It's funny how things just seem to come together when one decides to pivot. I spoke about scuttling two of my websites and changing course. Part of my new adventure involves being absolutely sure what my future photography clients want and what they are looking for.

As I have stated before, just because you can photograph and publish images on the web does not guarantee you a following or more importantly a business. You have to define who want to do business with in the first place. Most people, including me, get stuck in the “how” – I don't know, for instance, how to use Google Analytics in a way that will give me a good idea of what information my clients are looking for online.

Who has helped me through this process, from time to time, is my friend Scott Wyden Kivovitz. He is a phone call or a Tweet away. If he has time and he is one very active guy, he helps me out. If he doesn't, he usually has a resource online that I can check out on my own. I can't tell you the number of times Scott has come to my rescue. He is incredibly web savvy and it came as no surprise when he was asked to join the Photocrati Media team.

Scott asked me to let you all know about two web marketing workshops directed solely towards photographers. He is joined by Erick Danzer and Vanessa Joy. Erick owns Photocrati Media, a highly regarded company that produces among other things WordPress themes for photographers. Vanessa is a well-known teacher, author and photographer.

The workshops are in Denver, Colorado and Hamilton, New Jersey. Sign up before May 31st and save $100.

Specific topics include SEO, keyword selection, site optimization, link building, image SEO, social media and social signals, blogging, content marketing, email marketing and follow up, paid advertising, conversion rate optimization, social proof, and more.

Plus, you get a ton of bonuses:

– Free Access to the Sculpture Gardens & Red Rocks
– Lunch is Included
– Free Copy of the Photographer’s SEO eBook – $39 value
– One Year Membership for the Photographer’s SEO Community – $99 value
– Photocrati WordPress Theme + One Year of Support/Updates – $89 value
– The Laundry List eBook by Rachel Brenke – $9.99 value
– Chic Magazine for phone/iPad – $12 value

Get all the details here and register for either the Colorado or New Jersey Supercharge Workshops, before the prices get bumped up.

[Yes, I am an affiliate partner of Photocrati Media because they provide quality WordPress themes and great value through their various educational resources. I wholly support vendors who help photographers elevate their game!]

Thanks to my previous interviews with documentary photographers Jim Mortram and Brant Slomovic, I “met” Darren Baldwin, a documentary photographer based in Brighton, United Kingdom. In addition to being a documentary photographer, he is a pediatric nurse and a design director for a few websites. Follow Darren on Twitter: @BWDdrj

1) So, tell us a little about how you got your start in documentary photography. Is it an off-shoot from being a street photographer? What draws you to this particular genre of photography?

My dad is a videographer by trade, but has always been an avid and passionate photographer; he was one of my earliest visual influences. Interestingly, I recently found out my estranged grandfather (whom I never met) was a popular street portraiture photographer – it would appear that the apple never falls far from the tree; even if you never sat beside it!

In my teens I’d go out with one of my friends and take pictures using my father’s camera; I dragged all his darkroom equipment down from the attic and we’d spend hours developing images in my little dark room in the garage, taking time to mess around with developing times and trying effects (often with rather less than successful outcomes!).

It wasn’t until I met my partner Carrie that my passion for photography really became apparent again. When we formed DIGITAL bungalow, Kitchen Bitching and live.love.space. photography became a way of life. We’re really passionate about strong imagery on the sites, and as Carrie is the wordsmith it naturally fell to me to provide suitably beautiful images to accompany her words.

Whilst I have dabbled with landscape, product, macro, band, sports etc, my interest in street portraiture came about by chance the day that I discovered Vivian Maier. Everything changed when I realised that landscapes, seascapes, traditional portraits and conventional concepts of beauty just didn’t excite me. I found more beauty in Maier’s work than in anything I’d seen before; and I wanted to see if I could capture the same unexpected human essence that Maier did. I also went back to books I’d previously read, Araki’s ‘Lucky Hole’, ‘Radical Eye’ by Miron Zownir, ‘Im Auftrag’ by Snowdon and ‘The Seven Ages of Man’ from Hulton Getty. These small developments steered me into a ‘documentary’ style of photography.

2) You are now the second in this series of interviews who has an affiliation with the health industry. Is there anything in particular that makes you better documentary photographer because of your medical training?

