we’re getting a little carried away with these this this is like completely modded with like a hardcore spring in here and it’s just it’s it’s getting out of hand yeah I don’t need this I’ve got enough energy what’s up everybody Peter MacKinnon here and welcome back to another tutorial this is part three in mistakes that you want to avoid as a photographer or filmmaker the first part we’re talking about shooting actual applications with the camera the second part we talked about editing mistakes that you make when editing when you’re a beginner and the third section today’s video we are covering the business aspect of mistakes to avoid as a young entrepreneur photographer or filmmaker setting out into the world to try and make this a career or trying to make some money from this maybe it’s just some extra cash on the weekend or a full-blown like paycheck these are a couple things I’ve compiled that I wish I had when I started or wish that I did better and we’re gonna start with those number one contracts contracts are so important they are no fun at all to make they’re no fun to read and they’re no fun to sign but they are there to protect you no matter who you are shooting for listen to me no matter who you’re shooting for it’s a friend if it’s family it doesn’t matter you get a contract lay out everything that you hope to do for that person both of you sign it date it whatever if there’s compensation both of those things are agreed you’ve both signed it’s done that way if anything comes up if extra work is piled on if you didn’t do enough work both parties have a signed document clearly outlining what the expectations are because I find that’s the biggest loophole that’s the biggest mistake is expectations are always different from one person to the other and of those expectations are set clear at the very beginning and they’re followed through to the end because you have a contract business is better so if you don’t have a contract download a sample template check it out read it maybe fill in your own stuff instead of the sample do whatever you got to do take it to a lawyer get a friend to look at it get your parents to look at it your older siblings to look at it whatever start with something okay signed agreements that is point number one number two is not charging enough now I’m an advocate for working for free at the beginning to get your foot in the door a lot of people are like no you should never undersell yourself your time is worth yes your time is valuable and your time is worth money but hustling and doing work pro bono it’s going to get you into more doors it gonna open up more doors for it’s gonna get you into more places meet new people it helped build my career it helped build careers like my friend D Rock who just put a great post online about how he worked for free right up to hustling to be Gary V’s personal videographer that is awesome but not charging enough is something I could have done better as a growing entrepreneur and a photographer trying to make it in the field
I was always just so excited to get a gig that I completely forgot what I should be charging what my time is worth not only are you supplying the equipment for this job you’re taking your gear that you bought to a photo shoot you’re driving your vehicle using your gas taking the time out of your day then you’re coming back and you’re editing all those photos that’s also skill with software that you’re paying for so the list goes on and on and on and on those things are valuable so once you start charging for your work make sure you’re charging enough I mean you think about it like some of these cameras are thousands and thousands of dollars if you’re gonna go do some portrait shots and you’re only gonna charge a hundred bucks or 200 bucks for a quick portrait session one what does that say about you as a photographer and the quality of work that you put out and to how is that ever actually gonna make you money or pay back your gear or actually get you ahead in this game so make sure you’re charging enough sometimes you can throw numbers out there that might even see a little crazy to you and that client comes back and goes yeah all right no problem and you think yourself oh it can be very exciting but it’s something that you got to take seriously so really sit down and factor in all of those things I listed to know what your time is worth in charge accordingly point number three coming up boy number three is checklists I can’t stress this enough so if you’re going on a shoot let’s just say you’re shooting a wedding you’ve got the contract in place you’ve charged what you wanted to now comes to the actual shoot day I always recommend getting a checklist from the client of everything they want done that way you can reference that throughout the day throughout the shoot and you know you’ve got everything if that client fails to provide you something on that checklist it is not your fault example let’s just say you’re shooting a wedding you’ve got that checklist and get the dress get the drinks in the morning get the gifts the first look blah blah you’re knocking off all those things but then maybe two weeks later that client comes back and says aunt Margaret never had her portrait taken with us and were very upset about this and she flew all the way here from Australia and we’re not going to see her ever again and you didn’t even take photos and then you can pull out that checklist