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Business of photography

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Free Model Mood Board Templates

by admin September 23, 2020

Free Model Mood Board Template.

This template is perfect for assigning a model to the location recce images. This free template is available for FREE and is the actual template I used on my Iceland PURE campaign.

I would use this only once I have done the initial recce and then use the model’s agency pictures to assign them to the actual location sots we had taken before the models arriving at the location. This template was significant for two reasons.

It allows you to visualise the correct model for the right location and the proper clothing. The Stylist would work with the crew and me to determine the complete look. Secondly, on this type of location shoot, the actual client is not with you at the location and was very important to send these back to visualise the overall look and feel to the shoot days.

This template is a layered Photoshop PSD file and allows you to substitute my details for your own. Images can be laid under the white boarders and above the grey layer and will display the same. Edit the template as it suits your shooting and clients.

I hoe this helps you and gives your a little more business curb side appeal.

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DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE TEMPLATE

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September 23, 2020 0 comment

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behind the scenes Business of photography

Photographers are the New Art Directors

by Team Nader September 18, 2020

A creative director is typically the head of the creative team and usually have the final say on what goes to the client and make important upper-level creative direction decisions.

The art director typically executes the details of the clients brief to the photographer. They see the project through the phases of production, edits and final execution. Photographers now seem to move slightly towards being what is known as a DOP, or Director Of Photography as know in the film industry. Its the way forward. Boundaries and job roles are almost merging into a hybrid creative photographer who now has to add into is tools, not only creative direction but an understanding of everything else. Photographers are cinematographers and vice versa.

fashion photogrpahers blog silvergumtype james nader — Photographers are the New Art Directors 13

Driving forces behind tighter creative collaborations in advertising are more noticeable these days. Agency staff are strapped for time, smaller companies and startups working directly with photographers wish to control their budgets!

In recent times it has been apparent that some brands are establishing their control for a shoot. For Lookbooks especially, they are booking directly to cut cost and have more power in the finished looks and look book design. More so for online brands where content quickly becomes old. Social media means a faster pace is required to feed the hungry Tiger of the internet and its insatiable appetite for images and content daily.

Photographers have or are becoming more directors rather than just photographers and required to have more knowledge about shoots, production, post-production and now video. If you can shoot and direct video, then this gives you an edge.

Volpe Satoriale, a Pimlico based fashionable men’s brand, has been one of my clients who like the fact that I can direct their campaign, shoot the images and video production for their online presence.

Volpe is in the high street, but clients are often from the media and TV with some very high profile clients who wish to remain anonymous.

Our production for the Volpe campaign included location finding and shoot planning and our locations for the three-day shoot were, Blackpool, Manchester and London in and around Piccadilly and Pimlico. I was a photographer and video director or D.O.P for the days.

Budgets a relatively tight these days and the more discerning client requires so much more for their money. I don’t have a problem with this, as long as I get what I need from the shoot and that isn’t always just the money. A shoot can sometimes inspire me because of a location, subject or even opportunities.

We shall see how it all maps out after COVID 19. I suspect many changes are ahead in terms of agencies and how they do business but also how photographers cope with current difficulties.

The Video Below is my first attempt at Directing

September 18, 2020 0 comment

elevator pitch - a photographers blog - photography blog

Business of photography

Awesome Photographers Elevator Pitch

by Team Nader September 17, 2020

What is the Real Reason for an Elevator Pitch?

Everything you do with your brand should really communicate to the world to help people to remember who you are. As a photographer, you are a problem solver and help clients do this and so your brand really should convey this message. Often you may be somewhere without a business card and asked what is it you do. This is your perfect time to tell your story but in a short and concise way in which the other person listening can digest the information and assign t to their memory. A long-form explanation is not required, this is why it is called the Elevator Pitch. It needs to last just long enough to cover a floor or two.

For example, if you are asked what you do, even saying that you shoot for brands, agencies B2B or portraits could be too short.

You could say it like this and it gives a better delivery – This is your elevator pitch in the raw.

Many businesses struggle to get high-quality photos of their products, or people, this means fewer sales to their competitors. I’m a photographer who specializes in…

This conveys a very positive message to the other person who has asked you the question. It gives them time to memorise this for later recall. If you back this up with your business card, when they require any photography you will be in their mind.

The Basic Formula

Part 1

Potential clients buy solutions to problems and they all have them, they also think they have this covered especially when you oversell your services. Therefore, opening your elevator pitch by stating a problem gets their attention.

