Rarely do I ever complain on the blog about our business or things that annoy me about being a business owner but today is a little bit of an exception. One of my biggest beefs in this business is the assumption of others that I need help with exposure. In addition it is annoying and rude for someone to think that their event, party, idea , clothing line, new grand opening, marketing strategy etc. etc. is so off the hook that business will trickle down to me just for being involved with them. That the heavens will open up and shower me with money merely for taking photos of their administrative assistants’ convention or donating one piece of artwork to their auction that 300 people will be attending or providing parents with free digital images at the annual church bizarre. Don’t get me wrong. We work closely with several non-profit organizations and causes every year and donate thousands of dollars worth of gift certificates and services to charity auctions and we are happy to help a good cause and that is not what I am talking about here…keep reading and you will see.

When someone comes to me and asks for free services in exchange for exposure I cringe at the pathetic begging for free photography. It’s demoralizing, rude, and simply bad business on the part of others. Honestly, if someone had it all together and really had a business or event that was so awesome that just by working with them would cause me to be a successful business owner, wouldn’t you think they would also be ultra successful and have a massive budget to pay for the services?

I know a lot of my other small business owner friends appreciate this issue because we speak about it to each other often. I also know there are a lot of new and inspired photographers that read my blog so I want to take the time to help educate the industry (if there is one anymore) on what I call my exposure contract.

Here is how this contract works. Basically let’s say someone like a real estate broker comes to me and says “Danny, I think your photography is just awesome! I see your stuff all over the city, in stores, in magazines, and those photos you did of the mayor were fantastic!” obviously the first thing I do is thank them for their wonderful compliments. It’s nice to know that the thousands of dollars I spend on advertising and promotions monthly is paying off to have this wonderful person call me and express appreciation for my hard work. Then the lovely future client says “I own one of Houston’s fastest growing real estate companies with 40 brokers, all of which sell homes in the millions of dollars daily! We just spent a TON of money on a new website and need to get fresh new portraits of all our staff, each broker and the new building we just moved into as soon as possible!” So I then compliment them on their great success and explain how our services work. I ask questions about the locations, the timing and their budget so I can put together an estimate. Their response to the budget generally is , “Well here is the deal, we don’t really have much in the budget for this but we will make sure and give you photo credit on the website and it will be great exposure for you!”. Now this is where I throw out my exposure contract.

What I explain to them is that they are interested in our exposure contract services. This is a very simple contract that we have put together with little to no risk whatsoever. Basically what we do is the following:

1. We put together an estimate of cost for the job they are requesting.
2. The business requesting the services pays twice that amount up front and in full.
3. We monitor our joint marketing strategy for 90 days after the work is complete.
4. If we receive 4 times that original estimates’ value of paid work in those 90 days, we will pay them back the money they spent 100%!
5. If we don’t receive 4 times the amount in marketing residuals we will pay them back half of what they paid after 90 days and just go on with our exciting lives.

Because you see there is no reason I should take 100% of the risk on the other businesses marketing. But if the other business is so unbelievably awesome that they are certain I will get more than twice the business for doing their services for free then there should be no problem with doing this contract. It’s called a gamble when two sides hedge a bet on an unknown outcome. It’s called stupid business strategy when one party takes all the risk while the other gets everything they wanted with no risk or work involved.

For those photographers that want to “make it big” I have news for you, it’s not gonna happen by doing this job FOR FREE. It’s also not a lottery and you won’t strike it rich overnight by running one special event. This deal is a long slow train wreck with sleepless nights, failed marketing strategies, and the ever constant battle of quantifying your art. But the upside is that when you do it right it feels awesome! When you create art for art it feeds your inspiration to work harder and better! And when you realize that everything you create is by your hand and not by a get rich quick photographer that hands out their business model at a convention you take pride in YOU. That is the payoff.

Honestly, I make very little money, I rarely see my extended family because I work all holidays, we are constantly trying to make this business work and if a big studio and lots of advertising makes you successful than we are there. But I don’t get out in the industry telling of Cinderella stories or flashing fancy marketing materials like its a silver bullet. It takes hard work to be able to keep working hard. It also takes a supportive family, loyal staff, great friends that also own businesses and lots and lots of wonderful clients that all become part of your family.

So there you go, a little insider info from me that I rarely share. I hope this new contract strategy helps someone else. I also hope it helps another photographer stop and really think about what they get themselves into. I don’t do photography because it makes money, I do it because I love photography. I love running a business too, and the two sides of my world don’t always mix well. But this is the real challenge and with challenges comes risk but let it be your own risk and not the risk of others.

God bless Texas and god bless those Small Business Owners!

In this image are two of my favorite people in the world in my favorite place in the world doing the two things I love to do the most.  It can’t really get much better than that.  It is an image of my Uncle Jimmy and my Dad in the middle of Big Bend taking photographs, hitting golf balls and laughing.  It may not mean much to you but I would go head first into a burning building to save this photo.  This photo alone is why I cherish the art of photography so much.

These two guys are important to who I am and where I have been.  Why I think the way I do and how I handle situations.

Just for fun and for my family I thought I would list out a few of these influences:  I will let you figure out who did what.

