5 Reasons to Network With Other Photographers

Why You Should Network With Other Photographers

I have a lot of friends who are photographers.  It hasn't always been this way, though - I only had one or two photographer friends before I got into photography myself, but as I have progressed with photography over the years, I have gained many more friends who are also photographers.

Some of you may be hesitant to be pals with potential competition, and some of you may feel like a big old schmooze.  I'm here to offer some insight on why building relationships with your fellow photographers can be totally enriching!

Here are 5 reasons why you SHOULD network with your fellow photographers:

1. Don't Worry About Competition

Having a great relationship with the other photographers in your area, who are potential competition, is not going to kill your business, I promise.

Here's why:

Potential clients will gravitate to some photographers (maybe you), while other potential clients will choose a different photographer - it all depends on style, price, what the client wants, and what you, as well as the photographer, have to offer.  Everyone is different and some photographers are better suited for certain clients, and that's just the way it is.

2. Being a Photographer Can be Difficult

Anyone who is a photographer, professional or otherwise, knows how difficult photography is.  From mastering the basics, to developing your own style, and hearing everyone's opinion - good and bad! - on your hard work, is not easy.

Having the support of other photographers who understand the ups and downs will give you the encouragement you need to keep moving forward.

3. Photographers Love to Share Their Knowledge

Get a group of photographers together, and there will be lots of knowledge sharing.  It's a given.  Everything from gear, to business tips, to editing - we love sharing what we know!

I'm not really sure why this is, but it is something I have learned over the years - there is something about being a photographer that goes hand-in-hand with being the type of person who likes to help others out with their own photography.  And it's pretty rare to find a photographer who is not willing to share what they know.

4. Second Opinions Can be Crucial to Learning

Being a photographer involves a lot of looking - looking through our viewfinders, looking at our computer monitors as we edit - and having another set of eyes to look at our work for us can provide us with valuable insight into our own work.

Those extra eyes that belong to someone else will always see things a bit differently, and help us to see what we may have missed on the first go around with shooting and editing. 

5. Photographers Make Great Friends, Plain and Simple

I have met quite a range of photographer personalities over the years.  Even though we each have our own personalities and styles of photography, I think that deep down, we all connect very deeply over this shared passion, and when you share a passion, it's a great basis for friendships to develop.

I would like to say that photographers make great friends because we are such totally awesome people (and that has a lot to do with it, obviously) but at the end of the day, it really is our shared passion that makes photographer friendships so special!

Do you have any questions or comments about Networking with Other Photographers?  Leave us a comment below - we would LOVE to hear from you!  And PLEASE SHARE this post using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!