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Wes Eisenhauer is a photographer, musician and artist residing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He has spent the last decade touring in his band, which ultimately led him to pick up a camera in 2012 and pursue photography full time.
In this episode, I chat with Wes Eisenhauer about his unique journey from musician to full-time photographer. Amongst the topics we touch on, we discuss the importance of consistency, saying NO to certain clients, and relationship building.
I want to give a huge thank you to Wes for taking the time to chat with us! I consider myself as much a student as the listening audience, and appreciate him sharing his extensive knowledge.
“Cool things happen. Be ready.”
Top 3 Tips From the Interview:
1. Cool things happen during shoots. Always be ready.
Quite often, interesting things happen in the in-between moments of a shoot, be it a bride having a laughing fit, or an engaged couple giving each other that special look, so it’s important that you’re always ready to capture that raw emotion. Especially if you put your client at ease and let them be themselves, their unique personalities will inevitably begin to shine through. Sometimes the best shots can happen in a split second, so be sure to look for those moments. It’s capturing that authentic emotion that will make your photos stand out.
2. Be consistent in putting your work online.
Wes mentioned that he consistently posts his photography on Facebook and other social media. He does this on a weekly basis, and it’s not always to “sell” people on his work. Often, it’s just to keep them updated, and to help his followers to get to know him. However, by constantly keeping them updated on his latest work, this keeps him at the top of their minds when the day arrives that they actually need photography services.
3. Build relationships. Be authentic.
“Networking” is a term used ad nauseam these days, sometimes to the point where it’s implied that you’re only in it to gain something for yourself. That’s why Wes prefers to think of networking as “relationship building”, because he’s in it to be authentic, and to help the other party involved when he can. Do things for people, and they will do things for you. It’s an organic relationship that just feels natural, and it’s a win-win.
Wes Can Be Found At:
» WesEisenhauerPhotography.com: Wes’s photography blog.
» @ Soulcrate: His handle on Instagram and Twitter
» Check out Wes Eisenhauer Photography on Facebook
Recommended Resources
» YouTube.com: Y’all know. Any question you have or tutorial you need, they’re there.
Soulcrate Can Be Found At:
» Soulcratemusic.com: The band’s website.
» Facebook.com/soulcrate: The band’s Facebook Page.
» The song from this Episode’s Intro: “Dirty Machine” from the album Welcome Back From Wherever You’ve Been