How to get into CORPORATE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY - tips to get clients and jobs!

Nicole Glass

20 Feb 201907:00

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Nicole Glass discusses the ins and outs of corporate event photography, sharing her experiences and tips on how to break into this lucrative field. Despite finding it less exciting, she acknowledges its financial benefits and offers insights into how she secured her position through networking, referrals, and her fluency in German. She also touches on the variability of pay depending on location and experience, with an average rate for her services reflecting the market well.

Takeaways

🚪 Breaking into corporate event photography can be challenging, but it offers great job opportunities with substantial pay.
📸 Corporate event photography often involves capturing speeches, networking events, and panel discussions, which may not be the most exciting but are well-compensated.
🤳 Nicole Glass, the speaker, doesn't often share corporate event photos on social media as they might not be as engaging to her audience.
💰 The speaker is frequently hired for corporate events, which help cover most of her bills despite not being her favorite type of photography.
🔄 Government-funded events and successful companies typically have a set budget or pay well for photography services.
🤝 Building a relationship with corporate clients often leads to consistent work, as they tend to stick with a photographer who meets their needs.
📢 Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool for getting discovered by corporate clients, with recommendations from other photographers or clients leading to new opportunities.
📷 Attending events as a guest and posting photos can sometimes lead to being hired by event organizers who are impressed with your work.
🌐 Being multilingual, like the speaker who speaks fluent German, can carve out a niche in the market, making it easier to get hired by companies that value that skill.
💵 The rates for corporate event photographers can vary greatly depending on location and experience, with higher rates in major metropolitan areas.
🔍 Researching local market rates and understanding one's value are crucial for determining appropriate charges for event photography services.

Q & A

What type of photography does Nicole Glass specialize in?
-Nicole Glass specializes in corporate event photography, which is the type of photography she is hired for most often.
Why does Nicole Glass describe corporate event photography as less exciting yet lucrative?
-Although Nicole finds corporate event photography less exciting due to its repetitive nature, such as photographing speeches and networking events, it is lucrative because it pays the majority of her bills and offers high hourly rates.
How does Nicole Glass usually market her corporate event photography services?
-Nicole Glass primarily relies on word-of-mouth for marketing her services, as well as referrals from other photographers and clients. She also attends events as an attendee to network and showcase her work.
What are some challenges Nicole Glass faces with corporate event photography?
-Some challenges include taking photos of mundane events, such as people standing around with wine glasses or eating, which may not be visually appealing or necessary for the clients.
How does Nicole Glass's fluency in German benefit her photography business?
-Nicole Glass's fluency in German has helped her establish a niche as a German-speaking photographer, making her the preferred choice for German or German-American companies in her area, which simplifies communication and enhances her reputation.
What factors influence the pay for corporate event photographers?
-The pay for corporate event photographers depends on factors such as the photographer's experience, the location of the event, and the budget of the hiring organization.
What is the average cost for corporate event photography in Washington DC?
-In Washington DC, the average cost for corporate event photography is around $400 for two hours of coverage and about $260 for one hour.
How does Nicole Glass handle balancing her full-time job with her photography business?
-Nicole Glass manages her time effectively by working her full-time job during the day and then shooting and editing photos for events in the evenings and on weekends. She tries to find time to produce YouTube videos in between these commitments.
What advice does Nicole Glass give to aspiring event photographers?
-Nicole Glass advises aspiring event photographers to research what other photographers in their area charge and to focus on building a reputation and network through word-of-mouth and referrals.
How does Nicole Glass find clients for her corporate event photography?
-Nicole Glass finds clients through referrals from other photographers, attending events as an attendee to network and showcase her work, and by being visible and approachable at events she is already hired to photograph.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Breaking Into Corporate Event Photography

Nicole Glass shares insights into corporate event photography, a sector she frequently works in despite finding it less exciting than other types. These events, which often feature speeches, networking, and panel discussions, might not yield the most thrilling photos for social media but they do pay well. Nicole discusses the paradox of being hired to photograph seemingly mundane moments, such as people eating or simply chatting with wine glasses in hand. She highlights that corporate and government-funded events usually have significant budgets for photography and tend to stick with photographers they trust, providing a stable income stream. Nicole attributes her success in this field to word-of-mouth, referrals from other photographers, and her niche as a German-speaking photographer in her city, making her a preferred choice for German or German-American companies. She emphasizes the importance of producing quality work and meeting client needs to secure repeat business.

