581: Gary Williams – How Personal Projects Can Boost Your Photography Business

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Gary Williams, of www.garywilliams.photography, has been published in the New York Times, had his photography displayed in galleries around the world, shown on billboards across London, and describes himself as a London-based documentary photographer.

If you visit his website, it’s clear that his primary focus is on weddings and portraits. However, if you explore further, you’ll find he also specialises in commercial, event, and headshot photography.

Recently, he completed a four-year project documenting and celebrating the businesses and people of what he describes as London’s most charming street—Camden Passage—located not far from his home.

In an email, he mentioned that this project has been invaluable for developing his photography skills. It has also boosted his confidence in approaching and networking with people and has helped him attract new clients to his photography business.

Although his business is relatively new and his income modest, his work is outstanding. A project like this could be life-changing for you and your business. I hope you’re as eager to learn more as I am.

In this interview, learn how personal projects can boost your photography business.

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

• Insights on growing a business through a four-year project.
• Personal struggles with self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
• The importance of recognising and celebrating personal achievements despite the challenges of the creative industry.
• Starting a photography career later in life.
• Exploring photography genres and addressing the stigma often associated with wedding photography.
• Gary reflects on his initial hesitation towards wedding photography due to negative attitudes from his street photography peers.
• The potential threat of AI to his corporate headshot business and exploring alternative options like weddings and events.
• Debunking misconceptions about wedding photography.
• Gary recounts his experience shooting his first wedding.
• VAT registration for UK photographers offers insights on avoiding VAT and its impact on business growth.
• Gary shares how his projects have been instrumental in his development and business growth.
• Street photography challenges, such as dealing with unwanted attention and criticism.
• The inspiration behind Gary’s photography project was to improve his street portraiture skills and connect with his local community.
• He discusses the loneliness that can come with being a photographer and how he sought human interaction.
• Gary’s sales techniques highlight the importance of effort and practice.
• He set a goal of making 100 cold calls per week to improve his sales skills, despite initial struggles and rejection.
• Gary discusses how consistent effort and practice have been key to building his skills, stressing the importance of putting in the time to improve.
• The importance of practice and repetition in honing skills.
• Cultivating and developing talents through hard work and dedication.
• Gary began making zines of his photography for personal satisfaction, eventually realising it could become a book.
• After taking a bookmaking workshop, he learned about sequencing and considered publishing a book.
• The process of creating a photo book, including portfolio reviews, sequencing images, and managing printing costs.
• Printing 150 books costs around £1,500, with additional expenses for portfolio reviews and related costs.
• His projects have led to unexpected opportunities, including paid work and networking connections, showcasing the value of pursuing one's passions.
• Creating 30-second videos to showcase your personality, making it easier for potential clients to connect with you.

If there's one area of photography that I feel might be under threat from AI it's business and corporate headshots… And I thought, ‘I really want to be a photographer. I want to make my living from this. What else can I do?’ And I thought weddings and events. – Gary Williams

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus, special member-only interviews.

I found the value of personal projects has been incredible, both in terms of what I've learned, and my development as a photographer, and in my business. – Gary Williams

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 to 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 motives similar to yours – 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 Gary 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 based on what you heard in today's episode.

I'm a big believer in doing things for the right reasons. You do it just because you love doing it. You do it for what is it right in front of you, which is the opportunity to to learn and to interact with interesting people and just to be a better photographer. And then if those other things come along, like credits or some work, then that's great. But I actually think if you do it for the right reasons, they usually do come along. – Gary Williams

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Gary, or a way to thank you for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

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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 most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

There are no shortcuts. There are no shortcuts. I wish there were and if somebody knows some tell me and save me a lot of time and trouble. Everything that I've done where I've had any measure of success, it's just work. It’s just doing it. It's just putting the time in. And those people who say, ‘Oh, I can't talk to anyone.’ Yes, she can. Just do it and keep doing it until you get better at it. – Gary Williams

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. You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help both me and the show. 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 phrases and where you'd like me to link 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:

Gary Williams Website

Gary Williams on Instagram

The Little Book of Camden Passage

This is Camden Passage on Instagram

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and for Gary's sharing his journey so far and uncovering how personal projects can boost your photography business in so many ways.

There's no secret. It's just do it. This is why I did all of those photographs for free and I still do for free this at home projects. I'll be doing it for years. Because the more I do, the better I get. – Gary Williams

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 581: Gary Williams – How Personal Projects Can Boost Your Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.