That’s true. Brant Slomovic being the first! I agree with Brant in that I see the two ‘as completely separate existences’. However, after 10 years in adult emergency and 3 in paediatric emergency, you get a feel for situations and how they’re going to develop which is a good skill for street photography. I deal with conflict, anxiety, anger, sadness and happiness when I am at work, so I definitely think that helps. However, that doesn’t make you take better photographs, and nor does the camera you’re using.

3) In addition to being a pediatric nurse (what is a & e?), you are the design director at DIGITAL Bungalow, Kitchen Bitching and Live Love Space. First, how the heck do you find the time to juggle all that and secondly, how do your design sensibilities inform your documentary approach?

A&E is the UK equivalent to your emergency rooms (Accident and Emergency).

My partner Carrie is a writer and workaholic, very driven and always moving forward. I like that, it kicks me up the backside and gets me moving too. So we started DIGITAL bungalow it quickly became something much bigger than we anticipated, then Carrie wanted to start another, and another, and another! As Design Director I oversee the sites, and deal with any design requirements the team might need. Carrie now runs DIGITAL bungalow Editorial Agency – so there’s plenty of design work to be done for her clients too. How do I fit it all in? Well … the revolution will not be televised.

I studied graphic design when I left school and get a lot of my creative sensibilities from my father which filter down into my photography, definitely. While I photograph a lot of people I also like, structure, form, architecture and symmetry. As a photographer I’m not one for setting up shots. I don’t overthink it – I just shoot and let the subjects do all the talking.

4) How and perhaps why were you so interested in photographing blind veterans? How did you get your start in that project?

Following my documentary series that captured the London Road area of Brighton and its inhabitants, I wanted to work on a new project that further challenged peoples’ perceptions of usual stereotypes.

The initial idea behind the Blind Veterans project was to challenge the the stereotype of a “hero”. I wanted to collect images that defy the clichéd young, muscular, bare-chested hero; instead allowing the viewer to recognise for themselves the once pivotal role of these now frail individuals. My subjects' lack of sight mirrors the way that society sometimes fails to “see” the elderly, or truly appreciate the influence their actions had
on the world of relative peace we are so lucky to live in today.

5) There is a certain aloofness in the subjects you photograph. If first impressions count, the one word that came to mind when I viewed your images is – “isolation” – am I right in assuming you are fascinated by how people are part of a community but still remain apart or isolated?

Absolutely. I do have a fascination with that aspect of our lives. We’re all so damn busy but there are people who can seem very alone. That’s not to say they’re unhappy – I believe there are many more facets to isolation than simple, abject misery. Contemplation, meditation, introversion … all these things can come from or lead to isolation. I’m interested in capturing both quiet moments – almost the pauses in between breaths – and diminutive moment when subjects see the lens. I love to wonder what it is they’re thinking – the multifaceted nature of the human psyche fascinates me – as it does many other people!

6) With very few exceptions, your recent work is all black and white. Why is that?

I just really like black and white. I love the deep contrasts. I like dark images. You don’t get tangled up in the colour.

Not everything works well in black and white, of course – and I love colour street work from people such as Matt Stuart, Justin Sainsbury, and Paul Russell. I am definitely influenced by Maier and Arbus’ work, but both my dad and grandfather worked in B&W, so who knows, maybe it’s in the genes.

7) Brighton, UK, where you live is a popular destination for tourists. Are your images mostly of them?

No.

8) Your images now live on Flickr. How helpful has Flickr been to attract you clients interested and willing to support your documentary projects?

I use Flickr because I’d rather spend time taking photos than building a website to house them.

When it comes to working with new people, new projects and potential backers – I like good old-fashioned word of mouth. I want my images to do the talking. It’s great if someone stumbles across you – but the internet is an immense space – I’m not expecting a “stumbler” to commission me for a massive project any time soon. Flickr serves as a quick and easy gallery – a convenient way of people seeing what my work is about. Hopefully people will see my work, and want to talk about it – and we’ll take it from there.

9) Other than Twitter, where you are quite active, and Flickr, where your images are hosted, do you use any other social media channel to market your work? Tell us about it.

Apart from Twitter and Flickr I have a facebook page. That’s it. No tumblr, no 500px, no Google+ nothing else. I don’t see the point in constantly repeating myself!

10) You mentioned that a new website is in the works. Care to tell us what the domain url will be and when we can expect to see it go live?

At the moment I’m so busy with projects that a website will just have to wait – it would be fantastic to have a proper online showcase but, as I said, for me it’s personal relationships that build really positive projects.

