'[Silence]' or 'Can I Have A Job?' Neither Answer Works

Rob Haggart, the former Director of Photography for Men’s Journal and Outside Magazine, runs A Photo Editor. He says he used to get cold calls from freelance photographers that went like this:

caller: Have you been receiving the promos I’ve been sending you?

me: yes.

caller: do you have any questions?

me: no

[silence]

or

“can I have a job”

Needless to say, if your goal is to land new freelance clients, this won’t work.

Haggart says a better strategy for photographers is to call first, before sending the portfolio, then follow up with other methods of communication–emails, more clips, winning contests, etc.

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