Hi love the channel. Just wanted to speak to a couple things here as a photographer in Toronto who does have commercial representation. Additionally, I have a side business shooting corporate and actor headshots (which is what drew me to this channel). Im curious if you just have the one headshot website, or if you have another website thats more the work you'r hoping will get you commercial work? Im asking because we've all heard the advice about trying to be a specialist in something, that's what most clients (and agents) are looking for. I learned a long time ago that perception really counts for a lot in this industry (for better and for worse) and my guess is that if an agent just saw your headshot website, they'd write you off as just that, a "headshot photographer". Of course there's nothing wrong with shooting headshots. Its something that keeps me afloat when commercial jobs become sparse, as they often can, but people make snap judgements, especially when they see a lot of work come across their desk. This is why I purposely keep my commercial/fashion work on one website, which is the website those types of clients see and the website that my agent saw. My headshot website is completely separate - no one in the ad world knows that I do this and no one whose headshots I take know that I shoot commercial work. Just a thought, but my advice would be to separate your work.
Hey Mark! I'm familiar with your work. I knew Mike Lewis when he lived in Hamilton. Also, I got your email but I've been busy. I do have a second website and very much try not to let those two lives bleed together, which makes it hard to promote headshot work on LinkedIn. iamkpr.com/
A fellow Canadian photographer!! Loving your channel brother. Im also having a hard time with this. was based in Toronto, now based in Guelph. Would love to connect with you
To get the database template: 1) Get Airtable Account: studiobuilder.co/airtable 2) Get the Database Template: airtable.com/appp2phO4NbhZ8nrZ/shrYzPfTVY498Pwnm
You mentioned that if you write 20 agents or 10 or 30 and if none want to see you it means that your work is not a good level and get back to work. That's not accurate at all. A photographers work might be amazing but the problem is the agent already reps 20 amazing photographers and does not have time for more. If a good photographer writes to 50 agents and does not get a single reply there a so many reasons why other than the quality of the work. Also you mention finding an agents is easy in cities like NYC or LA simply because there are a lot of agents and that's completely wrong too. There are a lot more photographers as well and the competition in those cities is ferocious.
Did not say it was easier in LA or NYC, at all. What I said was compared to the dozens of agencies in LA and NYC, Toronto has only about 12. Also, even if an agency has a full roster, if they like your work and see potential, they will get back to you as they want to stay on your radar and want to keep you on theirs, since they might be looking to add you at a later date to fill a gap that opens up. If you don't hear from anyone, that's a strong indicator that you have work to do.
Great video! I hope you get good representation soon!!
Thanks Prince!
good luck with the rep search. Let me know if you make it over to (Northern)Ireland and I'll buy you a pint.
I plan to! My ancestors are from Dunfanagy.
Hi love the channel. Just wanted to speak to a couple things here as a photographer in Toronto who does have commercial representation. Additionally, I have a side business shooting corporate and actor headshots (which is what drew me to this channel). Im curious if you just have the one headshot website, or if you have another website thats more the work you'r hoping will get you commercial work? Im asking because we've all heard the advice about trying to be a specialist in something, that's what most clients (and agents) are looking for. I learned a long time ago that perception really counts for a lot in this industry (for better and for worse) and my guess is that if an agent just saw your headshot website, they'd write you off as just that, a "headshot photographer". Of course there's nothing wrong with shooting headshots. Its something that keeps me afloat when commercial jobs become sparse, as they often can, but people make snap judgements, especially when they see a lot of work come across their desk. This is why I purposely keep my commercial/fashion work on one website, which is the website those types of clients see and the website that my agent saw. My headshot website is completely separate - no one in the ad world knows that I do this and no one whose headshots I take know that I shoot commercial work. Just a thought, but my advice would be to separate your work.
Hey Mark! I'm familiar with your work. I knew Mike Lewis when he lived in Hamilton. Also, I got your email but I've been busy.
I do have a second website and very much try not to let those two lives bleed together, which makes it hard to promote headshot work on LinkedIn.
iamkpr.com/
A fellow Canadian photographer!! Loving your channel brother. Im also having a hard time with this. was based in Toronto, now based in Guelph. Would love to connect with you
By all means! I may have had a breakthrough but I should know for sure this week.
@@StudioBuilder thats amazing dude. I dropped you a message on IG this afternoon.
To get the database template:
1) Get Airtable Account: studiobuilder.co/airtable
2) Get the Database Template: airtable.com/appp2phO4NbhZ8nrZ/shrYzPfTVY498Pwnm
You mentioned that if you write 20 agents or 10 or 30 and if none want to see you it means that your work is not a good level and get back to work. That's not accurate at all. A photographers work might be amazing but the problem is the agent already reps 20 amazing photographers and does not have time for more. If a good photographer writes to 50 agents and does not get a single reply there a so many reasons why other than the quality of the work. Also you mention finding an agents is easy in cities like NYC or LA simply because there are a lot of agents and that's completely wrong too. There are a lot more photographers as well and the competition in those cities is ferocious.
Did not say it was easier in LA or NYC, at all. What I said was compared to the dozens of agencies in LA and NYC, Toronto has only about 12.
Also, even if an agency has a full roster, if they like your work and see potential, they will get back to you as they want to stay on your radar and want to keep you on theirs, since they might be looking to add you at a later date to fill a gap that opens up. If you don't hear from anyone, that's a strong indicator that you have work to do.
Did you find an agent?
Not yet, but that agent I spoke to has submitted me for two jobs in the past two weeks.