The pandemic is one of the most impactful events in the lives of most people alive today. It is singular and brutal, affecting people, businesses, and infrastructure. Whether you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist, it has certainly changed the status quo for you, but how?
One conversation prompted me to two long articles, and you’re reading one of them. This conversation was with an acquaintance who was curious how my business survived COVID-19. This is not what they explicitly said, but I suspect that is what is driving the questions and I don’t blame them for asking themselves: I wonder how many SME businesses survived. such a sudden and severe loss of business.
Unfortunately, photographers are affected the most. Varies studies and questionnaires reported that as high as 99% of surveyed photographers were negatively impacted, some have stopped working altogether, such as newborn photographers. This downturn is reflected in the camera industry, with leading producers realize “extraordinary losses”, and mirrorless camera sales hit the worst by 75%. Whether you’re a hobbyist taking portraits of friends and family, or one of the world’s largest camera manufacturers, no one is immune from vulnerability. However, I want to focus on photographers.
A pandemic is a test of a business’s disaster preparedness (to an unrealistic degree, indeed), it is also a time of compulsion in which many in We must reevaluate our position and our work. In this article, I will look at how the pandemic has affected my approach to photography as a business, as well as as a craft that I love.
Impact on my photography business
There is no way around the fact that my business is severely damaged. How can it not? Double problem: firstly, I couldn’t do most of the footage due to the lockdown and restrictions. Second, most businesses are adversely affected and cannot give priority to photography. For most businesses, photography is not a necessity, and in times of crisis or falling incomes, it drops to the bottom of the priority list.
So what really happened? Acquired new customers to the point where a conversation became noticeably more difficult, and as a result, my path became sparser. What’s already in my path puts the job on the burner again in the near future, save for a few to continue with the job as before. (The second group is hiring me for shoots that can be done in my home studio.) In the end, my patrons – the people I’ll be shooting on location – have to keep pushing back dates. Expected 4-6 weeks in advance until it is feasible. This continued for a year. Direct income from photography drops dramatically and dramatically, and to make matters worse – even if only psychologically – it comes after a period of high growth. Luckily for me – very fortunately – I’ve always been interested in growing multiple revenue streams for peace of mind in all respects and this has helped.
So, how has it changed my approach to the photography business? The most desirable way was that I knew I had to generate multiple revenue streams. While a global disaster is difficult to prepare for, a personal disaster is much more likely to happen and can have many of the same consequences. The less desirable way is that I have changed my approach to the clients I work with. I am no longer taking any and all jobs close to my rate, and I am not taking on clients that are obviously going to be difficult. Most importantly, I prioritize clients that I’m happy to work with and don’t cause me headaches with bill payments or retargeting.
Influencing my photography
Honestly, I didn’t expect much of an effect on my photography, I mean my skill. I didn’t imagine that multiple lockdowns, travel restrictions, and changes in financial circumstances would reflect how or what I shoot, but it did. I’m not sure I fully understand why I changed my approach to photography, but there are some important ways that I do.
The first and most impactful change is that I love to shoot whatever I like. I spent a long time trying to narrow my focus and specialize in the fields, despite a broad love for photography and its many genres. In terms of workability, it’s certainly a smart move, but beyond your portfolio, I’m not so sure. Maybe it was the introduction of a drone to my arsenal that made me realize that I enjoy taking all kinds of photos and should focus more on it. Either way, because of the pandemic and not being able to shoot my usual subjects, I went for the widest possible range of subjects.
On the contrary, I have also completely stopped carrying my camera everywhere. I used to make sure I took it with me even on trips, I knew it wouldn’t leave me bad and this turned out to be an exhausting relationship. I feel compelled to carry my camera around “just in case”, and then I’ll be resentful that I didn’t take any pictures. Or, I force myself to take pictures for days on end, just to try to improve my skills, and I’m not sure the return is worth it. So it’s quite surprising that now I only bring my camera when I want to capture something. Do of what you will do.
How Does the Pandemic Affect Your Photography Or Business?
I have heard so many ways that over the past few years have changed photographers, their photography and their business. Some have had time to put more effort into their craft and now shoot more often, especially as hobbyists. Unfortunately, some have closed their businesses and have had to find other ways to make a living. For many, it lies somewhere, and whether you’re a professional, semi-professional or a hobbyist, I want to know how the pandemic has changed the photographic aspect of your life. any. Share your experience in the comments section below.
Alena Darmel’s main image via Pexels.
