Author Topic: Direct contact from a customer? (Read 10308 times)

Ukko · « **on:** February 01, 2019, 02:36 »

When I upload photos to agencies they are all attached with description and 50 keywords of course, but there are also some personal information, such as my email address, phone number and website. I guess I dream of making big sales with customers directly and some lucrative freelance gigs, lol. But the truth is nobody has ever approached me in these two years. Now, am I that lousy photographer, or don't the buyers get those information from the image data?

Not Today · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2019, 02:39 »

Metadata is usually wiped by agencies so buyers don't have access to our information.

Ukko · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2019, 02:50 »

Ah, ok, now I know. I thought they were doing something like that. Thanks!

dpimborough · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2019, 04:25 »

Waiting on customers to find you through agencies is a waste of time

You have to market yourself

You asked are you a lousy photographer? Lord knows as we can't see your images

Not Today · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2019, 05:02 »

Quote from: Ukko on February 01, 2019, 02:36

When I upload photos to agencies they are all attached with description and 50 keywords of course, but there are also some personal information, such as my email address, phone number and website. I guess I dream of making big sales with customers directly and some lucrative freelance gigs, lol. But the truth is nobody has ever approached me in these two years. Now, am I that lousy photographer, or don't the buyers get those information from the image data?

If you're looking for gigs, you can always track down the photos you've sold with Google reverse image search, to find where they've been used. Then use that as leverage on social media saying X company used your photo for X article or Ads. Who knows, with the proper tags and hashtags, you might be approached there.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2019, 10:02 »

Quote from: Not Today on February 01, 2019, 02:39

Metadata is usually wiped by agencies so buyers don't have access to our information.

Never found one that didn't wipe everything, both on their site and when the buyer downloads and image.

Quote from: Not Today on February 01, 2019, 05:02

If you're looking for gigs, you can always track down the photos you've sold with Google reverse image search, to find where they've been used. Then use that as leverage on social media saying X company used your photo for X article or Ads. Who knows, with the proper tags and hashtags, you might be approached there.

In a specific market that might work, if the idea is from stock in general, there are about 30,000 other people with the same goals. What I mean is, if someone is going to try to get contracts or outside work, it's better to have a specialty, a style, subject or interest group. Then direct the marketing to that area of expertise.

georgep7 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2019, 10:40 »

Quote from: Ukko on February 01, 2019, 02:36

When I upload photos to agencies they are all attached with description and 50 keywords of course, but there are also some personal information, such as my email address, phone number and website. I guess I dream of making big sales with customers directly and some lucrative freelance gigs, lol. But the truth is nobody has ever approached me in these two years. Now, am I that lousy photographer, or don't the buyers get those information from the image data?

If this helps, while browsing LinkedIn profiles of 2nd 3rd connection etc. people in my country I have seen a person describing self as amateur photographer and SS comtributor. Just that. Followed the links and I cannot tell if he is a bad or good photographer, i don't have the right and knowledge. But. Bottomline, he shouted out loud and clear. Despite the "amateur" I had the "freelancer for hire" feeling for him

Ukko · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2019, 15:05 »

A lot of great advices here with the community, thanks a lot! I feel I need to find my own way and my own 'authentic' style to work as a photographer.

k_t_g · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2019, 17:05 »

I find LinkedIn a real great source of spam accounts.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2019, 09:28 »

Quote from: k_t_g on February 01, 2019, 17:05

I find LinkedIn a real great source of spam accounts.

Which kind? You mean people who pretend to be something they aren't?

If Linkedin worked, by now I'd have gotten at least one request for the kind of photography I do? Seems like friends and word of mouth does best. Good old fashion, insider referrals.

Freelance is not a good description to have for anything to do with news or Editorial.

zsooofija · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2019, 11:54 »

Maybe it works differently for photographs, I am an illustrator and I got several custom work requests through shutterstock (I put my e-mail in my profile description).

I don't do any other marketing, no website or FB or insta just a twitter account for doing automated tweets whenever I had work accepted. Some customers also contacted me through that.

swisschocolate · « **Reply #11 on:** February 02, 2019, 13:18 »

Quote from: zsooofija on February 02, 2019, 11:54

Maybe it works differently for photographs, I am an illustrator and I got several custom work requests through shutterstock (I put my e-mail in my profile description).

I don't do any other marketing, no website or FB or insta just a twitter account for doing automated tweets whenever I had work accepted. Some customers also contacted me through that.

Hi, how did you manage to connect twitter for automated tweets? Can't find it in the profile. Thanks!

georgep7 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 02, 2019, 13:28 »

Word of mouth as UnclePete says

and attitude.

I struggled for literally years comparing self to others.
Yes, you know, well, i am average, yes, maybe you want a free sample...
After realizing not the "industry" but the clients I just went moderate arrogant:
Yep, that's what i do for a living, yes, i can do that, what is your budget?

Talking post production, not photography.

But I guess that maybe Attitude is what is missing from people's
good or even great but not popular portfolios,
Not the contact info

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2019, 19:12 »

Oh good ideas, I'm going to look at my profile. I cut the feed to my Twitter because I don't want to spam my friends who already know what I do. Not sure if that still works anymore. Yes attitude can work, good confidence and impression management. Good positive point.

