For beginner photographers

I know it's been a while. Just so busy but I wanted to post something really quick. This time, though, it's for my colleagues instead of my clients.
I receive many requests from other photographers, asking for advice. I really feel honored that other people would reach to me to ask for advice.
When I was looking for advice, years ago, only one great gentleman offered any. The rest shut their door to me.  He took time from his busy schedule to invite me in his studio. Back then, when you asked for advice, you actually went to a studio and talked to the photographer, showed your portfolio and shook his/ her hand with your sweaty and nervous hand.
Yes, time have changed a lot.
But the essence it's the same. Even though now a days almost everything is done via email and electronic communications, the idea is to present yourself in the best light possible.

So, based on many requests I received in past years, I will state some key points.

When you first contact a photographer, be aware that they have a busy agenda. Any minute a professional takes from his/ her day, means lost revenue.
So sending an email asking to Google your portfolio, or find you on Facebook is just disrespectful.
Be prepared! provide a link, straight to your portfolio. Select the best images and be consistent.
If you reach out to me, ask me about my field, this is boudoir. Don't ask me about baby images.

Check your grammar! (I know I'm bad at this myself) but at least try to use proper language and not slang.

Ask real questions. Writing an email stating that you want to know how to start into photography is as vague and useless as it can be. I need to know about you. I need to see your work. I need to see what knowledge you have and what you lack. More over, I don't have time to tell you the story of my life, but if you ask concrete and direct questions, I'd be delighted to answer them.
So, ask me to critique your work. Or to help you figure out your prices. Or what's my best marketing strategy. Even ask me how I did such and such picture. Or how to deal with legal stuff.
But an umbrella question is a big no-no.

Be thankful. Nothing makes me want to delete an email more than not having a single 'please' or 'thank you' in such email. I know, it's old school. But think about it. I can help you learn the business. But if you lack people skills and basic manners, your customers won't follow you. And that's pretty much the end of your non-yet-started business.

Recently, I received an email from a young lady who wanted to know how to get started in the business. She told me to find her on Facebook by such and such name and to tell her how to get into business. She didn't even say which business.

When I replied to her that I would need much more information to help her, I also sent her a list of questions. Her second reply was even shorter than the original email. And none of my questions was answered. Not paying attention to my very lengthy email told me so many things about her. The most important was, she wasn't paying attention so my time was been wasted.

So, be respectful of a professional's time. Be concise. Be thankful. Pay attention, take your time. Put your portfolio together. A bunch of selfies on Facebook with cheap filter effects is NOT a portfolio.

The reward?
You could actually  get a professional to share the knowledge he or she has acquired in many years of hard work, many times based on mistakes that you don't have to make.

I did get valuable information once. Most of it was related on how to present my work. How to select my best images and how to improve my technique. The best feedback I got was the one that actually pointed out my weaknesses.

And that's what I treasure. It was raw, but was honest and well intentioned.
Cheers!