Some Basic Etiquette.
Written on February 28, 2008
Not to sound like a sourpuss, but some things to consider..
1. If you are a photographer, or a friend of a photographer, or the spouse or relative of a photographer, and you meet a photography agent through mutual acquaintances, by all means you should try and get some contact information to keep in touch (if you are interested in doing so).
Do some research, try and see if it’s relevant to contact the agent. Assess how you know or met the photography agent to determine the best way to get in touch.
Here’s something to NOT do - call the agent several times, email them several times, and attempt to solicit advice from the agent regarding a job. Especially, do not do these things repeatedly over the span of two days. Especially if you barely know the agent in question.
2. If you are a photographer, and you get a meeting with an agent (especially on a referral), try not to be late. Do not call after you are supposed to be there to say you are running 40 minutes late. Try and let them know beforehand. If you re-schedule, do not turn up 20 minutes late for that one (more so if you re-schedule for later the same day). Lastly, do not cite the excuse ”I was hanging out with some friends” as your excuse for being late.
Filed in: Talent, Photo Agency, Advice.
Surely things have not devolved to the extent that this advice is going to be news!? I can think of saying this in the general ‘be polite’ speech to my 14-year-old son, maybe my 17-year-old son (and I’d be berating myself for a failure as a parent), but… really? For (aspiring) professionals? And we wonder why the business is the way it is.
…edN
Wow! Maybe the “aspiring professionals” has a rockstar photographer as a role model. All I can say is: ¡Malcreado!
Just don’t be late
and if you are, bring a bottle of whiskey
No, this isn’t news. But the mind boggles sometimes at the lack of basic decency. And it makes one re-think favours for others which is a shame.
In the second case, moreover the work was horrid.
“Hey man, like, I don’t know you n’ stuff, but like, can I get an appointment?”
[joke]
AVS, as an agent in an entirely different photography sector, I can confirm the experience.. one I will never forget: (at a fair) “what, you don’t have free wifi access? can I use your PC then? here is my website, I’ll just go and get myself a coffee and let you have a look….”
I did not look very seriously at this photographer’s work…
Duh. It’s basic professionalism.
Same goes for behavior toward a potential client - if you can’t be on time to an appointment, how can I expect you to be on time to a shoot? I have several other people on my list who I can offer the job to who WON’T make me look bad in front of my client.
And as @6 points out, always assume you’re in the “first room” (read How to Lose Friends and Alienate People to get the reference).
@7 - exactly.
This just happened to me the other day. An agent sent over someone that wanted to work on my team. He was very very late, so late that I left my studio. Came back to meet him since I hadn’t gone far, he offered a BS excuse and then proceeded to tear down several good friends of mine in the industry. Then he told me he had no passion for what he does and is planning to quit.
Uh, ok. Why did you waste all of our time? Needless to say, I had nothing great to report back to his rep. The sad part is his book was really good!
Yes also remember that when you get an agent that it will take forever to get paid, there’s always a problem with the accounting department, the check that your own clients used to pay in a month now it take 3 months at best…….but why? Shouldn’t agent protect you and help you?
Most of the time you have to do everything yourself….and they take % from your own clients that help you pay the rent…
Always good to hear that common manners are still important.