There are so many photographic communities out there for the amateur photographers, and even for the serious professional (one who does photography for a living). What benefits do these site really have for you as the photographer. How many photographers can really say that they have earned clients and solid long term business from these communities? Who is really exposed to your creative work?
These days online magazines, social networks, e-mail and so many other Internet based sources do bring us all closer together, but it is only truly a benefit to your business if it is applied correctly. The Internet has to an extent replace the effort of actually going out there and looking for your clients. The days of meeting up with a potential client and "selling" your skills on a face to face basis seems to have passed and sadly with this passing went the issue of personal client relationships. Clients are numbers, they are potential victims. Clients are very rarely a person, a man/woman with a husband, a single mother, a grandmother.
Customer loyalty is bought with competitive pricing, branding enforcement and "value added services". How about getting back to that "face to face" , "how are you" moments. I would rather have 20 amazing clients that are with me because they value me as a person and vice versa, than 50 wealthy clients that will run off to the competitor the moment that there is a 80% sale!
Photography is one of the few areas where this is still possible. You don't have to take better photos than the expensive pro (one who flaunts their product and training before flaunting their personality). Don't provide your service and think about the potential earnings. Rather provide a service that you would like to receive, and with total empathy for your client and I can guarantee that it will be more successful for your business.
Photography is after all about the people, art and expression, let your service be such as well.
