We recently had a workshop at The Hive Studios on career growth and it got me thinking about how I've personally grown my photography business and built a portfolio of clients. Over the last 20 years I've gone through two major phases of business development growth; when I first started and right now.

In this episode of the Beyond the Image podcast I share the exact startegy I have used for the entirety of my career to not only onboard new clients but to earn repeat business from current clients.

I also discuss ways you as a creative can differentiate yourself, beyond just segmenting or having a niche audience.

From there we discuss the client relationship journey and the process of earning repeat business from your happy clients.

You can see my website at https://jamespatrick.com/

My studio is over at https://www.hivestudiosaz.com/

And my Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto

I just lost a proposal for a video project. The client contacted me and had a pretty lengthly list of requirements and specs for the assignment, all of which we were able to accomodate and a very competitive price.

However, the client responded to say we were about three hundred percent over their budget. To be fair - their budget was pretty ridiculous and way under even the most conservative of market value for the work they were requesting.

We were able to counter with a revised approach that brough our estimate within $200 of their budget and we still did not win the job.

So. what happened and why was our approach still the right approach?

https://jamespatrick.com/

Bookings for photographers, videographers, and other creative professionals are dropping—and it’s not just you feeling the pinch. From shrinking marketing budgets to rising inflation, tighter interest rates, and oversaturation in the market, the data shows a clear pullback in spending on creative services worldwide. In this episode, I break down the latest research on why client demand is slowing, what economic forces are driving the trend, and, most importantly, how you can adapt your business to thrive despite the downturn. If you’ve noticed shorter booking windows, more price resistance, or a tougher time standing out, this episode gives you the clarity—and the strategies—you need to move forward.

www.jamespatrick.com
Follow on Instagram @JPatrickPhoto