So, what can you expect from me in 2020? If you follow me on Instagram (like you should, @fabienb) you may have noticed how I've gone quiet in December. This is often the case for me. This is the month I look back at all that happened during the year and then prepare for the new one. This time is also the start of the new decade. How exciting!
With the Christmas holidays approaching, it's also a good time to disconnect and take a moment to recharge batteries, spend time with friends and family, and so on. It's not all about social media!
But after I quit my previous job in 2018 and took a sabbatical, 2019 has been the year I set the foundation for my new photography business. 2020 is then going to be the year this becomes a reality.
I will hear and fulfill many of the requests I received this year. I'm also going to make myself available more and more.
But let's see in detail what this means. The following list is what I want to offer to you personally in addition to my commercial work with clients.
1-1 Masterclass
The Masterclass is finally official! Until now, I have responded to direct requests for a one-on-one photography/mentorship session with me. People have messaged me directly on Instagram or Facebook, asking if I would offer such a service. And most of the time, not always, this has led to a full day out together.
Overall, these have been quite a success, even despite some inexperience bumps. Now, I have something well-structured and ready to open to the public.
As of today, this is a one-day class (6-8 intensive hours). I am considering making it longer, particularly for those who would have to travel to London for it and may prefer to spend a bit more time in the city. If that's your case, message me, and let's see what we can arrange.
To book the Masterclass, just head to the dedicated page and let's start talking.
If you can afford to fund my travel, I can also bring this Masterclass anywhere you live. Simply write to me and let's talk about it.
Mentorship
Longer than the Masterclass is my mentorship plan. This is a long-term commitment for those serious about growing their business, social media presence, etc.
We'll be discussing assignments, having regular Skype calls, developing a strategy, etc. Very importantly, you'll have a person (me) holding you accountable for your progress. This is the one thing I have seen time and time again really helping a career growth.
I have done this successfully for many years with the designers in my teams (and if any designer wishes to apply to the program, they're more than welcome). I'm taking this experience to Photography as well in 2020.
There is no magic behind this. It requires commitment and hard work. And it's a program that is tailored to each applicant's needs. But it's incredibly effective and makes quite the difference in your journey to success.
If you want to apply for it, do get in touch.
Remember that this is designed to be an important career turnaround, so don't expect it to come cheap.
Workshops, London and abroad
You may have seen my workshops announced on Instagram occasionally. Before starting to host these in London (where I'm based now), I used to stay an extra day in the places I was visiting abroad to dedicate some time to a half-day workshop. Like the one in Tel Aviv, for example.
The theme varies with location, time of the year, etc. It can be about Street Photography, Landscape, Christmas lights in London, Architecture, … There is something for everybody. And most of the time, I will also include an editing session.
The plan for 2020 is to host at least 1 workshop a month. These will be announced here, on my Instagram profile @fabienb and on Facebook @fabienb.photo.
For the busy Londoners who have little to no time to squeeze Photography into their daily routine, I will also offer bite-sized mini-workshops. These can be a very exciting opportunity, so check them out!
I already know that I'll be attending the OFFF event in Barcelona again this year. So, if you live there or you'll be around at the end of April, keep your eyes peeled and check the workshops.
Airbnb Experiences
Starting in 2020, I have partnered with Airbnb to offer you the so-called Airbnb Experiences.
In some ways, this is similar to my workshops. But Airbnb requests a more rigid structure.
Suppose you happen to be spending your holidays in London. In that case, you can book this half-day experience with me to visit some peculiar city spots and shoot different photography genres. It's open to any level, and you can book even if you're only equipped with a smartphone (ideally, a recent model that can shoot in low light).
I will host the events regardless of the weather, but hopefully, we'll be blessed with amazing sunsets like those I often publish.
Right now, there is one experience available. Find it via this page on the Airbnb site. If you can't find any availability on the site, please always inquire with me by sending me a message. I may still be able to open a slot for you.
One big plus for foreigners is that I speak English, Italian and French, and I understand Spanish quite a bit :)
Photo Walks
As you can see, there's already a lot to keep me busy with all I listed above. But every now and then, I will also organise some photo walks. I will keep them free or very cheap.
These are not classes. All I want to achieve with these meetups is to bring people together and let photographers connect.
I went to quite a few photo walks myself this year (you may have spotted me in Alen Palander's YouTube video, for example), and I met some amazing people. Thanks to them, I had such a blast when I got interested in street photography.
This is why I want to repeat the experience in 2020. Making it available to everybody and finding all the great people who share an interest in Photography.
I'll announce these events in my Instagram Stories.
Photo Tours
Now, this is THE Big Project.
I'm not going to talk too much about it because it's all still in discussion. But I'm in touch with tour operators (I'd rather use them to give peace of mind to the participants, in terms of professionalism, insurance, etc), and I'm trying to organise something for this year.
I'd be extremely excited to visit one of the countries I'm trying to book the tour for, so keep your fingers crossed.
Video: YouTube, IGTV, online courses
OK, this is gonna be a challenge. I've been on YouTube since 2006 and yet I never really started a channel. Such a missed opportunity. :(
Compared to the above, this seems the easiest thing to do. But the truth is that I suffer from very bad camera anxiety… I know, right? I'm a photographer…
I'm already streaming live on Instagram, as I find it easier to be spontaneous and talk freely live than to record and edit something for a channel. I guess this is due to my 15 years hosting a radio show…
But I want to do it, so this is part of my 2020 plans. You can follow my progress here.
And that might then lead to some video courses… We'll see.
Prints
I would also like to make my prints available through this site. Up until now, collectors have reached out to me to buy prints of specific photos they have seen online, in an exhibition, or during a chat somewhere around the world. I even happened to sell an image by talking to the person next to me on a plane.
These prints are large, framed, limited and obviously expensive. Which is good, as this has been a great source of income. If you're interested in purchasing these prints, by all means, contact me.
But I want to give everybody the opportunity to buy prints at a more affordable price. In smaller sizes, not framed, maybe grouped in a coffee table book (spoiler alert! lol)… And I want to produce something different from all you see on social media, so these prints could also be panoramas, different genres, etc. But they will always be printed on demand, as I don't stock inventory, so do expect a small gap between ordering and shipping.
There will also be a limited signed series, so you know you'll buy something of good value.
The first prints should be available end of January or early February.
Finding a good e-commerce platform doesn't seem easy, and I don't want to go for costly solutions because I would have to charge more, which voids what I mentioned earlier.
I'm going with WooCommerce, which seems the best option for WordPress blogs. Let's see how it goes.
Digital Products
Together with prints, I will also create digital products.
I know I announced many times on Instagram that I would release my Lightroom presets after my round-the-world tour. Truth is, I soon realised how different Fuji RAW files are from those of other cameras. And I didn't want to release something that was not 100% useful to everyone.
I have been able to test my presets against several different RAW files now, so they should soon be ready to go.
Here's a quick example/teaser:
Other digital products will also be available in the store, and I'll try to add new ones regularly. They can be guides, templates, or other types of content. And if you have a specific request, let's talk about it!
Wrapping up
You can see I have a lot on my plate for 2020. I'm really trying to provide something of value to each and every one of you, not only to my clients.
So, stay tuned and be sure to check this space often!
