Pro, but use hotmail etc for email?

[Onyxdragun]

More of a rant I suppose, and it's not just Photographers but businesses in general.

If you have your own Photography Business and own your own domain, PLEASE for the love of <insert deity here> at least have Google deal with your email so you look more professional than "billybobPhotos@gmail.com" or "ITakeUrPhoto@hotmail.com" etc...

If you own your own domain, you can set up a Google Domain account (for free) and host your email in the easy to use, familiar Gmail! (no ads, great spam filtering etc)

You get: <yourname>@<yourowndomain>.com and not have to pay extra money to host your email account separately and then you will look more professional when you're sending emails etc!

Btw, domain hosting per year can cost you from $5->15 per year, so expense shouldn't be an issue, right? Hardest part would of course be, finding a domain name close to your business name that isn't in use!
</rant>

Perhaps I should do a HowTo set up Gmail and your MX record to have Gmail handle your domain email!

[sspellman]

Only you think this is a big deal. Hundreds of my small business clients use gmail/hotmail/etc. It hasn't stopped Rolling Stone, Billboard, MSNBC, Maxim, Chrysler, Daimler, or anyone else from working with me.

-Scott

[tomcat7886]

Originally Posted by sspellman

Only you think this is a big deal. Hundreds of my small business clients use gmail/hotmail/etc. It hasn't stopped Rolling Stone, Billboard, MSNBC, Maxim, Chrysler, Daimler, or anyone else from working with me.

-Scott

Awesome!

[Onyxdragun]

So large corps like that (who probably have IT departments) utilize free services such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo etc?

So you see rollingstone@gmail.com or something like that when dealing with them?

Not something like EditorInChief@rollingstone.com etc?

I'm just saying, from a outside perspective/impression, if you want to look more legit you can use your own domain that you pay yearly for, to have your own looking email address.

Unfortunately, if I am going to spend $10k etc on a photographer/business etc, sending emails to addresses with hotmail, yahoo etc probably wouldn't happen.

I'm just saying, that you can still have the gmail interface etc, but then you can have your own email accounts with relative ease.

A quick look at your site, you show you're using ScottSpellman at gmail.com - Why not have something like scott@scottspellman.com or have an address that can be used generically like info@scottspellman.com?

[SOK]

I think Scott is saying some photographers can let their images speak for themselves and an @hotmail address is a non issue....and he's right. For some photographers.

But your OP is very relevant considering all the "help - I can't land any clients" threads lately.

Those who don't have a body of work and existing contacts/networks should probably be taking all the help they can get.

A tutorial probably would be more helpful than just a rant...so...chop chop! Get to it!!

[banquetbear]

Originally Posted by Onyxdragun

So large corps like that (who probably have IT departments) utilize free services such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo etc?

So you see rollingstone@gmail.com or something like that when dealing with them?

Not something like EditorInChief@rollingstone.com etc?

I'm just saying, from a outside perspective/impression, if you want to look more legit you can use your own domain that you pay yearly for, to have your own looking email address.

Unfortunately, if I am going to spend $10k etc on a photographer/business etc, sending emails to addresses with hotmail, yahoo etc probably wouldn't happen.

I'm just saying, that you can still have the gmail interface etc, but then you can have your own email accounts with relative ease.

A quick look at your site, you show you're using ScottSpellman at gmail.com - Why not have something like scott@scottspellman.com or have an address that can be used generically like info@scottspellman.com?

...what he is saying is that he has done business with the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, MSNBC, Maxim and Chrysler and none of them had an issue with his gmail address. I think that his client list does the talking: do you think that changing his email address will drastically change his business? Have you actually had cause to drop $10,000 on a photographer? You seriously wouldn't consider Scott, despite the quality of his work and who he as worked with in the past, because of his email address?

[Onyxdragun]

Ok, so I just misunderstood what he was saying then.

If he's established (which he is) then I don't see an issue, but if you're sorta starting out, having troubles landing clients, or you're in a REALLY competitive area, then yes, I will pick someone who takes the time to set up their website/email address properly over someone who uses hotmail.com/gmail.com etc.

Though, I guess this would slowly creep into websites too.. domains are cheap, hosting is fairly cheap. Though most shared hosting type servers offer the feature of using your domain to masqueraded as another site such as.. being able to use say tyleringram.com but having it point and appear to be a smugmug account etc (not that it does).

