So today we checked out Update in Berlin. The showcase that promises photographers the opportunity to have 'direct access' to the movers and shakers in the magazine, production, publishing and agency world. At first, we weren't sure what to expect. We had heard that in the past years the event didn't necessarily give photographers the chance to really strut their stuff as areas were restricted and sometimes it felt as though the movers and the shakers wanted to move and shake only amongst themselves in private areas.
Nonetheless, we had to see it for ourselves to get a better perspective on how it all worked. Update did offer photographers the chance to show their portfolios in the lower floor Bibliotek for a fee of 60 Euro - on top of the entrance fee of 20 euro per day. Photographers were asked leave their books behind and interested agents etc. would indicate their interest in an artist by leaving a card on their book and granting them a time for a one-on-one discussion.
We're sure in the planning this seemed like a good idea, but two things were a little in question. One, the area with the most agents was restricted and invitation only on the second level and two, when we passed through the Bibliotek we immediately experienced portfolio overload. There were just so many portfolios to look through we wondered if the few agents who wandered down to the lower level would actually want to look through them all.
We decided to forego Bibliotek and work the booths. This way we spoke to the editors, publishers, etc. in person and asked their views on what they were looking for and how they liked to work with prospective candidates. This was actually quite good, keeping in mind that a discussion doesn't mean that a job will follow. It allowed us to dig a little deeper into what possible clients really thought of the industry, where it was going and what they really were looking for.
All in all, we would check out Update again. Our consensus is that the experience is what you make it. You can very easily pay the fee and just coast through the room without engaging one person or you can take your chances on how you will be received when delving into a discussion and simply go for it. If you choose the latter, at the end of the day you lose only 20 euro and you might gain a prospective client. A client which you may not have been able to access with just a cold call.
We would be interested in hearing other points of view on the event, from both sides of the fence. For the prospective clients: Did you feel that you took the opportunity to seek out the up and coming photographers and would you take the risk of hiring them in the future if you had not worked with them before? For the photographers: Did you feel that you had enough face time with the people that mattered and that you might have made some good connections at the end of it all? Let us know.
Nonetheless, we had to see it for ourselves to get a better perspective on how it all worked. Update did offer photographers the chance to show their portfolios in the lower floor Bibliotek for a fee of 60 Euro - on top of the entrance fee of 20 euro per day. Photographers were asked leave their books behind and interested agents etc. would indicate their interest in an artist by leaving a card on their book and granting them a time for a one-on-one discussion.
We're sure in the planning this seemed like a good idea, but two things were a little in question. One, the area with the most agents was restricted and invitation only on the second level and two, when we passed through the Bibliotek we immediately experienced portfolio overload. There were just so many portfolios to look through we wondered if the few agents who wandered down to the lower level would actually want to look through them all.
We decided to forego Bibliotek and work the booths. This way we spoke to the editors, publishers, etc. in person and asked their views on what they were looking for and how they liked to work with prospective candidates. This was actually quite good, keeping in mind that a discussion doesn't mean that a job will follow. It allowed us to dig a little deeper into what possible clients really thought of the industry, where it was going and what they really were looking for.
All in all, we would check out Update again. Our consensus is that the experience is what you make it. You can very easily pay the fee and just coast through the room without engaging one person or you can take your chances on how you will be received when delving into a discussion and simply go for it. If you choose the latter, at the end of the day you lose only 20 euro and you might gain a prospective client. A client which you may not have been able to access with just a cold call.
We would be interested in hearing other points of view on the event, from both sides of the fence. For the prospective clients: Did you feel that you took the opportunity to seek out the up and coming photographers and would you take the risk of hiring them in the future if you had not worked with them before? For the photographers: Did you feel that you had enough face time with the people that mattered and that you might have made some good connections at the end of it all? Let us know.
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