The Dark Truth Behind My Failed Photography Business
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- čas přidán 30. 08. 2022
- In this video, I'm sharing the story of my photography business. It failed spectacularly, and I learned a lot about what not to do in business.
If you're planning to start a photography business, then you should definitely watch this video. It'll teach you the essential things you need to know to avoid making the same mistakes I made. from marketing to business planning to creating a profitable business, I cover it all in this video!
Today we are looking at my failed photography business and hopefully helping you all avoid the mistakes I made.
You can find me on;
Instagram / scottchoucino
/ 1893064874281393
Tin House Website and WORKSHOPS www.tinhouse-studio.com/
My Commercial Workscottchoucino.com/ - Jak na to + styl
But on a plus side, this ones still working www.tinhouse-studio.com/
hey I can't download one of your workshops I get an error sent you an email
@@johnl4141 no worries the email will get picked up and sorted by the guys. Thanks
@@johnl4141 Hi John, I had a look myself today but I don't have an email from you. Could you re send it please. Thanks :)
@@TinHouseStudioUK will do thank you for looking
@@TinHouseStudioUK I’ve had a reply to my comment from someone with your picture as their profile picture… is this one of your accounts or someone pretending to be you?
I think it’s also worth noting that the 10 years you spent as a portrait photographer informed your EFFICIENCY, PROFICIENCY, and PROFITABILITY as a food photographer by the time you made that transition.
If you’d started out as a food photographer, you’d have probably needed that same 10 years to reach the success you’ve had in just 3 years.
Just sharing because I know that perspective matters and our “failures” actually do serve as learning grounds by the time we’ve found our “true-calling.”
Thank you for this. I’ve been explain to people for over 10 years that I do not enjoy shooting portraits because I am an introvert. The number of times I’ve been told “But introverts can do it too!” Ugh! Not the point. I can’t. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t want to do it.
I’m happy to hear you’ve found success shooting what you do love.
I feel this. I'm very much an introvert with a lot of social anxiety on top. Weirdly, though, I really want to do portraits, and I get good results when I do it. I rarely do it, though, because of the social aspect. A weird situation to be in. Fortunately, not the only thing I want to shoot!
I'm not an introvert but I don't like photographing people, NOPE. I started shooting people too for me I had the same eyes, not happy at all.
I so appreciate this. I was a wedding photographer for 12 and was quite successful, yet when I approached my 250th wedding, I hit burn out and called it quits. Everyone told me I was so good and that I shouldn’t quit, but my heart and exhaustion told me I was done. I’m proud of my wedding photography work, but my heart knows I’m a portrait photographer. I’m starting all over 2024 and I’m so excited about my next chapter in life and photography. Thank you for this wonderful CZcams video. I just subscribed.
This is so important to note: Be self-aware. What is the most annoying about you is also your super power. I killed my photography studio because I thought "OK this isn't going to be my narrative anymore". I enjoyed watching this video and your evolution to becoming a happier, more fulfilled photographer. If it matters any, your portrait work is great also but your happiness should come first.
Very well put Walid!
I know where you’re coming from. I enjoy meeting and working with people, but between the constant travel, and always having to motivate subjects to get “the shot”, it just burnt me out (after 20 some years). Then Covid hit and I had a lot of down time to do some soul searching and figure out a new more balanced game plan. It’s coming along slowly, but nothing is built overnight….your videos are a big motivator !
