We are all familiar with lists. Lists of gear for our insurance agencies and reporting. Lists of our clients. Lists of our images. Lists of all kinds of things.
When I talk about an asset list, I mean to also consider the assets that are not ‘tangible’. Sure that 70-200 is on your asset list. So should your supportive spouse be on it as well. And the fact that you own your car – no car payment. The intangibles can be more important than the tangibles in many cases.
We discussed asset lists a few weeks ago over at Project 52. I thought you may get some value out of our discussion as well. Here’s the assignment as given:
Everyone has assets, both tangible and intangible, that they can use to advantage while building their business. From supportive spouses to memberships in clubs to access to places where their kids are involved. Business acquaintances and introductions to people and associations that may allow access… all assets.
List them out for yourself – and us. Leave out particular names and personal identifiers, but make the list.
The list will of course cover the gear, but don’t get too granular. Cameras, lenses, lights, modifiers. Not necessary how many stands and widgets. However – include people who support your efforts, and the unique environment where you live. How about including your knowledge in stuff that most others don’t have (everyone has something).
Add anything that is an asset – a ballet school where your daughter dances, the car club you belong to… these are assets that can be used to pull your book into a tool that represents your vision. Are you a good cook, seamstress, mechanic? Those are assets.
BTW: I am hoping for a big LE turn out for Selina’s next Clarion Call II for commercial photographers. This full day event will focus on the business and profitability of photography. It is far too valuable to even consider missing it. Profitability is the most discussed and important part of our work – and Selina will present a full day of discussions with experts who are there to help you. Invaluable and so much more important than a new piece of gear… seriously.
Hit the jump for more.
nickgphoto:
“Location; Between San Francisco and Gold rush country. 2 hrs from Yosemite. Lots of rural, Americana stuff, plus the big well known city of San Fran.
Architecture; Everything from silos and barns to skyscrapers.
Gear; Enough that I don’t have to rent anything. If I did have to rent, did I mention San Francisco?
Intangibles:
My wifes intellect; Truly the smartest person I know. Graduated Summa Cum Laude. Rogers scholar. Phi Kappa Phi.
She is a very critical thinker and honest. (Rats)
My Daughters intellect; Yup, the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree. She graduated Magna Cum Laude. Very artistic. I trust her opinion.”
The great mix of location and family support give Nick a good solid point for cultivating a style and an approach to business that will work for him.
Steve Collins adds this to his asset list:
“My wife has allowed me my mid-life crisis and am turning my town home walk-out basement into a complete studio including greeting area, office, kitchenette, full bath, 16x20x10 shooting area and spiral staircase. Yes, spiral staircase. I’ve always wanted one and my “SOB” HOA won’t allow me one if I build an exterior raised deck. The 10′ ceiling is not as bad as it sounds. My rafters are 14″ trusses, 16″ on center. I can get lights and heads tucked up pretty high. No, I won’t be able to shoot a basketball player standing up.
I work for the Coast Guard and have tapped that opportunity. I take some staff photos and was just invited back to shoot the Ceremonial Honor Guard’s Platoon photo. Last year was in front of George Washington’s Mt Vernon estate. I shoot entrance portraits at gala events and balls. With my military connections I intend to lead me towards capitol hill. I don’t know how he can keep up, but Pete Souza’s job? That’s cool!”
Yeah, Steve… with those assets the job may just be yours!
RobD3 notes a particularly important asset to his list… access to the music industry.
“My background is music. I’ve spent the past 10 years working in various aspects of the classical music/music education field and have many, many contacts and friends. In building a photo business, I want to focus on the classical music and music products industry. I’ve started using this to get a few gigs. I did a major shoot for the Pittsburgh Symphony last year, have done headshots for a few musician friends and am branching out to my wife’s firm and doing headshots for them. I’m starting to work my network, letting people know my plans; I need to get my act together with a lot of the business related items (insurance, pricing, etc.).
My current day job is with VH1 Save The Music Foundation and I’ve been working that angle as well. I shot our annual report this past year. Our creative department is the VH1 creative department and they were the AD for the production. Amazing experience and they were pleased. I’ve also shot a couple of events/concerts for the Foundation.”
gryphon1911 has an interesting location and situation to leverage…
“In Home Studio 12 x 16 feet
Large farmland areas around my location with a large city just 10 miles away. Lots oh community art and arboretums that can be utilized.
