I need your assistance... Part 2
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Given some of the responses to my last post (I need your assistance), I realise I left out a crucial part of the equation - one which goes to the very heart of where the last version of the website went wrong for me - the conflict of how to promote myself.
The reality is there are thousands of portrait photographers out there doing the standard stuff - family dressed smartly and smiling in front of a draped bedsheet or soft focus, staring into the middle distance. And in recent years there's been a big rise in the number of family dressed casually and smiling but with no shoes on while rolling on a large white floor style of images.
Now while I can, and do, do variations of these kinds of photos for people who ask for them, it's not really how I want to promote myself.
That style of photography is where most of the competition lies. Of course that's where most of the conventional money is too, which is why there's such a fight for position.
But what I really enjoy doing is more edgy or creative photos - away from the mainstream.
What to do? More smiley, family type photos on the front page might bring me in more traditional business but, while it's fun to do sometimes and brings in a bit of extra cash, it's not really what I got into photography for. I like to confront, explore and create.
After a lot of ho-ing and humming and inner searching and long talks with Maggie, I decided I would go for promoting the less conventional; the more interesting and challenging stuff - the kind of photos that make people look twice. And if that loses me some business, then so be it if it helps bring in more thought-provoking work.
I'm afraid it's the philosopher in me - I can't let the world go by unquestioned.
So that's my aim with the revamp - clarifying the balance between building a reputation as a photographer you go to when you want something less mainstream, and not scaring too many potential customers away.
Does that make sense?
http://kimayres.co.uk
Do let me know your thoughts.
.
Given some of the responses to my last post (I need your assistance), I realise I left out a crucial part of the equation - one which goes to the very heart of where the last version of the website went wrong for me - the conflict of how to promote myself.
The reality is there are thousands of portrait photographers out there doing the standard stuff - family dressed smartly and smiling in front of a draped bedsheet or soft focus, staring into the middle distance. And in recent years there's been a big rise in the number of family dressed casually and smiling but with no shoes on while rolling on a large white floor style of images.
Now while I can, and do, do variations of these kinds of photos for people who ask for them, it's not really how I want to promote myself.
That style of photography is where most of the competition lies. Of course that's where most of the conventional money is too, which is why there's such a fight for position.
But what I really enjoy doing is more edgy or creative photos - away from the mainstream.
What to do? More smiley, family type photos on the front page might bring me in more traditional business but, while it's fun to do sometimes and brings in a bit of extra cash, it's not really what I got into photography for. I like to confront, explore and create.
After a lot of ho-ing and humming and inner searching and long talks with Maggie, I decided I would go for promoting the less conventional; the more interesting and challenging stuff - the kind of photos that make people look twice. And if that loses me some business, then so be it if it helps bring in more thought-provoking work.
I'm afraid it's the philosopher in me - I can't let the world go by unquestioned.
So that's my aim with the revamp - clarifying the balance between building a reputation as a photographer you go to when you want something less mainstream, and not scaring too many potential customers away.
Does that make sense?
http://kimayres.co.uk
Do let me know your thoughts.
.
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