Think about what problems a brand may have and write them down, don’t overthink this part though.

Here is a problem – Many brands find it difficult to find a photographer who can shoot high-quality photos of their products, people or if you are a portrait or wedding photographer then portraits or weddings.

Part 2: What is the Solution you are Offering?

This is where you answer the “what do you do for work” question.

Answer: I’m a photographer who captures high-quality images for my clients in …………….

Part 3: What Are the Positive Results Working with You?

This is where you add the punch line, and this is where they will remember you because of how you solve problems.

The Positive: My work allows clients to increase sales and build a better brand giving a positive return on investment (ROI)

What is the famous elevator pitch – (noun INFORMAL)
A succinct and persuasive sales pitch.

An elevator pitch is a conversation between you and another person when they ask what do you do? To visualise this the best way, imagine you are in a lift travelling between floors and the person next to you ask the question. It’s important these days to have one, particularly as the other person could be a potential client or link to a client and some work.

It should lead to a deeper dialogue about what you do, where you do it and for who. What does your company can offer? The reality typically you may have just 60 seconds to leave an exciting, impactful and meaningful impression with whomever you come in contact with. So make them count.

Keeping it short and sweet, summing it all up within 2-3 sentences if possible. Instead of focusing on YOU and what you DO, talk about who you serve and how you serve them. How do you do this? Let’s walk through it.

There is no tool better to market yourself other than the elevator pitch. No matter your style, you will always need to be able to sell yourself, your idea, your product or your business at a moment’s notice. That means an elevator pitch, so named because it should tell your would-be client everything they need to know in the 30 seconds or so that they may be riding up an elevator with you.

Crafting the best elevator pitch possible can be tricky. You may bump into someone at a social function, on the train, or, quite literally, in an elevator and need to be able to make your elevator pitch to them there and then. The need to know your business offering inside and out is the best foot forward.

Your elevator pitch needs to be well-rehearsed and field-tested without being so rigid as not to allow you to adjust on the fly based on your contact’s response. It needs to get immediately to the point while still allowing you to build a narrative. It needs to be so compelling that your contact will want to know more and yet clear enough that they understand the idea then and there. Crafting your best elevator pitch may take you longer than you think, especially when you sit down and begin thinking about it, but it’s well worth your work in creating it because you just never know when the next job is popping along.

Here are some pointers to help you craft yours

1.)  Create connection:
2.)  Establish credibility:
3.)  Leave them wanting more.
4.)  Give them an invitation:
5.)  Do not defend

1. Start by introducing yourself
2. Summarize what you do
3. Explain what you want
4. Finish with a call to action

Avoid common mistakes in your elevator pitch

Speak naturally
Slow it down
Use one pitch for most (but not all) occasions
Make it easy to understand

Example
Hi, I’m James, so nice to meet you! I’m a Fashion & Advertising Photographer., I produce high-end content as a Director and Photography for discerning clients who wish for a slightly different approach to their productions. Before that, I was a creative director in a new media agency building brands with online and offline marketing solutions and helping to grow their businesses. ”

September 17, 2020 0 comment

Business of photography

My Podcast Interview with Podlamania

by Team Nader August 24, 2020

Podcasting and generally having a chat about what I do as a photographer is a thought I have had for some time but really hid away from the process this based on how I feel listening to me and the sound of my voice.

Finally, after months of courting by podcast producer Wayne Johns @waynejohns_photographer for Podlamania, I opened up the extensive databases of photographers knowledge gained of this last 20 odd years in the business, and in my soft Midlands accent, we delved deep into my psyche whilst Wayne asked some searching questions followed by his famous quick-fire round of on the spot questioning.

I kinda liked the feeling of having a discussion where you are not the instigator and led by someone who was obviously very good at what they do. Wayne is a great photographer himself and works together with Jake Hicks on Podlamania.

