We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ray Glaser a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ray, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
When I first started my photography business, it was easy to look at other established photographers in my market and try to create images similar to them. While this enabled me to learn new styles or skills, I quickly discovered that it was difficult to always chase someone else. I therefore found my own style once I went beyond creating amazing images. I focused on the client experience and getting the client to enjoy their session and their time being photographed, which ultimately created better images because the client was relaxed.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
What began as photographing my own kids when they were younger quickly expanded into doing photos of friends and their families. This kick-started our business over 15 years ago and today we photograph headshots, high school seniors, families and real estate.
With more than a decade of experience working with a wide range of clients all over the St. Louis, MO market, I’ve learned what works, and what doesn’t. Initially, we tried to enter any area of photography that existed and we quickly discovered it is much better to focus on a few key areas and do them extremely well versus a more vanilla approach.
This is when we really started training and focusing on a few core areas – High School Seniors, Families, Headshots and Real Estate. We stopped doing weddings, newborns, etc and focused on these very unique segments. This has enabled us to become experts in a few areas while creating an amazing client experience.
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?
When we started, we were so focused on the latest equipment, gear, etc. We initially thought this is what made the images stand out. We quickly learned that this was not the case. While it is true that professional equipment is critical, it was the other core skills that drove us to be a leading photography business within our market.
This included client experience, service, and having amazing images.
Most people don’t look forward to getting their pictures taken…so being able to quickly connect with clients and put them at ease was far more critical in capturing great images than the latest flash or other gear. We also know that clients want great service and quick turnaround times. Developing a work flow that is efficient, while not sacrificing quality, has been key to enabling this.
How would you describe your ideal client?
Our ideal client is someone that wants a personalized experience to help them create the best images of themselves and values high quality photography. All of our sessions are tailored to the client, and we take whatever time is needed to get them what they want.
While many clients know what they want and provide more detailed requests, often clients only know they want “great images”. This is where our experience can help guide and give them options. We work with both types of clients and find the challenges satisfying.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rayglaserphoto.com
- Instagram: rayglaserphotography
- Facebook: Ray Glaser Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
