Member Article

Dave Charnley takes Bdaily behind the business

Photographer Dave Charnley talks about setting up his photography business.

One of my first jobs saw me in at the deep end with a spell as a holiday camp photographer, taking around 500 pics a night. I followed that with a stint working on an Israeli kibbutz before cycling back to the UK with my trusty camera at my side. The next 20 years were spent as a busy press photographer, taking pictures of everyone from royalty and heads of state to celebrities, sports stars and community heroes. My business, Dave Charnley Photography, specialises in commercial work for businesses and PR agencies, natural reportage weddings and location portraiture.

What key challenges has your company recently faced?

A large proportion of my work comes via PR and marketing companies, as well as top London news agencies, which use my images around the world. The big challenge has been growing the business in several different areas - corporate and PR work, plus lifestyle portrait sessions and natural photojournalist-style weddings while maintaining quality of service and doing it all at a good market price.

In effect its like running three micro-businesses, and I developed my business strategy around that model.

What is your biggest achievement over the past 12 months?

The biggest challenge I faced when I started out was marketing and I think its the same for a lot of small business owners. Winning the marketing category in the Tees Valley Business Awards was a great moment. Ive been lucky enough to win awards for my photography, but being recognised for getting to grips with branding, social media, search engine optimisation and other tools was a real boost for me, and for the business.

What is your biggest focus for the coming year?

Im developing new multi-media service lines, and I also plan to expand my client base, which currently stretches from North Yorkshire up to the Scottish border. The challenge will be doing all of that while delivering a quality service and maintaining the same attention to detail the two elements of the business that Im obsessive about.

If you had to choose one top piece of advice for someone just starting out in business, or is currently operating within your industry sector, what would it be?

Be creative dont do it like everyone else does it. Never be afraid to be yourself and bring something different and better to your approach.
Know your market, always delivering over and above what the client is expecting. And in quiet times dont sit back, use the time to continue your development, whether its technical training or business management. These principles have stood me in good stead and apply to every business, whatever its size and type.

Can you share with us your view of the current landscape of business, in this region or generally and where your organisation sits within it?

On the corporate client side of the business I would say there has been a slight but cautious upturn in confidence. In a recession the first thing to go although it should be the last - is usually the marketing budget.
Ive noticed that organisations are planning ahead much more, thinking strategically about their photography needs and creating a clear and concise photography brief. This means a shoot can result in a range of shots for news releases, website and newsletters, to get the most out of their available budget. Cashflow will always remain king, whatever the state of the economy.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Dave Charnley Photography .