3 Myths About Working with Brands

written by PAUL WEAVER

Let's debunk three significant myths I've encountered while working with brands.

Myth #1: Brands only work with creative agencies or large crews

Brands often hire based on the work that you can produce and are actually anticipating it's going to be you leading and shooting the project. This is what attracts clients, not deters them. Own it.

A lot of brands have actually been burned by going down the agency route due to failure in communication, vision, and expectations. If you spend time building trust with your clients, they'll view you as an extension to their team. 

Myth #2 : Brands come with way higher expectations than portraits or weddings

Not in my personal experience. Every business is different, but my high-budget clients that are sold in major retailers have been some of the most chill people I've worked with. We hop on a call at a set interval throughout the year, plan out what content needs to be produced, I shoot, deliver a set amount of photos and videos, and repeat. If there's ever a problem, we hop on a call to discuss. 

Myth #3: There's too much competition

If you're struggling with competition, there's often an issue with your positioning. Instead of trying to look like every other photographer in your niche or area, identify what unique characteristics you bring to the table...

• It might a specific shooting style or format

• It might be your relationship to a brand's target consumer (IE: A runner is going to be able to shoot more authentic running content)

• It might be your ability to manage larger scale projects

Positioning takes time to develop, but it's one of your greatest assets for standing out and securing work!

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