527: Guillaume Lechat – making the successful and profitable transition to advertising photography

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Guillaume Lechat of www.guillaumelechat.com is an advertising photographer who transitioned from wedding photography to commercial and advertising photography.

I look forward to learning why and how you could do the same if it suits you.

Here is some background on Guillaume…

• – He grew up in Paris and attended photography school in 2002
• -In 2004, he started photography as a studio assistant in one of the biggest Parisian Studios.
• -In 2006, he travelled to LA for six months to create pictures. He didn't know then, but the images he created there helped him get work back in Europe because of their uniqueness.
• -In 2008, he lived in Sydney for two years, shooting mainly fashion.
• – In 2010, he moved back to Europe and got serious about advertising and lifestyle portrait photography. He shot campaigns for Nike, Budweiser, Ebay, Electrolux, Saudi Airlines, and more there.
• – Since 2018, he's been based in the USA.

In this interview, Guillaume shares everything you need to get started with advertising photography. From pricing, contracts, creativity, finding work, copyright, licensing, sourcing models, etc.

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• How different is photography in Paris than the rest of the world
• A brief background on how Guillaume started his career in photography
• Is street photography allowed in Paris
• Do you learn photography in school or while working as a photographer's assistant
• How Guillame started shooting commercial images
• The importance of going away and finding new places to shoot to improve your photography
• How to shoot for advertisements
• Guillaume's photography style
• Are art directors required for commercial advertising shoots
• Preparations needed before advertisement photography sessions
• The number of people needed for an advertising shoot
• Should you send RAW files to clients
• Post-processing advertising photos
• Discussing copyright for advertising clients
• How to find clients today
• How to deal with advertising agencies
• The best way to show your portfolio to prospective clients
• How to have prospective clients to notice your work

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I feel a photographer needs to become first like a marketer and then a photographer. – Guillaume Lechat

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Guillaume shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business due to what you heard in today's episode.

Try to go somewhere far even for like a month, somewhere different and shoot. But you have to try to shoot quality stuff. – Guillaume Lechat

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Guillaume or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes and Google are the biggest search engine for podcasts, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

The biggest thing in advertising if you want to do advertising is you have to show your work. You have to put your work in front of those people. – Guillaume Lechat

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to them.

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Guillaume Lechat Website

Guillaume Lechat on Instagram

Guillaume Lechat on Vimeo

Guillaume Lechat on LinkedIn

Aura Frames

Agency Access

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening, and thanks to Guillaume for sharing his thoughts, ideas, tactics, and processes for building and running a modern-day successful advertising and commercial photography business with up-to-date marketing, pricing and photographic strategies and approaches to business and communication.

You do your best picture when you shoot personal stories. – Guillaume Lechat

That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew

The post 527: Guillaume Lechat – making the successful and profitable transition to advertising photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.