Prove you are a human- type “GPMG” into the box below! (required):…

always focus on quality and service: quality in the choice of material,
http://www.minmaxbd.com design and production, and service by means of personalised advice and strict follow-up on every product.

Its all fair and good . if my cat has diarrhea I usually dont care about the shot anymore even if its a well paid campaign. Honestly my creativity sucks then and you knwo what: I dont care! We are all humans and usually the client can’t tell anyway that I just shot crap for him.

It wasn’t meant to be personal and my apologies for getting into “ass” territory. I could have bit my tongue a little bit more, but I assume there’s a great deal of young eyes on this blog and I don’t see the harm in giving it to them straight. Especially considering all the “professional” advice that’s being spread so thick, so often.

Respect for professionals? In this industry and in this day and age? I’ve been put through the ringer in this industry over the years and watched as the production, talent and overall “professional” levels have gone from “Wizard of OZ” to “Jersey Shore” in the blink of an eye. I may have unwittingly helped in that regard but, it wasn’t intentional. My jabs at Suzanne may have hit close to home… or not, but they were meant to highlight a BIG problem in this industry. Not a personal attack.

I’m sure that the Heidi Montags, Snookis, and Jonas Brothers of this industry all feel they’re being very professional but, c’mon! It’s hardly based on talent and hard work anymore and you all know it.

It seems i am doing everything, emails, direct mail at least 1200 a month, facebook, twitter, altpick, blogging, phone calls (which is the hardest)

all these tips helps thaks
http://www.johnhildebrand.com

I was raised in a sales environment – think Willy Loman meets Glen Garry Glen Ross – well maybe not that bad but I was taught how to take a telephone message at age 4 or 5 and to always answer the phone with a smile on my face.

This is just good business and whether you are a photographer or freelancing with Roto – Rooter it is good advice.

It is the Art Buyer’s job to do their homework and research and keep their eyes open to all that is out there in the marketplace but it is yours to engage them on a personal level and make a lasting impression not only with your work but with your self. Like my Dad always said -sales is selling yourself no matter what the product is. Like it or not your work is your product and when meeting face to face or communicating any other way you are a sales-person.

Photographers have come under the spell that has affected the film business: the dictatorship of technology and business skills that sometimes degrades and dehumanizes creative people and their work. We are told that how we “package”ourselves is critical. It’s as if we can delude ourselves and fool others into falling in love with our work…. even if there is no there there.

Even with the huge increase in the amount of photography on the web, there is almost an anti-digital revival , a respect for film, for the simple accidents of time that once produced real photography with grit, content, soul and style.

I hope there are art buyers and art directors who will emulate the best of the past and look deeper into the individual merit of a photographer, rather than the hype of the new and the slick, the over-packaged and the over-promoted.

I would also like to add that there is an opportunity with the ipad to show recent work that you couldn’t get to print as long as they can be viewed in a well designed and presented way or if you have video work that would complement your print material or some tear-sheets from recent work published. I would show this digital work as an optional extra in the viewing if the AD or AB want and have time to see more. Use it as an extra talking point.

It would be a great way to get feedback for newly created work you are working on and it also shows that you are producing new material – I would only do this with trusted clients you already have a relationship with though.

So, one thing that was mentioned in the post was the actual portfolio:
“Make sure your portfolio is professional and what the industry is expecting to see”

As with most things in the world, one person likes one thing and another likes something else. I’ve heard some AB/PE say they like a simple portfolio and don’t pay too much attention to the design. Obviously you don’t want to walk in with something that looks cheap… but I got to thinking last night, with the announcement of the iPad, how would that go over as a portfolio (or any similar tablet type device). Because it’s definitely not like bringing a laptop in as your portfolio. I just posted an entry on my blog about it and would love to hear some feedback on the idea:
http://jeffsingerphotography.com/blog/2010/01/30/the-apple-ipad-your-new-portfolio/

Haha, thanks Kat. Suzanne, I totally agree… but find it’s def. a case by case basis. (like everything in life!) Some CD’s totally trust and respect their AB’s choices for shooters and some don’t (lots of egos in the ad biz…) plus if a CD has a solid relationship with a shooter already that will often trump an AB’s new favorite choice. Such is life. One thing I try to keep in mind with face to face meetings above all else is that whoever I’m meeting with likely only has a couple opportunities in an given year (if even that…) that they could hire me. So although I HATE it… I try to think of them in the long term. There really isn’t a short sell in this business anymore (if there ever was). You’ve got to win one heart at a time… the old fashion way. Yes?

Thanks for your posts!