You should work WITH your competitors

Why would you help your competitors?

That’s what one person asked me when we talked about working with other photographers in Phoenix. “Because, we are not competitors, we are a community” was my short and sweet answer. Entrepreneur online has a great article about it as well, 5 Reasons You Need to Work With Your Competitors,  See more Last night I spoke at the ASMP Phoenix monthly chapter meeting, my presentation was about Sports and Event Photography Best Practices. I shared some tips and what I’ve learned in my journey as a professional photographer, to help other photographers increase their own success. I don’t want to suffer like others have before me, and I don’t want others to suffer like I have. I gave tips about how to get the best out of photographing events, which also apply to other areas and specialties of photography. I gave advice about what camera equipment people do and do not need because it’s not about the cameras, it’s about the photographer and about being a professional photographer. I’ve long been a fan of working with, not against, other photographers in Phoenix. Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the United States with about 6 million people here. In my eyes, there is enough work to go around. I’ve also taught other artists how to price themselves so that they don’t become starving artists. It’s why I became a partner and eventually the owner of Photo Fusion Studio in Scottsdale then Phoenix. Photo Fusion Studio is a unique co-op photography studio, where photographers and other creatives and artists can work together. The studio is available to rent by the hour or day but it’s our unique monthly memberships where photographers, artists and other creatives really get to harness the power of a co-op.

The networking group, BNI, has a philosophy of Givers Gain^®, it’s based on the law of reciprocity.  is a philosophy based on the law of reciprocity. 

In the context of networking groups, people who adopt this philosophy dedicate themselves to giving business to their fellow networkers rather than making their foremost concern getting business for themselves.  In doing so, other people naturally become eager to repay their kindness by sending them business in return

I learned a lot of a similar philosophy from my friend, Christie Ellis, who through Bob Burg and his Go-Giver movement share a similar philosophy

In 2008 a “little story about a powerful business idea” took the business world by storm with its message: that shifting our focus from getting to giving (constantly and consistently providing value to others) is not only a fulfilling way to live life and conduct business, but the most profitable way, as well.

Photographers can learn from each other

“A rising tide raises all ships”

It means if we all work together and elevate the profession then we ALL benefit. It’s ok to admit we don’t know it all, I certainly don’t. It’s ok to admit another photographer is better than you, I know photographers that are better than me. We as photographers, business owners and humans all do better when we work together, help each other, and support each other. This is all very similar to shopping and supporting local companies, it’s such a huge impact to the local Phoenix community when that happens. So last night at the ASMP Phoenix meeting I had a great time, networking, chatting, speaking and meeting many other photographers in Phoenix. I certainly hope I get to know and work with many of them in the future as well.

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Special thanks to ASMP Phoenix, Scott Farence,  Cusi Taylor and Nick Pappagallo with Parkwood Photography Studio in Phoenix, AZ.