As a non-practicing photographer turned entrepreneur I have had the pleasure of seeing the highs and lows of both industries. Below are just a few of the similarities.
If you are involved in either photography or the life of an entrepreneur please share your thoughts and engage in dialogue with me and others.
Team work.
You need a team or you’ll surely die. If you think you can load film (I just dated myself. Whatever, I’m old school), shoot, do make-up, get water for the talent, keep the 5 PR people from going crazy all while taking a great picture…. you are nuts.
In business, if you think you can to sell, manage, take incoming calls, handle accounts receivable, all while balancing long term vision with short term cash flow needs… you are nuts.
You need vision.
Many of my photo friends sketch their photographs in their books and simply make a photograph they’ve already created in their minds eye. It is like de ja vu for them once they are on a set. Sometimes things change and you have to adapt but the vision is life.
It is best to have solid plans, a clear vision, for as far as you can because then you will be able to adapt, change or evolve the plans according to the market or things you couldn’t have foreseen.
Business and photography are careers that demand dedication and experience. Most seasoned editorial photographers get the advertising jobs after some time. Most people who get funded by Venture Capital firms have 10 + years domain experience. Most people think they can pick up a $400 digital camera and become a professional photographer. Only to realize that some lenses cost $1,500. Some people who get fired decide to start their own business out of necessity. While I applaud the entrepreneurial spirit being a a business owner is not a fly by night thing. It takes courage and the understanding that you are walking into a dark cave–a cave that 95% of people don’t ever come out of. (95 % of small businesses fail.)
Mentor and experience.
There are two specific ways out of that cave for both industries.
1. Find a mentor. Learn from the mistakes of others.
2. Get some experience. In photography you will be asked an endless amount of times to do work for free. Pick your battles and understand what is worth doing for the progression of your career, brand and portfolio versus someone looking to take advantage of you. In business, you can take on a few clients in the beginning for a greatly discounted amount or even offer pro-bono work.
Instant Gratification
Previously, the Polaroid provided instant gratification for the professional photographer. The digital screen is the novel savior for commercial artists. Both allow you to know where you are and what different options you now have. Without it, you feel trapped and unsure of yourself having to keep within a very narrow frame of thought and creativity.
In business, the solid foundation of any business is cash flow. Cash flow allows you room to maneuver, trying different things in marketing, R+D and possibly hiring more employees. Without it, you feel an obligation to think cheaply hoping to get things for free and sometimes cutting corners to your detriment. I am in favor of having cash flow, yet still thinking smarter and more creatively as opposed to attempting to be innovative because of lack of money.
One (wo) + man.
You need the team and you need to be able to delegate in both photography and business. But everything comes down to one person. In photography it can range anywhere from the actual photographer to the creative director or the boss and clients. In business, it can range from the actual CEO, to the board of directors or Chairman. Different opinions are welcomed and encouraged but the buck has to stop with one person or max a dynamic duo. It will lead to too much drama when there is a fight for the top decision maker position. Do not stress this reality and simply accept the fact that it exists. All things fall into place. It just takes time.