I do have one email just for family and photo business. That keeps the spam and notifications for forums, events or software, on another.

zsooofija · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2019, 04:48 »

Quote from: swisschocolate on February 02, 2019, 13:18

Quote from: zsooofija on February 02, 2019, 11:54
Maybe it works differently for photographs, I am an illustrator and I got several custom work requests through shutterstock (I put my e-mail in my profile description).

I don't do any other marketing, no website or FB or insta just a twitter account for doing automated tweets whenever I had work accepted. Some customers also contacted me through that.

Hi, how did you manage to connect twitter for automated tweets? Can't find it in the profile. Thanks!

It doesn't work anymore. There used to be this option on SS to set up automated tweets or fB posts, for accepted images, or sales. I think it stopped working a couple of years ago.

Newsfocus1 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2019, 06:56 »

Quote from: zsooofija on February 03, 2019, 04:48

Quote from: swisschocolate on February 02, 2019, 13:18
Quote from: zsooofija on February 02, 2019, 11:54
Maybe it works differently for photographs, I am an illustrator and I got several custom work requests through shutterstock (I put my e-mail in my profile description).

I don't do any other marketing, no website or FB or insta just a twitter account for doing automated tweets whenever I had work accepted. Some customers also contacted me through that.

Hi, how did you manage to connect twitter for automated tweets? Can't find it in the profile. Thanks!

It doesn't work anymore. There used to be this option on SS to set up automated tweets or fB posts, for accepted images, or sales. I think it stopped working a couple of years ago.

More like six years ago!

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/74782-shuttertweet-and-facebook-connect/?do=findComment&comment=1441351

zsooofija · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2019, 07:28 »

Quote from: Newsfocus1 on February 03, 2019, 06:56

Quote from: zsooofija on February 03, 2019, 04:48
Quote from: swisschocolate on February 02, 2019, 13:18
Quote from: zsooofija on February 02, 2019, 11:54
Maybe it works differently for photographs, I am an illustrator and I got several custom work requests through shutterstock (I put my e-mail in my profile description).

I don't do any other marketing, no website or FB or insta just a twitter account for doing automated tweets whenever I had work accepted. Some customers also contacted me through that.

Hi, how did you manage to connect twitter for automated tweets? Can't find it in the profile. Thanks!

It doesn't work anymore. There used to be this option on SS to set up automated tweets or fB posts, for accepted images, or sales. I think it stopped working a couple of years ago.

More like six years ago!

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/74782-shuttertweet-and-facebook-connect/?do=findComment&comment=1441351

You are right. I just set it up back then and never checked it after.

Ukko · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2019, 10:34 »

Quote from: zsooofija on February 02, 2019, 11:54

Maybe it works differently for photographs, I am an illustrator and I got several custom work requests through shutterstock (I put my e-mail in my profile description).

I don't do any other marketing, no website or FB or insta just a twitter account for doing automated tweets whenever I had work accepted. Some customers also contacted me through that.

That's a great idea to put email in profile description although it does feel a bit bending the company rules since they don't want us to deal direct with customers. Has anyone else done this on SS?

zsooofija · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2019, 05:39 »

Quote from: Ukko on February 03, 2019, 10:34

Quote from: zsooofija on February 02, 2019, 11:54
Maybe it works differently for photographs, I am an illustrator and I got several custom work requests through shutterstock (I put my e-mail in my profile description).

I don't do any other marketing, no website or FB or insta just a twitter account for doing automated tweets whenever I had work accepted. Some customers also contacted me through that.

That's a great idea to put email in profile description although it does feel a bit bending the company rules since they don't want us to deal direct with customers. Has anyone else done this on SS?

I saw many artists having their contact info (personal website or e-mail) in the profile description, and I have my info there for 10 years. I don't think it's forbidden. Customers contact me if they want a custom illustration not to buy already existing content.

Year of the Dog · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2019, 09:15 »

Quote from: zsooofija on February 05, 2019, 05:39

Quote from: Ukko on February 03, 2019, 10:34
Quote from: zsooofija on February 02, 2019, 11:54
Maybe it works differently for photographs, I am an illustrator and I got several custom work requests through shutterstock (I put my e-mail in my profile description).

I don't do any other marketing, no website or FB or insta just a twitter account for doing automated tweets whenever I had work accepted. Some customers also contacted me through that.

That's a great idea to put email in profile description although it does feel a bit bending the company rules since they don't want us to deal direct with customers. Has anyone else done this on SS?

I saw many artists having their contact info (personal website or e-mail) in the profile description, and I have my info there for 10 years. I don't think it's forbidden. Customers contact me if they want a custom illustration not to buy already existing content.

SS has places for website and social media I don't know why email in about wouldn't be allowed.

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Author Topic: Direct contact from a customer? (Read 10308 times)

Ukko

Not Today

Ukko

dpimborough

Not Today

Uncle Pete

georgep7

Ukko

k_t_g

Uncle Pete

zsooofija

swisschocolate

georgep7

Uncle Pete

zsooofija

Newsfocus1

zsooofija

Ukko

zsooofija

Year of the Dog

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