When approaching other businesses, there is most definitely a right and wrong way to do things!
People ask all the time, how do I, myself, go about approaching other businesses to collaborate with? Or do they approach me?
I used to be scared out of my mind to approach other businesses and ask if they were interested in collaborating with 'little ol' me'.
I was scared of being laughed at.. of being ridiculed by the (very well established) businesses I was approaching.
I was devaluing myself and my work. I was letting myself believe that I wasn't a good enough photographer.. legitimate enough.. to be working with the businesses I was approaching.
My anxiety would go through the roof once I'd hit 'send' on a message, to a business I really hoped to work with.
But I was wrong. So wrong.
Over the years, as I've worked with more and more businesses, both in Australia and here in Tauranga, I've found that they want you to contact them!
You're a photographer! You can help them showcase the work they do. You have the ability to push their business forward -- businesses want you!
Even if you're only just starting out, there will always be a business who wants to collaborate with you.. provided you do it right!
Get out of your head!
You are a photographer.
You take photos; this makes you a photographer.
Being stuck in your head and thinking you're not a legitimate business.. a legitimate photographer.. self-sabotage is not a space you want to be in. I know because I've lived it! I always felt like I wasn't good enough and that stopped me from ever reaching out. It stopped me from sharing my own work. It stopped me from believing in myself. -- Get out of your head!
Know what you want!
Approaching a business without an idea of what you'd like to collaborate on, is the equivalent of going to the supermarket without a shopping list.
If you don't know what you want to get out of this collaboration, neither does the business you're approaching. It's important that you map out a good plan and know exactly what you're bringing to the table and exactly what you're asking them to bring to the table. This brings me to my next point..
Get to know the businesses you want to collab with!
I want to really discourage you from scrolling through a businesses Instagram feed and deciding in a second that they'd be great to collaborate with.
Follow them on Instagram, 'like' them on Facebook; get to know how they promote their business and the work they do.
Who are the people behind the business?
How long have they been in business?
Is there a charity or a special cause which they're associated with?
Do they work with other businesses?
This is all information which will help you;
1. Understand if they're the right fit for you and the vision you have.
2. Know if they may be better suited to another collaboration project you have lined up down the track.
3. Approach them in a way which makes them feel like you know them..
Avoid the 'Cold Call'!
The 'Cold Call'. Think 'bots'.
How much do you hate receiving a 'bot message' where it's cold, impersonal and you're well aware that it's a 'copy and paste' kinda message? Well, this is what you're wanting to avoid because, if you send a message where the business has no idea who you are and your message seems as though you've not really done your homework into what this business offers, your message probably won't even receive a reply!
This is the long game.
When you have a business in your sights, engage with their posts by commenting and liking the things they share -- but only if it makes sense to engage with them in the first place! And I'm not talking '🔥🔥🔥' or 'nice'!
Imagine you're talking to them, face to face; what would you say?
In my opinion, when you're commenting on someone's post or replying to their Stories, you should always reply in a way you would respond if they were in front of you.
By communicating with them, getting to know the business, getting to know the people who run the business, they're familiar with you and what you offer. So when you message them about a collaboration, there's a good chance they've already considered collaborating with you! (Which I've found with almost every business I've worked with!)
Make yourself available!
So you've approached the business you want to work with and they've replied to let you know how interested they are in working with you -- MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE!
There's nothing more frustrating than working with other businesses who's availabilities are a struggle to work around.
Try to be flexible and make yourself as available as possible, without being treated like a door mat.
Work together on a plan!
Talk to each other, in detail, about what you want from this collaboration.
It's important to ensure that you both get what you envision from this project, so really map it all our;
- Where will the shoot take place?
- Day and time?
- What about a backup plan in case of bad weather or the venue falls through?
- How many images will you provide? And how quickly will you be able to provide it to them?
- How will you deliver your images?
- What kind of props do you need? Who's going to provide them?
- Have you allowed time for a break.. maybe a quick lunch? Could you use that time to take some photos to share on social media later?
- Will you be giving these images over for the other person to use freely, however they wish? or do you have conditions?
- Will you coordinate your posts with each other?
The list truly does go on and on.. shoot me an email if you want a really thorough list!
Have it all in writing!
I've shot myself in the foot before by not having these kinds of things in writing. We agreed on what we'd each bring to the table and I was left hanging. It was my own fault for not taking a minute to sit down, type up a quick email to outline what the plan was and ensure we were both on the same page.
I always ensure to shoot an email through after a phone call, text.. anything where we've discussed the project, to keep everything in the same place and easy to find because there's nothing worse than dropping the ball on something like this because you've got messages all over the place!
Deliver!
It should be pretty straight forward from this point, but you'd be surprised!
I've never worked with anyone who has under-delivered, or not delivered at all, but I know many who have.
If you say you're going to take care of specific props, the venue.. anything.. you MUST deliver! You're both giving your time, and often it's a bit of an out-of-pocket expense as well, so don't leave people with a nasty taste when it comes to working with you.
Don't let it be a thankless project!
Kindness will get you far in life, and probably future work!
Routinely, collaborations is, essentially, unpaid work. You work together to help further each other's business.
I've worked with bakeries, restaurants, bars, caterers, cafes, who have all given John and I so many freebies, both on the day, as well as vouchers and gift cards to use later.
I've worked with charities who have sent the kids so many wonderful gifts!
I've worked with other photographers who have traded their own services with us.
I've worked with wedding venues who have shared my work with their own clients, giving me some added exposure in the field I work in, as well as allowing me to show perspective clients how my images look if they're getting married at a specific venue.
But you can go further than that!
I like to give a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates, with a handwritten card to gift the business owner with a family photo session, or a couples session; a little something special, just for them.
Show thanks in your own way.
That's it! These are the steps I take when I collaborate with anyone, regardless of whether they've approached me or I've approached them.
Please remember, before you decide to collaborate with anyone, consider whether it's a direction you want to take your business in, and if they're a business you want to be associated with. I can't stress enough, how important it is that you research businesses and ask questions.
Erin Michele Thomson ∙ Tauranga Photographer ∙ info@erinmichele.co.nz
Comments