Dealing with management

[RichSoansPhotos]

Have any of you live music shootist ever dealt with management?

Specifically, have you sent in photos in order to try sway them into getting passes for certain (smaller) acts in the future?

[narlus]

you mean they manage different groups and you've shot one and now you want to shoot a different one?

and by 'sent in' you mean 'giveaway'?


no.

[Staszek]

I have enough material on my site I link them to. I don't send in any photos nor give them away. I do market my material after the show for them to license and I do suggest to work with them in the future.

[RichSoansPhotos]

Originally Posted by Staszek

I have enough material on my site I link them to. I don't send in any photos nor give them away. I do market my material after the show for them to license and I do suggest to work with them in the future.

I haven't sold even a pittance since doing this photography, not even joining an agency even when they have told me that my photography was great. I'm at my wits end even to get a web/magazine to some attention and feel like this is the only option for me to go

[Staszek]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

I haven't sold even a pittance since doing this photography, not even joining an agency even when they have told me that my photography was great. I'm at my wits end even to get a web/magazine to some attention and feel like this is the only option for me to go

You'll only hurt yourself as someone who wants to make money by giving your work away. You'll soon fall into the large grouping of cheap/free photographers. If you produce quality work and the management wants to work with you, they will pay. If they want iPhone photos for Facebook, move on to the next music artist.

[sapearl]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

I haven't sold even a pittance since doing this photography, not even joining an agency even when they have told me that my photography was great. I'm at my wits end even to get a web/magazine to some attention and feel like this is the only option for me to go

Have you considered blogging your work to generate some buzz?

I dont' do musical work but I have blogged with Google's Blogger (free) which has generated a little following over the past few years. It's current, you post when you have something and it does get you out there. In this fashion you create your own web/magazine - of a sort - to garner a little attention.

But I agree with the others: don't give it away. One of the reasons they "Have no budget" - for you, is because they know there are plenty of folks willing to give it away. They win the waiting game because there is always another new photographer on the block willing to trade images for a byline or access.

[RichSoansPhotos]

Originally Posted by sapearl

Have you considered blogging your work to generate some buzz?

I dont' do musical work but I have blogged with Google's Blogger (free) which has generated a little following over the past few years. It's current, you post when you have something and it does get you out there. In this fashion you create your own web/magazine - of a sort - to garner a little attention.

But I agree with the others: don't give it away. One of the reasons they "Have no budget" - for you, is because they know there are plenty of folks willing to give it away. They win the waiting game because there is always another new photographer on the block willing to trade images for a byline or access.

This is a good point, I have started off a wordpress blog, but have not included photos, plus the review isn't much of a help if I don't know what song is on the setlist...etc

[sapearl]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

This is a good point, I have started off a wordpress blog, but have not included photos, plus the review isn't much of a help if I don't know what song is on the setlist...etc

A lot of folks are very pleased with WordPress and use it to good effect. There are some great examples out there.

Do you need to wait to get the setlist.....just post shots of the band; as long as you have their name and and solid images that demonstrate your expertise that is the key thing at this point. As you build your blog posts you can always add that info later, but this gets you started. Afterall the point is to feature your imagery, unless your goal is to write reviews.

[Muffin Princess]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

I haven't sold even a pittance since doing this photography, not even joining an agency even when they have told me that my photography was great. I'm at my wits end even to get a web/magazine to some attention and feel like this is the only option for me to go

Is it a big agency? How long have you been with them? I've been with WireImage, who are part of Getty, for about 17 months and I've only been earning a few pounds here and there until now. But now I'm starting to build up a significant archive and each month my income is going up by a little more due to my archive. I'm still a LOOOONG way off becoming full time, I still have a full time office job and my work with WireImage is earning me about the same as two days work in the office, so I need to increase this by at least 12 times before I can consider turning full time. It does take a long time unfortunately.

[RichSoansPhotos]

Yup, I see your point, but they have said, they have "no budget", and for the last few years its been very frustrating that I've been doing for nowt...I know it has to stop, but I feel I'm getting nowhere with anyone else.

[philwillmedia]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

...they have said, they have "no budget"...

but they have budget for
• new equipment
• fuel to get from gig to gig
• accommodation
• meals
and every other thing they buy so why not photography.

I'll bet if they turned up to some restaurant somewhere and said "Hey, we don't have a budget to pay you for our meals, but we'll give you a mention at the gig" they' get shown where the door is.

What if someone turned up at their gig and said "I really like your music, but I don't have the budget to pay to come in to watch you play", would they be allowed in? - Nup!.

That "we don't have a budget" line is straight out BS!!

[RichSoansPhotos]

Originally Posted by philwillmedia

but they have budget for
• new equipment
• fuel to get from gig to gig
• accommodation
• meals
and every other thing they buy so why not photography.

I'll bet if they turned up to some restaurant somewhere and said "Hey, we don't have a budget to pay you for our meals, but we'll give you a mention at the gig" they' get shown where the door is.

What if someone turned up at their gig and said "I really like your music, but I don't have the budget to pay to come in to watch you play", would they be allowed in? - Nup!.

That "we don't have a budget" line is straight out BS!!

I know what you mean.

[CosmoKid]

The absolute biggest jump I had in my following and the ability for me to get paid was when I rebranded myself and launched my new wordpress site.

Since May 2011 I have generated more music photography income than in the past 2 years before that. I get over 3,000 unique visitors per month to my site. A lot of it is Facebook and Twitter traffic but about 25% has been Google search results.

Blogs index well. Learn SEO and remain active and strategic with your posts.

[RichSoansPhotos]

Yeah I know what you mean, but even basic html is difficult for me, so laying out wordpress is even more difficult.

[sapearl]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

Yeah I know what you mean, but even basic html is difficult for me, so laying out wordpress is even more difficult.

Blogger is not a bad tool - you may be able to find better - but it is far from the worst. I think they designed it for "code challenged" people like me who are just tired at the end of the day and want something user friendly without a lot of complication.

I don't know how to code html either, but once I opened a (free) account I had my first post up, with pictures, in 45 minutes. It's pretty much drag and drop, WYSIWYG, and if you feel like getting into code later, you can turn that feature on. Here is an example from my site:

http://www.pearlphoto.blogspot.com/2...lt-bridge.html

Blogger also has a number of templates you can try out.