How to Create an Effective Two-page Business Plan

By Jeff Kent
October 2020 issue Business

You know what the problem is with most business plans? They don’t exist. It’s hard to chart a course toward your ideal future when you don’t have a map. Of course, the opposite can be true as well. Some business plans exist in the extreme. Inches thick, they map out every minute detail of a business to a level that no human could ever follow.The common factor: Both types of plans are functionally worthless. Whether you don’t have a plan or your plan is too cumbersome to use on a daily... Continue Reading >

On Solid Ground: Profitability and Sustainability are Foundational

By Lindsay Betz, Cr.Photog.
October 2020 issue Business

© Jonathan Betz Photography Lindsay BetzPhotography is an amazing medium for creativity and art. For people who desire to own a photography business, the opportunities are vast. I believe that any photographer with the drive, determination, and willingness to put in the work can achieve a profitable and sustainable photography business.The longer my husband and I have been in business and the more I teach on topics of business health, the more I realize the essential nature of... Continue Reading >

President’s Message: A Secret to Growth

By Gregory Daniel, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, F-ASP
October 2020 issue Business

PPA President Gregory Daniel © Tim Kelly and Kyla Renee PaintingsI don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to grow their business. But how? Does it feel like you’re reinventing the wheel every day? Do you find yourself watching an educational video and wanting to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch? Having your own business is hard work: being responsible for generating new clients every day, offering the right products, maintaining the cashflow to pay bills. Unless we’re clear... Continue Reading >

A Plan for Smart Business Growth

By Jeff Kent
September 2020 issue Business

From solopreneur to sustainable business owner© Courtesy Sabrina Starling Sabrina StarlingAs many independent professional photographers can attest, there’s a certain freedom that comes with running your own show, on your own. You’re beholden to no one. You call the shots. And the business lives or dies based on what you alone decide.But that can also be a problem. If you’re good at what you do, then you’ll eventually run into the classic dollars-for-hours conundrum. As a... Continue Reading >

Make Home Work Work

September 2020 issue Business

Whether you routinely work from home as a “solopreneur” or you’ve found yourself temporarily working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, staying productive while keeping a sound work-life balance can be challenging. Here’s help for staying on task while working in relative isolation.SPECIFY STANDARD WORK HOURS. Avoid the temptation to sleep in one day and stay up late working the next. Having set work hours allows your brain to relax and recharge during downtime.CREATE THE... Continue Reading >

Map a Bright Financial Future

By Trish Logan, M.Photog.Cr.
September 2020 issue Business

If it’s true that hindsight is 20/20, then shouldn’t I be able to look back in order to move forward? The pandemic has been a time for me to embrace change and anticipate a bright future. So while I was closed, I made it my 2020 goal to do just that.I started by evaluating the landscape. First, my brand. What does it stand for in the public eye? What does it say about me as a photographer and about my company overall? I discovered that my brand is strong among my target consumers. Then I... Continue Reading >

How Photographers Are Pioneering the New Normal

By Betsy Finn, M.Photog.Cr.
August 2020 issue Business

COVID-19 Restrictions Challenge Photographers to be resilient What does it look like to own a photography business while practicing social distancing or complying with stay-at-home mandates? And when those mandates are lifted, what’s the new reality? We’re all in uncharted territory. Many photographers have been adapting  and re-envisioning their business. In June, I asked five photographers to describe their experience as business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.BEN SHIRK © Shirk... Continue Reading >

How to Please the Impossible to Please

By Jeff Kent
July 2020 issue Business

Everyone has expectations, and they carry those assumptions into every situation. Expectations that are reasonable to one person may be utterly absurd to another. Still, photographers, like all small businesspeople, need to manage clients’ expectations to build good working relationships and provide a positive customer experience.Marc Gordon, speaker, marketing consultant, and internationally recognized expert on customer experiences, says that managing expectations begins with... Continue Reading >