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.
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.
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.
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.
How do you even start going about the hunt for a rep?
A:
You want a rep who also wants you! Do your research on Workbook.com to find where your images would fit best within the rep’s specific genres. Email us something short + sweet with your website link and a referral if we know someone in common. It really should be that simple because reps are looking for you as well. Talk to other photographers about their reps to get their feedback. Make sure you are ready for a rep, but that is a whole other topic we will be discussing on my Webinar this week, “All About Reps.”
I’ve heard from several people in the business that you don’t need representation unless you are too busy to book and manage the business yourself. How true is this?
A:
Most photographers would do better having a rep’s overall support. Some types of photographers may do well on their own if they handle their own social media marketing. If you have the skills that a full-time rep would bring to your business, then you can always do it on your own, but if you aren’t the best negotiator then the bottom-line question is, would a rep protect and negotiate higher fees for you?
How do you feel about print promos right now? With many people working outside the office, it seems unlikely they will actually see them now.
A:
Mailing printed promos would be a waste of your money right now since our clients are not in their offices. I use printed promos as leave-behinds at showings as well, since those aren’t happening I’d suggest not printing anything right now. Use your marketing budget on email promos and ways of engaging on Instagram.
Has anyone else been asked to allow a business to repost their image on their business IG? I don’t want companies to solely rely on User Generated Content because then they may not hire many photogs.
A:
Yes, we do get this request often. I leave it up to the photographers because there is a plus and a minus to this. I really see the negative to doing this on a regular basis but perhaps once with each company can be a marketing plan to have that company know of you. When doing this, use it for your own resharing purposes and get the most out of it for that one post. Get their info and have a discussion with them to hopefully lead to more client contact info that can really help you down the line.
Is anyone talking about Covid cancellation language yet? I need help.
A:
At this point, the client cannot be held responsible for normal cancellation fees if it is COVID related. Protect yourself by adding this line in the Job Description on the top of your estimate, “Due to any cancellations for Covid-19, all previously incurred expenses and fees will be covered once this estimate has been officially approved.” Having this sentence on your signed estimate, your purchase order, or even in your email agreement with your client can help protect you.
I was living in Brooklyn when all of this hit. Now I’m considering leaving the city and going upstate or to the suburbs. Do you feel that would hurt my work opportunities? I’ve heard a few talks saying that life and business will slow. Would you find living in NYC proper to still be as important as it was before?
A:
It’s hard to know this answer for sure, but I am hearing the word “local” come up often nowadays. More local photographers will be used because of travel restrictions. A suburb of NYC is not far, and even if you go upstate, the main goal is for you to stay actively present with fresh work alongside a regular marketing presence.