One taught me to break it
The other taught me to fix it
One told me to “never force it”
The other told me to “hold what ya got”
they both taught me to drive a car
but one taught me that when you drive a jeep fast on a dirt road and come to a sudden stop you will break a rear axle
I learned you can’t go far with a flat tire on a trailer
I learned how to saddle a horse wrong
I learned that when you fall off that horse you need to saddle it right and get back on.
I learned NEVER to say I want to ride a bull around one of them.
I learned to shoot a gun, open a beer and fix a flat in the mud.
I learned that a suburban’s fuel pump shuts off at 120 mph.
I learned its easier  to whip someones ass if they are sitting in a car than standing in front of you.
I learned how to talk the talk with the Banditoes and dance with a  drunk girl.
I learned how to not take shit off anyone from one of them and to just let it go from the other.
One turned me on to Hunter S. Thompson the other kept me from BEING Hunter S. Thompson
I have been to the edge with them both.
I learned NEVER try to pull a boat up to a pier with a wasp nest on it.
I learned how to be a dad, a friends and a father from them both
I learned that doe urine doesn’t work well when you smoke in your blind.
I learned that falling asleep in your blind is great as long as you don’t snore
I learned to cook for lots of people from one
I learned that a good joke is always a commodity in a crowd
One left me on the side of the road in the New Mexico desert
The other lost me in Mexico on New Years Eve.
One taught me to appreciate good music
The other showed me how to dance to good music
One taught me that if a little works well a lot might be better
the other taught me that too much of a good thing will kill ya.
I’ve been down wild rivers, in wild bars, and wild parties with them both.

I learned to love these places from them both -

Mexico
pikes peak
midland
four corners
rome georgia
utah
Big Bend
All of south Texas
This list could go on forever but I think I will stop there.  Just promise yourself one thing, take lots of pictures.  You never know when only one will make you appreciate where you came from and who influences your day.

God bless Texas and God bless our fathers, brothers and sons!

The book is called Muerte and is minimalist chaos.   Maybe one day I will buy something of his.  Another great book and artist I admire is by Daniel Martin Diaz called Anatomy of Sorrow.  This is a book with no explanation other than WOW.

Books are a great way to get inspired.  Not only by art but my form and layout.  It is nice to see a great book and I always turn to my collection when I need a little boost in the creativity department.  Its like a connection that you get with the artist.  Both Daniel Martin Diaz and Mike Giant are great artists.  They may not be something everyone likes but they both have something to add to this world.   If you don’t have a collection already you should start.  It will make your creative eARTh happy.

Spouses – 2

Children – 6

Dogs – 3

Cars – 10 (No really)

Cameras – (you really don’t want to know)

I know this is random but I am not too concerned.  Anyhow, I was wondering what type of bird would I be if I was a bird.  So I did what any technological lemming would do and headed over to Google.  I came up on this quiz and decided to take run the numbers.  According to the results I am an American Kestrel.

The results of the test were as follows:

You are the American Kestrel! These adorable birds of prey are members of the falcon family. At maturity they are typically four ounces and measure from nine to twelve inches in length. they are the only falcons to have rust colored backs, they are readily identified by the two black stripes down their faces and chestnut colored, black-spotted backs, cool right? Enough about them, though, let’s talk about you. You are probably a very happy go lucky person, but are often underestimated. Due to your pleasant personality, people often find it hard to believe you have a dark side, but there is a dark side underneath your bright exterior. It takes a lot to make you angry, but once that last straw breaks the camel’s back, look out! Like the Kestrel, you are very approachable and probably very cute and bubbly. You’re pleasant to be around and very intelligent. Despite all of your good traits, however, you remain humble most of the time and find it difficult to take compliments. You have a quick wit and a good, imaginative sense of humor. You love children and animals and are an all around good person. You would probably be a good actor because you can change your personality easily and have good characterization. Due to your intelligence, you can pretty much do anything you want to, however, as long as you dedicate yourself to it whole heartedly. You are naturally a happy, caring person and very loyal. Though people feel drawn to you, you aren’t particularly social. It takes a lot for someone who wants to be with you to impress you. Since you are rather blind to compliments and the affections of others, chances are more people like you than you are aware of.

Funny, I only partially agree but at least it was fun.  Try it out and see what type of bird you are.  Let me know in the comments what type of bird you are.

I also got this other cool little camera called a Spinner 360 It takes the insane 360 degree images.  They look like this:

click on it to see it larger.  These two cameras make me love photography more.  I love film, I love unpredictability.  I love shooting from the hip.  If you want to see more of these two cameras in action link up to this photo gallery:  http://www.lomography.com/homes/dannyclarkphoto

This is where the new new things are going to happen.  My buddy Farrah Braniff and I have started creating a new space to create art, sell art, and enjoy art.  This is going to be a fun place so be sure to keep tuned here or come by B12 at Winter Street Studio to play and have fun.

Today we have to put our sweet little Milo down.  He has been with Denise and I for 17 years.  He went through collage with us, lived in bad neighborhoods with us, went through two hurricanes and a flood.  He traveled the state of Texas and made friends all over the US.  He has always been there and it will be hard to see him go.  Thanks for all the love big guy, we will miss your little bark, your snuggles and above all the sound of your little feet on the wood floors.  I love you buddy.

Not sure if anyone noticed but it is already holiday season. get your mug a mug and sit with something warm.    I think this season i will photograph everything i see that is holiday related.

We are all excited about Danny’s recent published feature article in Aqua Magazine this month.  Danny was contacted by the magazine for an interview back in August regarding the article and it has now hit stands.  Azul Aquatic is a division of Danny Clark Photography and focuses on family and children’s underwater portrait art.  Danny works hard to produce one-of-a-kind unique art that can stand alone or be displayed in a series.  You can see the short article above or go to Aqua Magazine to see it for yourself.  You can also see more of these fun portraits over at our Azul Aquatic Website.  If you have a pool, we invite you to commission Danny to do your Azul Aquatic Underwater Portraits.  We are nearing the end of the season (unless you have a heated pool or indoor access), so don’t wait and call today to learn more.  The portraits make very cool holiday cards too!