President’s message: Strengths and weaknesses

By Audrey Wancket, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
September 2019 issue Business

© Gregory DanielAcknowledging our strengths, weaknesses, and especially our fears helps us move forward. My own biggest fear is that my life’s work, my portraits, will not continue to bring out the excitement they do now for my clients—that I could tumble into that gap where no one knows the beautiful style I constantly work to make available. Is this healthy thinking? Yes. This is what propels me to grow, to keep learning, to change when change is needed. I cannot close my eyes and... Continue Reading >

Full-service storefront studio creates credibility

October 2016 issue Business

In 2009, husband-and-wife team Dan McClanahan, M.Photog., and Alex McClanahan founded McClanahan Studio in Ames, Iowa, where they met as students attending Iowa State University.By 2012 the couple was able to purchase a 12,000-square-foot commercial building in the Ames historic district, which they remade into their dream studio, installing a new storefront gallery and remodeling vacant spaces to be rented. Now the McClanahan’s live and work in the fully rented building, balancing landlord... Continue Reading >

How you know you’ve made it as a pro photographer

by Amanda Arnold
9.15.2016 Business

How do you know when you've made it as a pro? Professional Photographer asked five Imaging USA 2017 speakers about success: Kay Eskridge"When your clients become repeat clients, year after year and for all their photographic needs. When your clients think of you first when planning anything that needs to be photographed—all of their life events, you’re a part of." Kay W. Eskridge, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, Images by Kay & Co. Photography, Phoenix, Arizona Mary Fisk-Taylor"I’ve... Continue Reading >

Pumping up the volume

By Jeff Kent
June 2016 issue Business

sports team photography augments portrait studio businessDavid Grupa, M.Photog.Cr., began his photography career back in high school. He had a little business photographing T-ball teams for the local rec league. He made some simple black-and-white prints, handed out 5x7s to the teams, and got about $50 in return. “I thought I was rich,” he laughs.Kirsten and David GrupaYears later, he would join the ranks of the full-time professionals when he opened a portrait business in... Continue Reading >

Game Changer

By Jeff Kent
May 2016 issue Business

Reshaping a business into a model of successSandra Burns, CPP, owner of September Blue Photography in Long Island, New York, started her business in 2008 as a part-time sideline. She was pregnant with her second child and working a full-time job in IT. She’d always loved photography and wanted that creative avenue as a regular part of her life.In 2012 Burns had her third child. That was the game changer. Continuing with two jobs while adding another kid to the mix wasn’t a realistic... Continue Reading >