Creative Calls

Q:

Do I need to consider where a brand/agency is located before pitching them? If they’re in another state I might not be able to meet in person and I’m concerned I could lose a job over it.

A:

Communication tends to be done electronically, via online portfolio review, conference calls, video chats, etc, rarely in person. If you think the budget won’t allow for travel, you can always offer to work as a “local” once you get to the budgeting stage. Focus on the jobs you really want… that your body of work supports.

Our business can sometimes feel like a game of chess. And as they say, you can’t win if you don’t play. So be in it to win it!

Clients are needing something from us that normally in the past we didn’t have to do. Nowadays there’s a trend of giving more than what’s asked of us. If the client asks for something in the bid or the treatment or even on the creative call we go beyond, and even pay people to get the resources we need. It’s a game and you have to be in it to win it. You have to find the resources that you need and give them what they want and even more that what they think they want. Show up with more than they could even imagine.

https://youtu.be/lVm7U056SjEhttps://youtu.be/g9wtGoOSqc4

The overall purpose of the creative phone call is to give the client a sense of what it’s like to work with you. 

Creative calls are crucial to conveying to art directors and art producers that you understand their concept. We’ve heard from art producers that you could be third in the bidding but you can become first if the creative call goes really well. That’s how important it is. Not to get you nervous, but they want to hear that it’s their baby and you understand it. You’re going to bring it to life as they see it.

One important way to impress the client on the creative call is to research them before the call. Bring your knowledge of their company into the call.

When you’re on a business phone call, be aware of speaking clearer and slower than you’re used to. On work calls we are less inclined to ask someone to repeat themselves. Slow it down, enunciate, and listen.

ON “THE CREATIVE CALL”

Guest Post | Wonderful Machine & Craig Oppenheimer

It’s important to understand a few things about these phone calls. First, you should always assume that the agency/client is considering other photographers, and when they finish a conversation with you, they are likely jumping on a call to talk through the same details with another photographer…or maybe two or three more photographers. For that reason, it’s important to express enthusiasm for a project, be energetic, have questions prepared and generally put your best foot forward. I’ve been on many creative calls where photographers have responded to questions in one-word answers, or don’t have any questions about the project, and this is a sure-fire way for the agency/client to lose interest in you. Clients don’t just want a great photographer; they want a great collaborator as well. During the call, it’s therefore important for a photographer to prove that they have fully internalized the project, and explain how they can add value to the production and therefore the entire campaign. First impressions are crucial, and when you are meeting over the phone, it’s your voice and energy that matter, so make it count. 

Guest Post: Wonderful Machine + Craig Oppenheimer/ 

originally published on Wonderful Machine Member Blog

Sales tool number uno: sometimes keeping my mouth shut and listening

Q:

What is the key to having an amazing creative call? What will make you stand out above other photographers running for that job?

A:

Great question because that Creative Call is the second reason you will get a job, the first being your portfolio. There is this really smart technique in psychotherapy where couples respond to each other by reflecting back what they hear. It makes the other person feel heard.

A creative call is like that. 

The creative had this imaginative idea and they want to know which photographer can make it real and bring it to life. They want to know that you grasp their vision and that you understand it. They also want to hear what you will be like to work with. Do you sound like someone who will bring a lot to this “party”? Use technical terms which incorporate the mood of what they want to shoot so you sound like you really know what you’re doing!