Do you know of other documentary photographers I should interview? Why not put them in touch with me? Simply direct them to this website! Thank you.

Rachel Brenke is the lawyer & photographer owner of The Law Tog, a site is dedicated to providing legal, marketing and biz advice to photography businesses with maximum efficiency and results. Through business consulting services and her published book “The Laundry List: A Mother's Guide to Balancing Family and Business,” Rachel provides guidance in practical ways for photography business owners to succeed. Check out Rachel's Facebook page.

The phrase “the client is always right” just may be going out the window as more of society seeks to push the boundaries of what they can ‘get’ for their money. As business owners we have to balance customer service and standing-our-ground to protect our business.

This balancing act can be tiring and have detrimental results if not handled correctly. However, a major client concern that carries a legitimate argument revolves around the publication of minors on the Internet. In this digital age there is a very real worry for parents as photographs are placed on the World Wide Web with little to no control over who views or possesses these photographs. Despite photographers taking measures to watermark and right-click-disable their websites, intellectual property thieves and child predators possess tools to get around these precautions.

As a portrait photographer having a portfolio is a necessity but the question to ask is … at what cost? On the flipside, why shoot if you’re not going to be able to share that session and gain new clients? This situation puts photographers between a rock and a legal place.

Whenever a photography session takes place that is a private contractual relationship and the intention is to use the pictures on website, portfolio, studio samples or any other marketing avenues the photographer should obtain a signed model release. Unless it is otherwise written in the contract in similar language, if the photographer does not obtain a signed model release the photographer is unable to use the photographs for marketing or portfolio use until such release is obtained.

It is always best practice to get it before hand. In this case, with clients insisting on not publishing photographs of minor children on the Internet, it is important for the photographer to balance potential word of mouth against whether it is worth turning down the session due to the inability to use the photographs publicly.

#1 Eliminate Model Releases – No Questions Asked

Yes, photographers need portfolios, however, at what cost? This is a personal business decision each photographer will have to make. A good rule would be to err on the side of the client’s wishes, as they are legitimate concerns, honor the elimination of a model release to inspire future word of mouth clientele.

#2 Charge More For A Session Without A Model Release

An alternative would be too charge more for sessions that are not accompanied with a signed model release to compensate the photographer for potential lost marketing that could have occurred with the publication of the photographs.

#3 Written Agreement To Not Divulge Names, Faces Or A Combination Of Both Names & Faces

The last option is a middle-of-the-road that requires an amendment to the model release by agreeing in writing to not divulge identifiers such as names, faces, personal characteritistics or a combination of the above. This can be partnered with a discretionary fee to the client or not.

Bet you thought I’d give you the be-all and end-all answer, huh? Sorry.

This is something that each photography business owner has to weigh and determine what is best for their clients and business. These are just few of the options available to photographers that can respect the client’s wishes, photographer’s or both.

Feel free to leave in comments any other ways you have found to successfully navigate this precarious area of client management and the law!

“If the photographer does not obtain a signed model release the photographer is unable to use the photographs for marketing or portfolio use until such release is obtained.”

Learn more about the model releases Rachel offers on her website here.

Are you converting your website's visitor's to paying customers? It's a really simple question isn't it?

Your answer can either be “yes” or you can say “no.” Those are your only options. If it's the former, good on you friend. You've cracked the code and your rolling in it.

Or, are you?

I just shuttered two websites that weren't converting to my satisfaction. The business still exists but the sites are gone. Why? What happened?

Simple: The websites spoke to me more than they spoke to my clients. This is a cardinal mistake that most photographers make. They spend a good deal of money and time making a site look pretty, not fully understanding that their potential clients who are ready to pay them for your services are not interested in any of that fluff.

So, what IS important for your clients? That's in fact the process of discovery I'm personally embarked on now thanks to Portfolio To Profit Engine: How To Build An Absolutely Irresistible Photography Website [aff], by Psychology For Photographers.

You are probably thinking why make such a fuss, right? These days it is so easy to buy a template, slap some images down and start a blog (which some people like me don't update very regularly). Yes, there is nothing to it if you want to do it the wrong way.

The right way takes a bit of elbow grease. Jenika, who publishes Psychology For Photographers, includes what are called “dreamsheets” (as opposed to worksheets) that nudge you along. Complete these and you'll be astonished at what your website should really look and feel like for your clients.

You may want to read that last sentence again.

Done? Good.

