Monday Q+A

Q:

I’m having trouble finding my place in this industry, do you have any advice for photographers who are still trying to find their voice and their niche?

A:

Paul Barshon: …and that will take a while to find. I found that when I started shooting, I shot loads of different subjects and tried different styles. Eventually I started focusing in one direction without even realizing it. There is always something that we most enjoy shooting and when we focus on this and try different techniques to find our specific style, this can eventually lead you to a career!

Q:

What are some hallmarks of a Great Photographer? (Part 2)

A:

The second hallmark of a Great Photographer is:

That they are open to inspiration, they can see a photograph waiting to be taken…they don’t come to a shoot with a preconceived notion of what will happen. 

I have seen the most mundane situation made into an amazing photograph. We often go to huge lavish locations that cost over $10k a day to rent, but in the end we shoot in the basement of the service entrance or out in the parking lot against the curb of the street. You don’t need a perfect location to make a great picture. 

Guest Post: Producer, Will Taylor

www.inkandoranges.com

Q:

Can you give us some advice about what we should be doing with our social media, website and marketing strategy in general?

A:

Guest Post, Art Producer: Social Media is very important these days, especially in the way clients are trying to reach their audiences. Hash-tagging can help to expand your discoverability, but of course it’s not the end all be all to becoming noticed. 

Your website should be clean and easy to navigate, while also showcasing recent work to show you are still actively working/generating personal projects. I enjoy physical promos as well, but find they are most valuable when they come from the artist themselves (i.e. From a meet and greet).

Q:

I want to brand myself as a high profile portrait photographer. How and where can I market myself? Who would be my major potential client? How should I reach them?

A:

As with all industries in the commercial world, the path to success is somewhat similar. Educate yourself about other high profile portrait photographers and analyze their clients and marketing methods. Research absolutely everywhere their work can be found and what tools they are utilizing. Agency Access? Yodelist? Lattis Social? At-Edge? Workbook? Who is your dream client? Do whatever you can to get in touch with them, be tenacious and persistent.

Q:

Do you really look through source books for new photographers?

A:

Guest Post, Art Producer: I find source books useful when I need to break from the digital-format search engine, but I primarily use social media (Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest) when searching for a specific kind of inspiration – especially if the brief is more open ended and still in blue sky stages. These platforms are very accessible while offering a way to focus in on the topics you’re trying to nail down.

Q:

What are the 3 most important design elements to keep in mind when creating an impactful photography website?

A:

Rob Haggart, PhotoFolio: Your typeface, your logo, and your images are all that matter. The typeface should be modern, the logo should be minimal but professionally done, and the images should be the focus of the website. Art Directors love type and bad fonts can ruin great photography.

Q:

What are some hallmarks of a Great Photographer? (Part 1)

A:

Producer, Will Taylor: Confidence and composure. They need to have the confidence to stand in the middle of a room with 25 people focused on them: the clients, agency, crew and talent (often celebrities). The photographer is able to calmly ponder the finer elements of an image, even amidst the chaos. A Great Photographer is willing to stop and scrap the entire effort on a shoot that isn’t going right and move onto another idea. More often than not, the next picture is even better! Remaining poised in the eye of the storm, that’s definitely a hallmark of a Great Photographer. 

Guest Post: Producer, Will Taylor

www.inkandoranges.com

Q:

How do I align my style/voice/aesthetic with clients? Or even figure out which market I best fit in?

A:

Paul Barshon: Stick with your style and the clients will come to you for your look. Trying to chase a style that’s in vogue at the moment always leaves you a step behind. It’s nice to look at other photographers to see what is new and look at new techniques, but your style is what will get you work. Stick with the subjects that you enjoy shooting – this will lead you to a place where the market will find you.

Q:

Does a rep match a photographer to a project? I.e., does a rep evaluate whether a certain project is actually RIGHT for that photographer; their aesthetic, their vision, their desired projects?

A:

No. Reps don’t have that much power. We are the negotiation voices for our photographers so we are asked to bid someone that they choose. I am sometimes asked to send them a photographer who would be good for their project, but they ultimately decide who they want to bid and then hire.

Q:

(via APA National) What are three things to keep in mind for client presentations, creative meetings, keeping people engaged?

A:

Art Streiber: The primary thing to remember when you’re speaking or presenting is that you are a storyteller. First and foremost, you have to have an engaging narrative, a through-line, a beginning, a middle and an end. Secondarily, keep it light and fun. Make ‘em laugh! Next? Know your audience. Don’t get bogged down in tech talk with people that don’t know what an F-stop is…save your shutter speed jokes for the big photo nerds. And DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Know what you’re talking about. Otherwise, why should anyone listen?