Social Media

TOP 10 SECRETS

TO SUCCESS WITH @ASKSTERNREP

1. Create a cohesive body of work with a consistent look. Know who you are as a photographer. 

2. Know your niche + know your market. Who are your clients?

3. Market yourself. Consistently + tenaciously, and in a way that is aligned with your brand and goals. 

4. Know what you’re good at and delegate what you’d rather not to.

5. Ask for help. There’s no shame in needing help or asking for it.

6. Be a good business person. Manage your time with discipline based on your priorities.

7. TEST outside your box. Be hungry. Hustle. Stay fresh with the times.  Your portfolio should not just be the jobs you have shot , it should be the jobs you want to shoot.

8. Social Media. In this day and age, as a professional photographer, being on Instagram is a MUST. And know, it has become the new portfolio. Most of your images need to be professional, while a sprinkling of behind-the-scenes personal images can complement your brand. (But no drunken Taco Tuesday photos!)

9. Money. Know how  to negotiate or have a rep help you.

10. Enjoy it!

Q:

If agencies are “following” you, what, if anything, would you recommend doing?

A:

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!!

Q:

In this day and age of social media, is a blog even relevant anymore? Should you use social media to drive traffic to your blog?

A:

Other reps may disagree with me, but I don’t see the purpose of a blog anymore.

Instagram: IS IMPORTANT.

I’m sorry to say it, because I know it can feel like a bit of a nag, but it can’t be ignored. 

3 reasons to up your instagram game today:

1. It’s FREE marketing. 

2. Clients are OFTEN looking at your Instagram before your website these days. 

3. The game has changed and Instagram is an intrinsic part of the new advertising paradigm.

Q:

What advice can you give to aspiring photographers?

A:

Explore. I don’t even call it testing anymore. Explore and expand your look without losing all that specific edge to your style. As I said before, all photographers need to rediscover themselves on a regular basis. Educate themselves, look at others, assist and learn as much as possible. 

We’ve talked a lot about the importance of social media but I think new photographers could really benefit from thinking beyond social media for their marketing as well. Send emails. Write people on LinkedIn. Go to lunch. Meet people in person. Aspiring photographers may need to get creative by finding ways to connect.

Guest Post: Interview w/ Mara Serdans

www.MarasMix.com

Q:

What is the difference between “digital rights only” and web or social media usage?

A:

“Digital rights” covers all digital usage. “Website and social media” only covers usage for social media or on their website. Digital rights covers ads on any digital platform. One important point to remember is when they ask for “website usage,” write that company’s website in your terms. There is a big difference if you don’t put it in as their website.

Q:

What type of books do you recommend to photographers coming up in their careers that are both presentable and feasible?

A:

This is a very relevant question for this time in our business because websites and social media are the new portfolios.

Currently, it is very rare that someone would ask you to come in and show your book, unless you go out of your way and make that happen. It’s something extra you can do. If you are going to show a “book” a printed book is the best way to go.

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:

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.