Great talk! I am of the same type of personality. I think a lot of us, and a lot of people that I meet when networking that aren't photographers expect me (photographers) to be a "portrait" or "wedding" photographer. And when you tell them you shoot architecture or commercial work, they say "Oh..." And you feel like you need to be doing portraits or events because your'e missing out on that market. But it's like trying to fit a square peg into a circle and you can force it but it just doesn't quite fit. I've always been drawn to commercial work where I can control the elements in the photograph and if it's lacking something, it's my own shortcomings, purely because I don't have the skill to create the vision I have in my head on to film. Or pixels. And seeing how many terrible portrait photographers are getting booked- for me knowing I can do so much better, makes you want to try it, but again the drain of the social aspect can't be avoided. Ironically I was a detective in law enforcement in one of the busiest cities in the US for over 15 years. To say that was exhausting is an understatement. I was good at it, but I knew all those years the job wasn't for me and I hated most interactions with people who were always at their worst.... but I stayed because I thought it was the "responsible and pragmatic" thing to do. I flat out quit this year forfeiting my pension and came back to photography. I studied photography in college and was reasonably successful young commercial photographer, but met a fork in the road, got married, had a child at 21, and thought I needed job security. Joined the Army, then law enforcement. Certainly took the long road to get where I am today- not reinventing myself, but reviving my old creative self that I tried to ignore for the last 20 years! I'm struggling to start a new business and this conversation has helped! Anyway this was good to hear and I'm a new subscriber!
Your honesty of failure is a success - one of your best youtubes delivered with a simple lesson - know who you are, know your strengths and weakness and success will find you! thx - this video made my day!
The massive irony is that your portrait work is better than you realise. It might have to do with the tension... but, it is not sustainable. My business is quite generalised, so even I spend 70% in the wine industry, it is a spread of genres in a single industry. It helps me to not get burned out on a single genre and all its associated issues. I have shot a good many cookbooks, but after each of those, I couldn't face a food shot for weeks. My safe place is a good spread. It suits my curiosity. Great and sober video. I am 22 years into freelancing, and I am figuring these things ouf all the time.
Totally agree. Far more interesting than the oddly over saturated kitchy food photos. But hey, coming out with that kind of opinion, not cool. Clicky baity (love the phrase) may it be, I keep coming back for the honesty introspection and finding solutions. I’m watching his vids he’s not watching mine (trick -I’ve not made any)so kudos for all the work and energy you put in. I think there’s always gonna be work for tutorial production and you’re doing a bang up job of that. Love the image of Sir Bob Geldof- happy timing creating that aura like bubble of light surrounding him coukda done without the vomit side note however. He’s human so it happens but he’s also one of my personal hero’s - far under appreciated and so accomplished and humble. If you cross paths feel free to mention the huge fan boy here in seattle and high five him for vegetarians of love. Epic album shared deep in the hearts of both me and a very special dame - a painter like nobody’s business. Ok I rarely comment now I’ve said way more than my fair share. Keep it up tin house yA rin tin tin man…. flying thru the air making images to share all by the hair on your chinny chin chin. Cheers from west seattle david
Probably the best video I've watched on youtube in a freaking long time. The vulnerability and honesty shown here is outstanding. Well done mate.
As a photographer who is in a bad rut on what to do, this video helped a lot thank you.
I'm constantly updating my business model canvass based on my current situation, removing what is not working, adding what I can try out.
Your honesty very appreciated, I crashed 8 years ago with a portrait business with 10 photographers, only thing I did in the end was supervising and correcting their mistakes. Now I am back to basics, just me in the studio with the costumers, love it and I control the quality 100% again.
It’s always tough to kill a business that you have put so much time and energy into.
Indeed it is. Well said 👍
Even tougher to carry on doing something that no longer works for you though.
Thank you so much for spelling it out for me. I've been on a very similar journey as you have and this video has helped me make sense of this. I have been a successful portrait and wedding photographer in the past, but I absolutely hated every moment of it. It took so much out of me trying to pose people and get them to do what I want them to do. I thought I loved taking portraits, but over the past several years I've realized that I just love the reaction that I get from my clients when they see my work, when it goes well. As you know, there are people that you will never please (even when the photos are amazing) and when they complain it would crush me. I was continued to be pushed to continue this line of work that I hated for so long. Recently, much like you I've realized that my true passion with photography is when I'm alone with nature. I get the same reaction, when people see my work, but I'm never needing to please anyone anymore. It's a pleasure to go on long photo shoots now - I'm still in the transition phase (it got so bad that I sold all of my equipment and got out of the photography game completely a year ago), but I love that I can now build a business that is on my terms and not on bridazillas, momzillas, the high school senior that doesn't want to be at the shoot, and the fathers who think I'm charging too much (when I'm really not charging enough.) Thanks for the positivity and for sharing what I needed to hear today, I'm new here and subscribed. Here's to new beginnings. Look forward to hearing more.