05:00

💰 Pricing and Discovery in Event Photography

In this section, Nicole Glass discusses pricing for corporate event photography, particularly in a high-demand area like Washington D.C., where costs are slightly above the national average. She mentions average pricing for coverage and emphasizes the variability depending on geographical location and market demand. Nicole encourages photographers to research local rates to set competitive prices. She then shifts focus to her own experiences juggling a full-time job with event photography, detailing her busy schedule and how she manages to fit in YouTube content creation. Nicole ends by inviting viewers to share their experiences and tips for success in event photography, emphasizing the value of community engagement and support.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Corporate Event Photography

Corporate event photography refers to the professional service of capturing photos at corporate events, such as conferences, meetings, and networking events. In the video, it's described as a lucrative but less exciting type of photography that the speaker, Nicole Glass, often gets hired for. Despite its lack of excitement, it pays well and represents a significant portion of her photography income. The mention emphasizes its financial benefits despite the mundane nature of the events themselves.

💡Networking Events

Networking events are gatherings designed for professionals to meet, exchange information, and develop professional or social contacts. The video highlights these events as common assignments in corporate event photography, involving capturing moments of interaction among attendees. Although they may seem uneventful to photograph, such events are valuable to clients for documenting and promoting their professional environment and interactions.

💡Word-of-Mouth

Word-of-mouth refers to the process of information or recommendations passing from person to person through verbal communication. In the context of the video, it's described as a significant way the photographer, Nicole Glass, acquires new corporate clients. Her reputation, especially among German and German American companies, spreads through word-of-mouth, highlighting the importance of building a strong network and delivering quality work.

💡Pricing Strategy

Pricing strategy in the video is discussed in the context of setting fees for corporate event photography services. It varies widely depending on geographical location, experience, and the type of event being covered. Nicole Glass shares that pricing can differ significantly between major metropolitan areas and smaller towns, emphasizing the need for photographers to research local market rates to set competitive and fair prices.

💡Client Retention

Client retention refers to the ability of a business or individual to retain clients over time. In the video, Nicole mentions that corporate and government clients tend to stick with photographers they like, as long as the quality of work meets their needs. This loyalty is crucial for sustained income and job security in corporate event photography, underscoring the importance of consistently delivering high-quality work.

💡Referrals

Referrals are recommendations made by one party to another, suggesting the services of a third party. In the video, referrals are highlighted as a key way Nicole has grown her corporate event photography business, with other photographers and clients recommending her services. This underlines the value of professional networks and the role of peer recognition in expanding a photographer's client base.

💡Niche Market

A niche market is a focused, targetable portion of a broader market with specific needs and preferences. Nicole identifies her niche within the corporate event photography market as being known as the German-speaking photographer. This specialization has helped her stand out and become the preferred choice for German and German American companies, demonstrating the benefit of finding and serving a niche market effectively.

💡Photography Budgets

Photography budgets refer to the financial allocation made by clients for photography services. The video points out that government and corporate clients usually have significant budgets for photography, indicating that these sectors may provide more lucrative opportunities for photographers. However, it's also mentioned that budgets can vary greatly, from very generous to virtually non-existent, depending on the organization's funding and value placed on photography.

💡Event Attendance

Event attendance, in this context, refers to the strategy of attending events not as the official photographer but as a guest who takes photos and shares them, potentially leading to future hire. Nicole mentions using this approach to get noticed by event organizers, illustrating how proactive engagement and showcasing one's work can lead to professional opportunities in corporate event photography.

💡Language Skills

Language skills are highlighted in the video as a unique selling point for Nicole, who speaks fluent German. This ability has opened doors for her within the German and German American business community, serving as a competitive advantage. It shows how additional skills beyond photography, such as language proficiency, can enhance a photographer's appeal to certain clients and markets.

Highlights

Corporate event photography can lead to high-paying jobs, despite being less exciting.

Nicole Glass shares her experience and tips on how to break into corporate event photography.

Corporate events often involve capturing speeches, networking, and panel discussions.

Photographers may question the need for their presence at certain corporate events.

Government-funded events typically have a large budget for photography or no budget at all.

Successful companies usually pay photographers what they ask for.

Once a company finds a photographer they like, they tend to stick with them.

Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool for getting discovered by corporate companies.

Nicole was referred to clients by other photographers, leading to ongoing work.

Attending events as a guest and posting photos can lead to photography opportunities.

Being bilingual can create a niche market, as Nicole found with German-speaking companies.

Pricing as a corporate event photographer varies greatly depending on location and experience.

In Washington DC, the average cost for two hours of corporate event photography is around $400.

Nicole Glass balances a full-time job with her corporate event photography.

Despite the challenges, Nicole continues to produce content for her YouTube channel.

Nicole encourages other event photographers to share their experiences and struggles.