When you develop a style it will not suit every brand and that's totally okay. This will help you stand out from the crowd.

Initially, when I started to shoot outside I felt like my work wasn't intimate enough. Couldn't quite get the emotion I was looking for.

After multiple shoots, I started seeing a certain similarity in my work.
Trying shooting the same concept twice with different models and team. Every single time the result will be different but there a few aspects that would bring it all together. Pre-light the set prior to the shoot. That way you have rehearsed with the lighting before working with the team.

Focus on what defines you and what sets you apart from others.
If someone is looking at your work they would be able to associate it as yours. People should be able to see the same vibe running through all of your work. That's how I approach every single task today and I work on improving this to this day. And that's okay.

Sometimes people don't like to wait too long to receive a response from you. Try automating this part of your job. Setup a form on your website which will automatically send a message to the person(check out convertkit or mailchimp) which will describe your services in detail.

Pick a specific core benefit that you will provide as opposed to being general. Find an area that you are passionate about and what will bring value.

"I am passionate about fashion photography and I want to support small scale businesses that produce their product in a sustainable manner. I believe if these businesses have great content then they would have a wider reach thereby changing the landscape of the fashion industry."

Sometimes people don't like to wait too long to receive a response from you. Try automating this part of your job. Setup a form on your website which will automatically send a message to the person(check out convertkit or mailchimp) which will describe your services in detail.

Pick a specific core benefit that you will provide as opposed to being general. Find an area that you are passionate about and what will bring value.

"I am passionate about fashion photography and I want to support small scale businesses that produce their product in a sustainable manner. I believe if these businesses have great content then they would have a wider reach thereby changing the landscape of the fashion industry. "

How can you add value to the client's business? Some options you can provide: quick edits for IG stories, editing a reel or providing additional behind the scenes. It's better to promise a set of items and then over-deliver.

I will help clients with _________ .

After working with me with will receive the "first benefit" + "secondary benefit".

Apart from having a chance to make connections and meet amazing creatives down the road. Photography is skill that can be successfully paired with another complimenting business. Founding a modeling agency or starting a clothing brand.

You can also approach an upcoming fashion designer and offer a partnership in exchange for developing content. Similarly you can also work with influencers who are promoting products and need material.

Keep a reference folder and group them according to the concepts that you will shoot. Group them according to tone or model's emotion. When you will reference them for your editorials you will start noticing similarities in your work. And these components will amount to your aesthetic.

Another way is to pick a theme or a project. When I started shooting on film neon shoots were trending. I focused on shooting neon lights at work at night. I would contact models and interesting people and ask if they wanted to shoot on 35mm film. Most of these models never shot on film before so my concept appealed to them. These were simple shoots where I would send clothing and make-up references the day before the shoot. The model would style herself and I would bring a couple of extra options too.

Chances are that if you send your pitch to the default email address provided on the website you won't receive a response. It will help you immensely if you do you research and know exactly to whom you are addressing this email to. An easy way to do this is to find the name of the person.

Option 1:
Google the following:
" <<brand name>> marketing linkedin "
" <<brand name>> content manager linkedin "
" <<brand name>> brand manager linkedin"
" <<brand name>> PR linkedin"

Option 2:
For the email check out the privacy policy page and look for the listed email.

For example here:
info@thebrand.com
Name: Victoria Kuzmina

Possible email variations are a combination of first and last names.
victoria@thebrand.com
vkuzmina@thebrand.com
victoria.kuzmina@thebrand.com

You don't lose anything by doing this. The worst would be that the worst that can happen is that the person wouldn't respond to you. If the email doesn't go through it will bounce back. There also options like Mailtracker to get notified when your message has been checked.

If there is no email you can message the brand directly on IG.
"I am a fashion photographer based in Vancouver and that I would like to inquire about a potential photoshoot. What's the best way to get in touch with your PR?"

Option 3:
Look up whom influencers and other photographers are following IG. You will be able to find the right people to reach out to - PR or brand managers.

Be ready that 90% of the time you wouldn't hear back right away. Give it a week before sending a follow-up email. Sometimes people check your email and just forget to get back to you. By following up it shows that you are serious about working together.

Be ready to jump on a call with them if required. Brainstorm some questions that you can ask them in your call. Like previously I've spoken to a local jewellery brand and I've inquired about how they get their product into different boutiques. I was surprised to know that it used to be much easier before internet days where you can just walk into a boutique and present what you have. But now you are expected to have a certain following on social media to get your product into stores. My talk with them wasn't related to my photography work but showed that I was interested to know their story.

Its all about connecting cause if your work wasn't quite fitting into their aesthetic they wouldn't get back to you initially. So just be confident.

Instagram
Follow local talent agencies and you will see what clients are hiring in your area. There is dropdown menu on IG which will show you the list of pages that are alike.
You can also engourage the instagram algorithm to show you sponsored posts by clicking on those that relevant to you. If a brand is spending money on promotion its a good indicator that they have a marketing budget.

