Introduction: The "Who" Behind the Lens
Some event planners and marketing directors spend months obsessing over the "what and the how" but they spend a shockingly short amount of time considering the "who". Don't get me wrong, they think about who's gonna be on stage and who's gonna be in the audience but what about the talent behind the lens? It's not enough that they bought a camera and threw up a website, in order to responsibly and professionally be an artist in service to a corporate client there's work to be done; and you shouldn't settle for anything less than remarkable.
The Invisible Gear: It's About More Than The Tech
There's plenty of photographers that think if they just buy the camera, get the computer and learn the software they'll be all set. Sure, you need those things, but the true differentiators have nothing to do with the tech. I learned everything I needed to know about running a service based creative business on the front lines of hospitality.
- Quick Like a Cat: corporate planners and clients are spread thin and a lot is expected of them by bosses, stakeholders, clients and guests. At any moment, they're working on an event that just wrapped, on site with an event right now and planning an event well into the future. Swift, accurate and supportive communication is the bedrock of establishing a rapport and immediately being seen as a subject matter expert and valuable strategic partner.
- The No Surprise Rule: Live events and creative projects take a great deal of planning and precision. That's why we say that no surprise, even one that we think is a welcome one, it's a good idea. Full clear and transparent communication that spells out in plain language exactly what the client can expect is critically important throughout planning and execution. If you want to offer your client a pleasant surprise wait until the event or project is in the rearview.
- The Three Letter Word: We have a saying we use when it comes to wants needs and expectations that our clients have. It goes something like this, "the answer is yes, what was your question again?" this is clearly a cheeky way of saying that we do everything we can to accommodate our clients. It's not about saying yes to anything and everything. It's about doing our measured best to never say no; even if that means coming up with a creative solution they can be seen as a helpful compromise.
- This or That: In a world, full of problems, be the solution. In fact, in our business problems don't exist. That's not to say that things don't happen. They do! But anytime we come up against something that could be traditionally considered a problem, we treat it like an opportunity. These kerfuffles present us with the chance to overcome and delight, our client with a creative solution. That, my friend, is how you go from being a part of the problem to the source of the solution.
- People First, Then Profit: If you're old enough to remember the Cameron crow classic Jerry McGuire, you might recall the pivotal moment in that movie when, in the middle, while racked by guilt by how things were being done, he wrote down all of his thoughts and feelings about how things should be done to create an exceptional agency. It wasn't a memo, it was a mission statement. Well, this is one of the guiding principles of our mission statement and words we will always live by. The decisions we make will favor people first, then profit.
When we pack up for a live event or creative project for brands like Southwest Airlines, Pepsi, ClickFunnels, or any of the other global brands that have trusted us as an extension of their creative team, one of the first things we make sure we include is our professionalism, standard of excellence and commitment to exceeding expectations.
Live events in creative projects are a fast paced, high stress environment. A visual artist's ability to anticipate needs, step up in a way that's unexpected and over deliver on the promises that were made in the planning and reproduction stages will elevate them above their competition. This intersection of creativity and professionalism is the sweet spot that creates an industry leading brand reputation and fierce client loyalty.
The Psychology of the Shot
Being an exceptional professional photographer is absolutely about more than just getting a great shot. It's about knowing where to be, when to be there and what to do to get that shot. Sure, at times photojournalism is the way to go to capture a fleeting moment and turning it into a memory. There are moments when we embrace our inner "photo-ninja" which means that we sit back and capture what's happening without interference, direction or attention. This is that moment when our client says, "holy smokes, how do you even get that shot? It's like you everywhere and nowhere at the same time." Yeah, like I said, photo ninjas.
But that's not the only way it's always done. There are times when direction and attention are critical to getting the shot. And, it's in those moments that you can serve as the subject matter expert for your client because they don't know what they don't know, they're not a photographer and they may even be in a situation where it's less than comfortable for them to be giving directions to someone that's above them in the organization. In those moments, you're more than a visual artist, you're an indispensable partner to your client and their team.
That's how you leverage the sweet spot where creativity and professionalism intersect.
High Stakes, High Smiles
Working with global brands like Southwest Airlines and Pepsi requires a great deal of creativity, but also a great deal of savvy. Being the calming energy and the voice of reason and experience in a frequently turbulent environment is really refreshing. Many corporate planners and clients have had experiences with visual artists who unfortunately make situations and circumstances all about them and what they need and what they want rather than being there in service to the client. Yeah, don't be that visual artist.
The Blueprint for Better Media
Our presence is enthusiastic and energetic, but our process is strategic and precise. What we do and how we do it has been carefully crafted based on nearly 2 decades of knowledge and experience. We've got the talent, the team and the temperament to ensure we're an invaluable, creative extension of your team throughout the planning and execution of your live event or company project. Oh, and the digital assets, we create, yeah they're gonna do more than just remind you what happened, they're gonna transport you right back to how you felt when all your hard work paid off.