The Totally Rad Lightroom presets have finally launched, so I can give you a look at the behind-the-scenes goodness that made the product happen…and what you can learn from Doug Boutwell‘s approach to bringing a product into the world.
Wait until the product is glorious before release.
Totally Rad peeps have been harassing the Doug for YEARS to get onto Lightroom Presets. But he’s taken his time, watched what the competition offered, tweaked it to his (totally rad) tastes, and ultimately attempted to one-up himself. A profitable product is great, but a truly remarkable product that’s also profitable is the goal.
In the wedding & portrait world: yes, you can throw together a dog portfolio or add an ‘available for commercial work’ tag to your website. But taking the time to hone your skills, craft a killer collection of images, and/or learn more about the commercial process will probably be better for you. And for your clients.
Take time to listen to your users.
When Doug sent his goodies off to peeps for review, he didn’t want to hear ‘Yay! Awesome!’ He was looking for honest feedback that would lead to a better user experience. I suggested a tall, grande, venti-type of breakdown to control the power of the preset effects. Other suggested adding basic Lightroom tweaks to the process to correct exposure, recapture highlights, etc…all tweaks that were not part of the initial plan. He may be a master of the technical stuff, but his greatest entrepreneurial strength lies in his ability to capture what the market wants at any given time.
If you’re a portrait photographer and 90% of your clients ask for digital files, make them available. Don’t sell yourself short, by any means! (I recommend pricing from $1500+ for portraits. Pricing strategy here.) But don’t be stupid enough to think you can change what the market wants. Those clients who really want digital files will find someone who offers them.
Reward your users for their awesomeness.
When I ask Doug to sponsor a workshop, hold a contest, offer a promo code for reader-created blog articles, or reward a fan for an exceptional recipe, the answer is always “Yes.” Without hesitation.
If you have clients who consistently refer you to others, reward them. Flowers, chocolates, go-cart rides, a trip to the spa, a portrait session, one-on-one camera lessons, or a handmade gift. A phone call. An hour of babysitting. A latte and some girl talk. Whatever it is, make it unique to them.
And of course, go buy the Totally Rad Adobe Lightroom presets. The images in this post feature the Purple Nurple preset!
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