Everyone Has a Story

I'm going to let you in on a secret. How you interpret or use this in your business or your personal life is up to you but, the main point of my blog today is...Ask for your customer's story.


Photography is so much more than the correct exposure or shutter speed, it's about the people and experiences you have along the way. If you really want to be successful, in anything you do, show interest in your subjects life. Why is this so important? Simple. Clients are more than jobs, shoots or events. They're people who can influence your life, long after your time with them has concluded.


Here's a great example: 
When you make a photograph of a person or a group of people, the majority of them will be nervous. Yes, believe it or not, these folks are not used to having their picture taken on a regular basis, so talking to your subject while working with them is vital if you want the best results possible. Someone once told me that you can learn a lot from people just by listening to what they say, but first you have to ask them about their experiences, and then listen for the magic wisdom. 
When people talk about something they are experts on, like their life or experiences, they become more relaxed and less tense. This leads to a better result for you and your time with them. Your images will look better and your clients will like them because they look naturally posed vs. being forced to sit up straight & tilt their heads in an awkward angle :)  AND.....they will remember YOU!


More importantly, you'll likely learn something that you can use later on in life. Everyone has a story. How they started their business by delivering parts on a bicycle 40 years ago and turned that into a multi-million dollar corporation, or working in a garage to create a computer that could capture business information, such as inventory counts and financial data, which turned into a 400 million dollar software company, or deciding that a drill bit, if manufactured properly could be sold to almost every manufacturer in the world! It's incredible to hear from CEO's or business owners talk about how they made it and to hear their passion for success. Hopefully some of that will rub off on you, or someone you tell the story to, and that is why I love working with people. Not all stories are worth repeating and some are way out there...


I was taking engagement pictures of a couple who were preparing for their wedding. Because I was interested in who they are as people, I asked a simple question: How did you meet? I did this because I knew they were nervous but I was truly interested in how they met....I never expected to hear the following, but I tell this story to every couple I can because it's amazing:


The Bride was a police officer. The Groom had a buddy who was a detective and he called his friend and said, "hey would you like to go see an autopsy"? The Groom was a bit unsure but he decided to go ahead and meet his friend. Fortunately for him, the Bride was involved with the case of the deceased and they met in the autopsy room. Not exactly the best place to meet someone given the nature of the situation, but still they met....and the rest is...well you know. 


Not every story will be as fascinating as the autopsy meeting or CEO success, but you'll never find out unless you ASK!