Photographing the Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin was a legendary singer and performer who left an indelible mark on the music industry. Her iconic voice and soulful songs have captivated generations of fans around the world. I had the opportunity of photographing Aretha Franklin for the first time in 2005 and as a tribute to her legacy, I’m taking a look back at some of the photographs that captured her beauty and grace. From intimate studio sessions to live performances, I was honored to be able to capture her spirit and aura and build a long lasting relationship.
Aretha and Matthew, photographed in Detroit, 2005.
The Art of Building and Nurturing Relationships with Your Clients
As a photographer, your relationships with clients are essential to the success of your business. Building trust and strong relationships with your photography clients is key to keeping them coming back for more work. It’s also important to ensure that you’re providing the best customer service possible in order to build loyalty and trust.
Relationships with clients can be tricky, but when done right they can provide an incredible boost to your business. The first time I photographed Aretha Franklin, I sent yellow roses a few days before the shoot along with a note that said, “here’s to a great shoot! I look forward to meeting you and capturing your beauty.” Imagine my surprise when my phone rang and I picked up the call and heard Aretha Franklin’s voice on the other end saying, “thank you for these beautiful yellow roses! No photographer has ever sent me flowers before.” That was the beginning of a long and wonderful friendship.
Yellow Roses for Aretha Franklin
As a photographer, building and nurturing relationships with your clients is an essential part of your job. It’s not just about taking beautiful photos, but also about creating a connection between you and your clients. Client relationships are key to success in the photography industry. They can help you build trust with your clients and make sure they come back for more business in the future. I photographed Aretha many times during the last 13 years of her career and each time, I worked to nurture the relationship.
By understanding the art of building and nurturing relationships with your clients, you can ensure that each client feels valued and appreciated. This will lead to better customer satisfaction, higher sales, and ultimately more success for your photography business.
THE BENEFIT OF LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS
One benefit to photographing one subject over the course of a decade is that you have great material for an exhibit and possibly even a book. This month, Aretha Cool, a new fine-art photography book by Matthew Jordan Smith launches on Kickstarter.
There are two editions of Aretha Cool; A standard edition, and a special limited edition of which there are only 100 available. With the special edition book, not only will you get to enjoy all the great content inside, but YOU will also have the opportunity to add your picture to be part of a photo collage.
This is an amazing opportunity that doesn’t come around often, and you don’t want to miss out! All you have to do is take a selfie with an Aretha Franklin CD or Album and you’ll be albe to submit it after the Kickstarter campaign ends. This is only available for 100 lucky people and time is running out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matthew Jordan Smith is a renowned photographer and his work has been featured in many publications around the world. He has decided to make a special edition of his book available to the public through Kickstarter. This limited-edition book will feature an exclusive selection of photographs and stories that are sure to inspire and captivate viewers.
This is a great opportunity for photography enthusiasts or anyone who appreciates art and music to get their hands on this special edition book. Not only will they be able to enjoy amazing stories and images of Aretha, but you will also be supporting an independent artist who is passionate about his craft. So if you’re looking for something unique and inspiring, then make sure to check out Aretha Cool’s photography book on Kickstarter this month!