Great info. Thanks.

How can you work at a desk like that – the texture of the surface reminded me of school.

If I should feel the need to send out promo cards you will know it by the SWAT team of furniture delivery people coming in through your window.

Keep up the good work and Thanks.

I am currently designing a promo card as well. May I ask what other information should I put on it other than my logo,name,website, phone number, and email? Would you suggest to put some more pieces of my work on the back?

Can you give me some suggestions? Thanks.

Cheers,
Ken

I decided that I’m no longer going to send postcards out. If my goal is to get someone’s attention a flat card is hardly the answer. Booklets are the next best thing but not by much if you ask me.

I need to be first on a prospects mind when they need a photographer. My sales manager and I have worked a super focused list so what I send is quite expensive but its the job of the mailer to give a glimpse into my brand’s experience, to talk on my behalf and of course get a call back for a face to face meeting.

Great article and great blog.

I love this post. It’s behind the scenes. One thing I’ve always wished I could learn is the ins and outs of being an editorial photographer. How to get the jobs and make a career out of it. How to price stuff, etc.

Everyday, my mind steers left and right trying to figure out how to tackle my dream. Everybody tells me to shoot weddings, it makes the money. This might seem kind of dumb to say, but I feel like I’m just not that guy. After a series of jobs in the “corporate world” working non-photography related jobs (sitting desk jobs), I finally just quit my job and have hopes to open my own business. The question is, should I shoot weddings and just shoot what I like on the side, or should I dedicate my time to shooting straight for the market I like shooting for?

I’ve got old stuff from college on my website, but if you feel like it, give it a go:

http://www.georgeakel.com

Also, they’re looking for good photographers to feature on their site, so send them a link and see what you can do. We all need more links.

I can tell you that a live salamander sent to me didn’t work.

Neither did a periodic travel log sent from a cross-country trip on the way out to visit me.

If the 26 lbs. of pot delivered to the agency (true story) was from a photographer, I would’ve at least called back.

Toys, cookies, tickets, shirts, books and booze don’t work, but they sure are appreciated.

But I can tell you this: I STILL have a promo that was made out of about 30 cents of butcher paper, some brown packing tape, some india ink and a collection of some of the best portraits I’ve ever seen. I think the shooter put about $2.50 and all his soul into it. That was 12 years ago and this guy’s work still stands up.

STONER

I see there are a few booklets or brochures in the pictures. Are you more likely to take the time to look remember or appreciate those?

If you know it takes 15 calls to make a sale, don’t bother making any if you can only make 14.

IMHO: Don’t forget repetition and multiple points of contact. One postcard may feel like a lot to a photographer who has to hand address all those colored envelops and pay $1000 for printing and postage but 99.999% of the time it that one DM promo won’t get you a job – it takes a campaign. Unless of course you are really really lucky.

My cubicle is also a gallery of my favorites – people we hire often, unique promos, promos I use for ideas, and promos that are just awesome photos.

But, I must say, in our office, there is also a “wall of shame” for promo cards. Without naming names, I’ll share two highlights:

1. A man on a Sears portrait studio-fabric background standing atop a giant wooden tooth, holding a chain saw. Um…bizarre.

2. A school-portrait-looking photo of Donald Trump holding an apple (the glowing edges of which reveal it was silo-ed and photoshopped in from another shot) with the tag line: “YOU’RE HIRED!” I can tell this was one of those ideas that seemed “cute” at the time…

3. A snapshot of a motion-blurred photo of a man laughing on a black background (printed on the worst matte paper imaginable). I think this photo was an accident that happened when the photographer fell over and smacked the camera off the tripod.

Why go to the expense (and believe me, I KNOW how expensive it is to make and send these promos) of sending these photos which clearly are the worst possible representation of your work?

So here is my advice:
1. If you only have one shot to grab people’s attention, don’t waste it.
2. On the other hand, if you have a great promo, keep sending it. You may not hear back right away…but many of us do keep them on file and refer back when the right project comes up.

Cheers!!!