A question for photographers about their clients. - GoFuckYourself.com

AaronM · 11-09-2013, 09:20 AM

Do you usually deal directly with the company owners or "content managers" and/or "Submission Managers"?

I prefer to deal directly with owners. I've found that the owners are usually quicker to respond, more professional, and generally don't dick you around.

[rant]

Over the last 5 years, some of the companies I've worked with have put content managers in place. As a result, I find myself dealing with people who do not seem to respect the relationships I've built with their companies.

I'll give you a couple of examples:

A few years ago I took on a new client after working out the details with the owner. I then received a $4,000.00 pre-pay for the first shoot. After that, the "content manager" contacted me and said he had additional requests for the shoot. I spent the next 7-9 months chasing the "content manager" to get a complete list of the specs. It got to the point where I had to go back to the owner where I complained about the communication issues with the other guy and offered a refund. The owner responded by sending me a doc with the new specs and I completed the shoot the following week.

Another client always responded to every model submission I made within 3 business days. They would either tell me yes, or no. It's that simple.... Since this client put a "content manager" in place, I've submitted dozens of models and haven't heard a single word about any of them. The content manager writes me asking questions about the kind of gear I use & how I recruit models as if I've never worked with the company before. I went back to the owner and they approved over half the models I submitted.

In most (not all) cases, these other people in the mix create additional delays and other problems that I do not experience when dealing with owners. WTF are they paying these people for?

[/rant]

Anyway, just curious about the experiences other shooters have with this sort of thing.

No need to name any company names as I'm not looking for dirt or drama here.

Sly · 11-09-2013, 09:23 AM

So how do you recruit your models?

MaDalton · 11-09-2013, 09:24 AM

i'd say that depends on the size of the company...

from over here the most annoying thing are time zones - with clients from Europe, America and Australia i feel sometimes like i'd need to be awake 24/7 ;)

AaronM · 11-09-2013, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

So how do you recruit your models?

I troll school yards with an icecream van.

Grapesoda · 11-09-2013, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronM

I troll school yards with an icecream van.

AaronM · 11-09-2013, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaDalton

i'd say that depends on the size of the company...

from over here the most annoying thing are time zones - with clients from Europe, America and Australia i feel sometimes like i'd need to be awake 24/7 ;)

Why's that? Does your email time out after a few hours or something?

MaDalton · 11-09-2013, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronM

Why's that? Does your email time out after a few hours or something?

because i rather have things solved right away than waiting 12 hours for a reply ;)

but in general i cant complain at all about the people we deal with - owner or content manager

Sly · 11-09-2013, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronM

I troll school yards with an icecream van.

There are a few guys? Where if you said that, I would believe it.

AaronM · 11-09-2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

There are a few guys? Where if you said that, I would believe it.

Wait just a second there buddy....Are you insinuating that I'm a liar?

SilentKnight · 11-09-2013, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronM

I troll school yards with an icecream van.

Well...I won that bet.

(jk'ing)

NaughtyRob · 11-09-2013, 09:56 AM

For sure its much easier dealing with the owner directly.

Mediamix · 11-09-2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

So how do you recruit your models?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronM

I troll school yards with an icecream van.

That made me laugh out loud...

AaronM · 11-09-2013, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mediamix

That made me laugh out loud...

I'm here both to entertain and to be entertained.

fitzmulti · 11-09-2013, 07:51 PM

I have a content manager I am communicating with now...and it is s-l-o-w b-o-a-t t-o C-h-i-n-a getting responses...and he's more concerned with the equipment, which is very current...and on the site, I can tell that some sets looks very low end.
It's frustrating, because what "current" camera body I have, would not necessarily be the camera body I would use for shoots for this company. If they had a certain digital camera sensor size requirement (for full frame, for example), and the shoot parameters and payout were worth it, I could just go snag another body.
But, I can't see what I currently use has to do with whether they would, or would not want me to shoot sets for them, or not.
</rant>

P.S. >>>

Stephen · 11-09-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronM

In most (not all) cases, these other people in the mix create additional delays and other problems that I do not experience when dealing with owners.

