Using Wedding Expo for Networking?

Greetings,

 

I would like to hear your opinion on using a wedding expo as an opportunity to meet with photographers for the

purpose of offering yourself as an assistant/second shooter.

 

I know that exhibitors are there to sell themselves and their services to prospective clients and may not want to

be bothered by someone seeking a working relationship. But it seems like a good way for someone new to the

business to meet with established, local photographers.

 

For those who think this is an acceptable practice, what is possible in a brief encounter? Showing a portfolio?

Making a future appointment? Leaving a resume? And if this idea is a severe breach of ethics/etiquette, then I

certainly wish to know that too!

 

Thanks,

 

Jeff

<p>Not a good idea, in my opinion.</p>

 

<p>Anyone exhibiting at a wedding expo has paid serious money to be there, and invested considerable time, effort

and resources in designing a display and preparing materials to show prospects. They do all this because they

want to meet clients, not other photographers. If you try and pitch in for a portfolio review and to beg some

work off them you'll likely be shown the door pretty fast. I doubt anyone will be very pleased to see you.</p>

 

<p>Best advice is look round the stalls and get a feel for their work and personality. Collect business cards of

the ones you like and call them later.</p>

Looking for work at a bridal expo ?

 

How about just going up to each photographer, taking their business card and contacting them later on ?

I hire seconds and mains and would not want to be bothered during a bridal show from a shooter looking for work.

I would prefer that they contact me via email, with samples of their work and background. Then I can make my own determination whether I want to proceed further.

Don't even think about it!

Way annoying when the business is trying to talk to potential clients not employees.

 

Look around get information and contact later on.

If I want to meet photographers, I go to a PPA meeting... or some other networking meeting...

 

Dave

Thank you all for a prompt response. It appears that I had a bad idea. Better to find out here than out in the field.

No, actually, it's a terrific idea. I know a photographer who did just that and landed work with several studios. He's booked for a total of 66 jobs next year as a result. Don't think in terms of it being a bother to the ones who aren't interested, think in terms of it being a benefit to the ones who are.

And how do you tell the difference ?

Look for the "Hiring" sign ?

Would you go job hunting at the mall on Black Friday? Like most have said before, it's not a good idea.

A simple, "are you hiring?" only takes 5 seconds, then give them a card/resume.

<p>It's still not a good way to go about looking for work....it's a bridal faire, not a job expo ....if someone did that to me I would find it invasive and disrespectful to me. I'm there to talk to brides, not aspiring photographers. There's a time and place for that. </p>

<p>If it's not a good way, I'll have to inform my colleague that he was wasting his time and risking the ire of others. I don't know if he'll believe me, considering he was so successful at getting work that way, getting hired by several studios and now being booked by them for over 60 assignments for '09. One of those studios just surprised him with a $1,000 Christmas bonus for his work this year. What is it that they say? Nothing ventured, nothing gained? Something about the proof is in the pudding?</p>

<p>That's great that it worked for HIM, but it's still not a good way to look for work. If He would have come to my booth while I was talking to perspective brides interferring with what I was doing i would have been upset with him. <br>

Sounds like sour pudding to me.</p>