Its not what you know but how you perform

Same photo but different color balances, cropping and exposure.

Which photo above would you use? Now unless you see them side by side you might not be as quick to make changes to the photo before sending it to the client. However, if you are meticulous you will give the client the best possible photo.

While the client may not have four identical photos like this to choose the photographer they would hire again, I know from what I have seen photographers put on their blogs, websites and even given to clients are all these and more.

Losing Teams vs Winning Teams

I think we have all heard the loosing coach after a team looses saying we just didn't execute very well. I don't think I have ever heard the coach say we just didn't have a game plan.

The golfer who wins the tournament is normally the golfer who performed consistently each day. Rarely do you see a golfer with poor scores one day and the great scores the next win the tournament.

Just the other day I asked my friend Mark Miller and the author of The Secret of Teams: What Great Teams Know and Do and the book The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do, how a company remains competitive as more and more people are copying their formula.

Miller said it is the execution of their formula that makes the difference. He went on to use the metaphor of the West Coast Football. Who hasn't seen it by now? The thing is who can execute it well?

More than the photo

I think one of the largest mistakes I am seeing over and over is photographers often think it is all about the photograph.

While there are many photographers making the mistake of the 4 photos above, Many may have gotten the perfect photo, but a great deal of the execution was in your attitude and words you used with the client.

I will admit it that many in my industry of creatives are strange people. I sometimes think many in society tolerate our kind. We are not trying to fit in as much as stand out and in the process get kicked out.

The president of the college I went to for my masters gave a talk one day saying that the one course they needed to add to the curriculum was on common sense.

You can't please everyone

When it comes to customer relations your ability to pay your bills relies heavily on you having customers.  There should be enough incentive for you to go that extra mile and be hospitable and courteous.  Will they be kind to you in return--not always, but as they say you have to take the high road and know you did everything possible to make it work.

X-Factor for Success Photography Business

There are two things that when are executed at the highest levels simultaneously together create a whole new product.

1. Quality - The quality of the photographs for the photographer is something that when executed at the highest levels will separate you from the pack. This is what you provide the customer.
2. Service - From the first phone call or email till the delivery and beyond of the product is an experience. The attitude of your performance can go a long way with a client. This is the how you do you work.

Do you have the X-Factor in your business model? You may need to benchmark yourself to others to find out if from the customers perspective you are at the top of the industry in both quality and service.

Remember it isn't what you know that makes a difference in this game it is executive of what you know that matters.