One thing you forgot to mention, you’re much much happier doing this than the other thing! Your honesty and self reflection is very refreshing! I get a lot from your videos on how I look at myself. I’m a far cry away from where you are as photographer. An infant as it were as a photographer. But I’ll get there using your wisdom. Thank you!
Thank you for this much needed and very personal experience you're sharing for us to learn from. I love the self-assessment part and I'll be implementing it immediately
Thank you for share all of this. Your content and the way you communicate is amazing
Thanks
That's sooo interesting. You summed up neatly how I feel around groups of people too. One thing i've learned about failures is that they're way better at teaching lessons than successes. Failures are so interesting to me.
After a disastrous photoshoot experience where the client was shooting over my shoulder with her iphone, this video really resonates with me. But the thing is it was a product/lifestyle brand shoot. She even shot photos with props I brought and then didn't even order any shots that I shot with the prop ( a fresh pineapple) and they turned out great, my daughter loved them (she's a real former professional fashion model and so am I). But they (the clients) are all trying to get as much content as they can during the shoot and I get that. My daughter said she thinks we were hired to be like actors for makeup and hair and photography so the client's daughter "the model" could feel like she was on a professional photoshoot LOL Still trying to figure out how that won't happen to me again.
You the photographer, was also their prop for their 'making of' video. The job was, exactly as you described, you were actors in her 'model's video.
@@whaitebranco3400 Thank you for your comment, I will tell my daughter that you think she is right, that we were hired to be actors.
Easy. Have stipulations. I would’ve instantly told her what she’s doing is unprofessional, and that being an extra for her own video wasn’t what I was hired for.
@@IncognitoSprax Thanks for your reply Sprax, this is my other account and for some reason it doesn't have a profile photo. With that being said, the client did end up using several of my photos on their social media because my photos turned out better than hers even if I did photograph some shots of the pool water separately and photoshop it into the photo (you can't tell I did it and it looks great). She photographed the product by the pool and the water that was in the photo had a large shadow in the pool. I'm glad I had the foresight to shoot photos of the water in the end of the pool that did not have a dark shadow from an umbrella. First of all I wouldn't have photographed the products there (the client set up the shot) in the shadowy dark water. Thankfully for the second photoshoot with this same client (yes we took another chance of working with them lol) they did treat me with way more respect. I think the first time, there was a lack of trust but when they saw the photos they gained a huge respect for me plus I think they realized I had a bad experience with them. My daughter at first didn't want to work with them again but they treated her nicer too. We were glad we gave them a second chance! At this point though, we wanted to help the client produce better reels than she is producing on her own. My daughter is much better and so am I at producing a reel than the client is. The client posts videos that are way too dark and she doesn't combine any clips she just uses one continuous clip, they are really boring. Hopefully I will continue to make reels that I can post on my social and or my website so they can add reels to their package. Still don't know how much to charge for a reel. My daughter said it took her 4 days to create a reel. It turned out beautiful but we don't know what to charge for a reel that has several clips put together with music and tells a story.
I think a no phone clause should be put into photographers contract with the client. my cousin hired a wedding photographer who suggested just this and my cousin was up for enforcing it at his wedding, he said after all he did not want his wedding photos ruined by just seeing guests phones held up or photos of his wedding plastered over social media. he stated this on the invites and said if they wish to have specific photos done, they would be welcome to ask the photographer. it worked well, I think the term they use is "unplugged" wedding. this should apply to any event
You might be the first Brit I know that feels the way I feel about people, lockdown, working in fashion, how I feel about my work, etc. Guess I felt there was a connection when I started following you a while ago... :)
Thanks! I needed to hear this right at this moment. 🙏
Very valuable insights and lessons you are sharing in this video! I'm happy you are doing so great doing what you love!
