| Network! Network! Network! | | | | me I grab a relevant script and go of what I have |
| The majority of businesses in the world rise and fall | | | | written. By doing this you sound more confident, |
| due to the power of networking. People often fail to | | | | knowledgeable, and respectable rather than someone |
| realize how important Networking is. Once you have | | | | who stumbles through trying to figure out things in their |
| established yourself among your own network, you will | | | | head on a moment's notice. The biggest thing is |
| have a network of people sending you work. One | | | | confidence in you. |
| way I built my own network was by offering referral | | | | Understand your limits. While it is good to push yourself |
| contracts. I would write out a contract for people who | | | | to do better, one thing to realize is that you are not the |
| would refer me business and in turn I would pay then a | | | | best in the world and cannot do every job that comes |
| pay a referral fee. | | | | your way. Things to take into consideration are costs, |
| Upon establishing yourself in your network, your next | | | | time and equipment. If the commission for your work |
| step would be to submit work to places relevant to | | | | cost more than or equal to 50% of the income |
| your niche. If you photograph horses, find a horse | | | | potential, you need to consider whether or not it is |
| magazine and submit your photos to them. If you | | | | worth it to you as a photographer. The time is takes to |
| photograph dogs, submit your work to a dog | | | | shoot a photograph is just as important as cost. If a |
| magazine. In addition to magazines, a good resource to | | | | photo takes 10 hrs to shoot but only pays equal to less |
| submit to is publishers. While some publishers use | | | | than 10/ an hr, you need to consider if it is worth it to |
| stock photography as a source of pictures, many still | | | | you. If you are shooting film print and film cost are an |
| commission photographers and or use work submitted. | | | | important factor as well. |
| After you work is submitted, something to remember | | | | Use a proper invoice. An invoice serves two purposes, |
| is that your work can be and will be used for | | | | one it helps to keep track of all income, and two is |
| whatever the publisher desires. You may see your | | | | good to be able to reference for other work that may |
| picture in a magazine 3 or 4 different times, and on the | | | | come your way. On your invoice be sure to add: Your |
| other end you may never see it. Once you have | | | | name, the date, a generalized description, a breakdown |
| established yourself a reliable and quality photographer | | | | of cost associated and the total amount due to you. |
| you have the opportunity to be commissioned to take | | | | Be sure to include some sort of statement regarding a |
| specific photos requested by publishers. | | | | timely payment. I give 30 days to be paid or I will not |
| When you receive a phone call for work; how do you | | | | release the right to the photo. If the company uses the |
| react? The key to being successful is to have a plan in | | | | photo and u did not give the rights, you are then able |
| writing. I have taken the time to write a generalized | | | | to sue the company for damages. |
| phone script for each type of request. If a person calls | | | | |