The Wedding Biz: GREG FINCK/Photographer: The Leap to Professional Fulfillment
Andy is excited to be speaking with Greg Finck on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Greg is a brilliant photographer based in Paris. He studied business in France then came to the U.S to get his MBA. Greg was a marketing executive for ten years with Proctor and Gamble and at first, was doing wedding photography on the side as a hobby.
Greg is now a major photographer even though he’s technically only been doing it full-time for five years. Besides shooting significant weddings, he is doing fantastic work in the fashion world and has mastered marketing digitally in social media. He also gives master classes on photography and speaks at Engage.
“Elegance is the only beauty that never fades,” a quote on his website from Audrey Hepburn summarizes the approach that Greg has to photography. Black and white photos are what he started out doing, giving him the ability to really focus on what he wanted to shoot in order to hone his eye.
Greg talks to us about many things; his life in marketing, the catalyst for moving into photography professionally, and how glad he was that he took that leap of faith. He speaks about the niche he found with destination wedding photography, mostly taking place in Paris and other parts of Europe, doing fashion photography during the slow wedding season, and why he uses medium format film.
Listen in as Greg shares with us his secrets to rapid success, how to manage your client’s expectations and the tools to choose the right photographer. He discusses his tricks for calming the nerves of a bride and tells us what equipment he uses to get such fantastic shots.
The knowledge Greg has acquired in his relatively short time as a full-time professional photographer is immense. His business acumen is on point, and his humility is second to none. If you want to learn how to build your business in any industry, this is a conversation you shouldn’t miss.
Show Highlights:
[02:57] Andy welcomes Greg to the show!
[03:18] Greg says that timeless elegance is what he wants to bring to his photography.
[04:43] Greg’s childhood was spent in darkrooms developing film with his dad.
[05:23] He shot mostly black and white, back at the beginning, which helped him hone h his eye for capturing images.
[06:06] He feels like he has always been a portrait photographer.
[07:18] When he was in college, getting his MBA, photography was just a hobby. His parents encouraged him to take the safe path.
[08:20] He went to work with Proctor and Gamble, but was very grateful for what he learned.
[08:53] Greg says the most significant thing he learned from working for such a large company is how to be humble.
[10:14] Humility and hard work are fundamental values in this saturated market.
[11:44] He discusses why he left a safe job at Proctor and Gamble to pursue his love of photography.
[13:55] He went to a workshop held by Feather and Stone out of California, and it changed his perspective on being a professional photographer.
[16:20] Were you financially prepared when you quit your job or did you take a leap of faith?
[18:29] Why bring a photographer from the states to shoot your wedding in France when I am already here was Greg’s marketing approach.
[20:32] Greg speaks about branding and shooting with film, which set him apart in Europe because not a lot of people were doing it.
[22:20] Listen as Greg tells us what it means to have a European touch.
[24:01] They discuss medium format film, which is the highest possible quality film you can find at this time.
[24:56] Greg speaks about the use of hashtags to get noticed with social media.
[26:34] What percentage of your business is related to fashion and editorials?
[28:09] The total expectations from clients are much higher today than in times past.
[29:21] Greg gives us his process when working with a client.
[30:51] Being direct with your clients is the key to managing expectations.
[31:44] Exuding confidence is how he helps dissipate a bride’s nerves and anxiety.
[33:46] Greg chats about giving a master class and telling his students that they need to get out of their comfort zone.
[36:00] What are the qualities of a great photographer?
[37:07] Greg’s presentation topic at the next Engage Luxury Wedding Summit.
[39:09] If you want to learn directly from Greg, he gives workshops once a year in the spring.
[39:53] You can buy prints or gift cards on his website.
[40:23] His favorite equipment right now is a Contax 645 with an 80 mil lense.
[41:27] Thank you, Greg, for being on our show, it has been a real pleasure.
[42:01] Please tell your friends about our podcast and leave reviews if you like what you hear.
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Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
Greg Finck
Greg on Vimeo
Greg’s Website
Greg’s Workshop
Greg@gregfinck on Instagram
Greg@gregfinckphotographie on Facebook
Mentioned during the interview:
