Encourage those around you. Don’t tell your clients or models everything you are thinking or working out in your mind. You are the host of the party. Everyone will follow your lead. If something happens that throws you off, quietly figure it out with your team. No need to over-share. Be a professional.
Guest Post: Anonymous
How would you advise a photographer to reach out to new clients to ask for a face-to-face meeting to introduce oneself?
The best way to ask for an in person meeting is to treat your client as you would want to be treated. A phone call would annoy me so I don’t do many of them. If you can meet the person at an event that could help, but otherwise the simple answer is: email them with your website as that is what they really need to see first.
If I think I would be a good fit for a certain client what would be the best way to approach them? Should I be approaching them directly? Or their agency? And if I am to contact the agency how can I best reach the right person at that agency? So many companies have different agencies for different products or platforms…
Yes, approach the client directly and also get in touch with their agency. Go for it in as many ways as you can think of. Get creative, innovative, discover ways to get their attention to your work. To find the right person, ask around. I highly recommend LinkedIn as people tend to respond to it. Go get ‘em!
Should I shoot portfolio work with the intention to appeal to certain kinds of clients?
Paul Barshon: If you love the subject matter, then why not!? For example if you love shooting hyper-realism, there are a lot of commercial clients who primarily use this kind of photography. So why not focus on shooting portfolio work that focuses on hyper realism? Again, though, shoot what you love. That will garner the attention you are after.
How would I get in contact directly with brands for in house marketing? Who should I be looking for specifically and how can I find that person? Does Yodelist or Agency Access provide these contacts? Regarding Yodelist and Agency Access. Which do you use?
In today’s market we now have so many more options of finding the right people. I would definitely suggest using Agency Access or Yodelist and then using all social media and LinkedIn. Look for creative (art director), art producer, or other terms that are a part of the marketing dept. Agency Access and Yodelist often do have those contacts. I have used both of these companies and they both seem to have solid information, sometimes one is better than the other.
Producer, Will Taylor:
Don’t misguide your efforts. Don’t worry about “what art directors want to see”. There is no guarantee that you will get the job based on trying to show them what you think they want to see, you might as well create great work that you are passionate about. But PUSH your vision.
You have an even better chance of getting a job if you are able to inspire the people who have the power to hire you. Shoot things for your portfolio that an art director will never have the freedom from the client, agency (and lawyers!) to shoot.
Guest Post: Producer, Will Taylor
www.inkandoranges.com
I want to brand myself as a high profile portrait photographer. How and where can I market myself? Who would be my major potential client? How should I reach them?
As with all industries in the commercial world, the path to success is somewhat similar. Educate yourself about other high profile portrait photographers and analyze their clients and marketing methods. Research absolutely everywhere their work can be found and what tools they are utilizing. Agency Access? Yodelist? Lattis Social? At-Edge? Workbook? Who is your dream client? Do whatever you can to get in touch with them, be tenacious and persistent.
Ask questions instead of overloading your clients with information.
How do I align my style/voice/aesthetic with clients? Or even figure out which market I best fit in?
Paul Barshon: Stick with your style and the clients will come to you for your look. Trying to chase a style that’s in vogue at the moment always leaves you a step behind. It’s nice to look at other photographers to see what is new and look at new techniques, but your style is what will get you work. Stick with the subjects that you enjoy shooting – this will lead you to a place where the market will find you.
Does a rep match a photographer to a project? I.e., does a rep evaluate whether a certain project is actually RIGHT for that photographer; their aesthetic, their vision, their desired projects?
No. Reps don’t have that much power. We are the negotiation voices for our photographers so we are asked to bid someone that they choose. I am sometimes asked to send them a photographer who would be good for their project, but they ultimately decide who they want to bid and then hire.