If you are truly in service of your clients, shouldn't your website reflect that from the first time your client connects with you and your work? I personally think Portfolio To Profit Engine: How To Build An Absolutely Irresistible Photography Website is a boon for photographers. If you are struggling with your business and you aren't attracting the “right” clients, it may be time to reassess how your website is resonating with your future clients. If it isn't, and I would say 95% of them do not, then it's time to fix it.

And you can do it yourself. This is more about understanding your client's perspective than working with web technology. This e-book will help you quickly tap into your client's needs and desires and guide you into delivering what they want in their lives. Far from being mumbo jumbo, Jenika who is a graduate from Yale delivers from a deep well of behavioral neuroscience. Simply put, she understands how our brains work.

Now, I am going to keep you all abreast of my progress with this, but between now and Saturday, Jenika has dropped the price from $159 to $119.

UPDATE: Jenika has extended the sale through Monday, May 27th, so here is your 2nd chance at grabbing this product

If I were you, I would not wait to grab it now. Get all the details about this e-book here: Portfolio To Profit Engine: How To Build An Absolutely Irresistible Photography Website.

Jen Basford is the owner of Seniors Ignite, an organization dedicated to providing next-level senior portrait photography education to photographers to help them grow their business. She also owns 3 girls photography in Edmond, Oklahoma. She is best known for fashion-inspired high school senior portraits and the annual must-see fashion show she puts on for upcoming seniors each spring. Jen is one of the top senior portrait photographers in the Midwest largely due to her out-of-the-box approach to marketing and client relationships. Follow Jen on Twitter.

Let's face it – things have CHANGED in the senior portrait industry. It wasn't all that long ago that you could gather some cool images, pair them with a great special, give out your number and the phone would start ringing. Your senior season would be half full before you knew it, with clients booking out months in advance.

But that doesn't work anymore. That's right, I said it. THAT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.

So you've got two choices here – you can either get mad and argue with me about that fact, or you can change your tactics and put together a marketing plan aimed at your target market. In order to move forward you must first change your OUTLOOK before you can change the OUTCOME. And if you're not ready to do that then stop reading right here. You can come back to this post when you're ready to move forward with a positive attitude.

When the phone stops ringing, and when your books aren't full, it's tempting to panic and react immediately by trying to push your services onto the market. “50% off sale!” “Book now!” “Discount sessions available!” But this only confuses your client base and hurts your brand. It is also a turn-off to your audience.

So what SHOULD you do then? You need clients in order to get sales, so how do you get the phone to ring?

1) Go Backwards Instead Of Forwards

This sounds counterintuitive, but it actually works. If you haven't already done so, sign up for an account with Sticky Albums – these custom mobile apps are one of the best and least expensive marketing tools on the planet. Then make a list of all your best senior clients (and by ‘best' I mean those that love you and love what you do, regardless of what they spent).

Create a Sticky Album with the images from their session – customized with your studio branding – and put a value-added time-sensitive call to action at the end of the album. Send these custom apps to your senior clients and let them know they can share them with all of their friends. Do this with your upcoming senior models as well.

Create value-added incentives for your clients to share these apps, and watch the marketing go viral. This is a great non-pushy way to get in front of your target market and give them a reason to book!

2) Blog

Update your blog with images of your current work. But be careful – it's tempting to post images of everyone and everything, but this is where you can separate yourself from the competition. Show only your best work, and show only the types of images you want to shoot. If you don't particularly like shooting sessions outdoors, then don't show outdoor images.

Create a blog schedule and post regularly on your blog, and talk about the sessions, the people, and the experiences that make you different. Include some posts about businesses in your community where you recommend your clients shop, and then send an email to those businesses with a link to your blog post.

Extend your reach, and create a relationship with your target clients. People want to be associated with success, and this can help make you look busy and in demand while establishing you as the senior portrait expert in your community.

3) Get Out And Be Seen

Attend all of the events at your target high schools – sporting events, drama productions, auctions, charity fundraisers, performances, etc. Bring your camera and take candid photographs of the kids having fun (with permission from the school or organizers, of course). Pass out cards with your blog or facebook page URL, and let everyone know that you will post the images online for them to see, share, and tag themselves. Build your name and a relationship with your target market and you will increase trust with your audience. This gives you a platform with which to market your senior business in a way that is real and genuine.

Want more ideas for low cost marketing that will grow your senior business? Check out this FREE guide from Seniors Ignite and let us help you book more clients year round.