Jim Harmer is the founder, owner and content creator for the super popular and terrifically successful website, blog and podcast, Improve Photography. In this interview Jim shares his thoughts, ideas and tactics for leaving a real job to start a photography business even though he wasn't entirely sure what genre he was going to specialise in.
In the interview, you'll hear that Jim had almost completed his law degree and was set to earn a potentially fantastic income practicing law. It wasn't until near completion of his degree that he realised becoming a lawyer was not something that he really wanted and that photography was his real passion.
Fast forward to the present and Jim is making a fantastic income from something he truly loves… photography. Although his true love is landscape photography, Jim gave both wedding and portrait photography a try but realised it just wasn't for him. Knowing that landscape photography was always going to be a challenge to secure a good income, Jim focussed on teaching photography and now lives, breathes and has a profitable photography business.
In the interview, Jim focuses on that transition in to his photography business, finding his niche and why he went on to sit (and pass) his Bar exam.
If leaving a day job is something you're considering, you need to hear this interview before making any rash decisions.
Here's some more of what we cover:
Following the interview with Jim, I'd like to think that you not only have more faith in taking the leap to do what you love for a living but also come away with some kind of a plan or strategy to make it work for you and your circumstances. One thing is certain, to be successful you will need to be committed, flexible and work damn hard.
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 implementable content from where we left off and started focusing on SEO for photographers. This is an area that Jim excels at and what he attributes his big break early on in his photography career.
Here's some of what Jim shares for premium members:
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.
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you'd like to ask or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
If you'd like an easy way to show Jim your thanks, and support for the show at the same time, click the link to create a tweet and automatically let him know you're listening: https://photobizx.com/tweet
NEW Video and Audio Transcription Service
It's apparent after listening to guests on the photography podcast like James Schramko, Gabriel Machuret, Matt and Katie plus others, that video on your website is a great way to differentiate yourself, to get your personality across and super helpful for SEO and getting your website ranking higher.
The other big point is that it's not difficult to do – all you need is your phone, a mic, and something to talk about, teach or share.
Once your video is uploaded to Youtube or Vimeo you can create links to your website or blog which helps your site's SEO.
You'll also want to transcribe your audio to add both closed captions with your video and as a transcript on your blogpost. It's this text that really helps Google to “understand” your message and rank your post and video relevance for different search terms.
Now you can have your video/audio transcribed quickly and without fuss by my staff. Simply email me a link to your video and once transcribed, you'll have a plain text document emailed back few days later.
The cost of transcription is $10 for up to 5 minutes of audio or video.
If you have questions or a video to transcribe, email me andrew@photobizx.com with the subject line transcribe.
Send in your questions for Matt and Steve
In the last couple of episodes I mentioned I'll be having both Steve Saporito and Matt Ebenezer (of Matt and Katie Photographers) back on the podcast to answer YOUR questions.
I've started to receive some questions but am looking for a lot more. This is your chance to ask a photography business related question that specifically applies to you and your business. Do not miss this opportunity to hear two different points of view from two different experts in the field of photography.
Steve, better known as the Portrait Doctor is a working studio transformer who knows his stuff when it comes to turning a studio into a profit making machine.
Matt and Katie have been one of the most popular interviews I've done on the show and are working photographers and workshop hosts.
I'll collate the questions and ask both Matt and Steve the same questions on different episodes to get a different perspective from both. Neither of them will have heard the others answers. It should be fun.
The Resources Page
Remember the ever expanding resources page that has a listing of products, programs, hardware, books and directories mentioned in each episode of the show. If you’re looking for something that a guest has mentioned on a previous episode but just can’t remember who or what it was – you’ll find it listed in order on the resources page.
iTunes ratings, reviews and Shout-Outs
Each week before recording the podcast I check iTunes for any reviews and each week I'm excited to see what you've had to say about the podcast. This week I was blown away to see five fantastic reviews! Thanks you so much to:
Liz Lui Photography from the United States – http://lizlui.com. Thanks for your lovely comments Liz and I love your wedding photos from Istanbul – what a gorgeous city to marry and have photos done.
Torreys12 from the United States – Hey Torrey, you have to let me low your website URL so I can add a link and check out who you are and what you do.
Oswald M from New Zealand – same for you Oswald, let me know your website URL, I'd love to know more about you.
Shelby Oliver Photography in the United States – http://shelby-oliver.com. Thanks Shelby – I'm sure your sales background combined with your gorgeous photos will see you find success.
Sincerely, thanks so much for your ratings and reviews, I appreciate the time you've taken and it's a big help for the show. It's these iTunes reviews that make a big difference to the podcast being ranked well and found in the iTunes store. If you have the time and are happy to leave an honest rating and review, head over to iTunes.
Don't feel your comments have to be long, involved or gushy, an honest opinion is all I ask. Don't be shy about leaving your business name in the review either – that way I can add a link in the show-notes and show my appreciation with a proper thanks and a Google loving back-link to your website.
