Dan O'Day is one of Australia's absolute best photographers and if you've ever meet him, you'll know what I mean when I say he has a knack of making you feel special, unique and worthy of attention. In this interview, he shares the secret to becoming a successful and famous wedding photographer… plus more!
The beauty of Dan's business is he getting booked for the way he naturally sees the world. There's no denying his photographic ability. If a quick glance at his list of awards isn't enough, just take a look at work… inspiring is an understatement. I've heard he approaches all of his weddings as if he was shooting for an exhibition.
Here’s some of what we cover:
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this episode where you can hear lots more content from where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:
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What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you’d like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
People are hiring me for the way that I naturally see – Dan O'Day
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Dan or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
Promo code still is still active for Bittersweet Designs
If you’re a listener to the free version of the podcast, Rose and Thomas are spoiling you with a promo code to save you 30% off whatever you order from their store by using the code PHOTOBIZ at the checkout.
Head over to the shop at http://designbybittersweet.com and have a look at some very cool designs, logos, cheat sheets, marketing material and heaps more.
This promo code is valid till October 24th 2015.
iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!
Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners means more interviews and ultimately a better show.
If you have left a review in the past, thank you!
If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Wedding Feature at Hello May Magazine
Equipment
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Wide Angle Lens
Thank you!
Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks to Dan for being a fantastic guest and showing what can be achieved if we're prepared to work for it!
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!
That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
This was such a good interview. Its been said time and time again to show what you want to shoot, and its great hearing one of the worlds best say they still struggle with it as well.
I love the idea of coming up with a studio of associate photographers as another stream of revenue. Wedding photography isn’t exactly the ideal scalable business model and we are all looking for a little extra cash, and walking into a studio monday morning with a coffee in one hand and giving away high fives with the other sure does sound like living the dream!
Thank you Dan!
Thanks so much Ray, glad you enjoyed this one.
I too was surprised to hear Dan struggles with what he shows. Surprised and happy as the same time – it’s kinda good knowing even the guys that look like they have everything sorted don’t necessarily feel that way.
As for the 2nd studio with associates… I think you’re right, Dan is living the dream. Something to aspire to hey. 🙂
I’ve been waiting for this interview ever since I started listening to the podcast! Dan captured the photos for our wedding 5 years ago! It was so awesome to work with him and we just love them! Had a massive smile on my face for the last hour listening to more of the story behind the man and all he’s been up to since! Dan is a true and amazing artist – and just as Andy put it, also one of the most friendly and nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. Thanks Dan, hope to catch up with you again soon! – Michael and Mel
Hey Michael – thanks for adding your comments and loved reading about the smile on your face while listening. 🙂
I’ll bet anything your have an amazing set of images from your wedding day.
Dan’s insight was helpful all the way through the podcast. Anxiety gets to me too. Less and less in my photography which is nice. The concept of “this customer knows my work and hired me because they love it” is something we should all meditate on. I also really like the idea of letting the environment stay what it is. Leave a red room red. Leave the darkroom dark. Thank you Dan for being on the show. Let’s hang out next time you’re in Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA.
Loved Dan’s advice about 2nd shooters. My very first experience as a 2nd shooter was on one of Dan’s weddings a few years ago, and his advice to treat it as a mentor session is spot on. It gave me an insight on how to deal when plans go awry (it was one of the wettest days on record). I got to see how Dan used what was there (location wise) to his advantage to create awesome images for his couple. It taught me look at using the unexpected to create something great.
Wow, lucky you to get out on a real wedding with Dan – that would have been fantastic Tracy.
I think being there on a rainy and wet wedding would have been even better than if it was a perfect day with perfect light.
Did that experience change the way you shoot?
It influenced my thinking that’s for sure Andrew. I taught me to look for and use light in unexpected places & take a more left of centre approach to capturing wedding portraits. Oh- and hire a 2nd shooter to carry a really BIG umbrella for you!!!
Haha, love it! Sounds like a great experience all round.
I have just joined as a premium member and out of all the amazing photographers you have to listen to, I went straight to this one. After listening to Dan O’Day speak a couple of years ago at the Event and saying a quick hello afterwards, I knew this interview would be honest, entertaining and informative. He is, by far, one of the most inspirational photographers I follow. It was refreshing to hear about his struggles with anxiety. I appreciated him talking about his pricing and how that has evolved over the years. I also loved his definition of ‘fine art’ being a photograph that someone, other than the couple, can put on their walls. I am going to take that thought into this wedding season. I also love that he embraces the dark room, the yellow room etc. I feel I am too worried about ‘bright and airy and perfect skin tones’ etc. and as a result, missing what I truely want to shoot. Even if I take 10 percent of what he said into the next wedding, I think it will lift my enthusiasm and end result too.
Hey Melanie and welcome to the premium membership!
So cool that you jumped straight to Dan’s interview and it had such an affect. Love to hear how you go implementing and using some of what you heard.
Also, not sure if you heard, Dan just won Australian Wedding Photographer of the year at the APPPA’s. 🙂
I certainly did hear he won Australian Wedding Photographer of the year. Well deserved. The judges were on the mark! As for applying his info, I went into last weekends wedding thinking about producing a piece of artwork for the walls of anyones home. My aim at the moment is to at least have one photograph for each wedding that is a conceptual piece. I’m then holding this image back to be the first one they see when they walk in to their viewing session. I feel excited about it.
Should have known you’d be all over the news – agree, well deserved!
Whoa, love that approach you’re taking, that’s fantastic. If you’re ever happy to share these mages, I’d love to see them!
Will do. Thanks Andrew.
I certainly did hear he won Australian Wedding Photographer of the year. Well deserved. The judges were on the mark! As for applying his info, I went into last weekends wedding thinking about producing a piece of artwork for the walls of anyones home. My aim at the moment is to at least have one photograph for each wedding that is a conceptual piece. I’m then holding this image back to be the first one they see when they walk in to their viewing session. I feel excited about it.
I’ve listened to this interview a few times now.
Hope you’re finding something new to trial in your business each time Clarke… No doubt about Dan’s ability to take a great photo and run a great photography business or businesses.