After listening to this epic podcast. First, I felt slightly uneasy about listening to my dulcet tones, however once acclimatised it seemed ok! has inspiring me to do something somewhat similar for myself and also open up to some direct Zoom or Facebook Live live. Let me know if you would like to hear more of me 🙂

August 24, 2020 0 comment

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Business of photography Stories From Or Vault

7 Ways Photographers GROW ORGANICALLY on INSTAGRAM

by admin October 19, 2019

TIPS ON PHOTOGRAPHERS INSTAGRAM MARKETING STRATEGY

Photography platforms have been in a way a perfect way for any photographer to get seen and not just locally but globally. Instagram has become one of the main platforms for a photographer to not only get seen but get influence and get booked.
When I first started on Instagram it was mostly about posting what you observed daily and then sharing it but nowadays Instagram allows a photographer to use it more like a portfolio and get reviews on this almost immediately. A feeling of appreciation allows you to establish a following. This is a powerful tool if used correctly. Building up relationships with advertising agencies and production houses in each city is not easy these days, why? well because the downside of Instagram is that everyone is one there and can be seen by the creative industries based on popularity, followings, and presence.
It seems that these days it’s not about your work and work ethic and how they have been crafted over the years! It is most definitely how much of an influence you have, you may not have worked for big brands, not produced large shoots and for sure not built up a range of clients that support you. In fact, these clients now look to book a photographer who has influenced more than a heritage in what they do. In short, having a great social presence will attract more clients as it gives them a better chance of coverage of their product and with this, in mind, you need to follow some simple tips that I have followed to grow my audience.
Here is the thing though, as Instagram changes their algorithm on a regular basis then don”t be surprised to find it n increasing challenge and that the carefully built following suddenly stops liking and commenting as time goes on I fell that Instagram as its now owned and run by Facebook that it is gearing to edge out the masses who DON’T advertise in favour of those who do. What was a carefree and interesting platform to me has become controlling and a little like Big Brother not allowing us to use it as it was first intended which was to share pictures and get appreciation.

However below are my top 7 tips for photographers on Instagram and what I follow to grow my audience.

1. POST ONLY YOUR BEST INSTAGRAM PHOTOGRAPHY.

Treat your Instagram feed as an online portfolio by posting only your best images. Curate your images and if it doesn’t do too well after a few days then remove it is my advice.

As your own photographic style develops, make sure each post delivers its own ‘Wow!’ factor on a picture by picture basis which really sometimes is a challenge even to me with my large portfolio of pro shoots. It has been said creating a consistent aesthetic—through a common theme, colour palette, saturation or style—visitors will become engaged followers. For me, I shoot in an erratic eclectic way and most of my images are a mix of styles based on clients’ requirements or the styling used. My work does look better sometimes in black and white but I am not purely a monochrome shooter. I do however make sure that my images or processed correctly and not on the phone. All my images are edited in Photoshop for Instagram or Lightroom and then copied across to my smartphone or smart devices for posting

2. PHOTOGRAPHERS USING A SMARTPHONE OR DSLR?

So this really is down to your feed and how you work. I am not saying that DSLR cameras( My cameras are Nikon D85o and Sony A7Rll and FujiCamera XT-3) are any better than Smartphones (Mine is iPhone XSMax) It’s all about how your feed has developed. I tend to use my smartphone behind the scenes and use a couple of beautifully crafted steady-cam or gimbals for this which create a silky smooth video that is great for stories or posting quick behind the scenes. However, my own approach is to produce coverage with my iPhone and keep the main shots on my Nikon D850 DSLR. These go back to the studio and then I process and post.
It was once quoted by Chase Jarvis when he was asked “what is the best camera” and he replied “The one you have with you” which makes sense. I would say that there is no right way to take your pictures for Instagram. It is whatever your style is and how you interpret this to your followings. Either method produces great pictures at the resolution seen which is screen-based. In fact, some YouTube influencers (Unlike me 🙁 at this stage) have done comparisons for a whole range of cameras and phones so if in doubt go to YouTube and see some in-depth reviews and samples.

3. CROSS-PROMOTE YOUR DEDICATED HASHTAG.

So you created a #jamesnaderphoto hashtag for your brand, but who knows to use it to share content about you? Make sure it’s in your profile. It should be seen in all of your marketing materials. You in effect have another portfolio based around your hashtag. Have you thought about trademarking your hashtag? so long as you are in a position to demonstrate that you are providing a product or service to the general public that can be directly associated with that hashtag then you can do this. Copyrighting it is is also possible.
When posting your content and you are writing your comments make sure that you try to include this and also add this to your relevant hashtags on your post. You can then create a buzz around your own branded hashtag. When someone searches #jamesnaderphoto then this shows a grouping of all your relevant imagery.

