Shooting Birds with Ruffled Feathers Photography

Stevie Wonder Parrot

Cormorant

Great White Egret/ Great White Heron

Great White Egret/ Great White Heron

Great Blue Heron and Tricolor Heron

Great Blue Heron in Nest

Anhinga Juveniles in Nest

I made a quick trip down to Boca Raton, FL this weekend for a friend’s wedding.  While down there, Gretchen, a good friend and fellow photographer, and I met up for a mini photo-fari.  She led me around a nearby bird sanctuary and taught me all about the birds.  I love to photograph with other photographers as I always learn something new from the times we spend together.  I knew Gretchen and I shared a love for nature, animals, and photography but I had no idea she is a bird expert and I got to ask her endless questions about the birds we encountered.  While it was a quick photo outing, I did also enjoy talking to the guys pictured above who walk the boardwalk everyday with their pet parrot.  They were such characters!  The one in the wheel chair whipped around to reveal professional photography equipment in his lap and the man in the yellow shirt is an avid bird watcher.  Their pet parrot did a Stevie Wonder dance for us to show-off.  Thanks Gretchen for a fun afternoon!  for now…. leslie

Check out Gretchen’s photography at www.ruffledfeathersphotography.com

I made the Cover!

My photo “Couple in White Sands” made the front cover of Wanderlust’s new bi-annual magazine Unique Honeymoons (www.unique-honeymoon-ideas.com).  Unique Honeymoons is a jam-packed mag full of inspiration, trip ideas and advice to help you plan the most romantic trip of your life.  Wanderlust, out of the UK (www.wanderlust.co.uk), is a beautiful award-winning magazine for people who are passionate about travel.  I am honored to be published in a Wanderlust Publication.

For more about the new magazine: http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine/news/unique-honeymoons-magazine-issue-1-out-now

Purchase a copy here: http://shop.wanderlust.co.uk/uhm-issue-1—springsummer-2012-982-p.asp

Backyard Shooting

You don’t always have to travel far to get some nice photos.  I shot these photos one January evening after my Grandma and I noticed how thick and gorgeous the fog was that night.  Not really planning to shoot, I walked steps from my back porch and snapped these photos.  You can even see my apartment building in the background.  See more photos from that night on flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesliesgallery  For now, leslie

Beaver Creek, CO: How’d the Mountain treat you Today?

Wow, what a place… from the aspen trees to the mountain vistas, Beaver Creek will take your breath away (not just from the change in altitude).   There are endless things to do in Beaver Creek – snowboarding, skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, tubing… and the area is not just great for winter but in the summer too – you can hike, fish, rent an ATV, shop or just hang out at one of the many amazing resorts.  My boyfriend and I had a blast this past week in Beaver Creek.  And I must say, the people are so friendly!  I felt like everyone was my friend.  A place I definitely want to go back to.  for now, les

What I’ve learned in Business… so far

Some of this may seem obvious but I feel maybe we all slip up or get lazy with our business practices.  These are just a few things that I have learned in business.

Phone Calls

When someone calls you call them back, do not email them back, do not text them back, CALL them back.  Only when you are absolutely unable to call them back may it be acceptable to email them.  If you get too busy to make phone calls then get an assistant, at this point you could probably afford one.  I am not at that point yet so if you’re calling “Leslie’s Gallery” or “Photography by Leslie Clements” you will get Leslie.  The only time I was not able to call a client back was when I actually lost my voice from being sick.

When you call someone, call them standing up and smiling.  Sounds silly but when you are standing you are more aware and on your toes (in more ways than one) to answer any questions thrown at you.  When you are smiling (regardless of whether you are really happy or not) your voice will come across in a happy, friendlier tone.  People like to talk to a friendly sounding person versus the possible reality of maybe I had been editing photos, sleep deprived, and slumped in front of my computer for the past 8 hours.

Last tip for calls (and for talking to people face to face as well)… say the person’s name at least twice in conversation.  I will admit I do not do this enough but it does make the conversation feel more personal.  That person is then more likely to listen to you and later remember what you said.

Social Networking

I have yet to figure this all out as I am new to social networking for my photography business.  All I know is what I find to be tasteless and annoying to me when entering the social networking world.

Do not bribe people to follow you… “if you are the 100th person to like my page you get a free 2hr. photo-shoot”.  If people like you or your work (hopefully both) they will “like” you or “follow” you on their own.  Wouldn’t you rather have 100 true fans versus 200 resentful people who were just looking to get something for free?  It goes along the same line as – would you rather have 5 best friends or 30 acquaintances?

Do not use social networking to tell people about giveaways, deals, discounts, or coupons.  I don’t give coupons for my services or have special one time deals (see below on pricing) as I think your time is worth what your price is set at and never any less.  Your products should always be the lowest price you can sell them for on an everyday basis.  While this may work for some businesses to push people into buying, I think it’s down right tacky… especially on social networking sites.  Leave the deals for Walmart.

People are on social networking sites to “socially network” and to share what they are up to in their lives.  In business you can share your inspirations, your process, your work, updates and accomplishments, and advice on your specialty.  Be positive with your writing and give compliments.  Give thanks to those who give you compliments.  Never write anything negative about a person or their work.  It’s okay to show your personality, people like real people not dry businesses.

Lastly, never post a client’s photos to any social networking site without their written consent (this ideally is with a model contract, I use the Getty Images model release).  Remember, posting to the internet is considered publishing.

Pricing

Configure your pricing ahead of time, stay firm on your pricing, never doubt your pricing, and do not crack to sympathy.  I get a lot of clients who tell me their whole life story about why they are strapped for cash.  This business is not a barter.  Figure out what you are worth and stick to it.  If you’re going through hard times, yes I get it, we all do…  but photography is an extra, an add-on, as much I want to think it’s an absolute necessary service, lets face it, hiring a photographer is a luxury.  During the recession it was understandably a service people cut back on.  Instead of losing the business all together, I will work with someone on what they can afford.  I give them what they can pay for at the prices I have set – this typically means cutting back on photo editing hours, if someone can only pay for 4 hours worth of editing, that is exactly what they get, without me having to adjust my price.

Most importantly, be completely transparent and honest not only with prices but with everything you do in business.  People will respect that I promise.

Get a Life

Don’t spend your entire day and week working.  If you shoot a wedding on Friday and Saturday then take Sunday and Monday off.  After editing photos for 4 hours take the dog for a walk or grab lunch with a friend.  People want to do business with happy, healthy people not stressed out, sleep deprived, workaholics.  If you can’t handle all the work that comes your way then outsource.  If you take the time to balance work and play, your clients, friends and family will thank you for it.

In conclusion, you are your business, in everything you do.  Whether it is your personal Facebook page or in person, always reflect how you want not only yourself but your business to be portrayed.