What was the first question you had when you decided to start working with clients?

“How much should I charge?”

“How do I know what to charge?” 

“What should be the fee?”

Something to this effect,  would you agree? 

Aren’t pricing and rates one of the toughest aspects of setting up a food blogging or photography business? 

Fee is the number#1 reason we are overwhelmed & nervous when starting out as a business. It gives us sleepless nights.

That’s why I have our favorite food photographer, Joanie Simon joining us today to talk all about pricing your work as a food photographer. 

She walks us through all the different ways of setting our rates, how to approach pricing, which projects to take up, how to  talk to clients, what to include in a proposal and how to address overtime work. 

If you’re a content creator working with clients or wish to work with clients, this episode is not to be missed.

Money is an awkward topic, it is the toughest part to wrap around in your business. 

Joanie is a pro food photographer who has been in the market long enough to tell us the best way to approach pricing and the shortcut to doing it the right way because the last thing we want is the pressure of money to suck away the joy of creating.

Good news is that business and creativity can co-exist and thrive too, as long as we know how to approach it. 

​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at  https://myfoodlens.com/58-how-to-price-your-work-as-a-food-photographer-part-1

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Do you get nervous if you’ve to shoot with a new light or new space?

What if you need to work with a food you’ve not handled before?

Does any of that make you nervous? 

What happens is that, when we begin with food photography, we want to jump into all different photography techniques, big compositions, think about props, spend money on backdrops & we want to do it all quickly.

We see magnificent photos on social media, get inspired and all we want is to be able to create like them. 

 And, we want to get there fast.

But in this process, we often skip a few steps in our learning to fast track to creating “social-media” style photos.

 And that’s where the cracks begin to appear,  the difference between those who are technically strong in their skills and those who are not.

But what if there was a way to create those magnificent photos in a way that also made us focus on the technical aspects. 

That’s why in this week’s episode, I want to talk about a way for photographers to explore all the fun aspects of photography while working on strengthening technique and honing it.

…by working on flatlay photography.

I share why flatlays are different from other camera angles, how it can catapult your photography, and how you can utilize it to build specific skills as a photographer. 

Don’t skip a step in your learning, instead make that step exciting and fun to learn. 

Flatlays offer a way to explore photography in a way that not only creates magnificent photos but also takes your skills to the next level.

The good news is that honing your skills or practicing powerful photography techniques does not have to be serious and boring.

Whether we are a beginner or have been photographing for a few years now, there are always areas that need work. Flatlays can be an effective way to pick out the skills that need extra attention and work on it. 

I share exactly what you can do and how you can take advantage of the power of flatlays so that no new situation or food phases you. You don’t get nervous, but instead tackle it like a pro. 

​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at  https://myfoodlens.com/57-how-to-use-flat-lays-to-improve-your-photography-skills

Episode 35 - https://myfoodlens.com/35-lighting-technique-to-create-depth-in-flat-lay-photography/

Download free guide and workbook 
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

A brand is interested to work with you. They reach out to you asking for your fee or rate card.

Tell me what would you do - 

1. You don’t have a rate card but send your portfolio instead. 
2. You have a rate card but don’t feel confident sending it. What if it is too high or too low.
3. The brand is so awesome that you offer to work for free. You just need their name in your portfolio.
4. You immediately reply to the email with your rate card.
5. You request to have a quick call before sending the rate card.

Which option did you choose? 

If you chose anything except option e) then you might be losing on to some big opportunities. 

We know that not every project is the same. The way we photograph for one brand and the amount of work it takes is different from the other. Then how can our fee be the same, if the work and scope is not the same? 

That’s why, I want to share this week’s episode with you. 

I don’t say this about all episodes, but I curated this episode after 5 years of learning on the job, getting kicked in the ***,  losing projects, being taken advantage of and feeling like a certain client did not deserve me.

This week I’m sharing 3 top questions to ask a client on a discovery call.

These questions have protected me in my business, the conversations on discovery calls have got me repeat clients, connections with potential clients have allowed me to expand my services to clients worldwide.  

And that has all been by asking the right questions - upfront!

If you want to streamline your client booking process, make sure your fee is suited to the project, feel confident about sending your rate card and walk away feeling pumped to work with a brand - this episode is totally for you!

If there is a way to feel confident about handling client enquiries, having conversations that lead to long-term client relationships and offering a fee that works for you & brings profit - then follow that path.

Running a business and making money is tough work. You never want to feel like you lost out or got a raw deal. And the only person who can prevent that from happening is you.

Take the right action by asking the right questions that will not only help your business make money but also establish you as a pro & everyone wants to work with pro, right?  

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/56-top-3-questions-to-ask-a-client-on-a-discovery-call

Download my free client pitch workbook HERE

What would happen if instagram closed down tomorrow?

And facebook too?

How would you share your work?

Where would potential clients find you? 

Would you still be able to connect with a community of like-minded creators?

And let’s say instagram didn’t close down, even then, what if you owned a platform that was stable and not affected by algorithm changes.

