This is your body an X and welcome to The Candid Frame.

This episode of The Candid Frame is brought to you by Photo Biz Exposed, an interview podcast

which takes the mystery out of the business of photography.

Learn from some of the industry's best as Andrew Helmich discovers how people make their passion

their life's work. Find out more by visiting photobizex.com forward slash TCF.

If you want to make a living, as a professional photographer, there is a lot to learn.

Whether it's gaining clients, negotiating contracts, or just maintaining a sustainable profit margin,

there are a lot of things to do beyond how to produce a well-exposed photograph. As a member as well as the director of ASMP, the American Society of Media Photographers,

Jenna Close has learned how to create a successful commercial photography business.

Along with her partner John Helb, they built their business by serving a niche market of companies

involved in alternative energy. Part of that growth involved the early adoption of drone technology,

which helped them define their place in the industry. We began by talking about how she and

John chose to start their photographic business targeting the alternative energy industry.

Sure. When I was in school, I went to the Art Institute of Seattle, and we were required to go through a class in each major

kind of market and subject of photography, so fashion, editorial, and try everything out before

we picked our major. And I really found myself interested in corporate and industrial photography. I like being on location.

I like going to places I wouldn't normally have access to and meeting people and learning about

what they do. So I was headed in that direction. And one of my teachers said to me, you know,

it's a really competitive market right now.

And it's fine for you to just say you're going to be an incorporate industrial photographer,

but I would encourage you to actually look for some sort of a specific focus,

at least when you're starting out.

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