A few weeks ago Jasmine Star interviewed me for her blog.  I couldn’t have been more flattered.   One of the questions she asked just seems so appropriate this time of year.  The question was, “How do you jump start a photography business?”  It’s a great question and deserves to be expanded.

We’ve got to start with the definition of “jump start”.  Let’s look at jump starting a business that’s already established and stalled.  If we had twenty, fifty or even a hundred photographers in the room right now and they had all been in business for a few years, the room would be split right down the middle between people having a great year and those referring to 2010 as the year from hell!  Based on their experiences both groups would be right in their perception, but are there things the half having the harder time could do to change their year-end outcome?

It all begins with getting focused on what it is you want to do. You’ve got to get yourself psyched up and be not only excited, but really motivated and proud of your career choice in photography.   So, as simple as it sounds, it starts with your attitude.  Photography is about your heart – and you can’t create images that grab people’s hearts if your own heart isn’t in it.

This is about recharging your battery and right off the bat I’m going to plug Skip’s Summer School next month.  You need to get yourself out of the rut and get a good dose of optimism with lots of good ideas on how to change things.  And if you can’t make it to Summer School then look for programs by some of the industry’s leading icons to help get you pumped.  Jim Garner, Joe Buissink, Matthew Jordan Smith, Dane Sanders, Dawn Shields, Jasmine Star, Kirk Voclain, Kevin Kubota, Jerry Ghionis, Yervant, Bambi Cantrell, Tony Corbell and dozens I’ve missed are all on the speaking tour from time to time and you need to tap into their energy.

Then there are specific things to do like launch your own publicity campaign, getting involved in the community, creating buzz for your business.   You’ve got be proactive and offense is always more fun to play than defense!

A children’s photographer should launch a new promotional opportunity.  We’re coming up to the fall and it’s perfect for themed sessions around harvest time, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.   A wedding photographer needs to do a mailing to past clients about “expanding”, new products e.g. albums etc. anything that creates a little noise.

Maybe it’s time for this same wedding photographer to expand and diversify into children’s photography.  How effective would it be to do a mailing to past brides who might be starting a new family and plant the idea for baby photography?  Or let’s say you’re a commercial photographer and it might be a great time to remind your clients about the need for a new headshot!  Something that goes beyond that old high school senior shot they’ve been using!

And let’s not forget the whole world of social media.  Are you using it to your advantage?  Are you active in Twitter and Facebook, using them as marketing tools.  Do you have a blog?  Are you consistent in maintaining a constant presence.

The point is your business stalled for a reason.  I’m not minimizing the challenges with the economy, but too often that’s become the scapegoat and if you look at businesses with challenges you’ll find there are things that could be done to turn things around.
Okay, so this is a blog and I’ve only got so much room before the statistics say you’ll lose interest and move on to reading something shorter.  The issue is, no business is over until you give up and if you’re worried and feel you need a jump start then get some help before you pull the plug.  There’s a lot of information on GoingPro2010.com.  Scott Bourne’s PhotoFocus site/blog has great information and both of us are here to help you and answer your questions, but we can’t help if you don’t ask.

Then there are some great blogs out there, starting with Jasmine’s.  In fact, read this week’s interview with good buddy George Varanakis at WPPI/Rangefinder.  Dane Sanders has a lot to say at Ask Dane.  The list goes on and on, but you have to do a little research to find those components that can help you the most.  Get yourself signed up for DWF and their forum.  You can search by topic or you might want to start your own string and ask the question haunting you the most, just to see what your counterparts have to say.

These are difficult times with the challenges of the economy and technology both playing a role, but here’s the best part!  You’re not alone in dealing with the challenges and there are lots of us out here willing to give you a hand!