First shooters, second shooters or associate shooters are all great avenues into the world of wedding photography business and the perfect way to learn the ropes before going it alone or to supplement your income while building your own business on the side.
In this interview, James Day who is regularly approached by “wanna-be” photographers to come along and assist him on a wedding day, shares his thoughts on hiring (and being paid by) those looking to learn from him.
Surprisingly, James loves the prospect of training another photographer to be as good as, if not better than him.
Not only does he say he's happy to share absolutely everything about his business, the way he shoots, what he looks for on a wedding day, his styling, posing, lighting – he's also happy to see that photographer go on and succeed in their own right and in opposition to himself.
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:
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interview with James Day, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.
Our biggest competitor can also be our biggest source of referrals – James Day
Plus, access to a members only Facebook group where you'll connect with other members (and interview guests) to help, support and motivate you to take what you hear in each episode and put it into action. You will not find cooler, more motivated and caring photographers online.
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.
Don't sit there and wait for someone to create an opportunity for you. Create your own – James Day
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask James or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
Taking Action – Project #leapfear
Each episode the topic of taking action does come up and for good reason. It's the photographers who actually do something with what they hear on the show that are making real strides with their business, their photography, ultimately, their lives.
Anita Watkins is a name you've heard me mention in the past – she's one of that rare breed of real go-getters with a knack (or commitment) to getting things done.
Following the episode with Amanda Schulz and her hugely successful promotion – 30 Days of Gorgeous – Anita went to work on an idea to generate business in February, one of her slowest months and recently launched Project Leapfear – in honour of her late mum.
Have a look at the page she set up here: https://anitawatkins.leadpages.co/contest/
I can report, Anita has already booked all 29 portrait sessions and has a surplus of names waiting to fill any spots that might drop out or reschedule.
The reason I know is Anita has shared all this and more inside the Secret Facebook Group for Premium Members. Yes, this is the kind of info being shared amongst members. If this is the type of thing that might motivate you to take action get involved and make plans to get things happening in your business for 2016.
If I'm surrounded by mediocre people, then I'm only going to be mediocre at best – James Day
If you'd like to take a leaf from Anita's hat and modify the “30 Days of Gorgeous” promotion for your business, you will love both the episode with Amanda and the PDF Guide that has been made available that covers how to put your promotion together in step by step fashion.
This Guide is available at Amanda’s Easy store for under $12 – and you should definitely buy this if you're a free listener! Premium Members have already received their copy free – thanks to Amanda.
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!
I hope he becomes 10,000 times better than I am because then that will just make me want to be 10,000 times better than he is – James Day
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 and your name.
NEW Q&A from Foreground Web
It's no secret I'm a big fan of Alex Vita of Foreground Web – the guy is a website/IT genius and has helped me out of a fix on multiple occasions.
In addition to his help with my websites, Alex regularly puts out photography specific and helpful content via his newsletter and blog which I highly recommend.
Following a constant barrage of questions from photographers around the world, Alex has recently launched a new and FREE resource – a monthly Q&A where he will answer your questions about photography websites, business, SEO & more…
Not all questions will be published but they will be answered.
If you have any questions regarding your website, put Alex to the test at: http://www.foregroundweb.com/blog/new-monthly-qa/
You can also ask questions via email hello@foregroundweb.com or Twitter @foregroundweb.
Questions can be about anything related photography websites:
- layout/design decisions
- not sure how to size/compress images?
- improving an existing site or starting from scratch?
- what to write about on your blog
- concerns about plugins or site security
- SEO questions
- anything really
Alex will give you his answer (usually within 24 hours).
Every few weeks he'll collate the best questions to be published on the blog at Foreground Web.
If you have anything to add to any of Alex's answers (or can answer from a different perspective), go for it!
Alex will share relevant notes with other photographers so everyone can benefit.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
James Day Weddings on Facebook
James Day Weddings on Instagram
Episode 062: James Day – Go Your Own Way For Photography Business Success
Second Shooters (blogpost by James Day)
The NEW PhotoBizX Facebook Page
Anita Watkins new Project – #LeapFear – https://anitawatkins.leadpages.co/contest/
30 Days of Gorgeous – the Step By Step Guide by Amanda Schulz
Our Incredible India – the Blurb.com PDF Book File
Raw Digital and Film Lab (RDFL)
Equipment:
Thank you!
Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks to James for agreeing to come back onto the show and again, sharing so much.
Create stuff that you want to shoot. Fake some weddings – James Day
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,
Hi James
I really enjoyed listening to your interview with Andrew. I’ll have to go back and listen to your earlier podcast again.
I’m all for paying to learn, and wedding photography is no different, especially when learning from someone like yourself who is so passionate about the craft, and eager to help others improve themselves.
Thankyou for your insights into shooting the way we want to, in our own style…something I’m still developing.
All the best for the future
regards
Russell…
Andrew, I always enjoy your interviews and this one again, with James was no exception. Great work.
The other reason for this comment is to congratulate you on a wonderful book. I have work colleagues from New Delhi and am a big fan of the work of Steve McCurry, so when you mentioned your Blurb book about India, I was keen to have a look.
I must say I am blown away by the wonderful images and descriptions. You did an amazing job and must have a great camera 😉 . I love the portrait, scenes and motion in the images.
Keep up the fantastic work, have a Merry Christmas and an amazing New Year.
Hi Rob – great to hear you enjoyed the interview with James.
And LOVE that you downloaded and checked out my photo book from India. Thanks for your very kind words!
Haha, oh yeah, it’s an awesome camera 🙂
I haven’t received the physical book yet but am looking forward to having it as a printed memento of an amazing trip.
Have you visited India yourself?
Thanks too for your well wishes and right back at you – Happy New Year to you and your family!
Speak soon
Andrew
Hi Andrew, really love the podcast and the James Day one was excellent listening as usual. I noticed that you seemed a little shocked that James was happy to help his “future competition” to get better but I’ve found this to be quite common in the Brisbane wedding industry. I cut my teeth shooting weddings in Cyprus where it was a little “every man for himself” but upon returning to Aus and Bris in particular I was welcomed into the Brisbane wedding scene with a lot of new photographer friends all helping each other. I even had a photographer call me last week with a new Lightroom trick he was told by another photographer. I really love this job and love my “competition”.
Hi Rob – thanks for adding your comments and good to read you enjoyed the interview with James.
I guess I was a little shocked at the amount James shared with his potential future competition so yeah, your senses were spot on.
Maybe it’s because of a past experience I had when training another photographer in my local area who went on to open his own business which I knew he was going to do) but his photography was literally a clone of mine – same settings, look, locations, everything – as was his website design and layout, advertising… It was scary considering his prices were so much less.
I’ve since come to terms with that – it was a while ago now and both our styles have taken different directions and the similarity’s gone. He does his thing, I do mine.
The other thing I do differently with my associate shooters is keep the business side and shooting side of the business seperate. And vice versa with studio staff.
I’m happy to have competition but not as a clone of me – it’s difficult enough to stand out in the market today.
Sounds like what you have in Brisbane is fantastic!
I’ve always heard only good things about the photographers there and really only know a couple including Ian Wilkinson who I’ve heard present at a workshop and interview on the podcast. If he is an example of what the other photographers are like – you definitely live in a special part of the world.