This week I’m joined by podcaster & food blogger turned website developer at Grace and Vine Studios, Madison Wetherill who shares all about websites for food bloggers and photographers.

Having a website is one thing but having an effective website that brings clients and builds a community, is another. 

Madison shares the benefits of a website, how to build an effective one, what brings clients to our site, creates a beautiful user experience  and design considerations to keep in mind.

As visual creators we have the advantage of taking our website appeal up a notch with our  powerful photos or videos that can potentially double entice an audience. It is natural to what we create. So, why not make use of it? 

Websites aren’t just for professionals. A website is YOUR space to showcase YOUR work. 

Whether you’re a hobbyist , professional photographer, food blogger, or any content creator, you need a website, a space that is truly your own.  

The power of a website has become diluted in today’s world of social media but that is what makes it even more important, even more essential.

Do you have a website yet or looking to create one? 

​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/55-how-to-attract-clients-and-build-a-community-with-a-website

Do you have a full-time job, but want to turn food photography into a full-time business? 

Are you a hobbyist who loves food photography and wonders what it would be like to take it up professionally?

Are you a professional food photographer wondering how to book more clients and stand out from your competition?

Last year, I was invited on the Eat Capture Share Podcast by food photographer, Kimberly Espinel to chat about all of that and much more. 

My chat with her was so power packed that I had to share it with you. 

We talked about pitching to clients, how to stand out, client experience and the critical breakthroughs in our creative lives that help to start a business, scale it and not quit. That’s key, right? 

My breakthroughs helped me take the leap from architecture to professional food photography, book prestigious clients inspite of limited experience and almost no connections, reach clients globally and win bids  - I talk about how it was all possible.

I want to share this with you because I know how overwhelming it can be if you’re thinking of switching to full-time food photography or trying to grow your current business.

 Our journeys are so similar that this conversation might help you take that next step you’ve been thinking about.

This episode will leave you with practical tips and actions you can put into place immediately in your creative journey. If you’re on the fence or hesitant to take the next step in your food photography career, this episode will leave you with the fuel to either start or restart. 

 I’m sure you will relate to them & be able to apply them to skyrocket your own journey. 

​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/54-how-to-start-grow-a-food-photography-business/

Ever been stuck during a photoshoot?

You know something is not working, but can’t put your finger on it. 

Well, more than 90% of the time, it is the same darn reason that gets us stuck.

It is the troublemaker but also the knight in shining armor.

Which means, it is the devil but can be the hero - depending on how we deal with it.

You know what I'm talking about  - That one reason that gets us stuck, is light.

90% of the time we get stuck because the light does not work as magically as we want it to. And instead of focussing on it, we start replacing the props, backdrops, the composition and totally underestimate that all it might actually need is just a slight tweaking of the light.

But to tweak the light, we need to have an understanding of light.

Lighting in food photography is different from portrait, product, landscape and even architectural photography.

That’s why, in this week’s episode I'm sharing with you one of the most powerful lighting techniques in food photography - Backlight.  

Unlike other lighting directions, backlight is a tad bit tricky. I call it Mr. Hyde. …. Because it can be evil and vicious but it can also skyrocket our photo from good to Wow… as long as we can use it to our advantage. 

In this episode I’m sharing how to read backlight, when to use and when to avoid it ….so that you can not only create backlight but also quickly identify the problem if you get stuck.  

Having a grip on lighting in food photography not only helps to save time during a photoshoot but also propels our skills forward. 

Knowing different lighting techniques enables us to tap into the power of each light type and use it in a way that works perfectly for the mood and food we are working with.

Back light is one of the most powerful lights to work with but it needs to be understood, adjusted and sometimes even tamed. 

It is aptly fitted for the title of “troublemaker” but also “knight in shining armor” – depending on how well we can work with it.

Don’t be at the mercy of the light available to you. Work with backlight like a Pro and take your photography to the next level. 

​Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/53-backlight-when-to-use-avoid-it-in-food-photography/

What to post on my feed today?

Omg! I have no new photos to post this week?

I wish I could post more often.

I wonder how other content creators post so frequently. 

Should creating content be this difficult?

I feel so tired of keeping up with posting on instagram.

Do these thoughts about posting on social media ever cross your mind? 

wha..Much too frequently? 

I get it. 

Whatever your relationship might be with social media, if you are sharing your photos or videos on it regularly, you know that it is not easy. There is so much work that goes into being regular and consistent in posting that often it is overwhelming, tiring, confusing & frustrating. 

In today’s podcast episode, we have 17 Pro food photographers & bloggers sharing their best strategies and top-tips to create content for social media. 

Consistency is a real toughie and so, these photographers share their best advice on how to create content without the strain, pressure and overwhelm that comes with it. 

They share what you can do to stay on top of content creation and create like a boss.

Everytime I feel overwhelmed about posting, I remind myself of what it was like when I first got on Instagram. It was fun & exciting, just like the beginning of a romance.

