We need to be the professional who delivers a curated package. Don’t focus too much on what the client might like. Some people struggle between two images that look near identical. As beginning photographers, we are often afraid - afraid to reach out, insecure in the value of our product, nervous to meet new people in our city and neighborhoods, afraid to name our prices, and scared we’ll miss something. So, if he takes 1000 wedding photos, he delivers about 400 to the client.Ĭhoose what to keep from the first import and be confident in it. Doug consistently culls in about 40% of his pictures.
By culling in, he saves a ton of time by not even considering the pictures that don’t fit the narrative he’s shooting. Then, he’s only working with his best shots. Using PhotoMechanic, he chooses what to keep as he imports the photos. This is more than a new method - it’s a mindset shift.
How do you select which ones to give the client, which ones to save on a server, and which ones to trash?ĭoug recommends culling in - not out. One of the trickiest (and most time consuming) aspects of photography is culling photos. Tips for New Photographers Cull In, Not Out That’s just one example of the many things they streamline to have an efficient workflow that gives an amazing experience and creates more beautiful images. Then, they drop in, pick up the box, shoot, and go. Instead, they actually give each client a “Twig Box” with a list of all the items they need to get the right shots. They don’t pop in on the day of the wedding and ask for the shoes and a fancy hanger. They even help create the schedule so they can help the client get the experience and the images they want.īecause of that involvement, the client’s experience changes. They’re actively engaged in the planning process. Here’s how it unfolded with wedding photography:ĭoug, Courtney, and Bobbi don’t just show up to the wedding and wait for the bride to give them instructions. That understanding didn’t happen instantly. The type of image they want affects how they’ll run their business. How they run their business affects how the product looks AND the client’s experience. It’s like a Venn diagram where the components interplay. Then, they depend on the “Trifecta.” The Trifecta of a Smooth-Operating Photography Businessĭoug insists that success in the photography business depends on three essential ingredients. So what’s their secret? First, they use their complementary skill sets for the greater good of the business.
#Twig and olive full#
(You can also listen to the full interview from the Momentum Podcast here.) Here are the highlights of our great conversation. I had a chance to talk to Doug to find out how they do it all. And as they grew, they added Darcy - their brand manager who makes everything work!
#Twig and olive software#
Doug is their techie keeping their gear and software on the cutting edge. Courtney takes editing, product recognition, and thematic continuity by storm. Bobbi is the branding, marketing, business guru. They each play a specific role in their business. How? For one, each of these photographers isn’t only a great photographer. In just a few short years, Doug, his wife Courtney, and their friend Bobbi, have turned their Wisconsin startup to an internationally recognized brand. Doug Weittenhiller is a photographer, self-proclaimed tech geek, and cofounder of Twig & Olive Photography.