Ron Shoots

My sincere apologies to those readers who haven’t found anything posted here for the last month! I’ve been mostly planning the next 6 months with only a few shoots. But that doesn’t mean I’m laying around the pool with a tropical drink! (I wish…)

This year, I will spend more time discussing the great questions I get from other shooters. Please feel free to email me or post a comment/question.

Since I’ve been planning, a great question to start with was posted by Andrew Ptak. “Just how does your Producer go about lining up shooting opportunities hundreds, or even thousands,of miles away when you don’t even know exactly what you’ll find until you get there?” (Thanks Andrew!)

The worse that could happen…

Remember when someone once told you long ago that “the worse that could happen is that they will say no” which is another way of saying it can’t hurt to ask! Cost-effective stock production relies on the ability to produce images at the lowest cost possible. We look for opportunities where there’s always a win-win for both the location/business or model, and ourselves.

Probably the most important asset is having a good web site. When you make a “cold call” to a potential location, you want to be able to show that you are a professional and that your images are of the highest quality. In the case that the images on your site don’t target the exact audience, put together a PDF or composite JPG that does showcase your work that would build the most credibility. This can be emailed to the prospective location.

Locating the location…

The next step is locating the location. We use every combination possible depending on the situation. Sometimes we’ll post on Craig’s List, find friends that have friends that have a location, or use a search engine. If the business is large enough, the best person to talk with is usually the Marketing Manager. Marketing people are tasked with coming up with new images, and saving money with a low cost shoot is always attractive! If a small business, then the owner is the best choice- the owner will need to sign the property release anyway.

Probably the best way to find a small business location is simply to walk in the front door- but not the day of the shoot. Plan ahead by a few days, or week, and ask permission from the owner. Be prepared to have a hand-out that shows your work (the same PDF as above) and a professional business card.

Click here to view the PDF we use.

When possible, we try to trade images for access. If the company can use new marketing images, then promptly providing a CD of the shoot is a wonderful win-win and helps keep your production costs low. If the location simply wants a fee, then offer what you feel is fair in relationship to the type and quantity of images you can shoot. This fee could range from $100 for a half-day to $500 for a full day. While $500 may sound like a lot to pay, determine if the location has “props” on site, and even perhaps models. Time is money so having everything available without the need for further prop-gathering or talent-scouting may be well worth the cost!

Photographing someone’s business or home is a privilege, not a right. Make sure to treat everyone with respect, leave the location cleaner than when you arrived, and make sure to follow-up with images and a thank you. Good karma goes a long way when you’re looking for that next location!