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Dan started as an engineer and then moved over to running a photography business. Dan got a studio early in his career. When he started, there was a group of local businesseswith a shared space where he started with a desk. Then, as others left, he took over more of the space to make it his studio.
Sam likes a few things on his website, especially the call to action “apply to work with us”.  Dan said he got the ideafrom the book “Booked Solid” by Paul J DiGrigoli

It gives the impression that he is so busy that you have to apply to work with him as he is so busy. Dan has upended his about page, making it entirely about the visitor, not about him.

Marcus asks about the video and Dan said he got into this due to demand rather than it being something he wanted to do. Dan outsources any work he gets in. So, he works as a creative director, but the sub-contractor films and edits the videos.he says there are lots of freelancers out there who can work with you. Dan says that estimating the edit time is one of the most challenging parts of a video quote.

Marcus asks Dan about his style and he says his style develops as you shoot rather than trying to force a style upon your work.
Sam asks Dan about his niching as his work is very niched. Dan says this is largely based on his background and who he knew when he was an engineer. Although initially he was very general, he then focused on a niche. Dan said he found that once he niched, everything became much easier in terms of marketing and getting referrals. Dan said the secret of niching is also that you don’t have to stick to your niche with your work, only in your marketing. Sam also discussed the idea that niching allows you to charge more as you are a specialist, not ageneralist.
Dan has a group he has put together called fathers of Focus. This is a group for photographers that he runs. Dan wants to help others. He finds that the business side of the business is something he enjoys and has lots of experience with. While many photographers don’t feel confident in this area. So the group is to bring photographers together and give them confidence in running their business. The group is aimed at family focused men. To find out more about the group, youcan visit them here.

Dan Barker is a former aerospace engineer who now runs a photography and video production business focused on helping manufacturers. 

After picking up a camera in 2012 to help with his wife's business, he realised how much he enjoyed photography. Making time to teach himself about photography and business while working full-time in aerospace engineering, he gradually began to pick up paying clients.

He has a successful business which supports his family and now he helps others do the same through his mastermind community Fathers of Focus.

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You can connect with Dan on LinkedIn here