Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mark Holtzman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Mark, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
Life is about taking risks. Your first walk, first bike ride, first swim, first trip.
A calculated risk takes into account the benefits versus consequences of that endeavor. Depending on your situation and timing in your life, the risk can be very scary but can be a life changing event for you and your family.
My big risk was when I was in my late 40’s. I had been in a secure job for about 20 years with no upward mobility. I felt that I needed a change and to try something on my own. I have been flying since I was a teenager and had my own small airplane, which you can imagine isn’t cheap. My wife gave me an ultimatum, either the airplane starts to make money or we will need to sell it. After a lot of mulling over what to do I decided to try aerial photography, where I would fly my airplane and take pictures. Needless to say, this was a very big decision. There were bills that would have to be paid and I wasn’t sure that I was capable of starting a business.
I felt more comfortable starting slowly. I cut my work schedule down to 4 days a week and tried to build up clientele on that day off. It seemed to work and when I got busy enough, I took a second day off per week. Working 3 days a week meant a major reduction in my salary (I had a very understanding boss, as you can tell), which motivated me to push myself more into aerial photography. I finally took a deep breath and left the company to work for myself. It was very scary, but exciting at the same time.
I must admit that before I started, I had only done minimal research. In hindsight, I should have met other aerial photographers and learned more about running a business. While I eventually was able to figure things out with trial and error, I could have saved myself some headaches and drama if I was more prepared in the beginning.
There was a lot of trepidation, but I took the gamble. It was one cold call at a time and I was learning something new every day. Starting from scratch is not easy and it can be scary, but the fulfillment, confidence, and satisfaction I continue to get from this decision continues to be life changing.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an aerial photographer, which means that I fly and take pictures out of my airplane. My company is small and consists of my son and I. We provide aerial photographs and videos to a wide range of clients, from realtors to builders to cities. I started my business by making sales calls and meeting with potential clients. Marketing is a big commitment that needs to be done daily, even when you’re busy. When I get a new client, to me it is not just about the one job, it is about the relationship I develop with the client. This can have the potential for more jobs in the future.
While aerial photography is my profession, it is also something I love to do. I have been fortunate over the years to have had some of my photographs win international awards, like World Press Photo, and have heard from people on more than one occasion that one of my pictures had memorialized a moment in time for them and brought them a lot of joy. There’s no better feeling than that!!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Learning who your clients are and who can use your services is a good way to grow your business. Once you know this, it is just about reaching out to them and consistently following up. Sales calls and emails are important and should be more about gathering information about your clients’ needs than about trying to make a sale. Being consistent in your marketing is important, as it may take many times connecting with the same potential client before they know who you are.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
My way of coping when I feel overwhelmed is to take a break and go for a workout. In the summer I would be swimming laps in the pool, otherwise rowing or biking. I always feel better after my workouts. I am very fortunate being able to fly. Even though I fly for my vocation, sometimes going for a flight along the coast is a great way for me to relax.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.photopilot.com
- Instagram: westcoastaerialphotography
- Facebook: West Coast Aerial Photography, Inc.
- Linkedin: photopilot
- Twitter: westcoastaerial
- Youtube: PhotopilotMark
Image Credits
Mark Holtzman
