Another Rough Draft?

 Here is my next rough draft. touched up a few places and added more information.

              I’ve always thought that when it comes to writing, it’s just authors, English teachers, and students who do it. Being a Professional Photography student, I decided to study the type of writing, if any, a Photographer has to be able to do whether it’s communicating efficiently with future clients or emails for potential clients. I’m going to discuss these writings, analyze their conventions, and genres that even a visual artist must apply to their field.

            For a Photographer, a job doesn’t start with an image that has already been shot, edited, and processed, it starts with an email. In this email a lot of things come together to not only provide effective communication, but also to give a sense of who the individual is as a professional and artist. This first stream of communication with a new client tells them a little bit about what it is going to be like working with you. No one wants to hire the person who starts an email with “bro” and communicates saying using the terms like, kinda, or I guess. They need someone who can communicate their vision, show they understand what the client wants, and provide easy to follow details. This does not mean sound like a corporate robot, there is a level of formality and a level of casualty that sound be incorporated into the communication.

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I interviewed Brooks Institute alumni Bobby Curtis to explain to me how an email typically looks between new and old clients in regards to formality and how he communicates with them. Curtis graduated Brooks Institute in the visual journalism program. While he does do some visual journalism work, he also does a lot of Photography and Videography work. He has worked with ESPN at UFC, worked for NBA Photographer Andrew D. Bernstein, worked alongside National Geographic Photographers, photographed artists such as Max Cash, and has covered five marathons for Lexus. This is why I believe this made him the perfect candidate to help me learn and understand writing that visual artists have to do. He gave me the example to think of a new client as a new friendship; at first you are quite formal, but not completely, but as the relationship grows and develops, so does the level of formality, this does not mean all formality is dropped after a certain amount of time.

When Curtis begins communication with a new client he uses the same conventions and genres as we leaned in class. So, the email begins with a simple greeting before continuing on to state who you are, why you are interested in them, what your job is, what you’ve done for past clients, who you’ve worked for, and closing by thanking them or wishing them well. After Curtis has done this he then proceeds to insert his personal signature at the end of his email that includes his website link, email, back-up email, and phone numbers. He had also showed me an

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example of what his emails look like and he also inserts a special heading that displays his company name, Bobby Curtis Photography, at the top of the email. Bobby also shared a story with me about an individual he knew who tried to get a company to hire him by sending an email. In the story he talked about how this Photographer seemed very self-absorbed, used vulgar language as to “cut the bullshit”, and then would “kiss ass.” Needless to say, this Photographer did not get the job. Bobby explained to me that it’s important to be formal, but still casual, not to go out of your way to use big words, be yourself, be genuine, research and understand the company you are trying to work for, and then your work will speak for yourself. All of these things we have discussed in class as the correct genre and conventions to use in order to achieve of positive email in return. As the client relationship grows it become less formal and maybe even sometimes take he form of a text. However, the genre and convention are still the same. So, once the relationship has developed and the client emails you first, the email will still have a greeting, explain why they are contacting you, ask if you’re available, when the job will be, what the job is, ask if you’re interested, and inform you of payment details. The email still has the casual greeting, information on the assignment just like you provided information about yourself, what they want you to do just like how you told them what you can do, inquired for a job, and gave well-wishing.

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After the emails are out of the way and the photographer begins pre-production, the client and the artist still have to keep close communication. Whether it be a last minute change in set design, deadline adjustments, or even throwing out new ideas because next to the actual images, client relationship and communication is important. Bobby told me how there is a constant stream of emails, phone calls, and meetings throughout the entire production all of which requires crystal clear communication. While at this point, it’s far less formal communication and more business, you still have to treat it with care especially because you will encounter

clients who know exactly what they want and some who don’t. In order to assure you or the client knows what you want or can do for them, the wording in the emails

must be easy to follow to explain what you want to do in detail. I asked Bobby for any tips or advice on the matter and he responded with,  “Give options, but give options you want to do. Always word it so it works in your favour.”

I was able to briefly discuss artist statements with Bobby Curtis. After reading his statement, I recognized the conventions of it that we discussed in class. He has why he does Photography, awards he’s accepted, jobs he has had, and clients he has worked for. “[However,] I’m constantly writing and deleting.” He expressed to me how it’s important to keep your artist statement current. As your work changes, so should your artist statement in order to help it relate to the work that if on your webpage or work that is about to be put up.

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Lastly, I asked Bobby Curtis the most important question; Do you think that being able to write effectively and using the right genres and conventions holds an important role in everything, including something as artistic as Photography? He replied simply with “yes.” After listening to all of his stories and answering all of my questions, I too believe this. At first, I thought that clients know that artists were sort of free birds making formality, or using appropriate genres and conventions for communication, less of a requirement in showing their level of professionalism. However, I have realized that everyone must acquire the rhetoric expertise for their careers or feilds, artistic or not. Clients want someone they can clearly communicate with, who are able to deal with details and information and respond accordingly. The initial email is their first impression of you so you want present yourself as a professional who knows what they are talking about and be able to show that in that first level of communication. As long time Brooks Institute faculty member Paul Meyer would say, this is what helps separate amateurs from professionals. So, really the question is, Do you want to be taken seriously?

            In conclusion, everyone has to write no matter the field and they have to be able to write well. Before completing this assignment, I reluctantly believed that this assignment wouldn’t help me in the future and it was just busy work. However, I finally came to the realization that everyone, even artists, have to be able to write and do it well This interview has shown me and helped me realize how important it

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is to have or gain an understanding of conventions and genres of any field because it can help you monumentally succeed and handle any writing situation.