Annabel Williams Bespoke Course - worth it ?

[blaze_away]

Hi All

I am considering taking the £9000 bespoke course with 'Annabel Williams' with a view to turning from keen amatuer to pro with an operating pro tog business within 1 year.

Whats your thoughts guys & girls, is it the way to go or is there a better way ?

[NorthernNikon]

You have to ask yourself two questions, what's my time to cash and what will be my overall return on investment.

Time to cash is the length of time it will take for the training to earn you £9,000, overall return on investment is how much extra income the training will provide you.

£9,000.00 is a lot of money. I have been on an Annabel Williams course, I won one as part of a draw on the AP website, and though it was useful I didn't feel that it offered value for money. I think that the bespoke course is more than just photogrpahy technicques, it's about marketing and lead generation, but if I were you I'd ask them for references you could speak to you who have done the course. When you speak to them, ask them what their TTC and ROI was. If they don't know, then they've not been taught fundamental principals of business finance, if they do then that should give you a fair idea of whether it would be worth your while.

My gut feeling is that you should, as my old CEO used to say, JFDI (Just F'king Do It!) Too many people spend too long training, and planning and thinking about running a business when they should be out there doing it. Just remember though, that only 10% of being a successful photographer is taking pictures, the rest is taken up with Sales, Marketing, Admin, Accounting, IT work, Location Scouting etc, etc etc.

[blaze_away]

Thanks NorthernNikon, brilliant reply post from you.

Good common sense answers, exactly what I was trying to elicit from my post.

I deliberately left out what I have been doing to get answers to those questions before making a decision, but I'm glad to say I have been looking at each of the elements you highlighted.

My background is in 'blue-chip' business management, spent last 20 years working in a huge global Co with $40 Billion sales and 40,000 employees where I was most recently responsible for improving customer service, so I fully support and agree with your sentiments. Took volutary redundancy and now I'm going to do what I've always wanted to and become a pro tog. Its just a question of the most quickes and most cost effective route to the goal.

Thanks again

Cheers
Frank :)

[db247]

As above really.. get out there and do it, but perhaps finding a happy medium between the full on 9k course and just diving in head first would be assisting someone, experience on the job from experienced people in the industry, and perhaps smaller courses, one guy i met at Focus.. let me dig out his details.. his courses my suit you...

[db247]

Here's the site http://www.valetraining.com/

Haven't browsed the site but met the main guy at focus and he is experienced and a good teacher. Maybe a one on one with him may be worth the outlay. The rest you may find on another course, specific to the business requirements that Northern mentioned, unless of course this dude covers that with you.. which knowing him he probably will. Can't remember his name but I'm sure it's on that site somewhere.

[blaze_away]

Thanks guys for all the advice, I have decided to go for the full on Annabel Williams Bespoke course AND I will augment it with 'Assisting' a pro tog who produces stunning industrial photos (do my first assist this coming wednesday) and getting out there doing it.

Just did my first 1st wedding yesterday, took 1500 shots in the day, got some stunning images, I think I've done OK on composition but need to get to grips with some tech aspects, mostly its that I need time to get to know my new gear inside out. Jjust bought a D2x and D100 and D40 and SB800 and 6 lens......yes I've spent quite some cash.

I showed 30 of photos on the DJ's widescreen projector at the evening reception, untouched and just as they came of the CF card and on the basis of what they saw on the day a couple booked me for their wedding in December,

So I guess I have now taken one step on the path to become a "pro tog".........time will tell, but it does feel good right now.:):):)

[jeangenie]

So I guess I have now taken one step on the path to become a "pro tog".........time will tell, but it does feel good right now.:):):)

Congratulations - I bet you're still on Cloud 9 :clap::clap:

[blaze_away]

Congratulations - I bet you're still on Cloud 9 :clap::clap:

You bet.........I feel I'm on cloud 10 !

and thank you so much for taking the time to reply, what a nice bunch of people there are on this forum.......:):):):)

[james_death]

Congrats and trust you have buckets more success.