October 15, 2016

Meet South Bay Photographer and Video Producer: Barrett Ross

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barrett Ross.

Barrett, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
For years I resisted the calling of photography and video creation, yet my early jobs out of school kept finding out I had experience in it and added it as part of my responsibilities. I thought photography and video production wouldn’t be a practical career path and instead sought out the “stability” of a good corporate job, then a large non-profit organization. After having my whole department laid off at both places, I came to the realization that there was little more stability in traditional jobs than going out on my own, so I made the leap into working for myself, doing strictly photography and video production. I am so glad I did! Finally doing what my heart wanted all along and getting to work with a large variety of clients too!

Has it been a smooth road?
Acquiring clients early on was a total mystery: I knew how to do the work, but learning the business side of things was totally new. It was a bit of a struggle to learn all the aspects that were outside of my interest set – like client acquisition, sales, accounting, business planning, etc. Eventually, I met and brought together a number of other photographers into a co-mentoring group, and that was huge. We share ideas, offer business tips, provide critiques, and recently even collaborate on jobs. It’s been great to meet other creatives and help each other out on this otherwise lonely road.

What’s your outlook for the industry over the next 5-10 years?
There is a growing need for high-end photography – images are everywhere and brands are recognizing that quality imagery elevates their brand. This is true of portraiture as well as architecture. I believe that clients deserve to have images that represent the quality of work they are trying to do.

There is also a quick shift toward video. While once having lots of photos on a website made it stand out, now there is more and more motion. Mobile keeps up with and displays video beautifully, and more companies want to share their story, their “why” with potential customers. It’s really exciting to bring out the backstory on a company, to show it’s more than just a business. It’s a group of people working together to provide a wonderful experience, service, or product, and video is a wonderful medium for sharing this.

What would you say has been the biggest challenge for you over the course of your career?
For me, deciding on which direction I wanted to go with my business was tough. I dwelled on it, lost sleep over it, and delayed diving in because I wasn’t sure “which was best.” I enjoy a wide variety of photography and video production, so narrowing down wasn’t easy for me. That also meant targeting clients didn’t come easily. The idea of offering “a little something for everyone” is pretty replaceable and suddenly it’s a decision based solely on price. Being “the perfect fit” means you’re the go-to person for something specific. I would rather be the optimal choice for my clients than merely a dime-a-dozen service.

As I’ve focused my business more, I’m able to offer better service to my clients. I now am better at reaching out to my ideal clients (rather than casting a wide net) and can serve them better by having a more tuned set of offerings. That being said, it’s still fun to take on the occasional unique job.

What advice do you wish to give to those thinking about pursuing a path similar to yours?
Start with one area/type of work or one type of client, and grow from there. This will help you keep all your ducks in a row (business-wise and workflow within your photo/video work), and ultimately lead to a better client experience. And at the end of the day, a great client experience needs to be our ultimate goal. While there are lots of people with nice cameras calling themselves photographers, I believe a true professional is someone who brings the whole package together for the client.

Also, try to meet other photographers/video producers. When you create a network who can all share information and questions, it’s so rewarding for everyone. This doesn’t happen overnight, but it can be really tough going it alone. I helped set up a group of “co-mentors” several years back, and that really helped me out. I learned a lot of tips about running the business from some others who had been at it longer, and was able to share techniques in return. Also, it’s nice to have someone other than your dog to talk to during those long edit sessions – just call up a fellow photographer and talk shop to see how you might be able to help one another.

Contact Info: