Emma Taylor
Photographers' AgentWhat is a typical day in your job?
- Get into work at 9:30am and check the emails and diary to see what meetings there are today.
- Call some Art Buyers/Photographers/Suppliers to see how shoots we have on the go are progressing.
- Put an estimate or two together for potential new shoots. See if we can get any estimates sent over in the last couple of days signed off.
- Go out and see some Art Directors/Art Buyers to show photographers new work in their portfolios and see what new campaigns they have in the pipeline that might be suitable for our photographers.
- Grab some lunch and try to ignore the phones while we’re eating!
- Spend some time online researching new start up ad agencies, design groups and new talent out there in the photographic world.
- Chat to our photographers about new personal projects they have in mind.
- See if there are any questions on the Estimates and amend any areas/juggle figures.
- Chat to Art Buyers calling in books, get the shoot brief,make sure the most suitable portfolio goes to them and get them sent out.
- Sigh heavily and try and escape the office around 6:30pm.
I studied a BA in Photography at Blackpool & The Fylde College. Where I got a lot of good advice and knowledge about the commercial sector of photography. They called me up about a year after graduating and said they had heard about a job they thought I would be perfect for. I went for an interview and then got a couple of tryout days. After a three-month trial I was offered a fulltime position initially as an Agent’s Assistant and then I moved my way up to be a fully fledged Agent.
What skills have you come to rely on the most in your job?
A good telephone manner and a thick skin. People can be very stressed in this industry and you learn quickly not to take things personally.
If you had to pick one positive and one negative aspect of your job what would they be?
Positive – The variety from going out and meeting interesting creatives, helping run shoots and juggling big budgets.
Negative – Having to deal with people you don’t always want to and just having to bite your lip and smile.
Where would you like your work to take you?
Happy to see how it turns out really, learn more everyday and with greater knowledge comes greater responsibility.
Is there any advice you would give students hoping to pursue a career in this field?
Keep on going for it never give up. Its hard work and it can take a good year of eating beans and feeling poorer than you were as a student to get your foot on the ladder. But it is worth it in the end and you only get out of it as much as you put in.