that you had that client make for you and sign off on you can say look you didn’t tell me to take any pictures of this aunt from Australia nowhere on this list so how was I supposed to know that so it’s there to protect you as well at the same time it’s there to help you make sure that you get everything that client wants that’s a good thing checklists moving on to point number four number four is my favorite it’s meeting in person so much of today’s correspondence is done via email text message even or over the phone but there’s nothing quite like sitting across from a prospective client and being able to sell yourself you’re as much of the product as the actual images and video that you’re shooting so sell yourself show them why they want to hire you show them that charming personality show them that excitement and enthusiasm for what it is that you do that’s gonna get you more bookings been hiding behind an email meeting in person can go so far for building your brand and your rapport
I don’t know why people don’t do it enough take a coffee shop set up camp meet some clients there show them your work build a rapport pay for their coffee just have a good time kind of get that friendship rolling so they feel comfortable trusting you with their big day or with their huge project or giving you money if you’re younger than them that is a huge advantage instead of just sending off a text message or just leaving a voicemail meet them in person tip number five closing out this video and closing out this three-part series and don’t worry for everyone who is complaining about this microphone I don’t like that I can see the mic it’s okay I changed things up all the time that’s the kind of guy I am this backgrounds here then it’s there then it says tip number five is putting yourself out there I remember when I started photography and I wanted to make this a business and I wanted to make a living I sort of expected the work to come to me I was like okay I’ll build a website I’ll get some business cards I’ll send a few texts I’ll put my stuff on Facebook I’ll start writing a blog and they’ll come people will just knock on my door they’ll just call my phone I’m like hey this is Peter McKinnon the photographer who just built that brand new website and has fresh business cards I’d love to hire you doesn’t happen that way it won’t happen that way maybe once in a blue moon but for the most part that’s probably good it’s a family related you’re never gonna get just random cold calls knocking on your door offering you money you got to go get that work yourself you got to put yourself out there always have your gear with you always let’s just say it’s a simple family barbecue and you got your camera with you you’re snapping photos of the family of the events of people smiling and laughing and then you send them out to the family maybe a family friend was there or the cousin says hey these are actually great photos and when their friend says they need a photographer my cousin did some great work like here’s some photos you took at our family oh yeah we’d love him to shoot our family barbeque boom job done secured or maybe you’re at a restaurant you’re taking some pictures of food and the owner comes up to you and says hey I might need some photos like what supported what does your work look like or better yet finding that manager and saying hey I’m a photographer I’d love to do food photography and I would be interested in possibly working for you maybe reshooting your menu or do some social work for you for your Instagram account putting yourself out there to kind of generate those leads generate that work it doesn’t hurt anybody the worst case scenario the worst thing that’s gonna happen someone’s gonna say no I don’t need it I don’t want it you can either try to convince them or you can move on to the next person but sitting at home just because you’ve got a nice Instagram profile or a nice website doesn’t mean anyone’s gonna come knocking to hire you you got to go knocking to get those jobs when those jobs start coming that word of mouth starts you know snowballing into more and more and more prospects then the phone starts ringing but you got to put in the legwork to get there all right those are my five tips business mistakes things to avoid and things to help you build a career as a photographer or cinematographer thank you so much guys I hope you like this series it was a really fun three videos to make I had a really great time and it all comes from personal experience so if you guys liked this let me know what you liked below let me know which video you liked the most I’d love to hear from you get the conversation go and hit that like button if you liked this video smash it if that’s something that you’re into 2018 style subscribe if you aren’t already and and I will see you in the next video I’m gonna go find Maddy [Music] (upbeat instrumental) (low groan) (chuckles) – We’re getting a little carried away with these.
This is like, completely modded with like, (cocks gun) a hardcore spring in here. And it’s just, it’s, it’s getting out of hand. Yeah. (funky guitar instrumental) (cracks can open) I don’t need this.
I’ve got enough energy. What’s up everybody, Peter McKinnon here and welcome back to another tutorial. This is part three in mistakes that you want to avoid as a photographer or filmmaker. The first part we were talking about shooting actual applications with the camera.
