Photographic Training Courses in the UK, from getting started to setting up a photography business

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The Words Of An Aspirational Photographer – Andrew Collier

I wanted to do the Bespoke Programme because I knew that if I wanted to build a successful portrait photography business, and gain substantial sales and profitability quickly, I would need the help of the best people in the business, people who had a proven formula. Annabel Williams’ CPT Bespoke Programme seemed to me to offer the best training. I couldn’t afford to take a drop in income so there was a bit of job juggling and plate spinning to be done whilst I developed my new business.

As a teenager I had this mad idea about being a fashion photographer but our enlightened school careers teacher suggested I should have a proper career, so I got a job as a junior production executive in an advertising agency. And I stayed in that industry for nearly 30 years.

However I still loved photography and by 2007 I wanted a new challenge for the future. The big problem was that I felt shy and embarrassed whenever I tried to take a portrait of someone, whether I knew them well or not. And that’s not a great place to be if you want to be a portrait photographer.

A one day course with Annabel in November 2008 gave me the confidence I needed to tackle portraits and my quality went up overnight, but I was clueless about the business side. I was giving my work away. I had no idea about framing, albums or how to structure a shoot to maximise sales.

I did my research and found out that many great photographers had been through the Bespoke Programme. I had a few doubts and lots of questions but I went to an Insight Day in January 2009.  I realised that the key to building a great portrait photography business was about chemistry and interaction with the subjects and how to shoot to sell. I realised that the technical stuff, which always worried me, wasn’t as important. I haven’t thrown away the manuals yet but I start every shoot with Annabel’s basic setup instructions and I concentrate on the chemistry and psychological aspects of the shoot instead.

To be honest the whole thing has been a roller coaster but a brilliant experience. I discovered emotions that I didn’t know I had. A snap of a 96 year old grandmother at my first wedding reduced me to tears. I ended up in tears many times as I discovered an emotional side that I didn’t know about. I call it love; love of what I am doing, and a genuine love for the people who are helping me on a voyage of discovery, but also a love for creating images that fire up the emotions of the people I photograph, their families and their friends.

So, nearing the end of Bespoke 31, what are my thoughts?

• I wanted to know how to make a living from portrait photography. I now have much more than that. The Bespoke Programme has helped me create a scalable and saleable business.

• £8500 isn’t a lot of money to get access to trade secrets and support that will give you a viable business within a small time frame. After ten months I have more than had had my money back and I’ve only just begun to scratch the surface. If I had tried to do it on my own it, it would have taken me five to seven years to reach the position I am in now.

• I know what to focus on and what to avoid.

• I have worked harder than I knew I could and much harder than I thought I needed to.

• I have a great team behind me. The whole AW team encourage me and guide me in the right direction. They don’t interfere too much but they are always there whenever I need them, and they know what I need to do. I have consulted Catherine Connor and Jane Breakell about every major decision and then followed their advice. Everything I have done this way has worked for me. But it’s better than that. After each campaign, we look at the results and then revise the tactics for the next one. They know what I’m going through; I’m still finding out.

• I learned stacks of things I didn’t know about consumer branding and marketing.

• I have learned how to retail, and I’m becoming quite good at it.

• I have realised that I must be a good photographer because people are prepared to pay a good price for my work.

So, is the Bespoke Programme for you?

If you want to build a career as a successful photographer that clients will want to tell their friends about and will want to rebook time and again, then the Bespoke Programme is your best option.

If I had found out about the Bespoke Programme five years ago I would have done it then.

I wouldn’t have missed it for the world! Would I do it again? Damn right I would!

http://www.andrewcollierphotography.co.uk/