The Fall Guy

Just got back from DC and was talking with some people today in a meeting I had to attend (while fighting off a slight cold), and I mentioned something that I think made their opinion about me change within one word: retainers. I was talking about the trip and how its my 2nd in as many weeks, but its one of my trusted clients and how I value retainers over “the big dollar” anyday, and I guess I turned from “just a photographer” to “businessman who does photography” in one single word.
I also had this convo with one of my trusted clients, who’s doing MAJOR things right now might I add – you’re only as good as your last regular client in the photography world. You have some others out there who feel the need to …. brag about their list of people they’ve worked with, which is all cool and dandy, but the problem there: I’m certain most of them don’t have them as retainers, even if its an occassional workload scenario. And with these economic times right now, retainers are like GOLD, because now you have people who just won’t spend freely on photographers like it once was a couple of years ago. I think my retainer rate over my 7 year run has CLEARLY been over 50%, with even some people who I no longer work with I’m still cool with, and generally try and make sure they are still getting the proper services they need, even if I can’t provide them.

Hopefully I’ll get back to a regular schedule very soon and finish up Season 3 of Glamours Edge+add more of my portfolio to CHELCA as well.