Eric Hamilton – Celebrity / DJ / Nightlife Photographer

Posts Tagged ‘design’

View the full set on Flickr.

Wow. I’m blown away. The first meeting attendance was double what I expected it to be. Lots of great discussion, networking, some really talented and creative professionals in attendance. We had a good mix of photographers, designers, and even a few people who regularly contract out creative services. The networking potential here is terrific.

What an awesome start. Our little meeting space at the library was bursting at the seams. It’s clear we’ll need to get the downstairs conference rooms for future meetings, which might make scheduling a little more difficult, but we’ll work it out.

Clearly there is a lot we can learn from each other, and it seems that this group is filling a very real need. The interest was very clear, and the energy and excitement at the meeting was very encouraging. I think everybody walked away with a sense of optimism. I know a few photos were shot, so please comment and post links if you upload a set. Link to any meeting reports, as well.

Pictured above (in order), Photo John (PhotographyReview.com), Spencer Henderson (Art Director for Utah Business magazine), and the bottom photo is Karen Crook, discussing the challenges of compiling 8 years of varied creative work into a cohesive portfolio.

Thanks to everybody who showed up. If you missed out, please join us at UTFreelance.com for details on the next meeting. See you all next month!

I’m currently looking for a designer to help me re-launch my website and creative branding. Yesterday I got a quote that stood out because it was poorly executed. Here is my response:

Hi Suzan*,

I think I’ll pass. Here’s why:

* I was looking for a project bid, not an hourly rate. I even provided a
handy little form to fill out, just to make it easier for you to give me the
information I needed. The fact that you didn’t seem to read my instructions
does not instill hope that you’d connect with my brand enough to provide
good identity design for me.

* You don’t have a graphic design portfolio at the web address you provided

* The design of your website looked even more messy and amateur than my
current website. How can I trust that your service would be an upgrade over
my current design?

Sorry we couldn’t work together. I hope my comments help you do better on
future bids.

- Eric

Part of Suzan’s response:

I in no way see anything different or exciting about your photographs.
My heroin addict cousin could take better photos than yours. Your
website is bland & boring. yawn. DJ’s are lame. Why would you want to
take so many photos of them? Wow! The blurriness of your photos is
ASTOUNDING! I have photographed numerous bands & got the same effect.
There were light trails & everything, but the subject was in focus.
That $500 camera did you no good.

I have clients from every walk of life. I have done design work for
bands ranging from metal to rhythm & then some. I am not about to
limit myself as you have chosen to. Unfortunately for you, I am a
talented designer with innovative designs who you have now burned your
bridges with.

*bullet dodged*

1. When bidding on a project, be sure to read every detail the client has provided. Go to their website. Research them thoroughly. If you can’t follow directions, you’re not likely to get the job.

2. If you don’t like their style, don’t place a bid.

3. If you don’t have a portfolio online, stop reading right now and go make one.

4. If a potential client hires you, that’s good. If you don’t hear back, that’s bad. If a potential client takes the time out of their busy schedule to let you know you’re no longer in the running, and give you a helpful list of reasons why, that’s awesome, even if it sounds mean. Why? Because it can help you fine-tune your bidding process with future clients, and that can earn you more sales. It may even pay off more than if they had accepted your bid in the first place. This is what we call the school of hard knocks. Grow a thick skin. We all get rejected. Get over it.

5. “Under Construction” stopped being an excuse for a crappy website a long time ago. You absolutely must have a great website if you’re going to be a freelance creative — which is why I’m trying to hire a good website designer right now.

Are you a good designer? Think you can do better than Suzan? Please fill out the handy Request for Quote form.

* name changed to protect the guilty