Monday Q+A

Q:

If a client asks you to be tested on your own before a shoot, can you charge a fee for the time? Not everyone lives in cities where testing is really easy to come by, and lines can be long. (Example: I am in Vermont right now for a month and have to drive an hour to get a test for a shoot in NY Tuesday), I know we are all just excited to get jobs at the moment, and I don’t want to rub anyone the wrong way. Of course if there is a fee they should pay, but what about for time? Like a mini travel day and mileage? I’m not stressing this type of fee, but just figured it might be something a lot of us hopefully start dealing with when going back to work so could be good to see how people respond. 

A:

Right now getting tested before a job is a standard requirement. If you charge extra for it because of your location, this may turn into a detail about you that can hurt you in the future. If you are getting jobs out of NY I would not suggest making this more of an “issue” that the client has to pay for. You can always add a little more to your shoot or prep fees if you think there is room to do so, without calling it out as a Covid test fee. A side not to this is that I am noticing photographers paying their crew to get tested. Sounds like a fair idea to me.

Q:

What is the most effective way to successfully educate clients of content rights and usage?

A:

Educating clients often requires me asking them the right questions like- what will you be needing these images for? We have to frame it in a way they understand. They will pay less with the least amount of usage, so why purchase a TV broadcast if you aren’t going to use it on a commercial?

Q:

I find that when working as a freelancer I often get ghosted by clients. We will have approved rates and discussed dates and then they go cold. It seems so unprofessional and I’m surprised by how often it happens. What is the best way to deal with this?

A:

Ya I hear you. This procedure is they reach out to about 10 photographers and then their creative choose 3 of them to bid the job. It can be misleading as it isn’t presented as an initial round up of available photographers. I email them back after not hearing anything for a few days, asking if we should keep the hold. That is when I get a response because they don’t really want us losing other jobs and holding the dates.

Q:

How can a lifestyle photographer that only shoots natural light portraits and documentary style photography have different sections when it’s all essentially the same things?

A:

If you shoot one type of photography with similar situations, you don’t necessarily need different categories but it could be a way to show more and give you more credit. When you are up for a job, it gives the client some satisfaction to dig in deeper, explore, and research you. Projects that show off other clients/past jobs is a definite boost to give them reassurance that you are trustworthy. Give the viewer the option to see it all on one overview or keep them longer, by offering sections which suggest you have a lot more to show!

Q:

How do I transfer the bidding process to a temp rep when I’m used to receiving requests and managing client relationships myself? Would a temp rep be beneficial? Could this damage my relationships?

A:

A temp rep situation is just that, temporary and flexible. I would jump in and help with negotiation or overseeing your estimate to make sure you are protected on your terms, upon your unique circumstances. Maybe you just need a negotiator or back-end support to oversee your estimate or a communicator to help protect you by setting up the job terms clearly. Our goal is always the same- let’s get you the job and the highest budget!

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