Today’s Seniorologie 101 comes from Erin Smagala of Erin Smagala Photography in Nashville, Tennessee.  Erin contacted me much like she explains in her post to meet for coffee while I was in town visiting.  We couldn’t work it out to meet because I was a little farther away from her than we originally thought but we set up a skype date and chatted about all things senior photography related!  It was so nice to meet such a kind person and now I know I have a new friend in the industry!

As you will read in Erin’s post below, reaching out will open doors and build friendships with fellow photographers in all different genres!  I personally love meeting, sharing and supporting new photographers I meet through Seniorologie and my door (aka skype, email, facebook, and me in person if you are near me or I am near you) is ALWAYS open!!  I love to chat photography, help someone or just share stories!!  In fact, if anyone is interested in meeting up in Greenville, SC for a Seniorologie Meet-UP, let me know!!  I would love to plan one if the interest is there! Leave a comment below!

Read below, reach out and you just might meet a fellow photographer you can both rely on and support to both build a relationship that works!  Thanks for sharing this Erin!!

P.S.  I think Erin should totally coin the new word “Photografriends”

A Call To Network

by Erin Smagala

Iʼm sure youʼre incredibly busy,” I began typing, “but I would love to meet up for coffee sometime… Iʼm looking to build relationships with people who love what I love.”

It was December of 2010 and I had spent the year portfolio building and dedicating countless hours to teaching myself the ins and outs of this business that I love. However, there was something big missing. I needed more interaction with people who understand me when Iʼm gushing over the perfect light or banging my head against the desk after doing my taxes. As much as he tried, my sweet husband just didnʼt get it, and it was time for me to make some photografriends.

When I finally worked up the courage, I sent a goofy message to a wonderful photographer here in Nashville asking him and his lovely wife to coffee. He politely declined and instead extended a personal invitation to a monthly photographer meet-up that he leads. In one email, I went from possibly meeting up with two photographers to meeting up with a few dozen (and yes, it made me a little sick to my stomach).

Since that email, Iʼve attended countless meetings, coffee dates, and long lunches with some of the most talented and generous photographers. Iʼve built close friendships and lasting business relationships. Iʼve even recently become a co-leader of a monthly meet-up that typically has about twenty attendees. We share, learn, make goals, tackle obstacles, grow, and laugh with each other. We even send referrals around the group and hire each other as second shooters.

So, todayʼs post is to urge you to reach out to someone. Ask someone to coffee. Treat them to lunch. Get to know each other over a smoothie. I know itʼs scary. I know that there are photographers who build up walls and are afraid to befriend their ʻcompetitorsʼ. Some people will decline, but the right person (the person that loves people and the industry) will say yes.

With a little luck, youʼll find a fellow photographer that just gets you. Youʼll set up creative shoots, share props, stuff your faces with popcorn while you watch creative live marathons, and maybe even go on a double date or two. Plain and simple, this prefession is just much more fun with a solid friend (or few) to enjoy the ride with.

This idea isnʼt limited to just fellow photographers. Why not reach out to a different type of creative? There might be a makeup artist, event planner, or graphic designer out there who could use a tall white mocha and a good chat.

By the way, I was asked to write this article while I was sipping coffee during my first Skype date with Leslie. I reached out, she accepted, and we had a lovely hour-long chat like we were old friends. 😉

After youʼve reached out to someone, leave us a comment below to tell us who you met up with and how it went!