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Photographer/ videographer on retainer? Hmmm.
We have recently created a retainer partnership with a local tourism destination — Longneck Manor. We go out there once a month and in turn they get fresh, consistent content. So I thought, “You know, more organizations should do this. It’s a win-win!”
In my many years in advertising as an Art Director and Creative Director, I admit I never had a photographer or videographer on “retainer” for any client. Arranging a photoshoot was always so customized and “special” to each client and project. We were trying to compose a shot for a very specific ad campaign, brochure, or direct mail piece. Things did not move at the pace they do today. When stock photography took over, original photography was even more alluring and “special” to be part of because it was becoming a rarity. Before I left my role completely, I was starting to orchestrate periodic all-day “content shoots” collecting both photography and video. Thank you, social media. The need for ever-evolving content was born!
Here are my the main 3 reasons you just might want to consider it.
#3 You can save time, money, and hassle:
Think of the time it takes to secure photographers and videographers. Typically it goes like this. When you need visual content you reach out to several photographers to get bids. “Oh shoot…I forgot to include video!” So you may have to find an additional resource, or hopefully, your first bidders can do both. (Photographers typically bid by their day rate, but if a consistent retainer is involved, a reduced rate is more likely to be negotiated because consistent work is something creative professionals love.) Then you have to find a day they are available. If a retainer situation is set up, the photographer will always have you on the calendar.
#2 Brand Building:
Using a retainer allows you to get consistent brand imagery across photography and video. They get to know your brand, the ins and outs; what you like and what you don’t. As a result, they become a partner in stewarding your brand, instead of you educating a revolving pool of vendors. As a result, you get a consistent flow of imagery to use in your brand storytelling.
#1 It’s proactive, not reactive:
Most importantly, putting a reliable, qualified photographer/videographer on retainer means you are being proactive with your marketing dollars by planning for things you KNOW you will need and capturing the visual messages you KNOW you need to tell — rather than waiting until something is pressing and then scrambling to capture it. Additionally, it forces you to continually create FRESH content to keep your followers, customers, and clients engaged.
Who is this for ideally?
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Tourism destinations
• Restaurants
• Zoos
• Amusement parks
• Resorts
• Real estate developers
and so many more!
Give it some thought! If you are an agency representative or are part of a company/organization that has a lot to tell, you — or one of your clients — just might benefit from having someone like us on retainer. We love the consistency and getting to know clients well is just icing on the cake!
If you’re interested, give me a call at 830.456.6926.
Yummy brand building.
We might call this the shoot that almost never was. Evelyn Washburne of Side Street Hospitality called us way back in July to arrange this shoot. After nailing the strategy and game plan, we settled on a shoot date in August. However, my body decided to throw us a curve ball and gave me a bizarre stroke the weekend before.
So Steve had to call Evelyn and say “Um, yea, we’re gonna have to postpone the shoot.”
When originally planned, we were conveniently going to be shooting between their soft opening and when they opened “for real.” By the time I got back in the game, so to speak, we were not only behind on a couple of other promised shoots, but Alla Campagna was now in full swing. Working around a lighter crowd was not going to be an option. In addition, Evelyn and her team were full speed ahead on making their new venue a well-oiled machine. So this shoot was pushed to the proverbial back burner.
Then, they started opening for lunch. AND….the word was out about how incredible the food is. So the window of “shooting while not crowded” opportunity was closing. But good things come to those who wait. We finally managed to arrange a time In late February and early March.
Steve and I spent a day there shooting food and came back one night to capture the vibe with very patient, understanding and curious patrons. If you haven’t been to Alla Campagna yet, check it out. As we were filming, we heard nothing but rave reviews about the experience. “We’ll definitely be back!” and “My dish was absolutely incredible!” You get the idea. Hats off to the crew at Side Street Hospitality. Looks like they have another hit on their hands.
Check out Alla Campagna Italian Restaurant and make reservations today!
To see our reel of video from the Alla Campagna shoot, watch below.
Thanks for visiting!
Faces of Fredericksburg 2024: January- Patrick Elliott
Our “Faces of Fredericksburg” Project featuring local trades professionals kicks off with none other than…. Patrick Elliott.
Towards the end of 2023, Steve and I were talking about doing some kind of creative portrait project. It just so happened to coincide with coordinating the construction of garage on our property, so we were talking to many contractors and construction folks. We found ourselves humbled by how hard they have to work — every day in the hot summers, rainy days, cold winters...you name it. There is just something REAL about these people.
There has been a lot of chatter lately about the trades and how we need young people to step into these “non-traditional” roles right out of high school. So we figured, let’s do our portrait project featuring some of these local craftsman that have big hearts, rough hands and no desire whatsoever to sit behind a computer 8-5. Cheers to them! We hope you follow along as we feature a different person every month. Feel free to shoot us a text or email with suggestions and a little bit about the person you are nominating. We’re looking for carpenters, plumbers, electricians, welders, fence builders, concrete guys, drywall installers, mechanics, HVAC, stone masons…. you get the idea.
Our inaugural trades professional feature is none other than Patrick Elliott!!
Even before his name was suggested/nominated (by several people), we were familiar with Patrick. He helped create a beautiful fence surrounding our pool after our “horror story” renovation a few years back. Anyone that knows him would agree he certainly fits the bill for big heart and rough hands.
You just have to take one look at Patrick’s hands to know what a hard worker is. Believe it or not, Patrick was originally a chef. Originally from Houston, he went to culinary school and worked in Austin. After chef burnout he went to work for Chris and Barry Kaiser as a cleanup guy. Over the next 13 years he learned carpentry from the Kaisers and Derrek Penick while doing architectural welding on the side — a craft he learned in 7th grade metal shop! (Let’s keep those trades alive!) Then spent the next few years creating all types of metal works for people in and round Fredericksburg with his company WeldWerks.
“I love to create anything with my hands. Only the medium changes. Food, wood, steel, concrete, dirt etc.” Patrick says. He currently has 4 rescue dogs and 2 cats at his house and has been adopted by 2 1/2 more strays that live at his shop full time. The extra 1/2 is for a ferrel guy that will let him get about 5' from him after 3 years of feeding. Patrick served on the board of the SPCA for 2 1/2 years with his wife, Jayne, who served for 7.
Patrick just recently sold his welding business admitting that sometimes you have to listen to what your body is telling you. He is now working full time for Dalgleish Construction, and still has the biggest heart ever.
