French born and USA based photographer, Valerie Jardin, is our guest for today's episode. Valerie is a well known and respected photographer, author, blogger and occasional photography podcast host who has made a business out of street photography. In her own words, she really is living the dream by travelling the worlds cosmopolitan cities and shooting exactly what she likes.

Of course, making a living from street photography alone is not a realistic proposition for any of us, just as it isn't for Valerie. It's the workshops, article writing and constant work to stay in the minds of potential attendees that make street photography a way to make an income.

Although Valerie is well known for her street photography, you'll discover in this interview that she has shot many genres and is a damn hard worker when it comes to generating work, bookings, writing gigs and workshop attendees and earlier in her career, commercial and portrait clients.

Here's some more of what we cover:

  • Discover what Valerie is busy with and how she manages to make a living while living the dream of being a paid photographer
  • Why having a great work ethic and being open to new ideas can save your photography business
  • Learn why you should learn the different genres of photography before knowing what your true calling is and what you are good at
  • Why you don't have to and shouldn't be trying to create a photography business shooting a genre you don't enjoy
  • When someone throws something at you that you've never done before, learn how you should react and what you should do in order to succeed
  • Never saying “no” will open doors you never imagined in your photography business
  • From wedding, portraits, product, food and interior photography, Valerie has been through all of it – learn what her secret is in fulfilling her passion in photography and improving her skill
  • Why personal projects are imperative when starting your photography business and throughout your life
  • Valerie's advice on how to survive as a photographer when placed in a tight financial situation
  • Why is it important to diversify with your photography and avoid placing all your eggs in one basket
  • How to start your photography workshops if that's something you want to pursue
  • Tips on how to get more clients no matter the genre you're shooting
  • The importance of constantly looking for new business even when you feel you son't have time for more work
  • Learn the value of visual push-ups and how to use them to develop your photography skills

Valerie attributes much of her success in photography to shooting personal projects and the idea of doing “visual push-ups” to keep learning, growing and creating. Have you ever set yourself a personal project? How did it go, did you feel your photography advanced as a result? If you have any experience with these style of projects, I'd love to hear your thoughts, ideas and advice for other listeners looking to start one.

Valerie Jardin Photography Podcast Interview

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 dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:

  • Building a social media presence and strategies to gain more followers
  • Rules of street photography and the advantages of “following” them
  • Street photography and how to approach people for their photo
  • Why you need to reach a wider audience, tapping into the international market, when selling photography workshops and what you can do to succeed

Valerie Jardin Photography Podcast Interview

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 Valerie 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

Valerie Jardin Photography Podcast Interview

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.

Get your “selfie” on Instagram

You've told me how well you know me by listening to the podcast and I feel somewhat the same way, especially with listeners that have emailed, tweeted, commenced or subscribed as a premium member… but let's take it a step further! I'd love to see you and introduce you to other listeners of the podcast by sharing a selfie on Instagram.

Just take a selphie wherever you are listening to this episode and use the hashtag PhotoBizX in the comments – #PhotoBizX

Go on, it'll be fun!

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:

Tracy Maisch of Tracy Maisch Photographers

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.

Valerie Jardin Photography Podcast Interview

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!

Valerie Jardin Photography Podcast Interview

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

http://valeriejardinphotography.com

http://valeriejardinphotography.com/blog/

http://valeriejardinphotography.com/all-photo-workshops-tours/

http://valeriejardinphotography.com/publications/

http://digital-photography-school.com/author/vjardin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriejardinphotography

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+ValerieJardin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/valeriejardin

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/valeriejardin

500px: http://500px.com/valeriejardin

 

People / Projects mentioned

The Arcanum – http://thearcanum.com

Trey Ratcliff – http://www.stuckincustoms.com/

Digital Photography School (DPS) – http://digital-photography-school.com

‎This Week in Photo (TWiP) – http://www.thisweekinphoto.com/

Frederick Van Johnson – http://frederickvan.com/

Chandi Kesler Photography – Portrait Photography Referral Program with a  cash incentive

 

Equipment

Fujifilm X100S 16 MP Digital Camera

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

Sony Alpha a6000 24.3 MP Interchangeable Lens Camera

Valerie Jardin Photography Podcast Interview

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