Brent's got it totally right from everything I've heard and been told as well, including by reps. It's not their job to start your career, it's their job to take it to the next level: they want you to already be so busy that doing marketing/self-promo/sending out quotes is getting in the way of you actually doing the jobs. Then they'll come in and take over much of that responsibility so that you can double your billing or more (and they can take their percentage). Some reps will take over your entire client base, some might leave you with your existing clients and only focus on new clients.
Edgar Maguyon wrote:
But, if your "spending the first few years of your career establishing yourself", how will reps/agencies/editorial-art-directors even notice you?
If you're doing $300k/year in gross revenue in any given market then your name is bound to come up. You're also going to have noteworthy tearsheets.
If you landed a national campaign for Quicksilver, for instance, people are going to wonder who you are. They're going to call in your book, see what else you've done. If a rep sees that you aren't repped but you've done a number of big jobs recently, they may want to meet with you.
I've had art directors tell me that, while they look at every self-promo piece that photographers send them, they wait a year or more to call in a book - they want to see the photographer's growth over time and the consistency of their work. And then they wait another six months or year to call in the book again, just to see what's happened in the interim. Photographers that come to them as recommendations or referrals aren't in the same boat. Obviously doing the work is the best way to get more work.
In other words, what would be the first baby steps for a "new photog" to get the foot in the door to these reps/agencies (once your web presence and portfolio are adequate)?
By doing the work and landing the clients, then making them happy. All the web presence and portfolio in the world probably counts less than one art director dropping your name to another, mentioning that they hired you and you did a fantastic job.
So your saying to get your foot in the door it comes from mostly from reputation and word of mouth from years of work.. versus direct promotion/calls/email blasts/hard promos, etc. to reps/agents/editors that have never heard of the photog?
Traditional self-promo and marketing efforts may get art directors and potential clients to call in your book, which may in turn lead to work. But it won't lead to a rep. Landing those jobs consistently and executing them well may lead to a rep, though probably not right away.
Well, if you can shoot commercial and own no gear, turn over the images to the company for PP/editing I suppose that certainly has the best ROI of any possible type of photography.
I'd also expect it's harder to get into as a primary, and as an employee of a photog you'll never get rich.
ROI for wedding and T&I photogs will be better than those with a studio as they need less gear/overhead to cover. I know what my studio is costiing me to outfit with lights, backgrounds, props, etc.
From some investigation into buying running, established studios there's no money in it. Those that I checked into (in 4 diferent states) all did seniors and other studio stuff (family, baby) and couple did a few weddings. All were generalist portrait studios. All had annual revenue in the 150-225 range and claimed no debt. All gear was included - props, lights, camera, computers - all of it. All had a space for sale as part of it or in addition (four of five had a house and property with teh studio in a seperate building). All claimed a full time photog, spouse and some part time seasonal help. all claimed an income of $40-60,000. But none had a mortgage. If you were buying the place yo'd have to pay the mortgage on the property as well as the purchase price of the business. NONE would allow you any income after the debt. Not a friggin dime.
The 'big name' speakers out there on PPA tours that are growing a business and preaching their way, some are local to me, all (independiently over a 2 year period) told me the same thing- expect to spend 10-15% of sales on marketing. That is to stay big, or get big and keep growing. If you are not growing you are dying. New photogs are entering the market all the time so you need to keep in front of people all the time. Especially in the case of some of these studios that are doing sales in the $2 million dollar range and have 10 empoyees.
But if your business grows to that point are you a photographer anymore? Or a manager or do you even bother to work?
Do you like what you do? I do! And the reason I do is that I don't shoot weddings, seniors, kids, pets or team sports. For me photography is making images, not being a salesman. So my interests are advertising and editorial. YMMV
As Dennis Bishop told me years ago "If you worked this hard on a real job, you'd be a millionaire!"
Shatterkiss ... off topic ... but I just wanted to mention that I always find your posts, refreshing and insightful.
OK ... yes, I'm disappointed that porn isn't the way to go. There go a whole bunch of unfulfilled .... umm ... desires.
But what you say, as always, make good sense.
There go a whole bunch of unfulfilled .... umm ... desires.