As an introvert, this speaks to me as well. I take pictures of buildings and spaces because they don't move, don't have opinions, and I don't need to rely on their expressions or moods to make my work. That's not to say I don't like people and won't photograph them from time to time, but it's not my calling.
This video resonated with me more then any others in regards to thinking about who I am inside. I love looking at portrait work on instagram etc and kept thinking that's what I need to do. But this video made me realise I'm not that guy and I do enjoy being alone a lot more then trying to work my way around people. Thanks for this. Love your vids.
are you a people person though in your day to day life? do you like to strike up conversations with strangers?
@@artivism4068 No, I usually keep to myself. I'll talk to people if they want to but I never start random convos.
My hat off for sharing this... not every one would do it.
As a photographer to work with people it helps to be an extrovert.
Thank you for this, excellent viewpoints were shared in this video.
Finally an honest take on why photographers can't just take any pictures because they have a camera in their hands! >.
Cracking vid, Scott. Thanks for sharing.
Terrific advice!! You’re spot on about the sunken cost fallacy… there is nothing but lost time - that which no one can ever recoup. Great introspection.
This resonates so much, thanks for sharing.
This is one of the most important videos I did watch here on youtube. Thank you so much.
recently found your channel , loved the honesty in this video and made me feel im not the only one because i hate shooting people/weddings and portait kind of stuff but love motorsport
Hey man, great video, honest self reflection. Side note (audio engineer here), listening on headphones, your "p's" and "b's" (plosives) are loud (and very low frequency) when you face the mic. You can roll off at around 100 Hz (high pass filter) or put a pop filter in front of the mic (or both). Thanks again for your work.
Thanks Scott. Very educational and aspirational. I'm in that thinking phase.
I've watched two very important videos of yours, this one and about the portfolio that changed your career. I've been thinking about these topics, but couldn't find the right words for it even to search for it online. Thank you 🖤
Awesome, thank you!
Wow! You’ve really struck a chord with people on this one, well done!
Sometimes the success of a good idea getting through is all in the timing... and the timing of this resonating with what I’ve been trying to put my head around and summarise, for a while, has been perfect.
Sometimes you just need to hear someone else put it into words.
The genius part here is describing what it was like going out with a heap of people (talking crap) too... this really creates a whole story for people to see some different aspects/angles here (not just about how it works/doesn’t with photography).
Thank you kind Sir. Much appreciated!!
Enjoying the misanthropic chat - but it’s still the people photography that I love to see & do. Love your portraits Btw.
I had to google misanthropic haha. Thanks
Thank you so so much!! All I needed to hear!!
Just found your channel and I’m really happy I did! So many things in common - a long exposure to people takes a lot of energy off me and I need days to recover. Thanks for sharing these thoughts!
Really happy you have found what makes you happy. Great video thanks
Brilliant stuff, I know exactly how you feel, as I had a film business that went the same way, before Covid. Long story!!! Good 4 you, being honest.
great video!!! same experience has a portrait phoytographer for 12 years! Love still live and the silence
I enjoyed your vulnerability and your search for inner peace through your work.
Glad you found the way to adapt and achieve success with your new business.
Thank you. Your remarks were very helpful for me.
Thank you, another great video!
thank you, i've seen your evolution from the 1st video until now(still have some more to see, had a hard-working time but i will be on day soon). I can say that you guided my photography style and the way to see a photo. thank you!
Great story, thanks for these insights. Important for me to consider as I prepare to begin on my video/photo business journey at 28.. glad you've found your self expression. So important to remain true.
Once more...right to the point ..and probably one of the most honest advice out there....thanks for sharing!