The second part, we talked about editing, mistakes that you make when editing when you’re a beginner, and the third section today’s video, we are covering the business aspect of mistakes to avoid as a young entrepreneur, photographer or filmmaker, setting out into the world to try and make this a career, or try and make some money from this.
Maybe it’s just some extra cash on the weekend, or a full blown like paycheck. These are a couple things I’ve compiled that I wish I had when I started or wish that I did better. And we’re going to start with those.
Number one contracts. Contracts are so important. They are no fun at all to make. They’re no fun to read. And they’re no fun to sign. But they are there to protect you. No matter who you are shooting for.
Listen to me, no matter who you’re shooting for. If it’s a friend, if it’s family, it doesn’t matter. Get a contract, lay out everything that you hope to do for that person. Both of you sign it, date it, whatever.
If there’s compensation, both of those things are agreed, you both signed, it’s done. That way if anything comes up, if extra work is piled on, if you didn’t do enough work, both parties have a signed document clearly outlining what the expectations are.
Because I find that’s the biggest loophole that’s the biggest mistake is expectations are always different from one person to the other. And if those expectations are set clear at the very beginning and they’re followed through to the end because you have a contract business is better.
So if you don’t have a contract, download a sample template, check it out, read it, maybe fill in your own stuff. Instead of the sample. Do whatever you gotta do. Take it to a lawyer, get a friend to look at it.
Get your parents to look at it. Get your older siblings to look at it, whatever. Start with something. Okay, signed agreements. That is point number one. (upbeat instrumental music) Number two is not charging enough.
Now I’m an advocate for working for free at the beginning to get your foot in the door. A lot of people are like, no, you should never undersell yourself. Your time is worth, yes, your time is valuable.
And your time is worth money. But hustling and doing work pro bono it’s going to get you into more doors, it can open up more doors for you, it’s gonna get you into more places, meet new people.
It helped build my career. It helped build careers like my friend D Rock who just put a great post online about how he worked for free right up to hustling to be Gary V’s personal videographer. That is awesome.
But not charging enough is something I could have done better as a growing entrepreneur and a photographer trying to make it in the field. I was always just so excited to get a gig that I completely forgot what I should be charging, what my time is worth.
Not only are you supplying the equipment for this job, you’re taking your gear that you bought to a photoshoot, you’re driving your vehicle, using your gas, taking the time out of your day and you’re coming back and you’re editing all those photos that’s also skill with software that you’re paying for.
So the list goes on and on and on and on. Those things are valuable. So once you start charging for your work, make sure you’re charging enough, I mean you think about it like some of these cameras are thousands and thousands of dollars.
You’re gonna go do some portrait shots and you’re only gonna charge 100 bucks or 200 bucks for a quick portrait session, one what does that say about you as a photographer and the quality of work that you put out and two how has that ever actually going to make you money or pay back your gear or actually get you ahead in this game.
So make sure you’re charging enough. Sometimes you can throw numbers out there that might even seem a little crazy to you and that client comes back and goes yeah alright no problem and you think yourself, oh, oh, I did (stutters) (gasps) it can be very exciting.
But it’s something that you got to take seriously. So really sit down and factor in all of those things I listed to know what your time is worth and charge accordingly. Point number three coming up.
(upbeat instrumental music) Point number three is checklists. I can’t stress this enough. So if you’re going on a shoot, let’s just say you’re shooting a wedding, you’ve got the contract in place, you’ve charged what you wanted to now comes to the actual shoot day.
I always recommend getting a checklist from the client of everything they want done. That way, you can reference that throughout the day throughout the shoot, and you know, you’ve got everything. If that client fails to provide you something on that checklist it is not your fault.
Example. Let’s just say you’re shooting a wedding, you’ve got that checklist, get the dress, get the drinks in the morning, and the gifts, the first look blah, blah, blah, blah, you’re knocking off all those things.
But it may be two weeks later, that client comes back and says aunt Margaret never had her portrait taken with us. And we’re very upset about this. And she flew all the way here from Australia. And we’re not going to see her ever again.