Get in Touch or Leave a Voicemail Message
If you'd like to get in touch, ask a question or make a suggestion for the show, you can email me andrew@photobizx.com, find me on Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewhellmich or on Facebook at https://photobizx.com/facebook – I'd love to hear from you!
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Jim's Website, Improve Photography: http://improvephotography.com/
Jim on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ImprovePhotography
Jim on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/improvephotography
Jim on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/improvephoto/
Jim on Google+: https://plus.google.com/+JimHarmer
The Improve Photography Podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/improve-photography/id575358022
Online Photography Classes: http://photoclasses.com/
That's it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
If you've been enjoying the podcast, I'd love for you to tell another photographer about it – it could be in a Facebook Group you're a part of, a photography forum, with a photographer friend or on twitter.
If you do have a twitter account, simply click here: https://photobizx.com/tweet or use the share buttons below.
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
Great interview here. Really enjoyed the listen. It’s an inspiration to hear about your success Jim – congrats to you! Thanks to Andrew as always for hosting the session.
Hey Mark – great to see your comments and good to hear you enjoyed the episode!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
(I am a listener to both Improve Photography and the PhotoBizX podcasts)
Jim, It is hard for me to understand how you would finish law school, take the bar, then choose photography. Is there more to the story than that? My wife would have been extremely upset with me had I made that same decision.
And not only that, but you said your main income comes more from your online teaching of photography than your actually doing photo jobs. Is that accurate?
And I liked how you talked about the part time photographer and how he/she gets started working on weekends and/or during the day. Did you hear that, Anie Zanazanian? (Long story, Jim.)
Thanks Andrew for having Jim on your show. Great guy.
I have more questions, but I have to go, it’s time to go home from my day job. (you still listening Anie? I said ‘day-job’)
haha, ok, I’ll stop picking on Anie, Had to, too easy ; )
Take care,
Joey Joiner
Fort Worth, Texas
USA
Hey Joey – I won’t try and answer for Jim but I can say that my wife has been unbelievably supportive of me when I left my full-time and well paying job to become a photographer. I’m not sure if she was hiding it well but I felt a lot more apprehensive than she appeared.
One thing is for sure – I know I was a lot nicer to be around as a photographer earning less (in the beginning) than grinding it out in a job I had absolutely no passion for.
I have a good friend that has been in his job that he totally dislikes for 25 years! He never left because the conditions and pay were too good to leave. At 50 years of age, I wonder how he feels about the decision he made to stay.
The years past aren’t coming back.
In regard to your 2nd point, yes – Jim definitely makes the bulk ( I believe almost all) of his income from his online raining and the Improve Photography website.
Andrew,
I totally agree on making money doing you love and have a passion for. And you’re right, your friend will never get that time back. I was coming from more of a confused point of view when I asked Jim if there was more to his story. Why spend all that money on a law degree and not even use it? Did he not have passion for law? Or did he lose it along the way? Because usually a person doesn’t invest their time and money in law school and not become a practicing attorney afterwards. That’s all I was really trying to figure out.
And about your wife. She sounds super amazing. That’s so great that she stood behind you during your transition from full-time job to working for yourself. Many try and few make it. It sounds like you have made it for sure. But you know that if you hadn’t had made it the money would have to start coming from somewhere. I believe all wives love their hubby’s, but when the bills start piling up and the tax man comes a-knocking at some point the relationship will be tested. That’s all I meant.
Cheers,
Joey Joiner
Hey Joey,
It was definitely a gut-wrenching decision. I was offered a job as an attorney working with a judge who I really respected, but in the end my wife and I just knew it wasn’t the path for us.
One thing that really helped the situation is that my photography blog had already really grown at that point, and while it was still a new and fragile business, we’d seen some good income come out of it already.
But the part of it that I don’t feel sharing very often is that I’m also a Christian and that decision was the result of a lot of prayer. Prayer changes everything.
Jim
Jim,
Did you use the Urim & Thummim? haha, just kidding. Takes one to know one. From listening to your podcast it’s easy to pick up on the lingo. I’m an RM as I’m sure you are too. I fell away not long after the mish. When Romney lost is when I knew. Remember what JS said about the BOM being our keystone? Well, thanks to modern technology’s amazing advances there is now overwhelming evidence that the BOM is not what we’re told it is. But it takes a very open mind to even begin to think that there might be more to the story than we have been told since Primary. And you being an Attorney you should be one to favor hard evidence, right? Well, it’s out there man. You just have to look and have a truly open mind.
But anyway, I love your podcast, Jim. Keep up the good work. Your photography is great.
Cheers!
Joey Joiner
Yep, I’ve read all of the anti-Mormon stuff. All of it. And yes, as an attorney I do tend to favor hard evidence. But no, none of it convinced me otherwise. Quite the contrary, actually. Every day I’m convinced more and more of my faith.
Glad you enjoyed the podcast.
