How to Get Exactly What You Want
Some ideas and words of encouragement on how to make it happen
Some ideas and words of encouragement on how to make it happen
Ask for it: this may seem obvious at first, but when it comes to starting a business and collaborating with others, it can feel overwhelming or bothersome to reach out and be direct.
“I can’t ask them for that — it would be overstepping.”
“The answer will probably be no. Not worth the time to find out.”
“I don’t want to bother them.”
“My work might not be good enough.”
“They must get these kind of requests all the time.”
“They didn’t oblige my last question/idea, so why would this time be any different?”
I’ve come to live by these two principles when it comes to getting what I want or need: you can’t get what you don’t ask for, and the worst they can say is no.
Whenever I find myself going back and forth and wondering how to get a project going, the last place my mind goes to is to ask for help, an opinion, or a connection to put me in front of someone interested in what I’m working on. Truth be told—my favorite shoots, partnerships, trips, and opportunities have resulted from me simply asking someone what it would take to make it happen.
Want to work with a brand? Send them an email. Tell them what you like about them, why you’d be a great fit, and pitch your concept.
Want to photograph a concert? Find the band’s press or tour manager on LinkedIn and send them a message: this is how I photographed a concert for The 1975 when I was 19. Their PR team liked my work and issued me a press pass the same day.
Want to visit Morocco? Offer to trade services to get a hotel secured. Can you provide photos or videos? Social posts? A graphic design asset? Write up your dollar-for-dollar trade (total hotel price vs. what you typically charge for your deliverables) and include this in your pitch.
Want to collaborate with another creative? Want to put together a workshop? Ask them if they’d be interested in working with you. If it’s not a good fit, they’ll decline and you can move on and find someone else who is.
Want to tour your favorite brand’s headquarters? Want to meet with their marketing team and pitch an idea? Send them an email and ask. I’m sure they’d be happy to set it up as it takes most of the work out of searching for new talent on their own.
You can’t lose anything from asking a question. The worst-case scenario is that they say no and you can move along and come up with a new game plan. The best-case scenario is that they say yes and something great works out. You’ll never know if you don’t ask.