Workshop: Top Trumps: Understanding the complexity of the commissioning process

Todays workshop was certainly informative but also really fun and engaging! 

When clients are looking to commission you they will be looking for a few things as well as your portfolio. For example your availability will be important to meet their timings. Also people skills, will you be easy to communicate with? Will you be fun to work with? What experience do you have, for example Photoshop, moving image, etc. 

James had created a game of Top Trumps using photographers profiles and the clients brief. In pairs we were given a set of photographers profiles. All were very different and just like top trumps, ratings for their qualities. There was examples of their work too which was really helpful. With the photographers profiles there was their day rate, qualities such as moving image, creativity, production skills, client focus and more. (Picture to follow) The clients brief had images that we could follow by, alongside a description of what they were after and any particular qualities. One that was often asked was moving image. As a group of 3 pairs we had to take it in turns to be the client whilst the other pairs had to compete against each other to win the commission. It became very competitive. If the job wasn't worth much we was able to turn the job down. 

Within my pair we struggled to find any decent profiles to match the job. Whereas the other couples were doing really well and matched them up pretty quickly. 

Besides it all being fun and interactive I did actually learn something about commission which I had never thought about before. Qualities for start! I understood that when we created a CV obviously you put down what you are good at. During the game we were looking at the top ratings and the most ratings. The person that seemed to be good all round more than likely got the job. Should I be building this up ready for when I finish university? Or gradually build on this as I work around the industry? Also James stepped in and helped us with our decisions. One of the photographers was offering £250 for a £1000 paid job. Whereas the other photographer was asking for £1000. Even though you would think they would take the cheaper job, in fact they would rather pay more. The cheaper job says things like they haven't been working lol, not enough experience or don't really know what they're doing. They would rather have the job done properly and most professionally. 

I'm still stuck in the middle with being a photographer and working within the photographic industry that doesn't involve me being the photographer. However this workshop was really helpful and insightful. It made me consider commissioning and the importance of qualities and pricing. When I complete jobs for clients, usually just friends and family, I charge them very little because I am more interested in the opportunity to experience. But I should be putting a charge on my work and getting my name recognised by people in order to get some small commissioning jobs.