No More Excuses: In The Frame 4-9-23
There's good news and there is bad news... like most everything in life.
This week finds me deep into the discovery of new tools and new ways to get our work in front of the people we need to get it in front of.
It’s a numbers game, of course. If you show your work—and I am talking about good work here—to enough people, you will indeed get business.
A couple of our P52 photographers approached clients last week in order to see if they could borrow some props for an assignment. Of course, the assignment shots were amazing, and several of the vendors asked the photographer to come back and shoot more. And be paid for it.
Just getting the work in front of a few people will result in assignment work - and respect from the clients as they now see you as a champion and a pro.
As a coach and mentor, I talk to a lot of photographers who do no marketing and have a gazillion reasons why they just can’t.
I often hear, “What would I write about?” or “I don’t know where to start.”
I get that.
It is hard to piece it out, and when we may be unsure of what we are going into, it can hold a bit of trepidation and slow us down.
Resistance has its own ways, ya know.
And, so here’s the thing.
We can’t use that as an excuse anymore.
Before I get started, I want to acknowledge that many of us are dead tired of hearing AI mentioned in everything from food prep to bird migrations.
But I must insist we press on.
I have been working with ChatGPT for the last 6 or 7 weeks. I want to find ways it can streamline what we do and give us more creative freedom.
I have not been interested in the image generation side. I am a photographer, not an illustrator - and if I were an illustrator, I would be just as uninterested.
But the repository of information that can be had in a blink of an eye is genuinely amazing.
I have found taco recipes that are delicious, under 250 calories per, and with fewer carbs. I have found music recommendations and books that I could never have found without these tools.
But more interesting is that I have been creating a system of prompts that photographers - like you - can use to generate everything from shot lists to marketing ideas.
And those marketing ideas are pretty cool.
Below this article, you will find a simple social media schedule based on two blog posts per week and three Instagram posts per week. Each day of the work week, you have an idea to capitalize on.
These are suggestions, of course, and you may want to change them up to be more “you” - and that is exactly how it should be.
BUT THERE ARE NO MORE EXCUSES…
… regarding getting started.
You have the day and the prompted title.
All you have to do is write it.
And, yes, AI can help you do that, but it is not the panacea of cutting and pasting.
Writing in a voice is now the most important thing you can do. The voiceless prose, technical manuals, and educational textbooks now belong to AI, so in order to stand out, you use your AI as a research assistant.
And it does that gloriously.
Take one of the blog posts below:
"Why On-Location Food Shoots Give Restaurants and Hotels More Control"
We will now feed it into ChatGPT4 and prompt it with the following:
Good morning! Today we are going to write a blog post for a commercial food photographer who works on location rather than in a studio. We want to include these points: Location is easier on the client than carting food to a studio. More possibilities to work with the chefs and cooks. More opportunity for creative locations at a restaurant than in a studio. I would like to keep this at about 6-700 words, and write it in an authoritative tone, with a friendly style. Can you help me do this?
Press enter:
Why On-Location Food Photography Outshines Studio Shoots
Introduction: Good morning, dear readers! As a professional commercial food photographer, I'm here to share my experiences and insights into why on-location food photography is an excellent choice for clients, chefs, and photographers alike. With its many advantages over studio photography, this method opens up a world of creative possibilities that can benefit everyone involved. So, let's delve into the reasons why on-location food photography is not only more convenient for clients, but also provides increased opportunities for collaboration and creativity.
Location is Easier on the Client One of the most significant benefits of on-location food photography is the convenience it offers to clients. Transporting delicate and perishable dishes to a studio can be a logistical nightmare, with the potential for food to become damaged or compromised during transit. By shooting on location, clients can avoid these issues altogether.
Moreover, setting up a photo shoot in a restaurant or commercial kitchen allows clients to showcase their dishes in their natural environment. This not only adds authenticity to the images but also saves time and effort by eliminating the need for food styling and props. Clients can focus on what they do best—preparing and presenting delectable dishes—while the photographer captures the magic.
Collaboration with Chefs and Cooks On-location food photography fosters an unparalleled level of collaboration between the photographer and the culinary team. Working directly with chefs and cooks provides a unique opportunity to understand their creative vision, which ultimately leads to better and more accurate representation of the dishes in the photographs.
This close collaboration also allows for real-time adjustments and fine-tuning of the dishes as they're being photographed. Chefs can add garnishes, adjust plating, or even modify recipes based on the photographer's feedback and suggestions. This iterative process results in more vibrant, appealing, and appetizing images that will leave viewers craving the featured dishes.