So interesting and useful to hear your experience, thanks for making. I started out doing work that would suck the life out of me, no one would know, I was exhausted after shoots and it took days to recover. Now things are better but still need to work on this... your video is encouraging.
Brilliant insight. Thanks for sharing.
Great story shared. This video made my feel even more confident that working with people is what I love, and fits my personality type. We are all different for sure, and that's totally fine. Thanks for sharing.
I recently stumbled to your videos and i really enjoying how straightforward you are. I really like your b&w portraits. But, yes, being an introvert does affect our work. After i shoot a festival for a weekend, I'm done with people for like a month! Lol! I look forward to watching more of your videos!
Your awesome, I love your advice because it's real. Thank you 🙏
Thanks for an extremely insightful thought piece.
Great video - thanks mate. I'm in a similar position now. I have a whole bunch of work lined up in the genre that I've been shooting for a few years now but I don't want to do any of it. I have no idea how to pivot into more fulfilling work. I am constantly being told that I have the best job in the world but it all feels like bollocks. Thanks for sharing some tough questions to ask myself. Time to do some soul searching.
That's an interesting story.) Switched completely to product photography a couple of years ago, but still learning about the marketing and how to make more - money and regular customers.
That was a very open and sincere testimony, undoubtedly very useful to hear. Thank you 🙏
thank you so much for sharing this very personal story, it's liberating to hear yous story, acknowledging what you're not good at, and assessing who you are, and making decisions accordingly.
I'm in videography and couldn't agree more. Love the craft, can't stand working with people. Just realizing I'm more of a lone writer than the director I imagined myself to be. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks again for sharing this story of your past. I can see how the pandemic made you re-evaluate the portrait business if it was impossible to meet up with other people. I would argue that the portrait work helped your still life work as you know what you want but just find it hard to draw it out of the sitter. Photography looks easy but is the hardest thing to do. Making a still life object come alive with personality is what your current portfolio shouts out. Portrait work isn't just about how you take it but who you take. The Yousuf Karsh portrait of Winston Churchill wouldn't be as thought provoking if it was a different grumpy old man. I'm not aware of any famous baked beans or chewy sweets but to make them "alive" is some real skill.
Hi there, thank you for this brutal and honest piece of content. It is very insightful for any kind of freelance business activity
Thank you for sharing the lessons learned.
Now that was deep and meaningful. Some really useful insights for anyone who wants to listen. To be warned about avoidable pitfalls - valuable advice indeed.
I'm trying to develop a photography business based on landscape stuff - the idea of having to work with people makes me soil myself.
wow! thankyou!! Youre incredible
As someone who is thinking of photog as a 2nd career at some point when my kids are older, this was the best video I could have watched now. Thank you.
Click baity, yes.
Work the YT algo, yes.
I’m still with you 🙏
An honest self-appraisal! Some of us have colossal recharging social batteries and some of us have a couple of Triple-As. A huge key to a happy life is knowing which type of battery you have and being cool with it.
Gosh, I feel it’s me speaking through you! I’m a fashion and beauty photographer -just sometimes I create still life images related to the above- and don’t get me wrong, I love fashion, beauty, posing but after a whole day of shooting I feel hangover, I feel mentally and physically drained. I’m so happy I don’t feel that alone anymore ☺️
Brilliant topic! Great advice!
For someone who self confesses to avoiding people. I think you've found the solution within this forum.
I always look forward to your output as its always relevant to the business.
Many thanks.
Brilliant video, very useful. Thanks.
A great insight into something that many don't consider in what they shoot. I shoot Motorsports, I enjoy the pit shots working with people for a small amount of time but I enjoy the trackside shots much more! The rushed day is balanced with how peaceful it can be in your own head whilst shooting fast action.
Great video, thanks for sharing your story. Would you be who you are now (Both professionally and personally) without living through the 10 years as a portrait photographer?
We need more videos like this. Thanks.
