One of the great things about the internet is the access to all sorts of information. Another is that the medium gives people the opportunity meet and/or to learn from other people they might not never have known of or had the opportunity to meet. The internet can be a great teaching & learning tool, but it can also be a dangerous place.
Sadly, there are a lot of people out there who put on a great show but who are, in fact, not experts or at least who have questionable backgrounds. In fact, there is the whole range–from real, giving experts and professionals to scam artists, and everything in-between.
The trouble is, it is very difficult to tell who is who. Although there is a lot of information out there, it’s difficult to know what is legitimate and what isn’t, so whom you follow for crucial business advice may be a great resource or someone who looks great but who is a convicted con man.
So, all I’m saying is that you should do your research and not just believe what you read on someone’s blog or website (including this one!). Ask questions and ask for credentials. Be a bit skeptical. Trust but verify, as they say. It could save you a lot of pain in the end.
FWIW Leslie, I also think most people in our industry are at the very least well-meaning, if not simply fantastic and giving and incredibly helpful. Actually, I don’t “think” – I know, from experience. That’s why I try to do likewise whenever I can.
An excellent point. I always try to look into the training and experience of those giving advice on the Web. To that end, I would like to know about the extent of your related experience, such as how long you were a photographer’s rep, whether you repped any notable photographers, and how long you worked for the ad agency, and which one.
David: I was a studio manager and in-house rep for 4+ years then worked on the other side (agency, interactive design firm–neither of which you would know–in Ohio) for a few more years after that then launched BAP as a rep (Steve Webster of hideoutinc.com and Ted Rice, primarily) in 1999. In 2003 I moved to California and dropped repping for consulting because I felt like doing both was a conflict of interest and there was a big demand for my consulting advice. Since then, I have written 3 books, a gazillion articles, spoken all over the country, and consulted with photographers from South Africa, the UK, France, Denmark, Canada, as well as the USA. -Leslie