Innovation out of necessity
A couple years ago, I had this idea of photographing books for my author clients based on on a conversation with a colleague.
I was buzzing with excitement thinking about all the creative possibilities – not just to add value to my clients, but to scratch the artistic itch that never leaves me.
But, as with any great idea, there was a snag.
I initially thought I'd have to hire hand models to hold and flip the pages of the books.
Now, that's not a horrible idea, but it does add extra layers of effort and cost – finding the right people, paying them…
I needed to eliminate that friction so I could focus on the work itself.
That's when the wheels started turning. How could I eliminate that extra step? I wanted those pages to have angles, depth, and not just lie flat.
But how?
Then it hit me.
I had some A-clamps lying around my apartment, usually used for staging in indoor photo sessions. But what if they could serve a dual purpose?
So, I started experimenting with these clamps, trying to prop the pages in just the right way by manipulating the clamps on the folding table I use as my stage.
After about an hour of futzing around, I noticed that I was able to have the pages hold a position long enough for me to photograph the words based on how I was manipulating the clamps.
Now, I won’t lie – working with these clamps can be a bit of a pain in the ass.
Each book brings its own set of challenges: hardcover vs. softcover, wide margins vs. slim margins, thin pages vs. thick pages.
But, the juice is worth the squeeze as I get in more reps working on these unique sessions.
The effort leads to a collection of images that any author’s marketing team would love to get their hands on to promote their book.
Innovation often springs from direct, immediate needs.
We all have these moments where necessity pushes us to think outside the box, to find solutions that not only meet our needs, but also add an extra layer of uniqueness to our services.
How have you innovated in areas of your business based on a direct, immediate need for your clients? Share your stories – let's inspire each other with our innovative solutions!