Photography
What Good does a Photography Agency
A Photography Agency (or more usually, just ‘Agent’) can be an important link between a photographer and a customer base. An agency sells the photography services of the photographers they represent. So first and foremost, an agent is a sales manager. However, that’s not the whole story – agents need to promote their photographers’ work and connect them with people who might buy those creative services. So marketing is a skill that’s needed too. An agent will use the photographer’s portfolio as a starting point for this marketing activity.
A photography agency is a specialized company that focuses on managing and promoting the creativity and talents of the photographers that they work with. Photography agencies take a fee for their services but they can help to establish photographers in the industry, negotiate deals and contracts while increasing their income and building their brand.
Photography agencies may work in a narrow genre of photography, such as a fashion or product photography, while others take a broader approach and represent a wide range of photographers.
As a working photographer one has to learn to juggle a whole range of promotional, marketing, financial and planning jobs all while they try to keep their focus on the photos themselves! But when they work with a photography agency it takes a lot of the burden off their shoulders and allow them to focus on what they do best – taking photos!
What is a Photography Agency?
A photography agency is a company that focuses on managing all aspects of their creative talents’ careers. Working with a photography agency can help you to land new work, build more established industry contacts and negotiate financial deals and projects.
In most situations, photography agencies are reserved for creative professionals who have been working in the industry for several years. In contrast to modeling agencies where beginning models are a main part of building talent, photographers represented by an agency have a set portfolio and are actively working with clients.
What does a Photography Agency Dubai do?
In addition, an agency need to be able to manage a large production (a shoot or a commercial, for example) and co-ordinate lots of people from different areas and get everyone to work towards one goal. The agent will negotiate the terms of a contract (the ‘deal’) between their photographers and the clients (‘commissioners’ or ‘buyers’) who may be from advertising agencies or established businesses, so they’ll try to get the best deal they can from the client.
Agencies also handle the business side of their photographers, so they’ll deal with the financial aspects of not only their own businesses, but their photographers too.
They often also get involved in the career path of the photographers they represent. They might suggest themes or subjects that a photographer might shoot for new portfolio work to keep the portfolio fresh and exciting.
Agents make their living by taking a commission (a percentage of the photographer’s fees) on the work they bring in. This amount can vary and is discussed between the photographer and the agent when they start working together.
Agents usually run their own businesses, either on their own or with a small team of people employed to do the work of marketing, selling and managing their photographers as photography agency. Sometimes an agent may be part of a bigger company that represents creative people who do other stuff, not just photography.
6 benefits of hiring photography agency for your business
- Professionalism
Presentation of your business is of the utmost importance. If the images on your website aren’t uploaded correctly, or are of the wrong composition, you will lose the investments of your consumers. So while it is easier to take a photo on your phone, it is essential to remember that a professional photo will increase your business’ profits.
- Stand out of crowd
If you want to compete with the other businesses in your sector, you need to find marketing strategies that will individualize your company. Stock images downloaded from the web won’t give you the individuality that your company requires.
- Cost effective
Sharing images is vital to the survival of your company and is effective in creating free publicity. Using personalized imagery, the branding of your company will spread across the web, where your readers and competitors will recognize your company and the services you provide.
- Encourage exposure
Great photography on any website is essential to grab the attention of the reader. A photo is worth a thousand words when marketing your business. Websites with professional images receive over 90% more views than those without.
By using professional photographs, you will be projecting the image of your company to a wider audience. Your brand will grow as more and more people associate your business with specific images you have created.
- A personal touch
A valuable photograph depicts the reality of the people and your company. Customize the design, size and quality of your photos with Dreamize and promote the personality of your company.
When people look at your company, they want to see the people they will be doing business with. This is something that stock photos can’t bring to the company as they depict unrealistic situations.
- Easy to read
It is easier for your readers to glance at a photo and gain product information than it is to read the article. Images and photos will clarify the copywriting content and ensure that the information provided is absorbed by the reader. Utilizing photos in your website will break the layout and make it easy for readers to seek out important information.
Soft skills that a photography agent needs to acquire
- Understanding art and photography:
Having an understanding of what’s ‘current’ or ‘on-trend’ in photography as well as a desire to explore and discover new things and some knowledge of composition and framing (not the ‘hanging on the wall’ type!) as well as understanding form, color, texture and light and shade are all pretty vital to being an agent.
- Understanding people:
Professional photography, at some point, is always about the relationships the agent build with others. So being able to empathize and get along with people, whether they’re photographers, teammates or clients and customers, is important. It’s also vital for agents to be able to put across their own views with confidence.
- Understanding the marketplace:
Whatever sector as an agent is working, they need a thorough knowledge of the other people in that market. For example, in the fashion sector, they will need to know who the good stylists and make-up artists are, who the magazine editors are and so on.
- Diplomacy and collaboration:
they need to be good at striking a balance between lots of (sometimes opposing) views without creating unnecessary friction or stress. They need a thick skin and patience too!
- Organization:
They’ll need to be disciplined and able to priorities tasks. They should be able to motivate themselves and manage lots of different tasks at the same time.
Dreamize, photography agency Dubai
It is becoming more important to use image-based marketing strategies for your website with the rise of a visual culture.
With more businesses marketing their services online, you need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. At Dreamize, we know the importance of using professional photography.