Respectfully Fred. You have it wrong. IMHO.
I don't know of any business that can start in business with giving their product away.
Starting a blog that likely isn't going to be followed by the right people is a waste of time. Having an online news letter that you drive potential clients to could be good.
I don't believe that starting in the business today is all that different from when I started thirty years ago. It takes commitment and hard work.
I have always worked on stock and assignment photography.
Before I even gave up my day job in 1980 I had determined I would do no weddings or baby pictures. I would work for large companies that would still be in business when it became time to get paid. I knocked on a lot of doors doing cold calls to find clients.
There are still lots of businesses that require photographs taken on assignment.
For stock pick any area that interests you and preferably one that isn't flooded with amateur work like nature or horse pictures.
Build a library of pictures. I consider my stock targeted stock. That is I have a pretty good idea where it will be used when I take the picture. I am usually pretty accurate. At this targeting of stock. Then the pictures are added to my regular library.
For anyone starting out, when you have a slow day it isn't a day for slacking off but an opportunity to spend your valuable time looking for new clients and building stock. Neglect neither they are both important.
David B
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 26, 2011, at 2:04 PM, "Fred" <freddyv@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> IMO this confirms that there are really only two ways to compete these days:
>
> I really don't like what I wrote there so allow me to clarify: I do think that "providing" images for free as a way to promote your images or other products is an excellent way to build a business these days, as opposed to just churning out images for microstock sellers.
>
> Posting your images to a blog and writing about your photography and/or travel experiences would be a good example. Providing images to businesses in exchange for their promotion (linking) of your services would be another. From there you can license your images, sell prints and product and offer your services as a professional photographer.
>
> -Fred
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