Someone reached out and asked if I would speak about the print pieces I carry with me and also about why I carry these small items. And being the provider I am, I decided to fulfill the request. Now, as I’ve mentioned many, many times, I am NOT actively seeking photography work.
I love to photograph but I don’t love BEING a photographer.
On the flip side, I love meeting interesting people, and when I meet those people and the mood is right, I will drop a print piece in their lap. Social media? Maybe, depending on your needs. Website? Yep. But there isn’t anything quite like a printed piece to break the ice and garner the ever-important undivided attention. I use the MagCloud Digest.
Comments 11
Bang on. I hate emails. Now that I print my own stuff people are getting my stuff in paper form more and more. Print something and mail, like you said, it’s even better if you can make it relatable to that person. I do need improve my website. I’m still a bit all over the place with many things but I feel like I’m getting there, slowly finding what I love photographing and interconnecting that with other things I love.
Author
For some reason, I LOVE having a site. I don’t so much to bring attention to it but it feels great because it’s mine. The YouTube thing is interesting and I just rolled 12,000 subscribers, which is crazy. But, it’s an algorithm. That’s it. It didn’t used to be this way but it surely is now. The site, however, is just me.
Dan, yes your web site is yours and that’s great! Love that concept as well. Youtube is more of an algorithm than it used to be but it still “feels” like they cares a bit more about the creators than most other platforms. Still if I can just get some momentum with my site I’d be happy.
This was great Dan! This also gives me some interesting design ideas! I especially agree with the confrontation element, i.e., the experience of getting someone to look at your book also tells something about them. And just to add a little bit – I have found that carrying around these types of little books when one is wandering around (as I tend to do) can be rather helpful to make yourself more explicable (e.g., oh, you’re a photographer!), which is actually my main application of this. Certainly not one size fits all, but it can serve a “passport” function at times.
Author
A visual passport. I like that, a lot. I’ve used them with police as well. When I was stopped while making work. I did have one cop throw it at me but otherwise it seemed to help diffuse the situation.
The idea is brilliant, the printed version is much better and more interesting. It will not be lost in digital data, it can just lie on a shelf, to be viewed at any time. I have several pdf files that are similar to your promo, all of them are printed in a regular copy shop which is mainly used by students from the student campus. Over the last two or three years my email has turned into a garbage can, there are more unwanted things than what I need, I keep deleting it but it’s a Sisyphean job… try find something there…
Author
Maciek, I have to purge email on a regular basis. The great “unsubscribe’ efforts I must undertake at least four times a year. Amazing how many photographers sign me up to their worlds without asking. Very odd. Print is the calm in the storm.
This is relevant to me, Dan. I’ve just received a Blurb Trade book (softcover, 20-odd pages) to put in my small camera bag. I’ll use it as an introduction to my photography and, if necessary, a validation of my presence in any given situation. It’s also a maquette of sorts for a hopefully larger body of work.
The Trade book is fit for purpose. I’ve made them in b&w previously and they were acceptable, but this time I printed in colour and the results are borderline due to the paper used in Trade books.
The Blurb photobooks offer a (good) choice of papers, but don’t offer 6″ x 9″ – which is the optimum size for my bag, so the Digest offerings are intriguing, especially as the offer saddle-stitch, which will allow me to print double page, unlike Blurb. So, how would you describe the paper of the Digest books compared to Trade?
Thanks for any help.
Author
Hey Mike,
What paper did you use? Make sure you use “Standard Color” if you are using illustrated content. That is what I use for AG23, so it looks good. It’s the most expensive paper in Trade but still very affordable. I love Trade and probably make more of that format than anything else. Digest paper is coated. I would compare it to the standard Blurb photobook paper. Coated, great blacks and color but semi-thin. But as you can see, it looks damn good.
It’s a great idea. I’ve heard you explain the concept before, but it’s fun to revisit it.
Author
For sure. New work, new promos.