OK… we got the gear and the portfolio is looking pretty good. So now we need to find clients to actually pay us for the images, and help us go from a part-time Pro-Am to a full time photographer. You see, clients may not seek you out – even if your portfolio is red-hot and rockin’. They don’t know who you are, and are kinda busy doing the things that they do 12 hours a day in their business.

And who ya gonna call, anyway?

This is one of the biggest questions I get asked at my ‘Going Pro’ portion of the workshops. Where do you find clients?

I don’t think it is necessarily a ‘finding’ as that implies the act of acquiring a client as some sort of serendipitous act… like ‘finding’ a $20 bill, or ‘finding’ a cool old camera at a garage sale.

Clients aren’t found… they are researched and explored and defined and identified. And that sounds like a situation for a process.

This requires work on your part, pushing off the throes of inaction and taking hold of the thrill of accomplishment.

I am embedding this show here. Last time we had some issues with questions not appearing here. If you are on this page and cannot see the questions, jump on over to this Vokle link. If that doesn’t work, use twitter with the tag #LELive.

NOTE: You have to sign in to get the full panel with questions and such. Easy and they don’t do anything with the info, but they have to have an id for everyone to keep the thing going smooth. Below is a slide show to accompany the presentation above.

Homework
Yep. Here are a few articles to be familiar with:

Seth Godin on “Choosing Your Clients”
Download and listen to Selina’s free first chapter here. Selina Maitreya is one of the top photography consultants in the business. (If you are interested in purchasing the whole thing, and you should be – use FOSLE at checkout and save 50% courtesy of LE.)
Read this article on “Marketability” at Heather Morton’s Blog.

That’s it. See you 6PM sharp for this vidcast discussion. If you have a video camera, you can ask your question by video.

You know, this stuff isn’t as ‘sexy’ as lighting beautiful girls with a softbox or whatever, but I do think it is at least as valuable. Maybe, just maybe a bit more.

Workshop NEWS:
Fall is nearly fully scheduled:
August 28 – SEATTLE
FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITURE – ONE DAY WKSHP. $225

September, 11, 12: Calgary
September, 25, 26, Boston
October 2, 3,Sacramento
October 9, 10, Dallas
October 16, 17, Savannah
October, 30, 31: Norfolk, VA
November 6, 7 Minneapolis
November 13, 14, Houston
November 20, 21 Raleigh, Durham

December 4, 5, 6 Anna Maria Island
Special 3 Day Portfolio Building Workshop

2011 Schedule up on Aug 15th, and we start in San Diego, Portland, and New Orleans

My goal is to bring a full, 2 day workshop for photographers to smaller markets. We keep the group small so we have plenty of opportunity for one-on-one and to make sure the student ‘gets it’. I want to help you make better photographs. Whether you are a weekend warrior with a great hobby experience or an emerging professional making their way into the world of pro-photography. Learn to Light is the Workshop page. And you can follow me on Twitter for photographic notes and tips daily.