Looking to make the leap into the world of professional photography? Industry insiders Amanda Sosa Stone and Suzanne Sease take you by the hand and literally tell you the who, what, when, and where. Practical and no-nonsense, The Photographer's Survival Guide: How to Build and Grow a Successful Business, from Amphoto, makes it clear that professional photography is more than just a creative endeavor. Topics include finding and marketing your style, to estimating, bidding, and negotiating your fee. Advice for "What do I do?" moments fills the book as well.
In addition to telling you what to do and when to do it, the guide includes a resource list for all manner of professional services that you'll need as a photographer, including portfolio makers, website builders, and database services, among others. A CD is included with the book that contains 21 essential forms and templates, all downloadable. You'll find this disk to be a lifesaver with its files for annual budgets, estimate and invoice forms, releases, terms and conditions, and then some.
Amanda Sosa Stone is a consultant to photographers on creative and business aspects of their careers. Sosa Stone worked with industry icon Elyse Weissberg and was the photo editor for Weissberg's Successful Self-Promotion for Photographers, before becoming an art buyer for FCBNY. Suzanne Sease and Amanda Sosa Stone travel around North America presenting a seminar that gave rise to this book. Sosa Stone lives in Orlando, Florida
Suzanne Sease
Suzanne Sease is a consultant to photographers on creative and business aspects of their careers. Sease has been an art buyer for the Martin Agency and Kaplan-Thaler, working with such clients as Capitol One, Clairol Herbal Essence, and AFLAC. Suzanne Sease and Amanda Sosa Stone travel around North America presenting a seminar that gave rise to this book. Sease lives and works in Richmond, Virginia
- Establishing a recognizable style that is all your own
- Creating a website and portfolio, including costs, selecting images, and working with a designer
- Building, buying, and using contact lists and databases; creating email blasts and printed promotions; and person-to-person meetings with buyers
- Estimating, bidding, and negotiating your fee
- Doing the job: prep work, the actual shoot, post-production, and billing
- Understanding the stock photography business