I’m beginning to realise how smalltalk exhausts me too, I can’t stand to do corporate work anymore. it’s good, you knew yourself well enough to recognise this sooner than later.
I can relate being with people is exhausting ! It’s not them it was me. I like alone time. I told someone one time because I couldn’t get away “you’re wearing my listening battery down” 😂thanks for sharing!
What an eye opener for me, i can't stand people & been doing a job i hate with the public for 30yrs . Time for a change & thanks for your honesty :)
thanks for sharing this pal. I am thinking about starting a photography business and want to know how is it going to be like. I can relate to the intro-extroversion as I venture into salesmanship as introvert after graduated and it is just lack that 1 piece to become the top. "I love quiting" is well quoted! love it!
alright?!??! this is beautiful work man!
Excellent commentary.
Bravo! A rare video: honest!
Nice. I found me in you. You're literally describing my situation. I can't stand around large group of people and do small talks. It does took me 2 days to recover from each wedding job. Hopefully when i reach your age i will finally found what suits me.
First, i really like the portraits you just showed. Second, i relate so much with what you said about interacting with other people and crowds but for some obscure reason, I’m attracted to shoot portraits. I’ve only done a few but i really enjoy the results. Anyway, love your channel, very inspiring. Thank you kindly.
As in introvert I recently stopped doing trying to do portrait photography as a side buisness because not only is it competetive & hard to get clients but I don't like reaching out to people or even telling people what to do and how to move ect during a shoot. It get tiring. So I just went back to doing street & city scape photography. More peaceful and don't have to communicate to anyone.
Now I understand how to explain why I've not made headway in portraits. I'm glad to see a happy ending to this tale of woe.
All really good points to make but consider this. You probably would not have done so well so quickly had you taken a more direct path. All the experience you gained is still at work. You're coming to it differently, it gives you an edge. Changing the subject matter doesn't really change as much as people like to think. Virtually everything you're doing in food is identical to other studio shooting. The equipment, the physics of light, the financial practicalities, etc, are all similar or sometimes exactly the same. Learning all that in a different context is probably why you see things the way you do as well. You're doing food as almost fashion. Average food photographers do not look at things that way.
I shoot multiple disciplines and can totally see it. My concert photography is doing pretty well for me right now and people repeatedly say that they can tell I shoot fashion. They love the different approach and it sets me apart.
This video came at the right time, while having a discussion with one of my business partners. Our wedding gigs, is just that, we have to engage with a couples that sometimes has absolutely no idea how to act, pose, behave etc in a pre-wedding shoot. I am very social person, but with work, it's totally different situation. Maybe, i should get into pre-scripted jobs, were i just film and edit. Will start thinking about where i go from here and my partners. cheers mate..Great informative and sincere video for those in rut and don't know what, why & where things are going.
Thanks for your honesty. I used to be in a big group of mates all based around a few of their bands. Music I loved to be sure, but I feel you with the live music/band lifestyle and social necessities. I had a LOT of fun but needed serious debriefing afterwards.
Since taking up photography I haven’t felt the call to do portraits. Some aspects of it I really dig, and if friends or family wanted it done I’d be happy to. Not people I don’t know. Ugh.
Love the real raw talk!
Thanks, this is some amazing words. Stop photography, started doing film work.
😂lov your humour man!!
very useful! thanks!!
As a photographer that does portraits, that black and white subway photo is goddamn amazing
Actually I suffer from anxiety and going out with people and socializing makes me feel sick as well. I tried to do my best but maybe I should give my body what it wants for once. Thanks for the video I'm an aspiring photographer and I appreciate you being so candid.
Thanks for your honesty
Heart felt honest (tried n tested) great advice here. Thanks
Thank you for this video. I have been a landscaper for about 30 years. I am currently going to to school to learn photography. I am a good landscaper and can make money at it. I am very new to photography I love it but am unsure how I can make money at it. Its scary changing careers. Your video has given me a glimmer of hope again.
Well said. Coming to terms with introversion is liberating.