Getting and keeping attention of the audience requires a Total Package

I just read this article this morning "What You Can Learn From The World’s Best Violinist (And His $32 Pay Day)" and it made me think about how often photographers really think it is all about their images.

I have to photograph a lot of meetings and even being in a room I find many people checked out. They are a captive audience, but still those running the meeting have to do even more to get their attention.

As photographers we often think our images alone will get jobs for us and as long as we continue to produce great images they will hire us over and over. Well I hate to break it to you, that just isn't the case.

This is an interview I updated recently with Greg Thompson on what corporations look for when hiring photographers. Listen and see how many things he mentions other than photos that are important and why they are important.



It is the total package that is more important than any of the individual parts.

So how do you turn people's heads and keep their attention?

Parts of the Total Package for the photographer

1. Distilled message: You need to have a strong understanding of who you are and what you are wanting from others.
1. Elevator Speech
2. Know who your audience is — Not everyone is your audience.
2. Eye catching
1. Your images need to be strong enough to engage the viewer
2. Your image needs to be good. Well groomed and in fashion can really help.
3. Presentation - Your materials from business cards, estimates, invoices, emails all need to be visually solid
3. Ideas  —  You need to have ideas of what you can do for your audience. The more specific this is to your client the better. 
4. Voice and Tone  —  No question that many people rise to the top due to the quality of their voice. Having James Earl Jones (Darth Vadar's voice) is quite commanding. You need to speak clearly and develop a tone that engages depending on what the message is about.
5. Relationship focused  —  people detect if you are using them. You need to genuinely be interested in the audience to engage them.
6. A collaborator  —  someone who is looking to help your clients reach their goals which intern helps you to reach yours.
7. Pricing — You pricing needs to be clear and understandable from the client's perspective and meets their needs and maybe even create desire
8. When and Where? — You need to target your audience to find them when they have the time to give to you.

You may think of more things to add to the list. The point is simple, you cannot make it as a professional photographer as a career with great images alone.