How do you find a professional photographer to help you take your blogging to the next level? One who you can collaborate with
and afford to take pictures for your Blog? Here in Sydney, or anywhere else for that matter. It's a tricky question, and one that with over 10 years experience as both a photographer and blogger; I am more than qualified to share some thoughts and tips on. Helping you
find and get the most from working with photographers, right here in Sydney or the rest of the world. And that includes me!
Other than my own work here and on
Street Fashion Sydney, I have been working with my partner Vivienne Shui on her blogs
vivalaViv and now, luxury travel site
White Caviar Life; where we have both learn't from each other; about leveraging up the quality of your work, collaborating and how to get the most from your creative vision. Just scroll down to learn more -
It's Time to Trade Up!
By now you have no doubt already asked many favours of camera owning friends, significant others and questioned just about everyone you know about the making and how-to of getting better pictures. Then comes the time when although you have the ideas; the pictures are just not coming out how you would like. It's time to start exploring the world of professional photographers and photography.
First stop; the internet! Blogging is about being social, it's about developing friendships, so is photography too, but the way to find a photographer is through
search; possibly why you are here right now! For search you will find Google is your new best friend. In the search box try, Your City -
Sydney - Fashion or Lifestyle - Photographer.. and up will come some results (looks like I'm currently on page 2..) Then you need to start doing your research. Look carefully at the websites, take a detailed look. What sort of 'fashion' does this photographer do; does it fit my vision now - or where I want to my blog to go? If the answer is no; it's onto the next website; yes, bookmark it until you have seen a few more. You can also search on Instagram using #tags, #Sydneyphotographer #Photoshoot etc; check out fellow local bloggers @credits to see who they are shooting with too. One useful tip about looking at any photographers work, is deciding if it is consistent or not. If it's a bit all-over-the-place on their website, they may not be ready for your hard earned cash. Keep looking until you find a style that suits and consistency of work across their portfolio.
When you have seen enough websites or IG pages and found a few you like, its time to make contact.
The first question to ask via email or even txt is if the photographer does blogger collaborations or has a special package? Unlike my
model portfolio packages I don't have a set blogger package
yet.. Mostly because different bloggers need different things - so at the moment,
just ask me and let me know your needs and I will come up with a custom package just for you. Some photographers already have special blogger packages ready to go.
But before you email any photographer about photoshoots, and this contact is usually best by email; here are some important things to think about.
Be realistic about your needs. Plan your shoots carefully around the pictures your blog post will need. Sounds obvious I know.. but time is money; and simply asking a Pro to take endless shots just hoping to get something right (might do ok..) but is unlikely to deliver the best results. How many outfits and how many types of shot? Full length and details are different pictures and while you can sometimes crop a detail from a bigger picture.. again, the best results happen when you know what you require beforehand; shoes, yes; full length, tick; earrings detail + necklace; that's a beauty shot - good, got it, done!
My partner started her first blog with a rule to only ever use one shot per blog post - I know even I was shocked. Of course these days she uses more but
how many do you need -
Need to tell the story? Front, back, side, close-ups, a long shot? Maybe some scenery to set the mood too? OK it is not always possible to know exactly the number and best looks before the shoot, but if you have a plan; you are going to be more effective as a team coming up with the
gold standard of shot you really need. Put together an outline and let the photographer know the details
in writing before the shoot.
Ask for usage, not copyright.
What! That's right and it's a biggie. A professional photographer is not going to sign over their image copyright to you for the kind of money we are most likely talking about here. But that is OK
because you don't need the copyright, all you need is a usage agreement. So don't let copyright close down the conversation, think about what you
need to use the pictures for. Your Instagram, Pintrest, Your Blog of course! But that's really it. If you are doing some thing with a brand, discuss this upfront. If it's simple cross tagging that's probably OK - if it's a campaign on the sly or by stealth.. your new friend the professional photographer can possibly help you cut a better deal; without anyone misrepresenting themselves. For many bloggers, this will be a non-issue; just ask that you can use the shots as Editorial on your site and social media platforms - confirm by email, and you will be good to go.
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So you have done your research, found the right photographer - you know what you want to shoot and where. It's time to make contact. Good luck with you blogging; I hope these tips help you to take your blog to the next level. And if you are in Sydney or coming to Sydney and need a photographer,
please think about working with me - we may just be a blogger - photographer collaboration made in heaven!
Telling Stories in Pictures all over the world..
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863
