Aside from paying lots of money for companies like Agency Access, which often don’t include smaller up and coming brands, how do you get contact info and addresses of smaller/local companies?
If you can’t find them on Agency Access or Yodelist I would then most likely use LinkedIn, Agency Spy, or Adweek to see what kind of contact info I can find.
How do you know when your book is strong enough to start marketing to potential clients? I’ve heard you only get one shot and only one first impression.
You get more than one shot because clients in larger cities changeover often. When a client sees potential in your book they will often want to witness where you take it and be the one to help launch your career. Your book is strong enough when you start bidding on jobs.
The quickest way to lose a potential client is to spell their name incorrectly.
Always assume your client has less than one second for your email. Include any links they may already know. Write in full sentences that retrace the emails so they don’t need to scroll down and read old ones to understand. Speak in each email as if it’s the first one, gathering all the info. Unless of course, you are responding immediately, then it can be quick “yes” or “no”, etc.
How soon after sending promos is it ok to follow up?
Follow up with the recipients immediately or within a few days. We are all inundated with images so we forget quickly. Our business is based on short term memory.
How does the process of getting a photographer a job happen at an agency?
Guest Post, Mara Serdans: It’s a multi-step process. After I speak with the creatives about their needs, I’ll provide them with a list of recommended photographers. Sometimes the creatives already have a photographer in mind. Oftentimes a few creatives need to approve the short list and it’s common to triple-bid larger projects. When the bidding begins, I schedule calls with the photographer and creative(s) to discuss the project and deliverables. After the calls I follow up with the creatives to find out if they are leaning towards a specific photographer. Once I receive, review and finalize the bids, we award a photographer the job and production begins.
Guest Post: Creative Consultant, Mara Serdans
Your voice is about consistency. Your voice is a promise that when you are hired, you will take an image much like the images on your site. This business is all about risk. You as the artist have to take all the risk. You have to put everything in your voice. You have to stand strong and scream,
“THIS IS WHAT I DO!”
Yes, there will be clients out there that don’t really need your slant on their campaign, but when a client likes your voice… it’s a home run.
Guest Post: Agency Access
The Photographer’s Survival Guide to Marketing
Are you finding that clients have begun requesting “buy out/unlimited usage,” for photos but they have a set budget that may not be realistic for unlimited rights?
In general, my answer is absolutely yes, all the time.
And when I hear this, it sounds to me like they are trying to get extra usage for free.
The answer is to charge more.
I have learned not to parse out usage but to definitely factor it into the day rate. I’d let them know that for that usage the day rate is going to go up…potentially double.
AND- I’d use this in your negotiations, and if they say “this is too high,” you can say, “we can discuss the usage.”
(Agency Access): Do you still need a print book?
(Agency Access): The answer is YES,
When a client is seriously considering you for a job, they want to see your book. When your rep goes to visit a client, they need a book. When you go to portfolio reviews, you need a book. Some folks have moved on to iPads which is a good move if you do video. Clients still love to see your images in print and there are never technical difficulties with a print book. Make at least one big, beautiful, no plastic sleeve, full bleed, to die for book. It won’t disappoint.
Guest Post: Agency Access
The Photographer’s Survival Guide to Marketing
What would you say is the biggest pitfall you see photographers making in terms of marketing?
Guest Post, Josh Rossi: One of the biggest pitfalls photographers make is not treating photography as a product that solves problems. A lot of photographers think companies hire them just to take pretty pictures. In reality the company is hiring them to solve a problem. If you can figure out what problems companies have and figure out a way to solve them then you can create a more compelling pitch, and that is what will get you hired.
Guest Post: Josh Rossi
