Coping with Competition

Every industry has competition and every industry has its competitors. It seems (to me at least) that photographers have more competition than most! I've mentioned in a previous post that photography is an easy business to get started in and it seems that anyone with a posh camera can call themselves a photographer! The local newspaper keeps printing stories about new photography businesses in the area...

But just because someone is in the same industry it doesn't necessarily mean they're competition. Yes, we're all looking for people to sell photos to, but are we all looking for the same people? I don't think so.

Photography customers all have different criteria when choosing a photographer. Particularly regarding wedding photography. Some people are on a budget and will book the cheapest photographer they can find (not something I recommend!). Some people like the kudos of booking the area's most expensive photographer. Others will book the best photographer they can afford (a much more sensible approach...). No one photographer can appeal to all markets so we have to pick one to work in.

There are literally dozens of 'professional' photographers in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, but I really only count 5 or 6 of them as genuine competition. We're all full time and fully insured. We all put a lot of time and effort into marketing ourselves. We all offer good customer service and excellent attention to detail. And we all supply the best products from the best suppliers. We don't appeal the the 'cheap is best' market, but none of us is the most expensive in the area either.

But even that competition isn't really a problem. There are about 150,000 people living in and around Grimsby and Cleethorpes so there's plenty to go around! There are tons of weddings in North East Lincolnshire every single weekend, so again there's plenty to go around without us all stepping on each other's toes.

And don't forget, photography is very subjective. We all have our own particular and distinctive style which some people won't like. It took a while to get my head around it, but I genuinely don't mind any more if someone books a different photographer over me.

Having said that, I still like it when I win a customer ahead of my competition!

Studio for Hire

Before I start, yes, this is a blatant advert for my studio which is available to rent. But it's also a bit about the thought process I went through to make the decision to let it out at all.

My studio is fab! I (along with my dad and a few friends) put in a lot of time, effort and money to make it look ace! And I'm really proud of what we achieved so I want as many people as possible to see it. It's also a very useful, functional space for my portrait photography. It has everything I need for children's photos, boudoir photography and everything else I do including a disabled access toilet and a private changing room. Which got me thinking, it's probably perfect for other photographers needing studio space in Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

But here's my dilemma. Would I be helping out the competition? Amateurs wouldn't be taking the business from me, except that maybe their friends and family might use me if they weren't getting it for free... And amateurs with enough experience can quickly go pro and take work from me! Even worse, a pro is already in competition and taking photos of customers I could have had!

But let's be logical. There are other studios in town. If I turn someone away, they'll just go somewhere else. The pros have already won their client and will do the work whether they have my studio or not. They definitely won't say "Sorry, Chris wouldn't let me have his studio. You'd better let him take your picture instead". So why shouldn't I let them have it?


And so I do! The studio isn't being used by me all the time and is essential an unnecessary expense when it's not in use. The studio is also obviously mine. It's covered in my branding and full of my photos and leaflets. There's always the chance that a client will remember the studio more than the photographer and come back later for portraits from me. Or maybe some wedding photography.

So my doors are open to anyone wanting to use it. I now get paid a small amount for sitting in my office at the computer doing what I would otherwise have been doing for free! In fact there's someone using it as I type this.

And it's available to you if you need it!  More info is at www.grimsbyphotostudio.co.uk

Disappointments...

Just thought I'd update on the new studio.  You might have seen on Facebook or Twitter that I've been in the process of sorting out a new studio.  Well I've had a bit of a setback.

Way back in October I found the perfect studio in Grimsby.  Well actually Cleethorpes.  Massive studio room, entrance reception, kitchen, toilet, main road location.  Just what I wanted.  I spent a while deciding then went through the long winded process of applying for planning permission for change of use to a photography studio.  That in itself was an ordeal with conflicting advice being given to me and the landlord.  But that's another tale...

But to cut a long story short, permission was granted and I went back to the estate agent only to be told the property had been let to somebody else!  Throughout I was told I was fine and I didn't need to start lease proceedings so I took the agent at his word.  Other words I can think of regarding the agent are unprofessional, unethical, misrepresentation along with several others not suitable for a mixed audience!

I obviously won't name the agent in question but they do have a reputation in the area so I should have known better really.  But I wasn't going to let a perfect property slip just because I didn't like who was letting it!

Gutted is not the word!  But as I said here and here. I can't let it get me down.  I think I've just about snapped out of the low spot now and have found somewhere else!  It's actually in a better area.  Not quite as big, but much nicer.  So once again... watch this space!

Fashion Photography

I am proud to say I am now the official photographer for Capital Collection.  For those not in the know they are a high end men's clothing retailer in Grimsby.  It is now my responsibility to take all the photos for their website.  OK, it may not sound very exciting, but the standards expected by Stuart and his team are very high.  He needs excellent quality, well lit fashion shots of all of his stock to sell online.  And he has a lot of stock!

For me personally it is a very good job to get.  It's not working with people which I love, but it is good regular work which still gives me scope to be creative.


 OK, I have had to buy a new mannequin  for the shots but I can add it to the equipment I can provide with my studio to rent in Grimsby.

I am incredibly grateful to Stuart for choosing me and I hope it is set to continue for a long time to come!

It's a good advert to anyone else who has anything to sell online.  It's well worth spending a bit extra and getting some good quality professional commercial photographs to properly market your product.

(I should probably say as well that if you do go onto the site for a look they're not all my shots.  Not yet anyway...!)