Tamara Lackey

"My advice to photographers just starting out?  Put a strong business infrastructure into your business immediately - seriously, as soon as possible.  It will save you much in the way of hassle, time, money, and client goodwill. 

Recognize that although it's great to outsource tasks, don't necessarily trust blindly when it comes to your finances.  Not everyone has the same idea of fair play that you may possess. 

And, lastly (as far as a short list goes), get everything in writing. Sometimes it has nothing to do with someone breaking their word; it can have more to do with two different interpretations of the same agreement.  If you get everything in writing upfront, there will be more upfront clarity about what business you are doing together. And clarity is a wonderful thing."

She's an artist, a photographer, an educator, a motivator, commentator...you name it she's done it or she's about to. Tamara Lackey's diversity seems to know no boundaries. She's one of the few photographers in our industry with a solid background in business long before she started her studio, but my favorite topic is when she helps photographers establish their priorities. While I know she hates the word "balance", it's still the most easily understood and establishing your priorities between your family, clients, business and life goals is no easy task.

You'll find everything Tamara is currently working on with a visit to her site and make sure you follow her blog.          Skip Cohen

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Images copyright Tamara Lackey. All rights reserved.