MONDAY
After a week out of the office, it’s finally outreach day. Spent the end of last week gathering email addresses and contacts for a big week of introduction emails to new contacts, and portfolio updates for existing clients and collaborators. I’ve written an outline of the structure to three types of contacts - production companies, creative producers and brand directors of brands I would like to shoot for, freelance stylists and creative directors, and then existing contacts, who i’ve shot with or been in contact with before. You know sometimes stuff like this is the last thing on earth you feel like doing? This week I’m really in the mood for it. Having spent a lot of time in January tweaking my portfolio, adding in lots of new motion and some old work I like again, plus getting rid of a lot of shoots that had been languishing on there, I feel really happy with where i’m at visually. My focus is on new and bigger clients , and I feel confident that my portfolio shows that I’m good enough for those clients.
I publish my interview with make up artist Ciara O’Shea for paid subscribers, which goes down a storm with listeners. I love interviewing people, especially people as fun and straight down the line as Ciara - it’s such a pleasure and I feel so lucky that I’ve carved out a space for it here on Substack.
I write a first draft of a travel piece going into a great title next month. I’m so excited for it to come out - there’s nothing like seeing your work in print.
TUESDAY
More outreach! I’m going in hard whilst I actually really feel like doing outreach. It’s very rare I can take sending hundreds of emails without feeling despondent if I don’t get loads of replies - for some reason this week I’m just feeling really driven so you’ve got to ride these feelings out whilst you have them. Yesterday I did agencies and brands I’ve not had contact with before. Today I’m moving onto production companies.
Today two clients I have trips overseas booked in with in March come to me asking for me to bring my rate down as their budgets have been pushed by external factors. They are existing clients who I’ve worked with for years so they have a much lower rate than new clients would have and it takes all my resolve not to give in. I hold my ground, say the rate can’t change for an overseas trip and wait to see what they say. They both come back saying they are willing to stick with the rate by the end of the day. It’s natural to feel like you want to capitulate to people when they are wavering about money - especially when you know and like them a lot. But my costs have gone up so much in the past year (how many emails are you guys receiving about this subscription or than membership going up X% to cover increased costs?? I’m getting one every other day - WeTransfer / Dropbox / Adobe etc. etc.) I really cannot start going backwards. And it works. Being confident in your value and sticking to your guns is so important and if a client then can’t afford you anymore, it’s not your fault. Obviously it’s hard to risk losing business - but a race to the bottom isn’t going to help you or anyone else.
WEDNESDAY
Received edits on the 1st draft of Sicily story, made some tweaks and sent the 2nd draft back. I’m dealing with the Deputy Editor of the magazine who is acting as my editor. Having been a journalist for years the process of editing and sub-editing is very familiar to me so I love this back and forth, perfecting copy until it’s just right. Newcomers to writing for magazines might find this intimidating, like someone coming back with all the things you can improve on is a criticism of some kind, but this is how all published writing is accomplished. If you receive notes from an editor, don’t worry - the best writers in the world do. It’s all just part of the process.
More outreach - i’m on a roll. I’m still just sending intro emails to various people on a list I add to all the time in Google Sheets. Today it’s freelance stylists and creative directors. I’m so pleasantly surprised by how many replies I’m getting, from people who have previously felt slightly out of reach asking for meetings and about my travel plans for the year. Perhaps because i’m reaching out from a place of confidence, and I’ve refined my portfolio, people are responding to that - I’m not sure - but it’s a really great feeling and every reply is a boost of confidence that i’m moving in the right direction.
THURSDAY
More outreach - honestly I have spent almost this entire week sending emails which I don’t think I’ve ever done before.
The first two print orders are ready and heading to the framers. I’m so excited to get these finished and up on clients’ walls. It’s going to feel like a huge achievement after all this back and forth - a year’s worth of trials.
Sort out kit for a shoot next week and confirm another shoot for next week with a new client. The Creative Director from a previous client has moved to another business and got me on board to shoot something for her new (bigger!) business which is great.
I’ve collected Vogue since I was a teenager and my mum has collected them since the 70s so we have five decades worth between her house and mine. I’m starting to gather them all together to create a full archive and spent this evening flicking through a few 2016 issues. So nice to bring moodboarding and inspiration off instagram and Pinterest for once.
FRIDAY
Had a personal day for a family friend’s funeral. Zero work. Didn’t even check email.
*THINGS I DIDN’T DO*
Anything apart from outreach… I had planned to get into the dark room to print some old work but honestly, I’m a bit bored of doing that so I’m draining the chemistry out for a couple of weeks to wait for something new and exciting to print.
P.S. Do you have any assisting opportunities you need to get great photographers for? Or are there jobs you can’t do that you want to pass onto someone else? To list them on our Job Board and tap into this amazing community of creatives, just send the details to studio@aliciawaite.com.
Outreach is really key ! This is how I got some of my favorite contracts; would you be open to sharing the outline/framework of your intro emails ? I’m always looking for a way to refine my pitching ❤️
I feel you on the energy to get outreach done ! I've been the same last week and it felt so good. And so curious about the magazine in which your travel story will be published !!