Julie Christie is a family photographer turned mastermind behind The Photographers Voice. In this interview Julie discusses the importance of keeping things simple when beginning a photography business. She shares her personal experiences of growing up enthralled by photographs but needing time and persistence to understand the technical side of photography and professionally recognize it.
The Big Ideas
Start simple and persist.
Learn to use light and shadows.
Develop your own style.
Marketing is connection.
Introverts can be great marketers.
Connection content builds audience.
Create a website quickly.
Timestamps
00:03:17 Start small and be persistent.
00:06:27 Understand light and shadows.
00:14:35 Develop your own style.
00:22:24 Marketing is connection.
00:27:09 Introverts can be great marketers.
00:35:05 Connection content builds audience.
00:39:18 Build trust and visibility.
Resources:
Start simple and persist.
Starting a photography business can be an intimidating prospect for many people. It can be difficult to know where to start, and it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information and resources available. However, one of the most important things to remember when starting a photography business is to start simple and persist.
This is something that Julie Christie, a family photographer and the mastermind behind the Photographer's Voice, knows all too well. When Julie started out in photography, she was too young and lazy to learn properly. She waited until her son was born to really explore photography, and it was then that she took some night classes at college. Julie believes that it takes patience, persistence, and tenacity to learn photography and to keep going with it. It takes grit to be able to stay in it for the long haul, and it takes a lot of practice and dedication to become good at it.
When Julie looks back at her old photos, she realizes that her biggest issue was not understanding light. She was unable to see the light the way she can now, and this frustration kept her from taking intentional and beautiful photos.
The takeaway from Julie's story is to start simple and persist. Starting a photography business can be daunting, but it is possible if you start simple and persist. Take the time to learn the basics of photography, understand the fundamentals of lighting, and practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with your camera and the more confident you will be in your photography. It takes time, but if you are willing to put in the effort and keep going, you can achieve success.
Learn to use light and shadows.
Light and shadows are essential elements of photography. Light is the source of all photography, and it is important to learn how to use it to your advantage. Understanding the direction and behavior of light, and how to compensate for it, is essential to creating beautiful photos. Julie's experience of taking photographs she was disappointed with was because she didn't understand the light. She said it was almost always looking back.
Learning to use light and shadows can make all the difference in photography. Julie was able to turn her photography around when she had a one-to-one session with an old journalist in a seaside village. He taught her to think of the light as a monkey on her shoulder, and to look for how the light was falling on different objects. He showed her how to make a boring photograph interesting by exposing for the light and embracing the shadows.
After this experience, Julie was able to see the light everywhere and she became obsessed with it. She started to look at films and think about how she would use the light in the scene. She started to play it safe with portraits and use flat light, but after her experience, she was able to see the beauty in the shadows and use them to her advantage.
Light and shadows are essential elements of photography, and understanding how to use them can make all the difference in your photos. Taking the time to learn the basics of light and shadows and practice, practice, practice will help you create beautiful photos.
Develop your own style.
Developing your own style is a crucial part of becoming a successful photographer. It's important to experiment and practice to find the style that works for you. Every photographer has their own unique style, and it's important to find yours. One way to do this is to take photographs in different settings and with different lighting conditions. This will help you to understand how light and shadows interact with your subject and how you can use them to create a unique style.
Another way to develop your own style is to experiment with different angles and perspectives. Try shooting from different angles and distances to see how it affects the composition of the photo. You can also experiment with different focal lengths to create different looks and effects. Taking the time to experiment and explore different techniques will help you to develop your own style.
Finally, it's important to practice, practice, practice. Taking lots of photos and experimenting with different techniques will help you to develop your own style. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, as this is part of the learning process. With enough practice, you'll be able to create beautiful photos that are unique to you.
Developing your own style takes time and dedication, but it's worth it in the end. Taking the time to practice and experiment will help you to create beautiful photos that are uniquely yours. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and have fun with it!
Marketing is connection.
But what happens after you create your photos? How do you get them seen? This is where marketing comes in. Marketing is all about connecting with your audience, and it's an essential part of any successful photography business.
When it comes to marketing, it's important to remember that it's all about connection. You want to create a brand that is an extension of your own personality. Your brand should have the same tone of voice and sense of humour as you, so that people can connect with it. You want to create content that will make people smile and make them feel like they know you.
It's also important to remember that most people are not actively looking for a photographer right now. But if you create a brand that resonates with them, they will remember you when they do need a photographer. You don't have to compete with other photographers on price or quality. Instead, you should focus on creating a connection with your audience.
When people come into contact with your photography and your brand, they should feel like they know you. They should be able to trust you and enjoy your stories. When they do need a photographer, they should think of you first because you have become like a friend to them.
