New technology and an increased reliance on stock photos have dramatically altered the world of professional photography. Digital equipment and client requests have altered the scope of the very meaning of "photographer," while scores of professionals who began and ran their businesses by referral and word of mouth are being forced to re-evaluate their strategies. Photographers, whether beginners or seasoned professionals, need new guidance to face the changed landscape of their industry. The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion, third edition, by Maria Piscopo has been revised and updated to address the business in its state today.
Maria Piscopo, a professional photographer's representative for more than twenty years, is an expert at helping photographers to find more clients and make more money--no matter what the size of the individual operation.
If you're a photographer trying to earn a living from your work, The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion may be the best investment you make. Maria Piscopo has been a photographer's representative for more than two decades, and she has honed her message at innumerable industry conferences and workshops. In brief but information-packed chapters, Piscopo explains how to define the type of work you do, research different categories of clients, and persuade them to hire you. She deals with the nitty-gritty of portfolio presentation (how much do you show?), writing the selling "script" (what do you say and how do you tailor it to your audience?), and negotiating costs. Other chapters discuss how to work with a rep and a marketing coordinator. Throughout the book, first-person accounts by successful photographers add welcome practical details. While the level of detail on most topics is unusually thorough (where else are you likely to read about how to leave a voice mail message for a potential client?), a few areas could profitably be expanded or tweaked. There is a lot more to be said about styles and pitfalls of Web marketing, and the chapter on press releases could use the cautionary advice of someone on the other side (a newspaper or magazine editor). And maybe the next edition could lose all those distracting exclamation marks. Piscopo's cheerful, down-to-earth style is plenty persuasive without them. --Cathy Curtis
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Substandard reading- Not worth your money:
This book sounds like a sales person yelling in your ear. The author is NOT an experienced photographer, nor does the author offer any resonable, useful tips. Very outdated material also, from 1995-1999! Its not helpful for the serious digital or medium format photographer or even for an amateur. Its simply a waste of money. Amazon has better books for serious photographers for sure.
Best photography marketing book I've ever read.:
I really like this book a lot, and would recommend it to ANYone who is interested in learning more about photography marketing; more specifically, the different types of marketing. It's written by a marketing specialist who works with photographers on marketing their own businesses. As a result, the book doesn't have many pictures, or a very interesting layout, but then again, it is a marketing book. I liked the testimonials given by professional photographers. They were very pertinent to the... more info
Good Quality book, easy to read and understand:
Even a novice with only a little bit of understanding of how the marketing and business aspects of life work, will find this book easy to understand. Its stragit forward approach with real life examples and situations makes me understand it and look back on the information for later. The price of the book with the photographers market 2005 book makes it a deal!
OK information:
This book has some good information, but I was expecting a lot more. I would recommend "The Business of Studio Photography" by Lilley instead.
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