Let's Talk: About how to meet your favorite Photographer
I get a few messages a week to meet up and "shoot" with folks who are in my area. Often I meet with folks and sometimes my schedule doesn't allow it. I feel bad when I can't make it out.
In an attempt to offer my apologies, I have created this handy guide of "How to meet your favorite Instagram photographer".
Do's:
- Invite them to a photogenic adventure that they couldn't do without you. Give them value here: like the kid in high school whose Dad had a boat. If you have a planned adventure that you put resources into, invite them to come along no strings attached.
- Be persistent but not annoying. Reach out politely and enthusiastically with the invite. Tell them the high points. They will ignore you. This is not on purpose. They are busy and they get messages every day asking to meet. Yours has to cut through the clutter. Bring value.
- Be flexible. It may be that the schedule of your adventure doesn't work for them. Be ready to adjust if needed. Don't be desperate, but offer to adjust if they mention it might not work with their schedule. Keep in mind that they don't need to meet you, but would probably do it if the stars aligned. Make the stars align.
Dont's:
- Offer to meet and shoot. What the actual heck?! They don't need you onsite taking the same photos as them and telling cringy stories of how you went to every location they have been to in the PNW. Photographers want friends, adventure partners that look good in photos, and most of all a good story to tell. You offering your amateur photo skills and fan adoration doesn't help. No value = no return message.
- Get pissed when they decline. Just because their schedule/needs don't align with yours at the moment doesn't mean these folks are bad people. It means you didn't give them what they needed. They literally have 10's of messages a day with this attitude. keep your chin up and figure out another way to make it happen.
- Be a waterfall of questions when you actually meet. Take 'er easy man, this is a marathon, not a sprint. If you act like this is the only time you will ever get to chat with your hero, it will be. Ask them questions about themselves that actually have value for them. Ya' know like "where you from?" or "what kind of local knowledge could I help with?". Stay away from questions like "will you share your Lightroom presets with me?" for now.
Ok, you are now armed with the most basic skills to meet your Insta Hero. Start making plans and make damn sure of one thing: Bring them value that they want (have I said this? =)
-Isaac
