Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Barber.
Robert, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My first exposure to photography was when I was going to art school in San Diego. I had a project that needed imagery but I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I checked out a camera from the supply room and watched a couple of YouTube videos to learn how to use it. I set it to full auto and went to shoot. The images weren’t amazing, but I loved being able to shoot my own content.
Unfortunately I was living the broke, starving artist/student life while working full time to pay rent and bills so I was not in a place to purchase my own camera so I did the next best thing. I found a friend with a camera and started working with him on a website as a content producer.
Basically, we would go to nightclubs and take photos of events and promote the clubs and nightlife in San Diego. It was a lot of fun and I got to play with photography.
Fast forward a few years to the proliferation of smart phones. I was a late adopter of the iPhone. I think the iPhone 4 was my first. I began shooting with it just for fun. People would say that the pictures looked good and I was always looking for fun, different compositions. I started to research DSLRs but couldn’t pull the trigger on purchasing something that was more than my rent at the time. I decided on a camera and went for it! Now I have bags and bags of equipment that I can’t imagine living without. I have a website and a social media presence that is steadily growing. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been smooth with lots of curves. I started off thinking I was going to shoot models and make so much money doing that. Then I realized that models don’t pay to have their photos taken, they get paid. Needless to say, my thought process and marketing has changed several times over the past couple of years while I fine-tuned my focus. Now I market myself as a Long Beach Portrait Photographer and business has been picking up.
I think the biggest struggle has been getting people to pay for sessions. Friends and family all want you to shoot photos for free or they say, “just bring your camera with you” when you go to an event or party. I’m okay with collaborations and TFP shoots that will benefit me and the subject, but asking an artist to do something for free is like asking a surgeon to do surgery for free.
Robert Barber Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Robert Barber Photography is a Long Beach photography company that specializes in portraits and head shots. I love to shoot tight and focus on the subject which means we can shoot anywhere! I don’t need the pretty backgrounds or scenery to make your photo interesting, it will be interesting because of the subject (you).
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is being able to do what I love and make a living doing it. As business grows, I’ll be looking for the moment I can ditch my 9-5 and make this my full-time job. We are taught as children that we are supposed to go to school, pick a career and do that the rest of your life. I lived that, but it doesn’t make me happy. It makes me money, which is great, but I want my work to make me happy. I want to make people happy with my work.
Pricing:
- Petite $150 (20-30 Minute Session, Light Retouching, 3-5 High Resolution Digital Photos, Prints Available)
- Standard $300 (Up to 2 Hour Session, Full Retouching, 5+ High Resolution Digital Photos, Custom Online Gallery, Prints Available)
- Full $500+ (Full Retouching, 10+ High Resolution Digital Photos, Custom Online Gallery, Free Follow Up Shoot, Prints Available)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.robertbarberphotography.com
- Phone: 619.940.4762
- Email: robert@rbarberphotography.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/rbarber_photography
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rbarberPhotography
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/robert-barber-photography-long-beach-2?osq=Portrait+Photographers
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