Networking

Be careful when it feels satisfying to share our negative opinion about others in our PROFESSIONAL world because those words live on forever, even if they never get back to the person in question.

Public relations is the backbone of our marketing. Curating connections comes from listening, asking questions, and relating to those we want to remember us. Where are they from? Is there anything interesting on their LinkedIn or IG? Comment with interest as a part of your brand. 

Q:

Are there any new ways to give clients gifts since they aren’t in the office the way they used to be?

A:

With so many clients no longer in their offices, I find the best gift is to bring back the personal human connection by taking them to dinner, coffee, even a phone call or whatever works. Essentially, you are bringing YOURSELF into your marketing plan with sincere long-lasting connections as a bonus to your “cold” mass promos, outreach, etc. 

Q:

What is this “YOUNG” business approach you have mentioned? Do you mean naive and accommodating, or do clients want younger people? How can we do that?

A:

A young attitude means seeing the business as it is now, rather than comparing it to how it was in the past. It’s about having excitement for new ideas and approaching both technical and marketing efforts with fresh creativity instead of letting changes in the industry weigh us down or keep us from evolving. 

Q:

 Is it appropriate to send a thank-you gift to an agency that hired me to shoot a campaign?

A:

This is a tricky one, as some agencies are fine with receiving a thank-you gift while others are not. I recommend asking them first, or even better, asking someone else at the agency you know, so you can still surprise your contact. Either way, it’s best to ask first, unless it’s something inexpensive like a basket of treats. A handwritten thank-you card is also a great way to show sincere appreciation. 

You look like an amateur if you don’t have an official website email address, along with a signature on the email including your web or IG link on it.

Q:

How do you make initial contact with potential clients? Do you go straight for the phone or warm up through email? What do you talk about in that first conversation?

A:

This is the million-dollar question that has no definitive answer! Every person selling has a different method and every success story has different factors—sometimes simply good timing. Personally, I say never use the phone. I find phone calls intrusive since they require an immediate response at the caller’s chosen time. The best sales method, whether through email or conversation, is to follow the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The question we are all dealing with is, WHAT’S GOING ON RIGHT NOW? Everything is changing, leaving us to question the status of our careers. 

1. Accept that it is changing; thus, we must adapt.

2. Images are even more “Lofi” – imperfect production quality matching the social media realness.

3. What are you good at, and what can you bring to this situation?

4. Clients are getting more for their money and paying less.

5. Your role may need to fulfill other categories, and you can charge for those – like stylist, creative, storyboarding, pre-production, post-production, etc.

6. Keep yourself as fresh with testing as possible- be as NOW as ever!

Q:

If I think I would be a good fit for a certain client, what is the best way to approach them? Should I approach them directly or through their agency? If I should contact the agency, how can I best reach the right person there? Many companies have different agencies for various products or platforms. 

A:

Yes, approach the client directly and also get in touch with their agency. Try as many ways as you can think of. Be creative and innovative; find ways to get their attention. To find the right person, ask around. I highly recommend LinkedIn, as people tend to respond to it. Go get ‘em!

Q:

How would you advise a photographer to reach out to new clients to ask for a face-to-face meeting to introduce oneself?

A:

The best way to ask for an in-person meeting is to entice them with an easy and fun excuse, like bringing them a treat or taking them for a coffee/lunch. I would not ask via phone, but I would warm up your potential client with regular outreach via email, IG, LinkedIn, etc. As long as your portfolio pertains to their client needs, you may have a good chance of seeing them in person.