I have an entire library of books related to both business and photography. Some of them are good, some of them aren't. But overall I did enjoy reading each and every one of them. But for this article we are going to focus on the business related books.
If you are going to start your own business or you are just intending to promote your work there are some basics that you need to cover. I'm not going to go into the actual business details here, I am talking more about your attitude and the way you approach your new endever. I feel that photography as a business is only about 20% actually creating images, the remaining 80% is business. Marketing, sales, promotions, accounting, purchasing, order fulfillment, etc. These are key business functions that every photographer needs to pay attention to if they have any intention at all of promoting themselves or their photography.
One of the best books I have ever read is Think & Grow Rich
. This book has been around for decades, but it is still as informative and vital to business today as it was throughout the last half of the 20th century.
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The bestselling success book of all time - Think & Grow Rich - has been called the "Granddaddy of All Motivational Literature." It was the first book to boldly ask, "What makes a winner?" The man who asked and listened for the answer, Napoleon Hill, is now counted in the top ranks of the world's winners himself.
The most famous of all teachers of success spent "a fortune and the better part of a lifetime of effort" to produce the "Law of Success" philosophy that forms the basis of his books and that is so powerfully summarized in this one.
In the original Think and Grow Rich, published in 1937, Hill draws on stories of Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and other millionaires of his generation to illustrate his principles. In the updated version, Arthur R. Pell, Ph.D., a nationally known author, lecturer, and consultant in human resources management and an expert in applying Hill's thought, deftly interweaves anecdotes of how contemporary millionaires and billionaires, such as Bill Gates, Mary Kay Ash, Dave Thomas, and Sir John Templeton, achieved their wealth. Outmoded or arcane terminology and examples are faithfully refreshed to preclude any stumbling blocks to a new generation of readers.
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Probably the best book I have ever read on sales is How To Master the Art of Selling. If you are considering selling your art, whether through galleries, direct sales, the Internet, or at fairs and events, it doesn't matter. The information that you will acquire by reading this book will help you with all of these. Even if you are just trying to get you images hung on walls in galleries or coffee shops, the techniques you will learn in this book will help you achieve your goals.
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With over one million copies sold and now fully revised and updated, How To Master the Art of Selling motivates and educates readers to deliver superior sales. After failing during the first six months of his career in sales, Tom Hopkins discovered and applied the very best sales techniques, then earned more than one million dollars in just three years. What turned Tom Hopkins around? The answers are revealed in How To Master the Art of Selling, as Tom explains to readers what the profession of selling is really about and how to succeed beyond their imagination.
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As a photographer you want to promote and sell your images, but you also want to protect them and keep them from being used for purposes other than originally intended or copied without your permission. You also need to know how to be professional in all your dealings with clients while making a profit and protecting yourself. The American Society of Media Professionals (ASMP) has a book that covers Professional Business Practices in Photography.
From standard practices in stock and assignment photography to special one-time decisions such as acquiring a digital workstation, Professional Business Practices in Photography provides the latest answers to any legal or business question an aspiring or professional photographer can ask. In eleven in-depth chapters, over two dozen industry experts offer practical guidance on such topics as estimating prices, formalizing agreements, using electronic technology, and much more. This completely updated Sixth Edition also features dozens of ready-to-copy legal and business forms, helpful checklists, and an extensive cross-media bibliography.
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The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) has been the leading national organization of professional photographers for more than 50 years. It is the accepted authority setting the standards for business practices in professional photography.
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This report © Copyright 2007, Victor H. Schlosser, All Rights Reserved.
Victor H. Schlosser is a photographer, writer, and Web Site Designer/Consultant. He writes about Photography, Marketing, and the Internet, with articles being published both online and in print.
Victor can be reached by E-Mail at: victor@photographer.net
