About Us
Frederick Schmitt Photography - The best images arrive when the person behind the camera connects with the person in front of the camera.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (7)
"Schmitt Photography- If you are looking for great candid pictures for your family memories Fred..."
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"Schmitt Photography- If you are looking for great candid pictures for your family memories Fred Schmitt captures those moments in a way different then any other photographer we have ever used. He sees and brings to life’s expressions that usually only your mind would remember, the pictures pop out of their frames. I have pictures of my children around my home and my office that actually bring me back to their personalities from those timestamped moments of their childhood. He is incredibly talented and affordable, never gauging his clients on price. "
"Professional and highly responsive. Knowledgeable, competent and delivers."
Recommendations Given (15)
"Great products and excellent customer service."
"I worked with Sonya during my time at Prudential. It's an understatement to say I was impressed..."
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"I worked with Sonya during my time at Prudential. It's an understatement to say I was impressed by her work ... she is an amazing designer and even better person. I highly recommend Sonya to any organization looking for a hard-working, kind, patient, and talented person to bring their projects to life. "
Recent Activity
Let's start at the end of the story—the part where I'm sitting on a plane flying back to New Jersey from California after finishing an incredible photo shoot that quite wonderfully fell in my lap. I'm not kidding. I didn't hustle to earn this opportunity. I didn't spend hours preparing to pitch...
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Let's start at the end of the story—the part where I'm sitting on a plane flying back to New Jersey from California after finishing an incredible photo shoot that quite wonderfully fell in my lap. I'm not kidding. I didn't hustle to earn this opportunity. I didn't spend hours preparing to pitch my business. I didn't research the client. In fact, I didn't have to explain anything about myself.
One day, I received an unsolicited phone call that went something like this: “Fred, I've heard some really great things about you and your photography. Would you be interested in this project?” A few weeks later I'm on my way to California for an all-expenses-paid project that offered great exposure and excellent income.
I'm just lucky, right? Hardly. Luck had nothing to do with this opportunity (or any opportunity, in my opinion).
Right place at the right time? Possibly, but I believe getting this job was the result of a mindset I decided to adopt years ago; attitudes that anyone—and I mean anyone—can follow.
I firmly believe this approach is better than a degree in marketing, offers more long-term value than an advertising campaign, and leads to more client testimonials and referrals than any website or storefront.
The key to landing this opportunity—and many others in my career—starts and ends with three personal commitments that, when added to your expert skills, position you as the better choice over another expert who doesn't hold these beliefs.
Here they are.
MEET EVERY COMMITMENT ... NO MATTER HOW SMALL.
As a business owner, it is absolutely essential that you deliver on every promise you make...no matter how trivial it may seem. If you commit to being at a meeting, be there...on time. If you promise to deliver your proposal on Tuesday, don't wait until Wednesday. If your pitch call is at 10:30 a.m., call exactly at 10:30 a.m. If you promise a certain level of service, don't try to slip in some unfinished work no matter how busy you are.
The reason you take this approach is to build trust with your current and potential clients. If you can't deliver on the small stuff, there's no way you'll be positioned as the best choice for big ticket items. And there's little chance the under-serviced client will refer you to others.
GIVE AWAY YOUR TIME AND TALENTS.
Make a point of giving away your expertise with the expectation you'll receive nothing in return. No money. No promotion. No recognition. Obviously, you're not going to do freebies all the time, but the benefits of generously giving away your time and talents cannot be underestimated. I've experienced these benefits first hand.
As a result of volunteering my photography skills at an incredibly wonderful organization that supports special needs children, I was able to book two large and profitable events. And don't think for a minute that the bookings happened because I was aggressively promoting my business:
I never even mentioned I was an event photographer.
I didn't hand out business cards.
I didn't say anything about my past work.
I believe my willingness to help others with no strings attached showcased me as a business owner who cares more about the people he works with than the dollars he receives. That is an extraordinarily powerful marketing message.
DELIVER MORE THAN EXPECTED.
Years ago, I met a young photographer who told me that he didn't give extra to his clients because it would lower his per/hour wage. While that's absolutely true, I think it shows a narrow perspective on building a successful business. In my mind, giving more than a client expects (even if it's just one extra print or an additional touch-up) is an amazing way to earn a favorable reputation.
Think of it in terms of the professionals you might hire...plumber, mechanic, electrician, landscaper, etc. How do you feel when they do the job you asked them to do? Probably pretty good. Now, how do you feel when they go above and beyond?
The plumber who fixes the leaky faucet AND patches the ruined grout.
The mechanic who always allows you to put air in your tires for free.
The gutter cleaner who also reattaches a loose leader at no cost.
You not only feel so much better about their above-and-beyond attitude, but you're convinced their work ethic is beyond reproach. That's the kind of person you are 100% comfortable referring to a friend. That's the kind of business owner we should all strive to be.
I'm sure many of you reading this article think I'm crazy. And I agree with you. Giving away time, energy and expertise—with no guarantee of anything in return—seems like an odd way to build a business. But I can honestly say that even with an annual marketing budget of zero dollars, my photography business has grown 15 straight years.
I've seen my book cover photos online at Amazon.com (Chopsticks, Life of Insects, and Season of Gene to name a few) and on the shelves at Barnes & Noble. (Do you know how awesome it is to see your work on the shelves of a major book seller? Trust me, it is an amazing feeling.)
I've done work for Fortune 100 companies and fledgling start-ups.
I've had the privilege of repeat customers referring customers who become repeat customers.
And I credit each of these accomplishments not to my business savvy or marketing expertise, but to three simple ideals...meet every commitment, give time and talents freely, and deliver more than expected.