Perhaps this is just going to explode in my face

[JAphotos]

I got told by one of my clients that I had to put all of their photos into a password protected album and send all information via my own domain email address, they wouldn't take hotmail. But once my boyfriend set up the email address (which was apparently easy) it works great, and its also good to have the business and the personal addresses separate.

[sspellman]

Gmail offers me great communication tools including GoogleDocs that I use with a few Clients. Temporarily masking my email for initial client contact when its obvious that the reply will come from Gmail will not build trust or a strong working relationship with new clients.

I focus on my Client needs-photo shoots, marketing, publication, and some graphics. Its a struggle to find the extra time for billing, portfolio updates, FB marketing, etc.

I see you list your camera strap on your website. That is another detail I will never worry about.

-Scott

[Onyxdragun]

Originally Posted by sspellman

I see you list your camera strap on your website. That is another detail I will never worry about.

-Scott

Oh..look at that I do!

But I get emails daily about the gear I have used/own/tried etc so listing helps eliminate some of those silly repetitive emails. Never hurts either to mention decent product out to people does it? (actually have 2 RS-7s and a RS-Sport). Funny for me to mention the gear I used to have though right?
I also don't make mention of gear I have used but don't own. Ah well, to each their own is what this thread will sum up to

[sspellman]

Originally Posted by Onyxdragun

Oh..look at that I do!

But I get emails daily about the gear I have used/own/tried etc so listing helps eliminate some of those silly repetitive emails. Never hurts either to mention decent product out to people does it? (actually have 2 RS-7s and a RS-Sport). Funny for me to mention the gear I used to have though right?
I also don't make mention of gear I have used but don't own. Ah well, to each their own is what this thread will sum up to

Daily? No client in 10 years has ever asked me for my camera equipment list, except to provide final edited image specs. Is this common in Canada?

[Brandon72]

Originally Posted by sspellman

Daily? No client in 10 years has ever asked me for my camera equipment list, except to provide final edited image specs. Is this common in Canada?

Yes, us Canadians are all about our camera straps. I will simply not deal with anyone who uses the provided Canon neck straps, period.

[RDKirk]

In the personal photography business, prospective clients who really want a professional photographer will use a variety of methods to suss out whether someone is really a professional or just a poseur.

When I introduce myself as a photographer, I very frequently get asked immediately, "Do you have a studio?" or "Is that your only job?" They're just trying to determine if I'm the real deal or just a GWC. That's okay--when people ask that question, it's just a bit more evidence for me that they are "real" prospects.

Having one's own domain is just another piece of presenting oneself as a professional in an area that's full of poseurs.

[willie46]

[quote=RDKirk;13497089]In the personal photography business, prospective clients who really want a professional photographer will use a variety of methods to suss out whether someone is really a professional or just a poseur.

When I introduce myself as a photographer, I very frequently get asked immediately, "Do you have a studio?" or "Is that your only job?" They're just trying to determine if I'm the real deal or just a GWC. That's okay--when people ask that question, it's just a bit more evidence for me that they are "real" prospects.

Having one's own domain is just another piece of presenting oneself as a professional in an area that's full of poseurs


Your last paragraph is spot on.
I run a commercial interior company and whenever we run direct marketing or print advertising campaigns, one of the first ways in which we qualify potential clients is through their email addresses.
If they can't take their email address seriously then most - not all but the majority- are not worth spending your additional marketing dollars on (ie catalogues, meetings, samples)
An email address with your own domain name signals your professionalism and commitment to your craft and let's be honest, in this day and age, using a hotmail or gmail is for the 'mums and dads' of your industry.

[ssim]

Originally Posted by sspellman

Daily? No client in 10 years has ever asked me for my camera equipment list, except to provide final edited image specs. Is this common in Canada?

Hey, don't paint us all with the same brush. I have a relatively extensive gear list and in the past several years I might have had a dozen email or pm's due to it. I think the daily is a stretch and it probably is meant to mean that it happens often but it is hardly a Canadian thing, eh! I've always felt that ones gear list should be limited to significant items. I've seen some that list every CF card they have and in looking at them I think they were simply trying to make them look a little longer. It doesn't take me long to sift through this stuff and pay attention to what matters.

I think that hotmail has gone to hell in the last several years. I had an account but the advertising was driving me bonkers (short trip, I know). Google offers so many services that you can link together that I know that is the reason that some use gmail. Is anyone going to chose who they do business with because of who they use for their email provider, I would have thought that would have been no but I now know there is at least a small number that would. The OP is certainly entitled to his opinion and I respect that right as that is, after all what we are all here for, providing opinions spattered with a few facts here and there.