Hi everyone,
Very nervous to share today how I am climbing cringe mountain and doing a little voice reveal. This is the first voice recording for this newsletter where I am yapping and answering your questions from the Advice Sessions. Hope you enjoy it.
I received a lot of questions and wasn’t able to answer all of them. If you liked it, leave a comment and I can make a new episode with the remaining questions. If you want me to answer your question, feel free to submit here.
Here are some written key take-aways from the advice I gave. Please note that everything is based on my personal preference and experience in the industry, there is absolutely many many ways to break in or present your work. No one really does the same thing!
The insights go in way more detail in the episode. This is just a short summary :) I’m also sharing some anecdotes.
Key take-aways
If you apply for jobs, but feel like your degree or current background does not necessarily speak to what you want to achieve..
Try to build some personal projects that speak to it.
Rethink how you apply for a brand in a creative way and try to stand out that way.
Give the brand something they want to see. A mini concept for social content + an analysis of how to improve or a photoshoot idea if you were part of the team that can be part of the application.
Tell them you have a lot of ideas and ask for a (virtual) coffee. This shifts the focus from your background to what you are offering them right now.
If you want to build a portfolio without paying clients…
Enter competitions or open briefs and add this work to your portfolio (whether you got awarded for it or not).
Collaborate with local photographers, stylists or other creatives and connect through Instagram localised ads.
Create a concept and reach out to a photographer your level or slightly higher and ask to bring it to life. You could also try to pitch it to an online or independent magazine.
Use AI to bring an insight and concept to life, but do add a human touch to it. Add your own typography or make a collage out of it. Do printing and scanning techniques or mixed media.
Learn a new skill and actually make stuff yourself in Adobe or through photography or illustration. This shows more skills.
Each out to small local brands in your area and offer work for free to add to your portfolio. You can ask to borrow the product, so you have a name to add to your book.
How to turn a passion project into a portfolio project…
Clearly state it’s a personal/mock up project.
Write the insight or starting point in one simple sentence, then write your solution and 1-2 sentences on the visual concept and how you brought it to life.
Have a strong title.
Then show a visual flow of the images, you can add some in in situation mock-ups to make the project feel more real and well-rounded.
Keep your portfolio simple, clean and not too much text.
Say what you want to communicate and maybe write skills used.
Your end goal does not have to be what you apply for..
Get your foot in the door at any creative company in any position (but try to get as close to what you want to be).
Once you are in you can ask to be in brainstorm meetings or share pro-active work and ideas, chat to creative directors or resource managers about your ambitions and slowly proof yourself to get into the role you want.
From here you can get the title and then apply for other gigs that are closer to your final goals.
Programs I use on a daily basis…
Keynote/Google Slides
Adobe Photoshop
Figma
I also use Slack, powerpoint, google docs, InDesign, PremierePro and Lightroom but you don’t have to be good at these. Next to that it’s usually Google Meet, Zoom & Microsoft Teams.
If you want to transition from one background to a new place…
Don’t reject your background, but try to use it to your advantage to be different in the industry. E.G. combining food photography with fashion (jewellery x food art direction concepts).
Slowly archive your old work and make sure everything feels consistent.
You can make pdf portfolios of your old work and do client outreach with that. Not all the work you create has to be posted on your portfolio or Instagram.
Think about what you want your name to be attached to or known for, post only that work online. The rest can sit in PDF’s as examples to bring in paid jobs.
Apply for dream brands through creative agencies/studios. Research what agencies work with what clients, it’s much easier to get the brands in your portfolio this way and easier to reach out.
AD’s role on set…
Make sure the images communicate what you want (concept).
Direct when things don’t work well.
Make sure all elements work together: styling, set, lighting, movement
Brief everyone on set and before.
Check deliverables and shotlist, make sure nothing is missed.
Overview every detail.
Keep an eye out on the Art Direction chat to not miss announcements like submitting questions etc. I’m working on a very exciting project, more details in the chat from a few days ago!
Also I got a few questions if I do paid mentorship programs and sessions. And the answer at the moment is not yet, because I haven’t had the time to think of how I would structure it. When I have some more time on my plate this summer I am considering if starting this, but likely a 4 week program because I feel like 1 session is a very short time to get to know each other and really help. When it will happen, I will probably limit it to just 3-5 people only. But I will definitely announce it on my newsletter :) <3
Xx Zoe
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