Interview: Commercial Photography Education with Emma Alexander

Tom W interviews Emma Alexander of Wisern and Mother Bran. A commercial producer who teaches photographers how to negotiate better rates, develop as a professional and succeed in the commercial space.Check out her commercial production work at Mother Bran and her incredible education services at Wisern
Emma discusses the challenges that photographers face in the industry, particularly in regards to gatekeeping and the difficulties in gaining access to high-paying commercial work. She emphasizes the importance of building relationships with clients and being confident in negotiating rates.
Perfect for photographers looking to break into the commercial space and negotiate better rates for their work.
Summary
In this conversation, Emma Alexander, co-founder of Wise and founder of Mother Brand, discusses the need for accessible information and education in the photography industry, particularly in the commercial space. She shares her background and the journey that led her to start Wise, a business development platform for creatives. Emma emphasizes the importance of support networks and personal advisory boards in navigating the industry. She also addresses the challenges of licensing and usage in the advertising space and the role of Mother Brand in helping photographers protect their rights. Finally, Emma highlights the significance of confidence and pricing in the industry. In this conversation, Emma Alexander discusses the challenges photographers face in accessing high-budget projects and the importance of knowledge and understanding in the industry. She emphasizes the value of production companies in managing logistics and reducing stress for creatives. Emma also highlights the need for clear communication with clients regarding usage and outlines the importance of setting payment terms and penalties. She encourages photographers to have a niche and stand for something unique in order to attract clients. Additionally, Emma discusses the subjectivity of choosing creatives and the importance of gaining experience and building connections in the industry.
Takeaways
Accessible information and education are crucial in the photography industry, especially in the commercial space.
Support networks and personal advisory boards can provide valuable guidance and help navigate the industry.
Understanding licensing and usage rights is essential for photographers to protect their work and negotiate fair compensation.
Confidence and pricing play a significant role in determining the value of a photographer's work and negotiating contracts. Accessing high-budget projects can be challenging due to a lack of knowledge and awareness of available opportunities.
Production companies play a crucial role in managing logistics and reducing stress for creatives.
Clear communication with clients about usage and payment terms is essential to avoid misunderstandings and ensure fair compensation.
Having a niche and standing for something unique can attract clients and set photographers apart in the industry.
Gaining experience and building connections through workshops and networking can open doors to new opportunities.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:03 The Need for Accessible Information and Education
12:45 The Birth of Wisern and the Importance of Support Networks
23:03 The Challenges of Licensing and Usage in the Advertising Space
28:26 The Role of Mother Brand in Navigating the Industry
35:33 The Importance of Confidence and Pricing in the Industry
42:54 The Challenge of Accessing High-Budget Projects
43:23 The Value of Production Companies
44:23 The Importance of Knowledge and Understanding
45:23 The Job Tax and Taking Pay Cuts
45:53 The Fear of Losing Future Work
46:23 The Changing Landscape of Licensing
47:22 Being Clear with Clients about Usage
48:18 Setting Payment Terms and Penalties
49:18 Agreeing on Usage and Outlining Terms
50:18 Being Clear about Usage and Negotiating
51:18 The Value of Commercial Work
52:18 The Importance of Having a Niche
53:18 The Subjectivity of Choosing Creatives
54:17 Finding Opportunities to Gain Experience
55:18 Balancing Fairness to Clients and Photographers
56:23 The Role of Isolation and Lack of Information
57:31 Getting in Touch with Emma Alexander

[@Rothmore]

Really informative listen. Thanks

[@bytomw]

Glad it was helpful!