Jim,
I was 100% the exact same way. I can’t even begin to explain how much I understand where you’re coming from. All I can say is that this is so different from anything you have ever seen. But I understand where you’re coming from more than you probably give me credit for. You probably wrote me off as quick as you could. But that’s o.k. I understand why.
Have a good day, Jim.
I wish you all the best.
And this has nothing directly to do with what I was talking about, but I would recommend reading a book called “The Book of Immortality” by Adam Leith Gollner. Fascinating read.
Have a good one.
Joey Joiner
Oh man this is awesome. How funny just this weekend I bought a used wedding dress from Vinnie’s for $25 which looks quiet nice a bit tatty but who cares, joined model mayhem with the thought in mind of setting up shoots in great locations to design new images for web, FB and blogging to show the work I want to be shooting and most importantly attracting the clients I want to shoot for.
Great interview guys
Way to go Andrew! Looking forward to seeing some photos from the shoot.
Refreshing to read your comment. Sometimes I get a little frustrated when I hear photographers complaining about the industry and learning all kinds of marketing tips, but never really implementing. I always think to myself when I hear someone whining about the industry that they would be SO much better off by getting up and getting to work.
Glad to hear you’re implementing what you’re learning. You’re gonna be one of those who makes it.
Nice interview yet again Andrew. Liked this one cos it had lots of honest tips and opinion. I like what Jim said about the old school photographer resisting change and complaining about the market, ie only wanting to sell prints etc etc. Well, as you know, a lot of clients work pretty much exclusively on Twitter and Facebook and genuinely don’t want prints, so I have to offer digital files. If the old guys don’t adapt, they will die out. Evolve or die! Ha!
And, thanks for interviewing a podcaster! I now have another podcast to listen to. Yours for business, Jim’s for general photography. And I will listen because his voice doesn’t irritate me like some others! 🙂
What you say about the old guys adapting or fading away is spot on Rahim. It’s like history repeating itself for me; I was there through the change from film to digital and saw a lot of non-adapters disappear.
Not sure which podcaster irritates you but I’m glad I was able to introduce you to Jim and his excellent show. Make sure you check out his website too – a lot of great content!
Thanks for the kind comment, Rahim. Glad you can enjoy both shows.
Thank you so much Jim for sharing your advice. Most favourite : SEO.
Though I have one more question about it : how to get the sub menus when appearing on google search / result? I have been told that only google can choose that depending on the popularity of the website and ranking by keyword. But I have seen some website not being popular or that couldn’t have done so well with their keyword in such a short amount of time to be ranked that high and having the submenus… Isn’t there an actual way to make it happen?
Andrew : loving the idea of the transcription service, so smart. I hope that your workers will get my French accent 😉
Hi Anais – when you say “sub menus” are you talking about the pages inside your website and not your home page being ranked or showing in Google searches?
If this is what you mean, Google will definitely show your different pages or posts as you start to rank for the different key words in those posts and pages.
If for example you interview a reception venue owner, put the video on your blog and a post to go along with the video – that post should show up when someone searches for that reception venue, not your home page.
If you’re using WordPress, make sure you have the Yoast SEO plugin installed to help with your SEO.
I’ll have to warn the transcribers about your accent! 🙂
Hey Jim,
It was great hearing all of your broken bone stories, and to know that I’m not alone! I’ve busted several myself, and understand your pain and train of thought about your tent etc right afterwards! haha
Thanks for bringing up my email about the “pay to shoot our wedding” thing. I’d like to hear Matt & Steve have to say about that one! Because remember, “You’re not special. You’re just another photographer.” 😉
Chris
Sorry Chris for not crediting you with the photographer story – it was a heat of the moment thing. Glad you let me know about it though – I think Jim was as shocked as I was!
Yes, I’ll ask the guys about it when they’re on the show next.
That’s right… I’m not special. Thanks for reminding me 🙂
It bugs me when people talk too fast or too much and go up at the end of a sentence as if they are asking a question?? He doesn’t do that and neither do you, so that’s cool! And I’ve downloaded 10 of his podcasts and subscribed to his Youtube channel. He knows a lot and is keeping it real!
Way to go, Idaho! So cool to hear Jim and Andrew on the same show. Love both your podcasts. Your content is the best, and your fabulous-sounding microphones (sorry, other webhosts) sure don’t hurt.
Thanks for the discussion on how it’s ok to be a new photographer, charge fair (cheap) rates and learn on the job as long as you’re forthright about your experience.
And I loved the impromptu Netflix shoutout. Great moment on this week’s show.
Thanks, Brad.
A couple comments about the mics in this thread, so just in case anyone is interested, I posted a full tutorial on the podcast gear I use: http://incomeschool.com/tools/podcasting-equipment/
Hey Brad – great to read your comments and that you enjoyed the interview with Jim. It was good to hear a different take on the new guys starting out and being cheaper is ok.
Thanks for pointing me to another great podcast that compliments the PhotoBizx podcast.
No worries Nicholas – lots of great content over at Improve Photography.
Thank you for this Andrew. What an inspirational interview.
Glad you enjoyed it Blake!