it can only take you so far. Two major things helped me get those tough, sometimes silly questions answered: Other photographers and not being afraid to look stupid.

I was lucky enough to have a couple friends in the business that were gracious enough to patiently answer some of the really basic questions I had. I remember a conversation I had with my friend Rudy Harris of The Married Photogs about three years ago. I had been aimlessly ordering things that I thought would make my off-the-camera flash work, never realizing that you needed to have a special cord to sync them. Duh! After a chat with Rudy, he gave me some direction, and I was so grateful.

I’m also in several Facebook Groups where photographers can ask questions about anything from pricing, to technical questions, to handling client situations and even passing referral’s. There is even a group that just shares about the funny things that happen to us as wedding photographers. As an extrovert, I thrive on social interaction, and working from home can be really lonely for me. Having a group that I can bounce ideas off, joke about silly things, and seek advice from is so valuable.

Now, I will tell you that in my experience, the photography community can be fairly polarized. Not everyone you meet is willing to help. There are some photographers that are reluctant to help other photographers because they are worried about helping their potential competition. There are other photographers who are all about helping, because they feel like helping others better themselves betters our industry. Since I am writing this post for photographers, I bet you can guess which side I lean toward.

My point is this; if you reach out to someone who isn’t willing to help, don’t get discouraged. Every question you’ve had is one all of us have had at some point. Don’t feel stupid, just keep your head up and keep asking questions. Reach out to photographers you admire, and ask them questions. Take them for coffee. Find photographers workshops and attend them. Throughout this process, you might just find a community, and that is priceless.

 

*Disclaimer – Wedding season can be a bit crazy for anyone who primarily shoots weddings. If you ask a photographer out to coffee in June, don’t be surprised if they do not have the time. December – April is usually the best time to ask super detailed questions, because, while we are still staying busy with marketing, education, client contact, etc. we may or may not have the strict deadlines that come with a wedding contract!