4. GET CREATIVE WITH HASHTAGGING AND DON’T GET YOURSELF SHADOWBANNED!

When it comes to Instagram hashtags and caption ideas, look beyond the one-word and the most obvious hashtags. Good research into these is essential. build up lists that you can reference against for relevant posts. DO NOT COPY AND PASTE these as Instagram doesn’t like this also DO NOT POST THEM ALL INTO YOUR FIRST POST. This once again can get your picture SHADOWBANNED This is where the Instagram algorithm suspects black hat activity and bans the hashtag, picture or even lead to temporary banning for 24 hours.
Make your hashtags tell the correct story the same as YouTube likes to hear the code keywords in your actual video. It shows a correct approach to your posts and keeps you seen. A shadowban is something you don’t really see but you suspect something has happened to your pictures as it gets fewer views or comments and in general less interaction. What Instagram does is limit your post to ONLY your followings and keeps it from appearing in the Instagram search browser. In general, keep it mean and keep them lean – No more than 15 is a suggestion.

If you would like to know more about how to check a shadowban send me a contact and Ill point you in the right direction

5. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR BIO URL.

Your Bio is what you are about on your Instagram profile. Make this interesting and truthful. As descriptive as possible in the allowed space. Should your bio to only link to your website homepage? A good idea is to keep changing this slightly every so often to keep it fresh. Use it to promote what you have been doing elsewhere. Drive fans to other projects you have been working on recently.

6. GET DESCRIPTIVE WITH YOUR INSTAGRAM CAPTIONS.

Posting a picture entirely o its own can be powerful especially if your audience knows you and what you care about. However, in the bigger picture, it’s a better option to use great captions. Rather like on Google if your keyword and craft a supertitle to your image it should help capture the attention of the greater audience. As titles on YouTube and on Google, carefully crafted descriptive titles and captions for Instagram will help you post get discovered. Some users even prefer to see a caption as this sets the story for the image. Back this up with an interesting caption and storyline with a question thrown in and you have a recipe for a successful post.

7. DEFINE YOUR INSTAGRAM NICHE AND DEFINITIVE STYLE.

Try to think of Instagram as an online portal to develop and define your brand’s presence. Use your feed to showcase photos that revolve around a central theme in your work, be that fashion photography like my own niche, portrait or landscape. You can not just focus on your niche but also on your own particular style of shooting. if you shoot mainly as a black and white photographer shooting black and white photography then stick to this. I stick to fashion photography mainly but if you look at my feed @jamesnader you can see diversity in style from portraits to models in landscapes and models in studios. This is as a pro photographer I show my client work as well as my own.

I have a very clear message to all of you photographers out there. If it doesn’t fit don’t fog your niche. Create another Instagram feed and add dissimilar images or images that are so random they don’t fit on your main branded feed. my own @lifewithnader is all about other subjects that capture my imagination which can be stills, products, location, and people in fact anything!

Your followers will expect you to maintain a feed that features a cohesive style or subject matter—one which will ultimately keep them coming back for more. Instagram users will typically land on your profile and make a decision to follow based on your last nine images. Because of this, it’s a good idea to make sure the top of your feed always represents who you are as a photographer in order to attract and build your audience. I change my mind consistently and my feed changes its look over time, however, it does come back to my brand feel in the end. The message is experiment with your feed over the weekends or in between your main posting times.

8. BUILD YOUR INSTAGRAM COMMUNITY USING STORIES.

Instagram Stories has proven they are great value of real, uncut content in the eyes of audiences, so documenting your journey with Stories makes your brand approachable. A story tends to identify with people who may not already be following you, they gain your attention and new followers sometimes outside of your immediate niche. Some brands use Instagram Stories as a more interactive extension of their Instagram feed. Their Instagram Stories content reflects its larger Instagram strategy and branding.
Colorful stories are a real insight into you and what you are about, they allow clients, brands and other influencers the opportunity to see you from afar. They are a great way to help others and give a shoutout.

I am only really just understanding the benefits of Instagram stories for photographers, a direct connection is allowed very easily between your story viewer and your post. A direct message is perfect to target them with a nice little into post to somewhere you would like them to go. A super tool for promotion and sales. James Nader Fashion Photographer will b doing many more stories so I hope to see you on one soon!

This is a brief rundown of my 7 tips for photographers to organically grow on Instagram, this is how I have done it and so thought it might be nice to share the information. If you like what you read please join me on my social media, visit my websites or indeed sign up to our member’s area coming very soon for private members and only available to a select amount for now.
James

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October 19, 2019 0 comment