Video Interview with Zack Arias: If I Had to Start My Photo Business Today

I wish I could have listened to this 40 years ago! This is the best straight forward advice I have ever heard. Thank you Photoshelter.

Awsome!
Thx!

Please consider making these available for download, in the from of a audio/video podcast, or in the form as members only library.

Please also consider a preview before posting option for those of us who type first and then look aghast at their abysmal spelling and punctuation.

This was the most honest and forthright piece on starting up a photo biz I’ve ever seen.

Well done Zack! I echo Gerry’s comment as well. I do think that these are words to live by, whether starting a business or a seasoned pro. After being a professional photographer (with a few breaks) for 35 years, I am reexamining my own business direction and will be simplifying by streamlining what I do and offer as well.
All the best to Zack and the gang at Photoshelter, thanks for allowing us to listen!

outstanding video. After hearing this video I’m going to re-examine my priorities.

Very timely for me, and a great podcast – I’ve just started over in a new country after ten years, and trying to remember how I got started in the first place. Now, time to get off this web forum and hustle, hustle, HUSTLE!

Now there’s a successful photographer who truly wants to help other photographers succeed! A lot of speakers have egos so large that aside from getting the audience pumped to purchase something from them (or the company hosting them), they’re of little to no help to budding photography business owners.
Zack outlines simple, eye-opening truths covering a photographer’s business, finances, direction, even a self-reality-check is thrown in here; “If you can’t get the job done with that, then you can’t get the job done. The gear is never gonna make you a better photographer”. WoW!
Zack isn’t a flashy, arrogant, self-promoting type, and that is what makes his broken down to the fundamentals approach so beneficial.
After training the last 3yrs. with the mediocre Canon T1i & collecting lenses, next month I had plans to buy the Mark III & finally open my business in late spring. However, since I have everything except for the Mark 5d I, I’ll get it plus the 24-70 2.8 ii lens.
This is going to be a great year!!
THANKS A MILLION (Zack & PS)!!!!

This should be essential listening for anyone thinking about starting out. Essential.

A lot of solid, common sense, down to earth advice for folks starting out but not having much backing.

However, Zack had little to no background selling art prints, using a bit of sarcasm describing landscape photographers as “gods who walk amongst us.”

Zack’s focus, rightly so, was on the lion’s share of photographers who, unlike me, sell services rather than products (e.g. fine art photography to hang on walls).

Great and true advice!
I listened to this 3 times and still inspires me.

Common Sense is finally delivered in a Straight forward and ENTERTAINING platform ! Many Many Thanks to Photoshelter and Zack Arias. Sent this to several folks!