We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jocelyn Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jocelyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?
It can be challenging for freelance photographers to prove their value and make sure potential clients understand the value of their investment. With the abundance of technology, social media, and artificial intelligence, it’s easier for people to think they can replace a professional photographer with their cellphone and filters. However, it’s important to remember that there is no substitute for a photographer’s artistic vision and their unique image. To convert inquiries into clients, it’s important to use unconventional marketing tactics that demonstrate the value and importance of investing in a professional photographer. Additionally, it’s important to provide excellent customer service and make sure potential clients understand the technical aspects of your work to ensure they understand the value of hiring a professional.
Receiving and inquiry for a branding photography session, the client couldn’t perceive the value in hiring me. Might I add my quote was below market value for the area. The client attempted to negotiate but I couldn’t see the value in compromising my price, what I offered was my bottom line. I didn’t hear from that client again. The date the client inquired about arrived and to my surprise I received a call from the client frantically begging me to come to the location to take photographs. The person the client hired showed up with a cell phone to take pictures and the client didn’t know what to do. The client needed these images to promote the launch of her business. Unfortunately, I was unavailable but the client did book session with me. During the scheduled “make-up” session the client shared the cell phone images with me, the client was mortified. The Client had invested in a stylist, hair stylist, and makeup artist, those investments were lost. At the end of the whole ordeal, it ended up costing the client double of what was initially quoted.
In the beginning this was a closed/dead lead which impacted my profitability for that month. I couldn’t seem to convince the client of the value in the investment. The false sense of quality and ability cellphones, filters, and photograph apps has placed is making it difficult for photographers to secure the deal. Now that everyone has a camera in their pockets people see no need for photographers, photo albums, framed pictures, or even family photos. Photography is now, more then ever, a expendable cost.
Jocelyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a Baltimore, Maryland based photographer. Photography is where I am able to let my hair down. I enjoy the love that surrounds Weddings and being apart of that moment motivates me to capture simple, clean, vivid, and creative images that are publication worthy. Growing up I always enjoyed flipping through our family photo albums and using the Instant Polaroid camera. It’s something about the nostalgia of having a photography print in your hands that creates a unique connection to the memory. I begin my journey into photography when I was in high school. Every opportunity I have to stand behind my camera is invigorating. Embodying the moment and merging with my camera brings me joy, when my clients receive their galleries and are overwhelmed with gratitude. Developing images that truly captures the essence of the memories created drives my passion.
I enjoy capturing all types of images from weddings, engagements, family portraits, headshots, events, cooperate head shots, and branding sessions. I believe that photography should be accessible to everyone and I am committed to proving the value in the investment of hiring a photographer (even if it’s for your Childs birthday party). Photography captures the fleeting moments of life that are often stored as a short term memory. With pictures those moments can become generational memories. I am also an advocate of printing photos, I offer those services as well (albums, prints, framed portraits, gallery prints)
I am most proud of my client relations/customer service and the final product I return to clients.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Getting out of my own way! I was scared to enter into new environments. Although I am perceived as outgoing and a extrovert, most of the times I am the opposite. I enjoy being at home with people I know, so journeying out to networking events, engaging on social media, and even sharing my work was often intimidating. I didn’t start growing and being seen until I made a conscious effort to do things that made me uncomfortable. Even answering these interview questions is intimidating. While I talk about proving your value, I don’t see what value I have to add to my market or niche. Once I became intentional with how and when I engaged others, I noticed a shift in the visibility of my photography.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect is a satisfied returning client. If a client is overjoyed and excited about the gallery the I know I’ve succeeded. Making my clients happy is what I aim for. To give my clients the opportunity to see themselves in a moment of time is the best gift ever. It wasn’t until recently when several people close to me were diagnosed with cognitive and memory illnesses that I begin the cherish photography even more. The brain has a way to store away a memory so that the person can no longer recall it. But the power of photography has a way of bringing that memory back. Being able to share that moment in time with someone whos forgotten it and they remember it again is something that words, emotions, and objects cant often do. A picture is literally worth a thousand words and the fact that my work will have a remarkable impact on someone’s life for generations is satisfying.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.photogeniclyyours.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photogenic.ly_yours/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Photogenicly_yours
Image Credits
Jocelyn Thomas, Photogenic.ly Yours