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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Is there a good way to contact new clients? I have a home studio.
Right now photographers have more open doors than ever before, because we are all feeling more human right now. People are connected with each other and available more than I’ve ever seen. Instagram and LinkedIn are the best options, but clients do not want to hear a sales pitch. Be honest, be yourself while finding your clients on LinkedIn and then engaging with them on Insta. I know this process takes time but use the opportunity we are in right now to make it work for you in the long run.
I’ve thought of three quarantine safe workflows:
Who is looking for these workarounds right now?
Hey any ideas like this can work in today’s situation so I’d say all clients are looking for these types of options. It’s the time to step up and help our clients figure out how to create content. Today = creative problem solving. Right now the only wrong answer I can think of is being too close in proximity, other than that everyone is open to new ideas.
Like a lot of photographers right now I am in the middle of completely revamping my current website. When it comes to portfolio sites is there a particular format, layout, or design style that I need to gravitate towards to grab the attention of potential clients or on the flip side is there one that I absolutely need to avoid?
Websites need to be easy, quick to read as your brand, and serve the purpose of showing off your images in a constructive way that makes sense. Photofolio is one of the best for photographers and they have different layouts to choose from. If you want to create your own, then companies like SquareSpace have options but really Photofolio has all of the details already figured out for you. I highly recommend them.
How does an unrepresented photographer stay in the game through this?
I do think unrepresented photographers need to up their game right now to match the problem solving communication reps are offering to clients. Reps tend to be in touch with clients even when it’s not about specific jobs. Photographers are usually in touch with clients when it’s about a job. So proactively engage more, reach out, and contact more on a personal level. I always say, know your audience and what they are experiencing. Well, right now people are needing people and true connection. Go out there (online) and get to know each other.
I have some Zoom meetings with creative agencies coming up. Usually you can bring a few books and leave-behinds, and sometimes even cupcakes, when meeting in person. Obviously you can’t do that in a Zoom meeting.
Any tips or suggestions to help stand out?
Today’s Zoom meetings need a bit more awareness than in-person meetings as you don’t want to talk over others, or be too quiet, too loud, or speak too quickly. Definitely do some tests to see how you can be as crystal clear as possible. Get your lighting right and set up where you will be sitting. I do not suggest using those fake backgrounds as they will get all the attention and may prevent people from hearing what you are saying if they are looking more at your background. Treat the meeting as real as possible and no need to be nervous. Be yourself and listen to others. You can always send your cupcakes over after the meeting, 🙂
As there is an expected decrease in volume for corporations, companies are looking to cut the equivalent across the board. I have a feeling they’re going to ask everybody to make this sacrifice, including us photographers. What’s your take on this? If everyone is taking a pay cut, are we expected to as well?
From what I am hearing, clients are going to see how photoshoot budgets can be cut down by eliminating their own travel, reducing the amount of crew and hiring photographers who can shoot all the stills/motion/drone themselves. This has been happening over the last few years (clients getting more/paying less) and now it is going to be taken even further with our new situation. Social media is more prominent than ever, so I’d expect this to also cut budgets by using more influencers and selfie type of shoots. Overall, we will feel this across the board as clients will see how they can get more content for less $ and they will expect that to continue beyond the time of “social distancing.”
