When starting our wedding photography business, the biggest source of our success was our relationships with other wedding photographers.  There wasn’t much in the way of a photography community in Nashville, so we reached out to others in the area who were just starting their businesses and together we have built up a great community that has been thriving for years.

It was fairly straightforward to build community locally; but we also reached out to photographers in other areas.  Other states, even other countries.

How did we do that?  Two ways:  By going to national and international conventions to meet people in person.  But before we ever got on a plane, we began participating in online communities.

This. was. HUGE!

There are some fantastic forums out there; but many of them have thousands of members and established circles of friends, etc. and it can be quite daunting to break in if you aren’t already a part of them.

We helped launch and have been participating in a newer, smaller community called Photographers: Redefined since January and it has been fantastic! It’s still small enough that everybody has a chance to get to know new people and learn and contribute; but it’s growing at a great pace, so there’s plenty of new things going on all the time.

 

“I learn best from example, so this type of forum is a gold mine for me” –Karen Halbert


Tomorrow, we’re having an in person BBQ get together in Nashville, and nearly 60 people from the forum are coming to take relationships that have been established online over the past four months to more meaningful in-person relationships.  I’m sure we’ll soon see similar get togethers in other cities, and I’m excited to see all of the great things that will happen because of it.

Registration is free!  Register now and see what you’ve been missing–you’ll be glad you did!


Click here to register for the Photographers: Redefined forum

2 Comments

  1. Savannah Kenney on April 27, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Wish we were closer! We would come to the BBQ! Greatly enjoying the forum.

  2. Janie Thompson on June 2, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    We are very proud to be friends with Jim and Elaine. Jim thank you for sending us this link. The beauty and depth found in this photography is amazing. I will send any couples I might DJ for to your site. Our best wishes. Jim and Janie

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