Monday Q+A

Q:

As portfolio reviews shift online rather than in person, do you have any guidelines as to how best show our work? Is it a curated website gallery? A shared PDF? How best to display our work over Zoom etc?

A:

What do our clients need right now? Think about it beforehand and have your topics ready to show and discuss. Give them your solution ideas because you are a valuable team player for them. Relate to who they are and what they work on. This is our opportunity to really have their attention vs. portfolio showings in the past which sometimes became about the food and their time to socialize. Prepare, research, and then have a pdf of relatable images ready, but ask if they want to see the pdf of relatable images ready, but ask if they want to see the pdf OR your website. I personally find websites more helpful when I’m on the reviewer’s side. I want to know you and get the whole picture. The only rule I have is to show clients the images that relate to what they look for.  

In appreciation of your labor, I’m going to do something different for this Monday Q&A. Today I ask YOU the question. Be vulnerable on this. 

178 days into quarantine, have you felt a reset in your career? In what ways?

Please share your answers in the comments.

Q:

What’s your take on showing work made before Covid vs. work that was clearly made in the “new normal?” Does pre-Covid production value translate as relevant today?

A:

Since the wise photographer and @ArtofFreelance creator Mathieu Young asked me this in response to last week’s Q&A, I asked it back to him before I responded. 

He says – “I hope so! But obviously, not without context, and a plan to make work in the new normal (or better yet, examples of post shutdown work to go alongside the existing portfolio?).”

Thank you Mathieu!

We always want to promote our work that can influence a client to hire us to shoot NOW. 

This answer really depends on the type of work you do because large crews with a large amount of talent is not happening of course, so no need to be showing those images right now. For all the other types of work, the sets and crew sizes have changed but a lot of work I’m seeing right now looks the same to me. 

The ultimate question is…

Can you create the same type of work as you did pre-Covid with a smaller hybrid type of crew?

Q:

What in particular from a photographer’s portfolios are key? What are reps looking for specifically in the work or how it’s presented?

A:

We are looking for images that pop, feel strong, and ooze with production value. We know we have seconds to impress a client so your images have to speak for themselves and make a fast impact. The best images are ones that can flow on an overview and sell each other. Images that relate to each other, not always in category but cohesively in style and vibe.

Q:

Who are consultants you recommend for portfolio/website review?

A:

Consultants can be a game changer because they know the business and they know how to shape your website/portfolio to fit the current market. When you aren’t hearing back often from clients, give a consultant a try and see what they have to say. I believe in them so much that I just created a section on my website for them. https://www.sternrep.com/consultants

Q:

I see marketing myself as a finesse trait. Being aggressive doesn’t work 24/7. How do you find the balance? What’s a good rate of popping up on somebody’s radar?

A:

I relate to your question as I have to restrain myself from being too pushy. I want to be in touch 24/7 but that really can hurt us and close some doors. The main point about popping up on someone’s radar is having something to say. Get to know people and find interesting genuine topics to bring up or really have some new relatable images to show off. The most annoying contact would have nothing to say and sound like “sales”. The general # of email promos for a photographer should be once per month, but again, only if you really have something to show that they haven’t seen.

Q:

Are producers, creative/art directors & agencies open to virtual meetings?

A:

Yes, virtual meetings are happening although keep in mind we have busier clients than usual because a lot of layoffs have happened and they are doing the work for 2 or 3 people themselves. We can’t expect many clients to show up right now. The other part of this is I’d suggest you only do this if you have something to say and show. Make sure you really have a “pitch” to share and new images so that it is meaningful for them or else it could backfire and work against you.

Q:

I’ve reached a point in my photography where I don’t know how to price and market myself, also I don’t know how to find the right representation. I was wondering how that process works?

A:

These areas are what all photographers are dealing with, even those who have been working for a while because times change. In general though, we do have some solid support in our industry like all the great webinars happening, Wonderful Machine, Amy V Cooper Consulting (www.amyvcooper.com) and my temp rep services to name a few. The most important part to this answer is to build your system and keep growing.

Q:

I have a question regarding fees during this pandemic. I have a client wanting me to do a shoot in Florida early August. Being that that is a high risk state right now do you see photographers increasing their feeds for the added risk of the situation? Like hazardous pay? Thanks much!

A:

This is a new situation for all of us, so there is no absolute answer to this. Since your question makes rational sense, it’s worth bringing up with a client you have food communication with. As you know, less jobs are happening so budgets are going down and photographers are extra eager to get work now. This high level of competition could prevent any extra financial coverage. Play it safe though and don’t cut corners on the precautions which affect the expenses and shot count. I’d suggest bringing up the expenses instead of trying to raise your fee, where clients can rationally see and understand what they’d be paying more for.

Q:

How do you recognize a good rep? What are the signs of an agency that genuinely wants to speak in your best interests?

A:

I’m going to answer this question in a big way since it’s such a significant decision. A “good rep” for you may not be the right rep for another photographer. You have some work to do before you jump into anything.

What support qualities would help you grow and shine? What type of people resonate with you, what size rep agency feels really right for you?

After checking out rep’s sites + social media, which have the look/feel/brand that your work fits with? Do you prefer a small or larger rep agency and is their location significant to your type of clients? Does the rep you are interested in charge a fee? Some reps do your production and billing which may or may not work for you. What are the terms of the rep’s contract? Do you already have house accounts that could benefit from a reps support or do you need a rep to agree with not taking a commission (or a lower commission) on those for a certain amount of time? Know your terms and requirements which can help you choose a rep. 

The most important factor in your search is to know your own questions to ask reps and then truly listen to their responses. 

And most of all, do you like who they are? Do they have a good reputation with clients and other photographers?

In literal terms, you want someone who will REPRESENT who you are. If all of this feels right, then I’d think they genuinely will be speaking in your best interests.