How do you organize your list of clients/contacts? Do you have a CRM or spreadsheet or use one of the list services? The lists get so big, I am wondering how you structure it to stay on top of who is who and what your history with them is?
Organizing our lists is a time consuming, yet mega important part of our marketing business. I pay for Agency Access and Yodelist and then I keep my own list on Direct Mail.
When a client emails and gives you a fee straight away (without asking for your rate), how much room do you think there actually is for negotiating?
When a client tells us their budget up front, most of the time they are telling the truth. If you are ready to potentially risk losing the job then you can test the waters and ask for more.
Do you have any photography business websites that you’d recommend following?
There are a lot of great websites, but if I had to pick one, I’d recommend aphotoeditor, as it covers a wide range of important business related issues for us.
What kind of usage are you including as part of the creative fee? Is there any kind of standard usage fee?
I don’t know of a standard usage as it always depends on the duration, the location, and the type of usage. The only standard would be “Unlimited usage for an Unlimited duration,” which is more common these days. The one thing I can say as a rep is our favorite work is “reuse” so avoid that “Unlimited” as much as possible.
How often do you get an advance? All I hear, over and over again is, “it takes 30 days to get in the system and process payment,” etc, etc.
This does depend on what industry you are in, but for commercial photography, an advance prior to the start of the shoot is especially important if it is with a new client. I would not begin a shoot without an advance for 50% of the total or 75% of the expenses.
I love photographing kids, architecture, urban environments, and candid images… Is it a requirement to focus on a specific niche as a photographer?
This does depend on what industry you are in, but for commercial photography, an advance prior to the start of the shoot is especially important if it is with a new client. I would not begin a shoot without an advance for 50% of the total or 75% of the expenses.
When cold emailing clients you’d like to work with, is it a good or bad idea to include an image or attachment of your work in the email? What are some things to avoid when cold emailing?
Good or bad is not totally relevant in our world of marketing because to market your branding may be very different from what other photographers do. Try everything and see what sticks. Some companies block emails with images, most people do not open attachments for their safety, and others prefer just a link to click it. Try it all!
What is your suggestion for how to navigate this world where every client seems to want more and more deliverables? Trying to stand firm on pricing feels hard when many are charging less.
The best way to stand firm on pricing is to become more valuable with a strong style. If your style is unique to you, then they will need to find the budget to hire you.
I keep hearing you say, “focus on one genre to become an A-Level Photographer.” How does one reconcile that statement, with your feedback that stills photographers also need to offer video? Isn’t that a new genre? Separate from stills?
Today’s photographer is also shooting video. We can’t fight this need for more and more content. It’s the way of the world. When asked if you do motion, your A-level photographer response should be: “Yes, I do motion in the same style in which I shoot my stills.” Use motion to confirm the style you have built with stills.
If agencies are “following” you, what, if anything, would you recommend doing?
If agencies are following you on Instagram – be proactive and engage them. Follow that hot lead and make the most of it by engaging them on social media, contact them on LinkedIn, and get them on your promo list. Use them ‘following’ you as a way to get your foot in the door!!
