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Photography Agencies?
I see many posts about professional photographers stating how non-pros and TFP/CD photographers are taking work away from them and even hurting the industry. I can understand both sides of the argument. I can undestand a photographer going through the education, expense, and work of getting established. Then many others sprout up and offer to work cheap, or free. On the other hand, equipment is cheaper, better, how-to information is plentiful, etc. It no longer takes a traditional art education and a hefty business loan to get started. The playing field is more level now than it has ever been in the past. But then it is hard to get those first job so there is the tendancy to do the first several ones for free. But there are so many of us that want to start out that there is always someone that is newer and is willing to do the work for free. Might there be an advantage to having photographer agencies, like model agencies, that help match up photographers with work? Sorta like a photography temp agency. That way those of us trying to start out arent constantly undercutting each other. What do you think? Or is there something already like this? Dec 07 05 02:25 pm Link There are. It's been discussed in the past. They aren't always called agencies, they're companies or individuals (under whatever guise) that represent photographers. Information about who/where/why and how should be readily available if you do some searching. They don't take new people who want to become photographers though, they take photographers who want reps. Andy Dec 07 05 03:18 pm Link It doesn't matter if you are a model, photographer, mua, small buisness owner, hot dog vender, dj, hooker, or any other self employed person. You have to hustle and hustle good. you have to talk to everyone you meet and let them know what you do, you have to pass out cards, you have to take the small crap jobs and prove your self so when the bigger ones come along you will be ready. no one starts out at the top.  Dec 07 05 05:13 pm Link Some top reps: http://www.artandcommerce.com http://www.jedroot.com/ http://www.billcharles.com/ http://www.stocklandmartel.com/main.aspx Look and weep. Dec 07 05 05:56 pm Link I have a photo agen that markets my landscape photography. He also manages a few wedding photographers, a fine art photographer and a photographer with an amazing studio. They are becoming more and more common Dec 07 05 05:58 pm Link ericphotonyc wrote: Can someone give me some bottom reps? Like the reps for mall runway work that models do? Dec 07 05 08:14 pm Link I'd love to have a rep because I totally suck at marketing and that sort of thing. Its very true you have to hustle and network, but people scare me. I also know many commercial photographers have reps for just this reason; many just don't handle the business side or the marketing side all that well. I'm not sure if I'm ready for one yet, though. Is it normal to show up at their offices with your book, or do you send them a letter first? Any ideas/suggestions? -P- Dec 07 05 08:17 pm Link Pat Thielen wrote: The rule of thumb that I've always been told (mostly by repped photographers and reps themselves): the point at which you're ready for a rep is when you're so busy with client work that you don't have enough time to both manage the business and actually take the photos. Until that point, you really aren't going to be grossing enough to be of value to a professional rep. A rep doesn't grow your business for you, they help you take your growing business to the next level. Dec 07 05 10:51 pm Link you kinda have to be billing about a $100k a year to be worth the effort from an photo rep... Dec 08 05 06:50 am Link Yeah, so the businees for Independent photgraphers has reduced dramatically the past few years. I have heard many stories of photographers going into teaching and doing other jobs because the industry is so oversaturated with photographers which are mostly amatuers. Sure the cost of expensive equipment has come down and you can now get a professional level camera for around 3 grand(Canon 5D). But just because you have read a how to book on photography and have a set of strobes and a digital camera doesn't mean you are a professional. The quality of work i have been seeing on the "professional" level, has just been diminishing over the years. A pretty face on a beach with a gold reflector seems to be all I ever see anymore. What ever happened to putting some thought or a story behind each image? I guess the professionals are just going too have to bring our work (lighting and ideas) to the next level to weed out the amatuers. I don't know about you guys, but photography is all I know how to do, when it comes to pulling in that pay cheack and I'm not gonna start working at McDonalds! Dec 10 05 03:39 am Link someone just joined model mayhem using one of my photos as his. how do i stop this. what do i do the poser's name is hawkeyez2025 mm#78018 help! salvatore brancifort brancifort.com Dec 11 05 09:45 am Link salvatore brancifort wrote: Report it to the moderators. Dec 11 05 09:49 am Link Judging by the shots he's a fake. one of the shots was taken from a porn site. Dec 11 05 10:26 am Link salvatore brancifort wrote: As posted before.. report it to the moderators.. he will be banned very quickly Dec 11 05 04:07 pm Link |
