Competitive Analysis

The hardest task when starting your business is figuring out where you fit in. Which niche can you fill? The goal of the competitive analysis is to better position your organization to leverage your competitive edge. How is your company different from others? In what way does it stand out? Is there a sustainable value that you can maintain and develop over time? The effort to express your vision combined with the battle in the crowded marketplace to sell your talents during the worst economic crisis in history; well it's dauntingly sisyphean. I believe I can. I know my style is unique and personal to me and my clients.More importantly, I learned three valuable life lessons: 1.)Say No, to any job that does not fit into my plan. For example, I am not equipped to do wedding photography, have no desire, therefore, it would result into a financial and creative failure. 2.)Let go of the fear. For too long I worked out of fear of financial failure. In turn, I never enjoyed my successes. Instead, I let go and my fear slipped away as my failures led to great successes. 3.) Don't pigeon hole yourself. I may never shoot a wedding, but I allow myself to shoot in other various genres. If it is something that inspires you, interests you, then do it.  This is how I have carved my edge over my competitors. Here is how they size up.

Peter From© Peter From (2012)

One of the photographers I faithfully follow and is a type of virtual mentor is Peter From. His site, although extremely professional, has altered its appearance to a type of glamor style in order to showcase other "up & coming" photographers. The layout looks more like a magazine, rather than a standard photography website: http://peterfrom.com/ Born in Finland, raised in Sweden and spent many years in Germany and time in the US (NYC). His main interests (beside the obvious): particle physics, cosmology, astronomy, fishing, nature hikes to mention just a few. He is an author (historical books), photographer, web-designer and editor of the WordPress Web Magazine WP-Magazine.SE and Google+ Contest Page, PeterFrom.com.  Wearing these many hats, Peter still finds time to take walks and shoot images on a daily basis.  His published several historical books. He also manages a Photoshop Tutorial page, with great videos doing step by step processing of images.

Mark Fisher© Mark Fisher 2012

My second competitor is so far up there, star quality, to be in his company would just make me giddy like a school girl. it is the infamous Mark Fisher.
Mark Fisher's images have appeared on Covers as well as in many campaigns and fashion editorials. His natural beauty images are known worldwide. His work contains many models including the cover Models of Fashion, The beautiful Agyness Deyn and the incredible Stella Maxwell.
His work with the camera started in 1966 and he shot every subject that came in front of the lens.

The image maker grew up in the United States. He served in the U.S. Military as a Medic, then a Press Liaison Officer and Photographer. He continued Photography and captured hundreds of landscapes and scenes of life. Many of his landscapes have been used in advertising and University syllabus. His landscapes were shown in the National Gallery in 1988.

In the 1970's Fashion appeared to become the main subject. Music Images were a detour from boredom. Capturing the live essence of the musician became the main focus. The Band Promos as well as the arranged session work look as if the group is about to go on stage.  Everything looks "Now Now Now, Timeless".  His work contains many well known musicians. He has captured several thousand portraits from the unknown and to the famous-his Portraits are full of life and are hard to rival. The images invoke deep feelings. Many have tried to find ways to get the same feeling without success. His images are published monthly. You may find more work on the web by putting two words in Google “American Photographer” and watch the suggestions, click his name and then hit images to view five pages of history.  www.fishercreative.com/

Doug Menuez©2003-2012 Editorial Photographers

My third choice of competitor's, is another Master Photographer, Doug Menuez.

Award-winning documentary photographer Douglas Menuez began his varied career shooting first for the Washington Post followed by Time, Newsweek, Life, People, USA Today, Fortune Magazine and many other publications worldwide over the past twenty-five years. He’s covered major news stories including the famine in Ethiopia, the destruction of the Amazon, the AIDS crisis, drug wars, and presidential campaigns, the Olympics, five Super Bowls and the World Series. His portraits of key figures range from Mother Teresa and Robert Redford, to President Clinton and Bill Gates. Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, With unprecedented access to almost every major technology company, he covered digital pioneers such as Steve Jobs, Andy Grove, John Warnock, Bill Joy and John Doerr. Working first for Life Magazine, Menuez continued covering start-ups and established giants until the collapse of the dot-coms. Stanford University Library has recently acquired this work along with his entire archive, and created “The Douglas Menuez Collection at Stanford University Library.”

Menuez’ advertising campaigns for global brands include Chevrolet, Nikon, Siemens, Hewlett Packard, Northwest Airlines, Coca Cola, Nokia, and Microsoft. His work has been honored by many organizations, including the Kelly Awards,  His most recent one-man shows include “Heaven, Earth, Tequila” at the Holbrook Arts Center, Millbrook, NY and “Transcendent Spirit” at Farmani Gallery, Los Angeles.  menuez.com

Rita Rudner; © 2011Sampsel/Preston

Sampsel & Preston Photography, as they should.
Oh, did I mention, they are also my Instructors at the Art Institute, and yes, I see them as direct competitors.

Las Vegas Photographers Sharon Sampsel & Greg Preston have been doing amazing advertising, Commercial, Editorial & Resort Photography in Las Vegas for the past 20 years. Sharon Sampsel & Greg Preston graduated from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and had the good luck to pick Las Vegas as the up and coming place in which to open their studio. Riding the wave in as Las Vegas came into its own in the last 20 years has been a blast for these two partners. Although they concentrate mostly on Resort and Casino work, Being in a town like Las Vegas gives them the opportunity to shoot just about everything, which is fine with them. Their studio is a wonderfully located 4000’foot space right across the freeway from Mandalay Bay Resort, with two shooting bays, a full kitchen, a make-up area, and a relaxation room. 2009 holds in store the opening of their new space, as they are hot on the trail of a property that is really innovative and "outside the box" of the ordinary studios in Las Vegas.

The disadvantages I have versus my competitors, is they're established. One is a Senior editor for a major publishing organization, another has so many national based connections and a network of major publications. The local team of Sampsel & Preston have an established business of 20 years, along with local publications and a local studio and Mark Fisher has been doing photography since before I was born. So my competitors work have legs, stable network and contacts, along with years of experience.
So I ask myself, are my three life skills enough to give me a competitive edge? With additional business sense and the savvy tenacity, I have to go after what I want,  and my new, fresh creative edge, I am confident in saying, "Yes, I can meet and potential exceed what my competitors have accomplished." Until that day, I will continue to be inspired by their work.