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At Photo Shelter’s blog A Picture’s Worth, D.A. Wagner, who shoots tabletop still life, explains what motivated him to hire a consultant and what the process of working with her was like. Basically, he found her advice and the experience as a whole indispensable. He doesn’t indicate whether he got leads or jobs as a result of his investment, but he clearly has no regrets about his choice.
“Working with a consultant has changed the way I approach my work, the perspective of how others see me and how I see myself,” the New York–based photographer writes. “Others may think it extravagant, but to me it is necessary. It’s more than a masters, it’s going for your Ph.D in photography and business with a private tutor: learning the nuance of portfolio development, marketing, follow up, and most importantly, a lesson taken right out of advertising agencies, creating a strong brand and image. Without it I’m just another photographer on the bottom shelf of the supermarket aisle hoping someone will notice me.”
Now, some people are dubious about what a consultant can offer them. And in the wake of layoffs at ad and photo agencies and in the publishing industry, there seem to be more and more people refashioning themselves as photo consultants. Nobody could blame a photographer for being cautious about whom to trust when it comes to paying for advice. And I’m certainly not advocating for one point of view or the other. But I do think this list by Wagner is a decent place to start for those considering hiring a consultant:
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- Can you emotionally and financially commit to paying an expert to criticize your work? This is the biggest consideration, as there are no refunds…
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- Conversely, can you afford to continue doing what you’ve always done, especially if that means struggling to make a living?
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- Are you ready to accept a dialog of criticism and be challenged with every new contribution you make to your new vision (every photographer’s project of building a portfolio and marketing it will be different)?
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- Can you let go of old habits and behaviors in order to get to your vision?
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- Will you be able to go outside your comfort zone and address the issues that have kept you from doing this on your own? There are no good excuses when it comes to getting the work you need to do, done.
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- Are you willing to be successful in spite of all odds? It is possible, but you must be willing to listen, follow instructions and complete assignments and be consistent. Remember, be careful what you wish for.
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- Finally, if a consultant is out of your financial reach, and you are ready to commit to your own success, look into becoming a member the APA and signing on with Success Teams™, which has the following mission statement, “… to help each member of the team identify and clarify his or her own professional goals for success and accomplish them through encouragement, feedback, support and mutual accountability.”
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Still-life photographer makes the case for hiring a consultant
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At Photo Shelter’s blog A Picture’s Worth, D.A. Wagner, who shoots tabletop still life, explains what motivated him to hire a consultant and what the process of working with her was like. Basically, he found her advice and the experience as a whole indispensable. He doesn’t indicate whether he got leads or jobs as a result of his investment, but he clearly has no regrets about his choice.
“Working with a consultant has changed the way I approach my work, the perspective of how others see me and how I see myself,” the New York–based photographer writes. “Others may think it extravagant, but to me it is necessary. It’s more than a masters, it’s going for your Ph.D in photography and business with a private tutor: learning the nuance of portfolio development, marketing, follow up, and most importantly, a lesson taken right out of advertising agencies, creating a strong brand and image. Without it I’m just another photographer on the bottom shelf of the supermarket aisle hoping someone will notice me.”
Now, some people are dubious about what a consultant can offer them. And in the wake of layoffs at ad and photo agencies and in the publishing industry, there seem to be more and more people refashioning themselves as photo consultants. Nobody could blame a photographer for being cautious about whom to trust when it comes to paying for advice. And I’m certainly not advocating for one point of view or the other. But I do think this list by Wagner is a decent place to start for those considering hiring a consultant:
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