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.
