How to succeed as an introverted photographer
It seems that working life is set up to reward extroverts, those who thrive on the energy of others. You can see it in open plan office structures that are favoured at a lot of companies, excessive meeting culture (rolls eyes at another unnecessary meeting invite) and the misconception that if you’re not shouting about your achievements, you somehow haven’t worked hard enough.
I’ve always been an introvert, and I’m shy to boot. It takes me a little while to feel confident around those who are new to me, especially in a larger group. Even when I was in school, I was relentlessly told to raise my hand more in class!
If you’re shy, or an introvert like me, I want to dispel the myth that being introverted is something to hold you back, especially when it comes to business. You don’t need to pretend to be loud and excitable to execute your job well! You don’t need to adopt a new personality either in order to work with clients and have them like you for who you are. One of the reasons I love running my own business is because I can set the parameters for how it works best for me and my introvert energy.
So, fellow introverted photographers! Here are my best bits of advice for handling the parts of a photography business that might feel draining to us.
New Enquiry Phone Calls
I know, the thought of picking up the phone to someone you don’t know and who has lots of questions about your experience can be daunting. The idea of new enquiry phone calls used to make me squirm in my seat, but now, with practice and a subtle shift in mindset, they are a helpful opportunity to get to know one another and make sure we’re a good fit.
Tip One - send as much information to the potential client before the call itself. This will eliminate the need to talk through how you work, common FAQs and any awkward moments about pricing. I send a welcome guide to all new enquiries prior to any phone calls, so that they already have a sense of who I am, how I work and a loose guide to pricing. This means the potential client will only need to ask questions that are specific to their brief or project, and it will cut down the amount of time you need to spend on the call. It can become super repetitive regurgitating the same information on a weekly basis. All of my new enquiry calls last around 30 minutes maximum, because the groundwork has already been laid.
Tip Two - If the idea of seizing up on a call, stumbling over your words, or having a complete mind blank haunts your dreams, write some notes or even a loose script for your calls. While you don’t want to sound like a robot, having a framework to guide you can help. I have a ‘Client Intake Survey’ which is a fancy way of saying a PDF with essential questions I need to ask the client in order to quote for them. If ever there’s a moment where you feel a little floundery, refer back to your questions/script.
Tip Three - This probably isn’t the funnest advice, but do the calls more. Like anything, the more you do something the better you will be and the less scary it will become. If the potential client is local and wants to meet for a coffee, this can be a great way of solidifying a relationship. It can be really helpful to connect with someone face to face. This helps you pick up on their body language and vice versa, they’ll have a much better idea of who you are from putting a face to a name and spending time with you.
Tip four - Instead of thinking of these as sales calls, think about them as coffee dates. They’re not job interviews, but are instead a chance to see if that client could be a good fit for you. Try not to get swept away in the idea that you have to sell or impress - being yourself, and talking about your work authentically should be enough. If it’s not, they’re not the client for you.
“The trick for introverts is to honor their styles instead of allowing themselves to be swept up by prevailing norms.”
Shoot Days on Set
Ok, so the new enquiry phone call was a success and the potential client said a big fat YES and you’ve got a date in the diary to make the shoot happen. But spending 8 hours on location with a crew of people that can involve creative directors, marketing managers, models, assistants, stylists and the client themselves, can be a LOT of people to contend with. If there isn’t a project manager involved, you as the photographer will be the first port of call for questions.
Tip One: My solution to managing all of this: preparation and organisation. I always feel more at ease when everyone knows exactly what’s going to happen on the shoot day. Make sure to send a contact sheet to all parties with the location, parking details, call times and also the phone numbers of everyone involved. By being prepared and sharing all the information you can prior to shoot day, you minimise the amount of chaos and questions coming at you on the day.
Tip Two: Arrive early if you can, so that you’re the first person in the space. This will allow you time to unload your equipment, get the lay of the land and have some time alone to get settled. As an introvert, having space around the edges of an event allows me to feel calm. Anyone else feel this?
Tip Three: Make a playlist. Create a long-ass playlist and hook it up to the venue’s speakers when you arrive. Any lulls in conversation throughout the day will feel less obvious and I find it allows people to feel at ease. We’re on a shoot, not in a G20 summit. I stick to ambient electronic, as I’m not sure clients would appreciate my love for Paramore quite as much as me, ha. I have a link to a playlist here for you, and I’ve had a few clients ask for the link to it after the shoot too, so it’s a tried and tested winner!
“…Your biggest challenge may be to fully harness your strengths. You may be so busy trying to appear like a zestful, reward-sensitive extrovert that you undervalue your own talents, or feel underestimated by those around you. But when you’re focused on a project that you care about, you probably find that your energy is boundless.” - Susan Cain
Manage your energy
In busy seasons, between shooting, editing, taking new enquiry calls and meetings to discuss and plan upcoming shoots, it can be a whirlwind of work. As a result, I only schedule two shoots per week, maximum. This helps me to stay on top of the work and give the best results to the client I can, while avoiding burnout. You need to figure out for yourself what your own, unique schedule looks like.
So, all that to say fellow introverts, there are ways of setting up your business to work for you, and not the other way around. It’s ok to be an introvert, in fact I think it’s pretty awesome!
So I would love to hear – what are your tactics for running a creative business as an introvert?
Helena is a professional photographer based in Bristol, specialising in product and food photography. She works with ethical and sustainable brands, creating joyful, story-telling product photos.