16 years experience in IT industry working various technologies including main frame and distributed systems. Vast knowledge of Japanese(can read hirigana, katakana and a large portion of kanji), Chinese and German(basic understanding of spoken German) cultures.”
Devil Dog notes no car payments and some interesting contacts.
“I have many connections with many business owners in Phoenix through personal friendship as well as access to many of Phoenix elites through my kids Montessori school. So when I am at a point to make a bigger move forward I have some good connections here in town. I have a major in at the #2 company on the Fortune 100, my father was the senior marketing executive their for 38 years. My father over the years hired many photographers to work on the companies projects and I have known them since I was a kid and they have been a great help to me over the years.
I have a Yukon and a Acura and no care payments thank goodness.”
rskoon notes his passion. I concur!
“I have two degrees: BA in Dramatic Art (with an emphasis in acting and set design) and an MS in Instructional Design
Before I moved into my current position, I spent seven years as a video producer and multimedia producer. So I know about lighting a set and working with people in front of a camera.
Is being obsessed an asset? I hope so.”
{michelle} notes unique location and being involved in non-profit fundraising. These will do her well.
“I have worked in non-profit fundraising for 18 years. This has given me plenty of contacts in the area — as Steve said in his post, his contact with Juvenile Diabetes led us to shooting their black tie event in the Fall, my contact at a Botanical Garden in Richmond led us to shooting their black tie event in November. We hope that my contacts in fundraising can lead us other places & special events.
Being a fundraiser/working in development has also provided me with the people skills that are essential in working in photography. I can talk to almost anyone and be ok with it. Yes, I can be shy at first but….
Living in the DC/Northern VA area is beneficial in many ways – plenty of places to shoot – from historical to traditional. The mountains are a couple of hours west – the ocean is 3-4 hours to the east. We are close to MD, PA and WV. Rivers, lakes, meadows, farms – we have it all and the weather for the most part is pretty decent (although this spring has been wet and cold).”
Chris and Tricia notes being thrifty (by necessity) as an asset – along with the freedom to move.
“-COLLEGE DEBT equals we have to entertain ourselves while not spending cash aka we take a lot of photos! As road-warriors we drive instead of fly. Sleep in the car instead of hotels.
-We have two crazy cool cats!
-A huge asset is that we really aren’t tied down to a certain location. We just moved to the Denver area from the Chicago Metro on a 10 days notice, and we managed to fit all of our worldly possessions’ into the back of an Explorer. Our newest inspiration: Wasabi peas!
Self Assignment: Back to Our Roots. We started our photography journey with a cheap camera and the courage to trespass on countless abandon buildings. We will always have a love for Ruination.”
Ranger 9 notes his design ability and the access to artists as an asset. Excellent!
“Capabilities:
— I have a degree in publication design and have worked in the fields of writing/editing, graphic design, corporate communications, and nonprofit performing and visual arts.
— I can weld and fabricate metal, although not at a professional level. I can set up microcontrollers, sensors, servos etc. to do simple effects rigs.
Self-evaluation: I can communicate with people in several photo-using fields. If a shot idea requires a simple bracket, circuit, etc., I probably can make it.
Contacts:
— I know two food stylists, a makeup artist, and several wardrobe/costume designers.
— I know lots of dancers, choreographers, and theater technicians.
— Groups of which I’m a member are a church and the Sports Car Club of America.
Self-evaluation: If a shoot involved food, costumes, or renting a theater or a race car, I would have some idea of people to call. I probably should try to join some media-specific professional organizations.”
There are many more great lists there. I think you should take a few minutes to read them all.
Then sit down and make your own asset list. What do you have, and who do you know? How do you see your support system working for you? How can you leverage all the people in your life to get access to great photo opportunities? It isn’t ‘using’ people, it is making them aware of what YOU can bring to a photographic job.
I ask you to write it down because when we do, it helps to burn it into our brains and makes it easier to pull from at those times we need it. Print it and laminate it and post it on the wall in your office, or your shooting space, or your private area where the careful crafting of becoming the best photographer in the universe is being surreptitiously perfected. Read it every day. Read it when things are going great. Read it when things are sucking. It helps to know what you have when you feel you are losing out (and believe me, those days happen when you are self-employed or working hard for your own business).
Thanks for coming along on this one. I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you take the time to make your own asset list. As always, follow me on Twitter, and visit the LE Facebook Page and click the “Like” button to keep up to date with all we are doing here on LE.
