Treatments

Our business can sometimes feel like a game of chess. And as they say, you can’t win if you don’t play. So be in it to win it!

This came from something I’ve been noticing lately. When people, especially clients, ask for something—things we didn’t have to do in the past—it now seems like there’s a trend where we need to give more than what’s asked of us. Whether it’s in the bid, the treatment, or even on a creative call, we go beyond. We even pay people to get the resources we need, as if we’ve already got the job. Go beyond what’s required; it’s a game, and you’ve got to be in it to win it. I mean it. Find the resources you need, and give them not just what they want, but more than they even think they want. Show up with more than they could ever imagine.

Q:

Can you recall a treatment that went above and beyond the prerequisites and landed the photographer the job?

A:

I do remember a particular treatment ‘success story.’ My product photographer was up for a Google job, and he tested some comp images to show how he would bring the products to life. Perhaps that showed his enthusiasm or perhaps they saw the lighting they needed. They loved it and he got the job!

TREATMENTS:

Create a template for your treatments to help make it easier each time you are asked to create one. Your template would have sections like location, lighting, casting/talent, wardrobe, etc. I also suggest hiring a writer for each one and hiring a designer to create the template. 

The treatment can make or break it for you when bidding on a job. 

I personally think your portfolio should be enough to get you the job, but nowadays why not do everything you can to make that happen? Use this as a way to demonstrate your approach to this project and the type of professionalism, creativity, and enthusiasm you’ll be bringing to the job.

Q:

I would like to hear about the importance of treatments. What is a treatment? Do photographers create their own treatment? What needs to go into it and what should it look like?

A:

A great treatment is one of the 3 keys to getting the photographer the job. 1. Is the portfolio of course 2. Is the creative call and 3. Is the treatment. 

A treatment is a pdf full of all the info to show the creative how the photographer will approach the job. It will include samples of images, locations, talent, wardrobe, etc. 

Yes, photographers create their own treatment and I have to say, it’s like getting their teeth pulled. They are not writers and normally their portfolio speaks for them So this takes a sales type of showing off that photographers are uncomfortable with in general.

It needs to look slick and put together because the creative will read this to know what the photographer is bringing to the “party,” how they work, how they see this job, and how well they can deliver a packaged expression of their work.