Before I started my jewelry business I worked with a talented photographer.  My time at his portrait studio taught me an immense amount about running a small business, and many lessons translate well for jewelers.  Both professionals are creative and have to use a combination of skills to create their best work.  They also both have to work to build a name for themselves and attract customers,  as well as decide on which niche and target market to focus on.  Here are the top ten lessons that jewelers can learn from photographers:

1. Forward Thinking.  One thing I admire about photographers is their tendency to think ahead.  Whether it is to new sales techniques, new photographic technology, new ideas; photographers love new, and so do their customers.  They are quick to react to market needs, and take up emerging trends in order to stay ahead of the game.
   
   
2. Streamlined Workflow.  Not every photographer's workflow is streamlined, but most at least have a set formula for how they process orders.  The more successful studios have a very exact plan for how each element is handled, from the initialconsultation to the way the studio is prepared and set up to how the proofs are displayed and stored.  Working in a photography studio was influential for how I set up my own workplace and processes.
   
   
3. Don't Follow the Crowd.  Great photographers stand out because they have developed their own individual style and made a conscious decision not to follow the crowd.
   
   
4. Dedication.  More than many other professionals, photographers go above and beyond what is required of them in order to deliver their best work.  They get up at 5am when the light is perfect,  and contort themselves intouncomfortable positions to capture just the right angle.
   
   
5. Technology.  Even before digital, photographers were pioneering new technology.  Film, cameras and development processes evolved over hundreds of years, with each generation ofphotographers willing to experiment with the latest technology to take the artform to new levels.
   
   
6. Marketing.  Perhaps it is the fact that it is so easy to create great looking marketing materials when you are a photographer, but most studios certainly put a lot of effort into getting their message across. 
   
   
7. Showing their Work.  Sometimes a little self promotion doesn't do your business any harm.  Photographers often actively seek out opportunities to show their work, either by offering stock images, taking part in exhibitions, or competitions.
   
   
8. Community.  One of the things I loved most about working with photographers was their sense of community.  They attended conferences and seminars,  got to know the local competition, and exchanged ideas.  I never once saw the sharing of information cause any studio to lose business to another.
   
   
9. The Personal Touch.  Photography is an intimate artform,  and good photographers have a way with people that puts them at ease, letting them pose naturally and comfortably.  Being able to communicate in a friendly and professional manner with customers is vital to any business.
   
   
10. Under Promise, Over Deliver.  The photographer I worked for would repeat this mantra on an almost daily basis.  Photography is an artform, so sometimes things don't go quite according to plan. Other times, the results can far exceed expectations.  Better to promise the very least that you can guarantee and then wow the customer with extras.