I am a photographer that is currently signed to an agency, the contract is nearing completion, and they have asked if I want to renew the contract. Another agency has expressed interest in signing me at the same time. Is it possible to be signed to multiple agencies as a photographer/director?
A:
No absolute rule on this, but it isn’t something I recommend for a commercial advertising photographer/director. Other industries may work like this, but clients in our world would be confused. Our goal is to have our clients know, think of, and contact us. If we offer too many contact associations, we may create more of a branding identity mishap vs. a sharp, concise system to register in their memory.
Where do creative directors, art buyers etc. look for new talent? I would appreciate any advice I can get.
A:
The business of photography depends on who sees our images; we have to find every potential method to put ourselves out there. Depending on the type of photographer you are, we have some really good options these days like Komyoon, Workbook, At-Edge, Blvd, Behance, PhotoPolitic, LeBook, Production Paradise, Found and Wonderful Machine. They all have a different vibe, go through them and see where you fit best. I suggest asking clients you want to work with where they look for new talent. After you give one of these a try, you can SEO your website and use Google Analytics to see where the traffic is coming in. It’s a timely process with no easy answer, but if you pay attention to your analytics, you can see what works for you.
I wonder if you have any insight on “collaboration.” I reach out to brands to collaborate and they perceive that I want to create content with them for free. Maybe my approach needs to be retooled or the word “collaboration” means “free.” Any help would be appreciated.
A:
“Collaboration” has become synonymous with “free” in the Instagram age, so utilizing an alternative to that word will probably be a good start. If you do reach out to agencies and clients, know that they are not used to having ideas given to them, so your collaboration could come more in a discussion. I’d suggest DM’ing the creative director or art director or designer to start sharing your passion for your idea. If you have good ideas, I’m sure they want to hear them. Make it a discussion vs a collaboration. Request a Zoom chat once you have a conversation on DM started.
Keep your business moving forward as clients are looking at us to set the trends. Stay hot, fresh, and relevant – here is a helpful tool to get your ideas out of your mind to make sense of the plan you need to put into action ASAP.
Your topic can be “GROWING FORWARD,” write it on a piece of paper, circle it in the middle of a page, and set it free!
We are trying to adjust to a time we don’t yet know how to handle, which means we have to make decisions and plans. Yet, we are probably all dealing with many thoughts in our heads without much clarity, making it hard to decipher which ones to follow and how to proceed. One useful method is mind mapping. It’s how I became a rep. I started with a central circle labeled “ideal job” and branched out into various aspects of what that job would entail—what it looks like, what I’m wearing, where I am, whether I’m at home or in an office, the time of day I’m working, how much I’m making, and the skills I’m using, which in my case are sales.
Mind mapping helped me clarify my path. I even brought my mind map to a photographer, and he identified me as a rep, a term I wasn’t familiar with at the time. Recently, I did another mind map titled “What I Want from Photographers.” It’s a way to get all your thoughts out by starting with a central question and creating a plan by stepping back and analyzing what you want and how to achieve it. It’s like a vision board for your mind, helping you figure out your direction and strategy.
How do you recognize a good rep? What are the signs of an agency that genuinely wants to speak in your best interests?
A:
I’m going to answer this question in a big way since it’s such a significant decision. A “good rep” for you may not be the right rep for another photographer. You have some work to do before you jump into anything.
What support qualities would help you grow and shine? What type of people resonate with you, what size rep agency feels really right for you?
After checking out rep’s sites + social media, which have the look/feel/brand that your work fits with? Do you prefer a small or larger rep agency and is their location significant to your type of clients? Does the rep you are interested in charge a fee? Some reps do your production and billing which may or may not work for you. What are the terms of the rep’s contract? Do you already have house accounts that could benefit from a reps support or do you need a rep to agree with not taking a commission (or a lower commission) on those for a certain amount of time? Know your terms and requirements which can help you choose a rep.
The most important factor in your search is to know your own questions to ask reps and then truly listen to their responses.
And most of all, do you like who they are? Do they have a good reputation with clients and other photographers?
In literal terms, you want someone who will REPRESENT who you are. If all of this feels right, then I’d think they genuinely will be speaking in your best interests.
The Personal Touch by Terrie Williams is one of the books that helped me find my way of connecting to people in a genuine way when I started SternRep.
There are many teachers, books, and methods I’ve used to improve at what I do. As a rep, manager, agent, sometimes bookkeeper, and definitely someone involved in public relations, I’ve learned a lot. That’s why I recommend this book, but the truth is, there’s so much to our jobs—it’s overwhelming. This is especially true for photographers. You need to stay sharp and be knowledgeable about the best quality, software, hardware, and equipment. Keep up with your learning sources and stay on top of new developments in your field.
Book yourself for the day and time to check it off your list.
If you don’t get it done, reassign it until you finish the task.
One thing I learned when I started as a rep—it was in Seattle, thanks to Doug Landreth—was the importance of scheduling. I was an in-house rep, and Doug introduced me to Maria Piscopo, a consultant whose expertise is in scheduling. That really hit me hard; I realized that I needed a solid schedule to manage my tasks. Without one, I struggled to get things done. Time management became crucial for me, and it’s something I still rely on heavily.
Speaking of consultants, they can be incredibly helpful. There are a lot of them out there, and if you ever need advice or recommendations, feel free to ask—I’ll point you in the right direction.
If you want an answer to several questions I usually ask just one first, and then wait for an answer before asking the next one.
This is a sales tool that I use every single day. If I give too much information to anyone, they won’t even hear me. Even asking two questions in an email shouldn’t be done—be quick, ask one question, and move on. Trust me, it works.