Creative Locations and Settings Photographing food in its natural environment—whether it be a bustling restaurant, a charming café, or an elegant dining room—provides a wealth of creative opportunities that simply cannot be replicated in a studio. The ambiance, lighting, and unique architectural features of a location can be skillfully incorporated into the images, resulting in visually stunning and engaging photographs.
On-location food photography allows for the use of various settings within the same establishment, capturing the essence of the place and the culinary creations it offers. From intimate corners to expansive dining rooms and bustling kitchens, each setting tells a different story and evokes different emotions in the viewer.
Conclusion: In conclusion, on-location food photography offers a plethora of advantages over traditional studio photography, making it an excellent choice for clients, chefs, and photographers alike. With the convenience of shooting in the natural environment, increased collaboration between photographers and culinary teams, and the myriad of creative opportunities that come with shooting in unique settings, it's no wonder that on-location food photography is quickly becoming the preferred method for capturing the beauty and artistry of the culinary world. So, the next time you're in need of stunning food images that tell a story, remember that on-location food photography is the way to go!
A tip. Never use “In Conclusion” - it is a tipoff of GPT.
Now, I gotta tell ya - this is not half bad. A bit of cleanup here and there, and you have a blog post. Adding your beautiful photos will make it even more appealing, and it took less than 10 minutes to do.
There simply are no more excuses.
BTW - this would make an excellent cold email to a list of restaurants, spas, hotels, or really any place that sells food ready to eat.
At any rate, you must not ignore the AI that is on our doorstep. Get a GPT account (I have the paid which gets me GPT4 and ‘always on’ access) and begin to use it. Ignoring this stuff because we do not understand it will NOT be a good idea in the short or long run.
I am thinking about doing an online discussion about how to use this stuff as a photographer. It would be free, of course. I would like to know if there is any interest in that. If so, leave me a comment.
Here's a sample 30-Day Calendar for potential blog and Instagram posts for a commercial photographer specializing in food, product, and editorial photography:
Week 1:
Blog post 1: "Why On-Location Food Shoots Give Restaurants and Hotels More Control"
Instagram post 1: Image showcasing a recent on-location food shoot
Instagram post 2: Behind-the-scenes video from a product photography session
Instagram post 3: Testimonial from a satisfied food client
Blog post 2: "The Art of Capturing Mouth-Watering Food Photography"
Instagram post 4: Image highlighting an editorial project
Instagram post 5: Video reel featuring various product photography examples
Week 2:
Blog post 3: "The Impact of Stunning Product Photography on Your Brand"
Instagram post 6: Image of a captivating food photography project
Instagram post 7: Behind-the-scenes image from an editorial shoot
Instagram post 8: Testimonial from a happy product client
Blog post 4: "Creating the Perfect Editorial Shoot: Tips from a Pro"
Instagram post 9: Video showing the photographer's creative process
Instagram post 10: Image featuring a unique product photography project
Week 3:
Blog post 5: "The Benefits of Professional Photography for Your Restaurant or Hotel"
Instagram post 11: Image of a visually appealing food spread
Instagram post 12: Behind-the-scenes video from a recent on-location food shoot
Instagram post 13: Testimonial from a grateful food client
Blog post 6: "Innovative Techniques in Modern Product Photography"
Instagram post 14: Image showcasing a striking editorial project
Instagram post 15: Video collage of various food photography examples
Week 4:
Blog post 7: "Editorial Photography: Telling Stories Through Visuals"
Instagram post 16: Image highlighting an on-location food shoot
Instagram post 17: Behind-the-scenes image from a product photography session
Instagram post 18: Testimonial from a satisfied editorial client
Blog post 8: "5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Professional Photography Investment"
Instagram post 19: Video demonstrating a unique lighting technique
Instagram post 20: Image featuring a captivating product photography project
This calendar follows the suggested posting frequency, alternating between images and videos, and includes past project examples and client testimonials. Adjust and expand on this sample calendar as needed to fit your specific goals and content preferences.
As you can see, there are no more excuses for not knowing what to post.
Visit this page for a free grid on 30 days of Instagram complete with copy, hashtags, and image suggestions.
You can do them every other day if you want - that’s two months worth of posts. Then just repeat them with different images for another 2 months worth.
It’s a numbers game and it has never been more imperative for you to get your stuff in front of people than right now.
See you next week.