Just like we work on keeping the excitement alive in our romantic relationships, we need to do the same with social media too. 

Think of the beginning and why you fell in love with the platform. No matter how many times you post, how many followers you have, keep the love going with no expectations, if the platform still serves a purpose for you.

What if you took away the pressure of posting and replaced it with the joy of sharing, just like when you started? 

Hear what our experts have to say about it. You’ll love it. I think.

​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/52-top-tips-from-successful-photographers-and-bloggers-to-create-content-for-social-media-without-overwhelm

Register for the free Master the Art of Food Photography summit here 

Is it possible to lose your passion for food photography? 

Do you ever feel like you’re always doing so much, always working but it’s never enough?

You don’t feel like picking up your camera. The thought of it makes you feel tired.

You feel like you don’t have it in you anymore. 

You’ve lost your creativity, your passion, your fire, your desire. 

When you want to take a break, you feel guilty. 

You tell yourself, you’re being lazy. 

You never have time for anything. 

You’re constantly trying to catch up and yet, always behind with so much to do.

But even though you feel tired, you ignore it and keep plowing through. 

Why am I bringing this up?

..Because I experienced all of those feelings recently. 

It is called burnout and it cannot be taken lightly.

Almost every creative person who is crafting a hobby,  juggling a full time job, building a business or balancing a family while pursuing their art, is prone to this. It can hit us at different times & in different ways. 

In this episode, I want to share the hidden signs of burnout you should watch out for if you feel like you’ve lost your creative spark. 

If you’ve not been motivated to pick up your camera, the thought of photography makes you feel tired or you’ve been feeling stuck, and taking a break has not helped …you might be burned out.

Contrary to what most think, burnout is not a creative block or tiredness. It is more complex than that.

 Burnout does not go away easily. It can take months. That’s why, don’t let it enter your creative world in the first place.
 

Don’t assume it will never happen to you just because photography is not a business for you. Burnout hits creatives as hard as it hits businesses and Corporates. The hit is even worse when it is unexpected & we assume that our passion and love for photography is untouchable. 

Do you feel like you’ve lost your creative spark and nothing is helping?



 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/51-lost-your-creative-fire-hidden-signs-of-burnout-to-watch-out-for

You’re scrolling the internet and find your photo used where you didn’t approve.

You delivered photos to a client. They didn’t like them, so they didn’t pay you. 

You already edited the photos & delivered,  but the client asked for more edits.

You completed a photoshoot and then the client did not want the photos. 

You agreed on 10 photos but now the client wants 10 more.

We love creating photos for our clients. 

But what if a client requests something that you don't agree to? 

Even if you work with the most amazing clients, with the best mutual understanding, there  are many situations where disagreement, miscommunication or misunderstandings can occur.

What do you do then? How do you protect yourself? 

That’s where our friend, Rob Finkelstein enters. Rob is a lawyer and a food blogger. Like whaaa! 

In my conversation with Rob, we discuss everything needed to protect ourselves when working with clients. 

He talks about the importance of contracts, what should be included in a proposal, the difference between license and ownership, how to include the license fee, have the legal conversation with the client and what to be wary of on social media. 

Being a food photographer himself, and a lawyer for over 20 years, Rob really understands the points where disagreements or misunderstandings potentially happen and how to include them in contracts to safeguard your interests and protect your business from losses. 

Bigger brands are usually equipped to handle lawsuits or legal issues. They usually have enough money to go the court route. If that happens to us, we have to either shell out enormous dollars to pursue the court case or back out knowing full well we were right and yet, on the losing end. 

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 
Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/50-how-to-protect-your-photos-with-license-and-copyright-with-robert-finkelstein/

You’re pitching to a client.

You'd love to work with them.

You offer your beautiful photography and tell them how the photos will elevate their products. 

But then… another photographer reaches out to them and says the exact same thing! 

They offer their beautiful photography and promise to make the products look like a million bucks.

When you offer the same services & the same promise as others, why would a client choose you?

If you are both bringing the same thing to the table, why should the client work with you? 

...Because you have a hidden talent. 

You can bring something extra to the table! 

The other photographer might have that talent too but they don't know they do. Ha 😅

In this episode, I share with you a secret talent that you probably already have, but might not be aware of. I'll share how to use that superpower to your advantage. 

That talent or skill can instantly differentiate you from the next photographer. 

It can help you offer a broader range of services to the client, increase your chances of working with them, and in turn, increase revenue. 

I picked up that skill as an architect while pitching for large projects worth millions of dollars. 

Using it in food photography has allowed me to work with leading magazines, huge businesses and hot-shot brands.

And I'm sharing it with you :)


Whether you are trying to break into the market, working in a competitive market, trying to build a photography business, or trying to scale your business, this skill can help take it to the next level.

It might need practice but you already have it in you. You just need to recognise, hone, and apply it. 

If you've you ever wondered if a client would hire you. Now you know why they would.

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/49-a-powerful-skill-to-differentiate-yourself-as-a-food-photographer-and-win-over-the-competition