That's every line, man

The boss speeds things along because he's got better things to do

The employee slacks prolonging his employment

baddog · 11-10-2013, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronM

I'm here both to entertain and to be entertained.

Amen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

That's every line, man

The boss speeds things along because he's got better things to do

The employee slacks prolonging his employment

and then there's that.

11-09-2013, 09:20 AM	#1
AaronM Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: ┌∩┐ ◣_◢ ┌∩┐ Posts: 46,909	A question for photographers about their clients. Do you usually deal directly with the company owners or "content managers" and/or "Submission Managers"? I prefer to deal directly with owners. I've found that the owners are usually quicker to respond, more professional, and generally don't dick you around. [rant] Over the last 5 years, some of the companies I've worked with have put content managers in place. As a result, I find myself dealing with people who do not seem to respect the relationships I've built with their companies. I'll give you a couple of examples: A few years ago I took on a new client after working out the details with the owner. I then received a $4,000.00 pre-pay for the first shoot. After that, the "content manager" contacted me and said he had additional requests for the shoot. I spent the next 7-9 months chasing the "content manager" to get a complete list of the specs. It got to the point where I had to go back to the owner where I complained about the communication issues with the other guy and offered a refund. The owner responded by sending me a doc with the new specs and I completed the shoot the following week. Another client always responded to every model submission I made within 3 business days. They would either tell me yes, or no. It's that simple.... Since this client put a "content manager" in place, I've submitted dozens of models and haven't heard a single word about any of them. The content manager writes me asking questions about the kind of gear I use & how I recruit models as if I've never worked with the company before. I went back to the owner and they approved over half the models I submitted. In most (not all) cases, these other people in the mix create additional delays and other problems that I do not experience when dealing with owners. WTF are they paying these people for? [/rant] Anyway, just curious about the experiences other shooters have with this sort of thing. No need to name any company names as I'm not looking for dirt or drama here.

11-09-2013, 09:23 AM	#2
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,323	So how do you recruit your models? __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc. Click here for more details.

11-09-2013, 09:24 AM	#3
MaDalton I am Amazing Content! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 39,828	i'd say that depends on the size of the company... from over here the most annoying thing are time zones - with clients from Europe, America and Australia i feel sometimes like i'd need to be awake 24/7 ;) __________________ AmazingContent.com - providing only the best content and service since 2003 Monetize your content on Veegaz.com - one of Germanies largest VOD sites Got German traffic? We convert it into money for you! Skype: madalton02826 - Email: oltecconsult [at] gmail [dot] com

11-09-2013, 09:56 AM	#11
NaughtyRob Two fresh affiliate progs Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Inside teen pussy Posts: 29,602	For sure its much easier dealing with the owner directly. __________________ [email protected] Skype: 17026955414 Vacares Web Hosting - Protect Your Ass with Included Daily Backups

11-09-2013, 07:51 PM	#14
fitzmulti I Like Depth Of Field! Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA: 36.12318 N, 115.090219 W Posts: 14,861	I have a content manager I am communicating with now...and it is s-l-o-w b-o-a-t t-o C-h-i-n-a getting responses...and he's more concerned with the equipment, which is very current...and on the site, I can tell that some sets looks very low end. It's frustrating, because what "current" camera body I have, would not necessarily be the camera body I would use for shoots for this company. If they had a certain digital camera sensor size requirement (for full frame, for example), and the shoot parameters and payout were worth it, I could just go snag another body. But, I can't see what I currently use has to do with whether they would, or would not want me to shoot sets for them, or not. </rant> P.S. >>> __________________ www.SexyGirlsCash.com CONTACT // FITZMULTI AT GMAIL.COM // {Please include a message so I know you are from GFY! I get too many spam "add requests"!} Last edited by fitzmulti; 11-09-2013 at 07:53 PM..