Question about emailing local photographers

[Sollie_Nevina]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this, so sorry if you have to move it.

Someone told me that I should start emailing local photographers, just to see if they need help, make contacts, even just to get any tips from them at all. So I wrote up a message and was about to send it when someone else said that the message was rude and presumptuous. So I'm gonna post it here and see what you guys think. If you received this email, what would you think?

Hello.

My name is Briana . I found your website from the 's web page. I am trying to learn more about photography and it's various career paths.

Are there any tips or advice you would like to share? An open assistant position? Any "what not to do" tips or anecdotes?

I understand you are probably very busy. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,
Briana

[kirbinster]

While I don't really like the way it is worded, I don't see anything rude or presumptuous about it.

[dakwegmo]

To me this reads as quite terse. I don't think it's necessarily rude, but here's something to think about. You acknowledge that the person you're contacting is probably very busy, and that you're asking for some of their time. However, you haven't really shown that this message was even worth your time to compose a complete message. You've told them virtually nothing about yourself like why you're trying to find these things out, or what you intend to do with the information once you have it. Also, two of the three questions you ask aren't even complete sentences. If someone sent you and email that said "An open assistant position?" would you think, this is the type of hardworking, detail oriented, committed person I need to help me with my work? You don't need to write your life story, but tell about who you are, why you're doing this research, and be sure to use proper grammar. You're not chatting with friends, you're looking to make a professional contact so you shold come across as a professional.

[Sollie_Nevina]

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

To me this reads as quite terse. I don't think it's necessarily rude, but here's something to think about. You acknowledge that the person you're contacting is probably very busy, and that you're asking for some of their time. However, you haven't really shown that this message was even worth your time to compose a complete message. You've told them virtually nothing about yourself like why you're trying to find these things out, or what you intend to do with the information once you have it. Also, two of the three questions you ask aren't even complete sentences. If someone sent you and email that said "An open assistant position?" would you think, this is the type of hardworking, detail oriented, committed person I need to help me with my work? You don't need to write your life story, but tell about who you are, why you're doing this research, and be sure to use proper grammar. You're not chatting with friends, you're looking to make a professional contact so you shold come across as a professional.

Fair enough.

I am a very shy person in real life, and since I'm new to the forum I probably haven't shown it here yet, so the prospect of emailing someone I don't know really unnerves me. When I'm unnerved I resort to extremely short sentences (and the 3 not complete sentences are a lack of sleep+typing one handed with a baby lol). Thank you for your opinion.

I knew it was short but I just could not think of how to phrase what I wanted to ask and still be professional. You gave me a lot to think about. So thank you again.

Kirbinster, I'll work on rewording it. could you explain moreso why you don't like how it's worded?

[jeff.amadon]

It's not rude or presumptuous, but it'll probably get ignored.

The problem is that you're treating this like a nice, little social thing; but the people you're trying to get to know aren't in the business of making friends or helping out newbies, they're in the business of making money (though, they're photographers, so how likely is that, really )

So in that sense, you need to deal with them like a real, professional person, not a facebook buddy. And if you're really trying to get a job out of them, you should approach it as such. Your email really should be a cover letter. Or better yet, get a portfolio together (even if it sucks! It should at least show your potential), write a resume, put on nice clothes, and go to their office.

In the worst case, they'll say (for example) "no, you don't have experience cleaning coffee mugs and that's really what I need right now". Rejection sucks, but did you spot the hidden clue? They just told you what skill is valuable to them. So go out and get a certificate in coffee-mug cleaning, and then go back.

The key is: you have to be able to offer something to them, other than your devotion. Again, it's a business. Tough as it seems, no one's going to scratch your back if you don't offer to do the same somehow. Put yourself in their shoes: why would they hire you as an assistant? What value could you bring to them? What separates you from the throngs of photo students and other people clamoring to be their assistant (I'm assuming a lot here - but you should always assume you're up against some kind of competition) If you can answer those questions, well - there's your pitch. If you can't answer them, you have some work to do.

These types of things involve getting out of your comfort zone which I know is tough for us shy people. But it all pays off. And the bonus in this case is: if you can do it for your hobby, it's a useful skill for the rest of your life, too.

[edit: Okay, you might not really be seriously pursuing a job, just looking for advice - in which case, take all of the above and ratchet it back about 20% - but the principle is still the same: offer them some value.]

[candidrachel]

jeff.armadon gave some great tips! I'm shy too so I can sympathize with that but many people have said that its a very endearing quality and much better than a loud mouth buffoon! I agree that you stand a better chance if you wrote a proper letter and send it snail mail.

Your email didn't exude any really enthusiasm, passion or experience. Its not rude.

Like Jeff suggested a portfolio is good place to start and once you have sent your letter and haven't heard anything you can then get your best togs on and take a trip to visit and show what you are capable of.

[Sollie_Nevina]

@ Jeff: Thank you! I've never been much good with cover letters. (Not a pity me moment, just a fact) I have really low self esteem, so trying to sell myself is hard. If I get the job, I know I'll prove I'm good, but having to convince someone else that I'm good for the job in a letter is just hard for me. Thanks for your advice.

@Candid Rachel: I have an online portfolio, but should I get a printed one done currently? Or would an online one be fine for an email? Also, I believe the reason I have no "passion" as you say is because I wrote that after 5 hours of sleep for the past 2.5 days.

Thank you everyone for your answers and advice. I am only just now realizing how sleep deprived I was when I wrote that initial letter.

My friend still thinks I'm rude simply because I'm emailing someone who doesn't even know me and who hasn't asked for assistants or offered to give advice...

[candidrachel]

Here is a bit of free advice I have seriously learnt in life:

Never discuss your best laid plans with friends or family because you will invariably get the worst advice possible. Keep your own councel and only listen to either yourself or people who are on the same page as you and willing to support you in your endeavours.

That friend of yours..... seriously don't listen to her/him. You'll never get anywhere and if you don't ask you don't get. Look at all the successful entrepreneurs out there in the big wide world. They never worried about appearing rude and nor did they hold back about coming forwards.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by Sollie_Nevina

@ Jeff: Thank you! I've never been much good with cover letters. (Not a pity me moment, just a fact) I have really low self esteem, so trying to sell myself is hard. If I get the job, I know I'll prove I'm good, but having to convince someone else that I'm good for the job in a letter is just hard for me. Thanks for your advice.

@Candid Rachel: I have an online portfolio, but should I get a printed one done currently? Or would an online one be fine for an email? Also, I believe the reason I have no "passion" as you say is because I wrote that after 5 hours of sleep for the past 2.5 days.

Thank you everyone for your answers and advice. I am only just now realizing how sleep deprived I was when I wrote that initial letter.

My friend still thinks I'm rude simply because I'm emailing someone who doesn't even know me and who hasn't asked for assistants or offered to give advice...

I would print some kind of portfolio of your best work, get dressed, and go meet these people in person. I am very shy as well, but I am also a manager, and if someone sends me an email, or a faxed resume, it usually hits file #9. It may just be me, but it does come off somewhat presumptous.

My thoughts, if you can't see me in person, and tell me about yourself, it probably wouldn't work. I work in a customer service industry, much like photography, where face to face skills are a necessity. When I am met with a new situation, or people, I just have to suck it up, or miss out on a good opportunity. And believe me, I have missed my fair share.

If you have to, just use the old speech giver's analogy, and imagine everyone naked. It works for me!

[Peter Ahrens]

Hi. I think you're on the right track.

You just have to add your own personality. Think about how you would talk to someone who was your friend, not a professional photographer.

Be sure you check all your spelling and grammar too. You probably wrote this post quickly so I don't want to assume.