If you’re building a career in photography we’ve published some great articles by highly successful people here lately.

Here’s a quick run-through — starting with Justine Ungaro and The Edmonsons because they’re giving Master Classes at WPPI next week. Please don’t miss them — they’ll be great value — and please don’t miss their sponsors either — Queensberry! Catch up with Stephen and Sonya at Booth 1365 in the Marquee Ballroom.

Justine’s WPPI class is about moving to a new market, but her article for Queensberry is about selling albums, which she reckons does two things — makes you more money, and makes you a better photographer. Albums keep you focused on three things that your clients will love about your — no, their — images.

David and Luke Edmonson wouldn't disagree. They say that selling albums was their biggest weakness … until they realised that the key to success isn't polishing your strategy and tactics, it's understanding your client’s hearts and minds — something they’re very good at.

But there’s a stumbling block…

In the survey we ran a few weeks ago 42% of you said that your biggest challenge selling albums is that either your clients don’t want them, or selling them makes your prices seem too high. Which is presumably why so many photographers take the low cost, low price route. And see their incomes tumble.

Megan DiPiero suggest that if your customers want to spend as little as possible, you should be asking why. It’s probably not to save money but so they can spend it on something else. So if you're hearing crickets when people learn your prices, don’t drop them (the prices I mean), put them up! Go for luxury.

Stephen says something similar. You can’t win if your first conversation with clients is about money. And anyway, if you slash your prices two things are certain: you’ll earn less and people will still ask you for a better deal. Here’s what you should do instead.

But charging what you deserve takes courage and confidence, and Kate Hopewell-Smith thinks there may be a crisis of under-confidence in our industry. Fear that we’re not as good as we need to be. Fear of being “found out”! Kate writes about how to deal with that little voice inside you saying you’re just not good enough.

On the same theme Cate Scaglione asks what you're afraid of. What if your plan doesn’t work? What if they don’t buy it? What if they think you're a fraud? She talks openly about her own fears and what she did to conquer them. For good measure she also writes about building a brand from the inside out and how to sell more albums in the digital age.

No one’s suggesting that photography is an easy way to make a living, least of all Terilyn and Koby Brown of Archetype. In a heartfelt post they write about how they put the past behind them, defined their dreams and set out to fulfil them. Honest and inspiring.

Cindy Harter Sims' story is just as compelling. It's about more than going from part-time hobbyist to full time award-winning photographer. It’s about wanting all that life has to offer. Photography just happens to be Cindy's way of finding it.

Which brings us full circle. Catherine Connor asks if you've identified the tribe you want your ideal business to attract. What’s your strategy, and is it working? And the Really Big Question — when you’ve succeeded will it be personally fulfilling?

And for extra inspiration check out my own post about Dmitry and Victoria Fedotov, who've built a photography business serving some of the world’s wealthiest people, by being clear about their goals and plans, by going the extra mile for their clients … and by shutting out the voices inside that say it can’t be done.

If you aspire to be a mid- to high-end photographer — or you’ve already made it! — there’s real gold in these links. Kick back, have a good read, and tell us what you think.

And our love and thanks to everyone mentioned for sharing so generously.

Cheers, Ian

PS Please don't forget Justine's and The Edmonsons' WPPI Master Classes, and Stephen and Sonya would love to catch you at Booth 1365 in the Marquee Ballroom.