Updated portfolio to show off the tightly branded type of work you want to get vs. a resume of work you have done over the years.
Modified marketing direction plan keeping up with the times and even one step ahead.
Buttoned up admin downtime work to avoid last-minute scrambles with equipment, crew, treatment and estimate templates, insurance, payroll, taxes, finances, etc.
What don’t you know? Outsourcing is key.
Practice that “CAN-DO” attitude in sync with our industry’s fast and furious evolving climate.
Business owners, now is the time to step forward with what does work. The more we know can sometimes hold us back. Not being experienced in something cannot guide the business model. Now is the time to jump into what ‘really matters’ by doing what we don’t already know.
An essential job bidding tip is to take that extra minute to slowly and carefully scan every line, making sure each detail is correct before sending it in. This extra minute is well worth your time and can be a factor in getting you the job vs. losing you the job.
Negotiation can be tricky, especially in unknown scenarios with no previous relationship with a client. My goal is to figure out what the client has for a budget, even though they usually won’t offer that info. I like to begin with a higher $ than I’m assuming the budget will be. That higher starting point approach depends on creating an honest two-way discussion from the start to achieve truthful negotiation.
If you are saying, “I CAN DO THAT” when you see ads, that tells me you are on the side of being a “generalist,” which waters down the impact of your specific style. I call that my RED FLAG as those are the photographers who usually don’t receive the national attention for a specialized branded look.
The creative call is your place to shine! Be prepared, ready with all the resources you can gather to come across as clearly qualified to take on this project. Have a plan to share as you are actually the information provider vs. just gathering their information. Be the contributor of great insight as that is who they are looking to hire. Be ready!
On every creative call, you want to be extremely prepared. Do your research, check out their website, and have something to say during the call. This might lead to a question or a comment that relates back to the creative deck. Be thoroughly familiar with the creative deck and brief before the call—review it, have your ideas, questions, and thoughts ready. Relate your points to what they’re looking for, and mention anything you noticed about their website. Conduct thorough research, including a Google search, to find out where they’ve been and where they’re going. Gather as much information as possible before the call.
The final stage of the treatment is where I find it easy to add in spots, sneaking in and dropping descriptive adjectives to modify our point wherever we can use an adjective to ‘bring it home.’
Example to show AUTHENTICITY:
“We will be using natural light to bring about the real-life/pure/true/convincing feeling that these are actual people and not models.”
I want to share what I do when I receive a treatment from a photographer before we send it in. I review it carefully to find places where they describe the location, casting, and talent. I look for opportunities to enhance these descriptions by using specific adjectives and words that align with the client’s preferences. For example, if the client wants an authentic shoot with the talent in real moments, I consult a thesaurus for synonyms of “authentic,” such as “pure,” “reliable,” “true,” “trustworthy,” “credible,” and “convincing.” These words help describe how we will find the perfect location, even if it’s not perfect but rather credible or convincing. Pay attention to the words used on the call and in the creative deck. Use those terms specifically and reflect back what the client wants to hear.