Marketing isn't just about selling, it's about creating a connection with your audience. It's about telling your story and showing your personality. It's about building relationships and creating a brand that people can trust and connect with. That's what will make people choose you over other photographers, even if you're a bit more expensive.
Marketing is connection, and that's the simplest way to get started. Take the time to create a brand that reflects your own personality and values. Connect with your audience and build relationships. That's how you will create a successful photography business.
Introverts can be great marketers.
But what if you're an introvert? Can introverts be great marketers? Absolutely!
Introverts are often the best marketers because they take their time to research and make the best purchasing decisions. They're not easily swayed by marketing hype and can see right through it. Instead, they look for integrity and trust in the business they are considering.
For introverts, the best thing to do is to own your introversion and appeal to like-minded introverts. Share your values, opinions and start conversations. You don't have to let them peek behind the curtains of your personal life, just share like-minded thoughts and feelings with like-minded people.
Another great way to market as an introvert is to think small and simple. Take the time to create content that reflects your values and appeals to your target audience. If you're a family photographer, for example, you can talk about topics that are relevant and engaging to parents. This gives an insight into who you are without divulging anything about your private life.
In conclusion, introverts can be great marketers. Take the time to create a brand that reflects your own personality and values. Connect with your audience and build relationships. Share your values, opinions and start conversations. Think small and simple and create content that appeals to your target audience. With a little effort, introverts can be successful marketers.
Connection content builds audience.
Connection content is an essential part of any marketing strategy. It allows you to build relationships with your audience and create a strong connection with them. It helps to create an emotional bond with your target audience and establish trust. Connection content gives your audience a glimpse into who you are, your values, your sense of humor, and your passions. This helps them to relate to you and decide if they want to do business with you.
Connection content is also important for visibility. If you are just starting out and don't have many people on your email list, connection content is the best way to build your audience. It is easy to create and encourages engagement. Connection content is also great for creating brand awareness and increasing your visibility.
Connection content can be anything from asking questions, sharing opinions, and engaging in conversations. It can also include sharing what makes you happy and the songs you are listening to. When creating connection content, it is important to keep it interesting and relevant to your target audience.
In a visibility phase, connection content should be the focus. Once you have built up an audience, you can start to incorporate other types of content such as authority content, which shows your expertise, and promotional content, which encourages people to buy your products or services.
Connection content is essential for building relationships with your audience. It helps to create an emotional bond and establish trust. It also helps to increase visibility and create brand awareness. Connection content is the key to success for any introvert looking to market their business.
Create a website quickly.
However, it is important to remember that only a small portion of your audience will actually buy from you. That's why it is important to also create authority content. Authority content is content that provides information and answers questions. It is not as engaging as connection content, but it is highly valuable. It helps to move potential customers from thinking about buying to actually buying.
When creating content, it is important to think strategically. You should create a mixture of connection and authority content, and post it across different platforms. It is also important to make sure that your website is filled with authority content. This is the content that will answer questions and address concerns. It is also important to remember that you can repurpose content. You can create one piece of authority content and use it to create 20 social posts. You can also use it to create an email to send to your email list.
For those going from zero to one, it is important to create a website as soon as possible. It is the place where people will go to gain trust and learn more about you. You don't need to spend a lot of time creating a website. You can get a three page website up and running in a day. Use a Squarespace template and include a home page, gallery page, information page and contact page. You can then let your website evolve and grow over time.
Creating a website quickly is essential for any introvert looking to market their business. It helps to establish trust with your audience and provide them with the information they need to make a purchase. It is also important to create a mixture of connection and authority content and repurpose it across different platforms.
Introverts can be powerful marketers.
Introverts can be powerful marketers, even if it may not seem like it at first. As an introvert, it can be intimidating to put yourself out there and market your business. However, with the right strategies, introverts can be just as successful as extroverts in marketing their business.
One of the most important strategies for an introvert is to focus on creating content that is both engaging and informative. Communication, engagement, authority, and promotional content are all important types of content to focus on. Communication content helps to build relationships with your audience, while engagement content encourages them to interact with your brand. Authority content helps to establish your credibility, while promotional content helps to promote your products and services.
It is also important to focus on creating content that resonates with your audience. This could include sharing stories from your own experiences or showcasing your work. By providing your audience with content that is both interesting and relevant to them, you can establish a strong connection with them.
Finally, it is important to remember that it is okay if promotional content does not get as much engagement as other types of content. Not everyone will be interested in what you have to offer, and that is okay. The important thing is to keep putting yourself out there and engaging with your audience.
In conclusion, introverts can be powerful marketers. By focusing on creating content that is both engaging and informative, establishing a connection with your audience, and being persistent with your promotional content, you can be successful in marketing your business.