Word of Mouth
During preparation ask the model and the team what jobs they have taken up lately. Also, ask them about their memorable shoots so far. I've actually found a few brands that didn't have much of a following on social media but would be potentially interesting to work for.

Other Industries
If you aren't perusing fashion there are other areas that are looking to hire photographers. This could be a small business, restaurants or musicians. We live in a visual time and many companies are looking to hire photographers to craft their image for social media. There can be a new restaurant or a shop opening in your area and maybe they are looking to hire a photographer to photograph their menu.

Make sure:

• Give a brief introduction and mention what sets you apart from others.
• Focus on what you can do for them and how you can help elevate their brand image

Hello Tarra,
Hope you are well. I'm Priya, a content creator from Vancouver. I'm spending this Spring/Summer in Moscow and I have an engaging shoot proposal for "The Brand" through the vibrant streets of Moscow. I believe your pieces would be a great match for it and that this editorial would be a great addition to your social media. Shoot overview is attached. My latest work can be found on my website.
I'd love to discuss further working with "the brand".
Best,
Priya

If you have a model that you are planning to shoot with then link to her IG. Attach images of your pre-scouted shoot location. If you don't have a location then describe where you are planning to shoot in the content of your email.
If you don't receive a response then follow up in about a week.

After you heard back send them further details as to what exactly they can expect from the shoot(number of images, timeline, usage, etc). Make a list of items that you are looking to borrow.

When everything goes and you have completed your shoot make sure to attach the credit list of the full team involved.

Where you wakeup
If there is something about your living space that's not uplifting you then change it. One of the first apartments I could rent was in an old building. The apartment had small windows, the water wouldn't go down properly from any of the sinks and I woke up every morning from garbage trucks that were right outside my window. I never felt comfortable spending any time there by myself.

It wasn't the best time of life in general. I ended almost getting expelled from film school and was a weird time for me where I didn't quite connect with anyone. My parents were going through a divorce at that time and weren't around much for me. My own long term relationship just fell apart. Was slowly falling into depression and just feeling unmotivated.

Sometimes I would walk around neighbourhoods that I liked. There is one house that I stopped on and decided to arrange a viewing. Even though I couldn't afford it. There was one apartment that they were finishing renovations on and when I walked into it I felt an immediate flush of positive emotions. It was bright and had big windows. It was a risk for me since I was already living off my credit card(not a good example).

The day I moved into this new apartment I got some responses from people I've been trying to reach out to for months. Shortly after that I got a job that lifted my income substantially. I was feeling inspired and my personal life started taking a new turn. I know that this is a long explanation but I want to share my personal story and the lesson I learned. I know that it doesn't make sense to spend unnecessary money on rent but it's worth treating it as an investment.

See what changes that it can bring into your life. It might be well worth the money.

Surround yourself with people you look up to
This is a big one. Look around people that are elder to you and who are much further ahead to you their careers and life experience. Is there anyone you want to be alike within ten or maybe twenty years down the line? If yes, then that's amazing and you are on the right path.

There are also people that are just plain out negative about life. Sometimes people discourage you from doing things because their idea and exposure to the world is a lot different from yours. They also have different experiences and beliefs than you and might be going through a rough time themselves.
These relationships are toxic for you and at times this person can even be a part of your family. Just avoid being pulled down by this kind of people. Distance yourself from them. I know that this sounds selfish but it is necessary to avoid any creative blocks.

Finally, surround yourself with people you want to be more alike with. That you share common goals and interests with. They will offer you support and encourage you to continue on your path.

Try to travel often and move cities once in a while. This really opens your mind to different cultures and shapes your understanding of the world.

Spend more time alone
When you are alone with your thoughts it's a perfect time to reflect. You might have issues working on anything creative when you are constantly surrounded by people. It's important to take for yourself.

When you spend time alone it clears your mind. It can even involve taking a walk or even exploring a city on your own. Have you ever travelled alone? I never thought I would enjoy it until I had unexpectedly had to travel by myself. I explored Hong Kong at night and walked through the busy markets. It was mystical.

Procrastination
Always gets to me. Your toughest step is the first one.
Opening the laptop to start brainstorming or researching. Opening the notebook to take notes. When I sit down to work it usually goes pretty smoothly from there. I get distracted by emails that I know I can answer later or just mindlessly surfing through youtube.

What has helped me is to have a planner book. Which I fill out the day before I go to sleep. This way I have a couple of tasks that are already planned when I wake up. Although I rarely get through the completing list by the end of the day and definitely make better progress than if I don't have a list.

What you put in your body
A healthy gut leads to a healthy mind. Scientific research has shown that the type of bacteria in your gut can affect your mood. In some instances, a certain overpopulation of harmful bacteria can be found in people with depression or other health issues. If you eat and treat your body well you feel energized. It's not possible to function on a creative level if there is something bothering you.

Things that have worked for certain people might not be of use to you. There might be a sport that everyone seems to be doing but you find that you don't quite enjoy it and end up not following through.

Explore your body. Find what works best for you.