And you didn’t even take photos. And then you can pull out that checklist that you had that client make for you and sign off on you can say, look, you didn’t tell me to take any pictures of this aunt from Australia, it’s nowhere on this list so how was I supposed to know that.
So it’s there to protect you as well. At the same time, it’s there to help you make sure that you get everything that client wants. That’s a good thing. Checklists. Moving on to point number four.
(upbeat instrumental music) Number four is my favorite. It’s meeting in person. So much of today’s correspondence is done via email, text message even or over the phone. But there’s nothing quite like sitting across from a prospective client and being able to sell yourself.
You’re as much as the product as the actual images and video that you’re shooting. So sell yourself. Show them why they want to hire you show them that charming personality. Show them that excitement and enthusiasm for what it is that you do.
That’s going to get you more bookings than hiding behind an email. Meeting in person can go so far for building your brand and your rapport. I don’t know why people don’t do it enough. Pick a coffee shop, set up camp, meet some clients there, show them your work, build a rapport, pay for their coffee, just have a good time, kind of get that friendship rolling.
So they feel comfortable trusting you with their big day or with their huge project or giving you money if you’re younger than them. That is a huge advantage. Instead of just sending off a text message or just leaving a voicemail.
Meet them in person. Tip number five. (slow instrumental music) Closing out this video and closing out this three part series. And don’t worry for everyone who was complaining about this microphone.
I don’t like that I can see the mic. It’s okay I change things up all the time. That’s the kind of guy am. This backgrounds here. Then it’s there then it’s there, then it’s (makes silly noise) Tip number five is putting yourself out there.
I remember when I started photography, and I wanted to make this a business and I wanted to make a living. I sort of expected the work to come to me. I was like, okay, I’ll build a website, I’ll get some business cards.
I’ll send a few texts. I’ll put my stuff on Facebook, I’ll start writing a blog. And they’ll come, people will just knock on my door. They’ll just call my phone and like, hey, this is Peter McKinnon, the photographer who just built that brand new website and has fresh business cards? I’d love to hire you.
Doesn’t happen that way. It won’t happen that way. Maybe once in a blue moon. But for the most part, that’s probably cause it’s family related. You’re never gonna get just random cold calls, knocking on your door offering you money.
You got to go get that work yourself. Get to put yourself out there. Always have your gear with you. Always. Let’s just say it’s a simple family barbecue. You got your camera with you. You’re snapping photos of the family, of the event, of people smiling and laughing, and then you send them out to the family.
Maybe a family friend was there. Or the cousin says, hey, these are actually great photos. And when their friends is they need a photographer. Oh, my cousin did some great work. Like here’s some photos he took out our family.
Oh yeah we’d love him to shoot our family barbecue, boom, job done secured. Or maybe you’re at a restaurant, and you’re taking some pictures of food. And the owner comes up to you and says, hey, I might need some photos.
Like what’s what’s what does your work look like? Or better yet, finding that manager and saying hey, I’m a photographer. I’d love to do food photography. And I would be interested in possibly working for you.
Maybe reshooting your menu or do some social work for you for your Instagram account. putting yourself out there to kind of generate those leads generate that work doesn’t hurt anybody. The worst case scenario, the worst thing that’s gonna happen, someone’s gonna say, no, I don’t need it.
I don’t want it. You can either to try to convince them or you can move on to the next person. But sitting at home because you got a nice Instagram profile or a nice website as need anyone’s gonna come knocking to hire you.
You got to go knocking to get those jobs. When those jobs start coming. That word of mouth starts, you know, snowballing into more and more and more prospects. Then the phone starts ringing. But you got to put in the legwork to get there.
Alright, those are my five tips, business mistakes, things to avoid and things to help you build a career as a photographer or cinematographer. Thank you so much, guys. I hope you like this series. It was a really fun three videos to make.
I had a really great time and it all comes from personal experience. So if you guys like this, let me know what you liked below. Let me know which video you like the most. I’d love to hear from you.
get the conversation going. Hit that like button if you like this video, smash it if that’s something that you’re into, 2018 style. Subscribe if you aren’t already and, and I will see you in the next video.