As a event photographer, getting more festival photography jobs can be a challenge. However, if you shift your mindset to one that is focused on offering value to festival and event organizers, you can set yourself apart from the competition and attract more work.
If there is one thing I want you to take away from reading this blogpost, it is this" Getting more festival photography jobs, but it's about how you can be a valuable in the eyes of the person that can make the decision to hire you.
Here are some tips on how to get more festival photography jobs with a mindset of offering value:
Tip 1. Understand the festival's needs
Before you can offer value, you need to understand what the festival organizers are looking for. Take the time to research the festival and learn about what makes their festival unique? By doing this, you can tailor your services to meet their needs and expectations.
Tip 2. Be a reliable photographer to work with
One of the best ways to offer value is by being reliable. Show up on time, be prepared, and deliver your work on schedule. When festival clients know they can count on you, they are more likely to hire you for future events and recommend you to others.
Tip 3. Deliver your photography service above expectations
Offering value means going above and beyond what is expected. Taking awesome photos will be the most important, but it's not the only thing that matters. This could also mean staying longer than you were contracted for, delivering more photos, or providing fun memories for your client at the festival. I sometimes offer to shoot a nice portrait of my contact person and try to have professional fun, (when the time is right for this) with them when working at the festival.
Free E-book!
📖 Get access to festivals and events! Download for free! 📸
Tip 4. Invest in the relationship with your client
Building relationships with festival organizers is important if you want to get more festival photography jobs. Take the time to get to know the organizers and show genuine interest in their festival. By doing this, you will be more likely to be top of mind when they are looking for a photographer for their next festival.
Tip 5. Invest in the relationship with other photographers
Building relationships with other festival photographers is also important if you want to get more work. Because other colleague photographers can be a good reference to new clients. And if a befriended photographer is not able to do an assignment, there is a big chance he or she will ask your to shoot the festival instead of them.
Tip 6. Provide a unique perspective
As a festival photographer, you have a unique perspective that can add value to festival-visitors reliving of their experience. Take the time to think creatively and give yourself suggestions that will make the festival stand out. Whether it's capturing candid moments or finding unique angles, providing a fresh perspective can set you apart from other festival photographers. Here are 3 tips to help you stay creative when shooting a festival
Tip 7. Create high-quality festival photography
The most important task will be that you deliver high-quality photography. Take the time to edit your photos carefully, and invest time into developing a creative mindset. Invest into knowing what marketing worthy photography looks like for your festival organizer. Know what the photos are that will make their festival sell more tickets in the future. By investing in this creative mindset, you will have a formula to make every festival assignment a succes!
I've interviewed my festival clients about what they are looking for in terms of photography.
I've shared the insights of these interviews in chapter one of the 22 chapters. Here is a sneak preview..
Conclusion: if you want to get more festival photography jobs, it's important to shift your mindset to one that is focused on offering value to festival organizers. By understanding their needs, being reliable, going above and beyond, building relationships, providing a unique perspective, and delivering high-quality work, you can set yourself apart from the competition and attract more clients in festival photography.
Online course | Build your fulltime festival & event photography business!
In my brand-new course I share with you step-by-step how you can build your Festival and Event Photography business. Interested? Awesome!
🙋♂️ About Michiel Ton
Hi, I'm Michiel Ton. Great to meet you!
I am an international festival and event photographer, with a lot of experience in corporate events and festivals. In addition to being a full-time photographer, I also graduated as a teacher of social studies. I have a passion for creating unforgettable memories through my photography!
👋 Invest in investing in a (professional) relationship with me?
Interested in festival photography? Awesome - let’s get in touch. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Feel free to send me a DM message or leave a comment. And feel free to ask me your most important questions! See you later!