We recently connected with Erik Meadows and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Erik, thanks for joining us today. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The worst investment of time I have made as a business owner is to accept a project at a lower budget with the promise of a non-monetary return, e.g. a future project at my full rate, or promotion of my business after completion of the project. I have found through trial and error that it is best to only expect the agreed upon compensation. Any “hand shake” kind of agreement may or may not happen.

Early in my career, I photographed several projects with the promise that my business would be promoted and that I would have future work when these organizations had larger photography budgets. Yes, I was tagged in some photos on social media, but a few years down the line, several of the nascent organizations for whom I had shot photography ended up growing and putting new PR teams in place. When the organizations grew, I was no longer hired.

I thought by “getting in good” with these organizations, I would grow alongside them, but the opposite proved to be true. I was left out in the cold.

I’ve found that if you give a budget price, people think of you as a budget option… in my case a “budget photographer”. Because of my zeal to accept work, I allowed myself to be paid less than I was worth. It’s all too commonplace for artists to be underpaid because they enjoy their art.

At the end of the day, creative careers are businesses and you have to charge what you’re worth from the get-go. If you miss out on a project because you send a quote that’s too high, just move on to the next potential client.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I believe websites and social accounts are a business’s storefront, and can make or break a first impression for potential clients. Simply put, I work with my clients to help them present their brand through sharp, well lit, beautifully composed images. Specifically, I photograph people, buildings, and food.

What sets me apart is that my images are top notch. But I usually let the photos speak for themselves.

I am a native of Atlanta, GA and found photography about 12 years ago, when I stumbled onto some beautiful, documentary-style wedding photographs. After building a wedding photography business, I began to receive occasional commercial projects in my pipeline. While I love weddings and wedding photography, commercial/business to business photography offered me a more relaxed, nine-to-five style workweek, with most of my projects scheduled on weekday afternoons.

What I am most proud of is how commonplace it is for my clients to tell me their photography experience was not only painless, but enjoyable! After photographing hundred of clients, I have met very few people who enjoy having their photograph taken. I love for my clients to have an amazing photography experience, from start to finish.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been to treat each client like they are my most important client.

Word-of-mouth referrals have been a huge part of my business. I had to look up a recent referral source, because I wasn’t sure who it was. It turns out it was a client from seven years ago who had remembered me and my work and still referred me to a colleague.

Great work, over delivery, and outstanding client experiences compound on themselves and create a steady, consistent pipeline of new projects.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Yes… this is not all fun and games.

Most people comment on how fun my shoots must be. This is not fun. It’s work. I enjoy being able to work as a creative, but at the end of the day, nothing about this, to me, is “fun”… it’s serious work. I am providing an important service and I don’t approach photography as a hobby. I have worked hard to get to the point that I am at in my career, and I did not get here by having fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.erikmeadows.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ErikMeadows/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-meadows-b382a99/

Image Credits

Erik Meadows Photography