How to make Money from an Unpaid Photoshoot
(My story on how I landed a client from Spec work)
If you create lifestyle photo and video content, listen up.
Before we dive into how I made something from nothing (literally), let me share some backstory.
I had just gone full time into my business (April 2023) and had to find client work. I had a decent portfolio, but it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. There was a certain type of client I wanted to attract, so I began doing LOT’S of research on different brands.
One day while researching on Instagram, I stumbled across this brand, Halfday Iced Tea, and knew I wanted to create content for them (and brands like them)!
So what did I do? 🤷♂️
Here’s what I did:
(April 21) Researched the brand & found an email for head of marketing
Created a moodboard & ideas/concepts to shoot
Created a photo shotlist & storyboard for video
Found talent, crew & location
Bought props
SHOOT DAY!
Editing
Sent over a customized gallery of deliverables (photo & video) to the brand
They loved the deliverables! (Yay)
Hopped on a discovery call
Didn't hear back for a lonngggg time (3.5 months)
Finally heard back - they wanna work together, yay!
Contract signed & retainer paid
Started planning our first shoot
Shoot day, woo woo!
Editing
(Dec. 21st) Sent over final deliverables!
Remember though - It took 9 MONTHS, y'all.
Here are some of the lifestyle photos I captured for this spec shoot:
As I mentioned, this spec shot eventually lead to us working together on a project. For this project we created images in studio to be used on their website, email marketing and paid ads.
⬅ one of my images found on Facebook paid ads
To view the full gallery, head here :)
Key Takeaways:
Treat spec shoots like they’re your own clients:
I put a lot of time into the pre-production of the shoot - talent casting, prop sourcing, location scouting
Spec work often times can be your best work
You don’t have as many restrictions, creative parameters, or time constraints; so GO ALL OUT & have FUN!
Brands LOVE when you go out of your way to make content to them! It’s one of the BEST ways to get their attention and build trust with them.
“Show vs tell” - you don’t have to try to convince them, because they can clearly SEE that you get it!
On our first call, they told me that they TRUST me because of the work I already created that aligns with their brand really well.
I didn’t make money overnight - it took persistence & patience.
All I heard was radio silence for months… that sucked. But I waited it out, and when the brand was ready they reached out to start planning a shoot!
The chances of a brand finding you (when you’ve only been in the game for a month) are slim to none. You NEED to go out of your way and prove to them why they should hire you to create amazing content for them.
Conclusion
If you’ve stuck around to the end and this resonates with you or encourages you, I’d love to connect! Feel free to follow me on Instagram & LinkedIn, and let’s connect there!
If you’re a brand reading this and are in need of lifestyle photos and/or videos for your brand, you can book a Discovery call here!
