Tips from the Pros

Doug Box
Professional Photographer

"If you could share any wisdom to those who are enjoying photography and want to improve their skills, what would that be?"

If you want to improve as a new, emerging photographer, I would join local, state and national photographic associations. Check out some of the online forums. Go to the library, peruse the shelves of used book stores, and visit other photographers in social situations. (Find a photographer you admire and take them to lunch.) Go to one of the PPA week-long schools every year. There are over 20 schools situated across the US and in Canada. I sign my letters, "Never Stop Learning!". I don't, and you shouldn't either.

"What is the most valuable advice that you had received and found most useful in your career?"

I get to teach a lot of new photographers. One of their biggest issues is equipment. They need EVERYTHING! So make a list of what YOU think you need. Show the list to other photographers, especially seasoned (older) photographers. I have a closet of equipment that I thought I needed and now never use. That special lens you couldn't live without, you find you rarely use. I also find that new photographers tend to buy cheap at first. My daddy use to always tell me to buy the best wood-working tool I could afford and even buy one more expensive than you think you can afford. If you buy a cheap tool, it will either break, or you will have to replace it and thereby waste money.

Then, when you have your list, and you have narrowed it down, make a loan, either a business loan, a second on your home, or a loan from a parent or friend. That way, you will have a more constant cash flow instead of charging everything on your credit card.

I know you have heard this, but “Dress for Success!”. Everything you do will reflect on your business; how you dress, your language, your car, your equipment, your business cards and brochures. DON”T try to do everything yourself. If your talent is not computer skills like retouching or color management, let a professional lab do that. If you are not a graphic designer, hire that out. If you are not a marketing or sales person, hire someone that is.

For additional information, see my website: www.TexasPhotographicWorkshops.com

Doug Box

I have been a photographer for 33 years and have published three books and several self-published workbooks and DVDs. In 1972 my father started 3-B Ranch as a hobby ranch. Along with my grandfathers and myself, we cleared the land, built fences, built 2 lakes, a cabin, and a barn. The 3-B Ranch has seen many changes since it began. Today, in addition to our residence, the ranch consists of 110 acres, a 4-acre lake, 3 small ponds, the original cabin that houses guest instructors, a 3,000-square-foot main building that houses the studio, camera rooms, teaching room, and offices, the barn, several storage buildings, and a workshop. My teaching experience began when I taught amateurs through community education in the early 1980s. I taught my first seminar for professional photographers in November of 1985. That is when the concept of Texas Photographic Workshops began. Since then I have taught in 46 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, England, Wales, Scotland, and on 3 cruise ships. Besides state, regional and local seminars I have presented programs at 15 national conventions, including Professional Photographers of America, Canada, and Mexico, and Wedding Portrait Photographers International. Of the 23 different week-long schools in the PPA network, I have taught at 17 of them, and many of them several different times. Published Books: Professional Secrets for Natural Light Portrait Photography The complete guide to photographing in natural light. Includes: posing, props, background selection, photographic hints, and technicalities of working with window, porch, and outdoor lighting situations. Features diagrams and illustrations for outdoors and on location, plus a special section on using flash outdoors and how to make it look natural. BUY Professional Secrets of Wedding Photography The complete guide to photographing weddings in the black and white photojournalistic and storybook wedding style and combining them with traditional wedding photography. You'll learn shots to look for at each wedding, working with clients and marketing storybook photography and how to create storybook wedding albums. BUY Professional Secrets for Photographing Children The complete guide to photographing children. Includes: posing, props, background selection, photographic hints, psychology of working with children and much more! Features diagrams and illustrations for studio photography, outdoors and on location, children at weddings and our NEW storybook photography of children. BUY Published DVD's The Power of Business - Portrait Edition | BUY The Power of Business - Wedding Edition | BUY The Digital Image Cafe community thanks Mr. Box for sharing his insight and experience with us.