How do I know if I am too low on a bid?
If the client responds to your bid by asking if you have enough for certain line items like “location scout” etc, then you can assume you are too low. At that point I’d be direct and explain how you were assuming the budget was low, but you may have been mistaken. This can be turned into a positive to show your excitement for the project. Has anyone had an experience like this you’d like to share?
Should a photographer edit and cull their Instagram page to make it look like a professional portfolio? If my Insta has some commercial work, behind-the-scenes shots, but also smartphone shots of my puppy, is that a huge turn-off?
Instagram needs to be your 2nd portfolio. Just as your website has your ABOUT section, which brings a bit of personal info to it – same goes for Instagram. I’d suggest for instagram; 80% portfolio and 20% personal.
ALTHOUGH, the personal should really still be images that are interesting to your clients. THey love seeing locations you are working in and learning/knowing any interesting info about you. They want to know who you are and what your hobbies are. They don’t really need to know what your pets look like.
What are some things to avoid when cold emailing?
I’d say the most important part of a cold email is not to sound cold. Don’t have it sound like a mass email. Be as personable as possible. Mention something they personally may be interested in. And spell their name correctly.
How often do art buyers respond to email blasts? How enthusiastic should a photographer actually be about positive feedback from an email blast?
Never. When sending out emails, don’t expect to get any responses. The point of an email blast is not to get responses, and they know that. The point of an email blast is to send out as many emails as possible to the correct clients to show them your work.
When sending newsletters/promos to new clients or agents, is there a polite way to introduce yourself other than the generic, “Hey, I’m a new photographer in the area, etc.?” In essence, when photographers reach out to you, how do you like to be “asked?”
The best way is to speak to people as you would want to be spoken to. The more personal and less ‘mass email’ sounding, the better. Be short and quick but also as personal as possible. Use the person’s name and spell it correctly.
Having a hard time with a long term direction! If I feel I am effective in multiple areas, is it worth promoting myself in those multiple areas, or should I just pick ONE?
In my opinion, being an A-level photographer is based on your style, your look, your vibe. This solid branded look can work across different industries and clients. Even if you are getting work across a variety of fields, the key is to make sure your style is consistent throughout. When your portfolio looks like you could be different photographers, this dilutes your branding and may only work if you want to get jobs in a smaller city.
How do I know if the client is telling the truth about their budget?
The most common answer will be that they don’t know the budget yet, so if you are actually provided with a budget, then I’d trust that. If you know you are the only photographer up for the job or if you get the sense you are 1st choice you can then expand your budget slightly higher and give that a try. I have a few techniques I use for this, and I’ll explain them in future ASR’s.
Do you have any techniques for the bidding process you’d want to share with us?
How do you know if you need a producer or not on your job?
If you foresee the job needing a producer you can always ask the client if they think there is room in the budget for a producer. It’s actually a nice way to try to get more budget info. If the answer is “no” then I would suggest not having a producer do the estimate for you because they usually have higher production costs.
What do you do if you don’t know how to ask for what you’re worth?
This is common and most freelancers don’t know how to rate themselves fairly while balancing out competition, usage or market prices. My approach is to connect with the client on the phone and listen to what they often want to tell me. My favorite sales approach is honesty. It works wonders.
What is your favorite sales approach?
How can I become represented? It’s always been a dream to stand out and have reps on my side.
Get your book as strong as you can, find your specialty and build a cohesive portfolio. Find the reps that work in your industry and approach them with a personal and quick email. The quality of your work will speak for itself and doors will open. Just get your work out there once it’s ready!
