Marketing Blog For Creative Freelancershttp://www.clreps.com/blog/en-US2012-02-17T15:41:11ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Pavlv Plea - Take the survey!http://www.clreps.com/blog/2012/2/3/pavlv-plea-take-the-survey.htmlClreps2012-02-03T20:06:31ZGeneral pavlv survey

]]>UPCOMING ASSISTANT MEETING! Feb 15thhttp://www.clreps.com/blog/2012/1/30/upcoming-assistant-meeting-feb-15th.htmlClreps2012-01-30T22:33:47Z

Every photographer agrees that a good photographers assistant is integral to the success and flow of a shoot. The best assistants rise to the top, get the premium bookings, stay the busiest and bill top dollar. The rest are way down the call list, are always the "2nd" or "3rd", and always left wondering if they can make it in this biz. Are you the one a shooter can count on or are you simply an extra set of hands?

This event will outline the tools and skill that you need to become the sought after and highly coveted "Number 1". Our panel of experienced assistants who have been around since the days of film (gasp!) along with some of the newer faces in the business will tune you in to the best practices, proper etiquette, and attention grabbing trends and stunts to get you noticed and get you hired.

Whether you are a new to assisting, are fresh out of school, have a little experience or a ton, this meeting is bound to have valuable information and tips to help you be successful in this industry.

Panelists will include new assistants, experienced assistants, assistants making the transition to shooting, and a local commercial photographer. We will talk about a variety of topics including current marketing strategies for assistants, financial tips, best practices, as well as discussing exactly what skills are most important and useful as an assistant (hint: it is NOT your PS skill..there are digital techs for that; speaking of, have you ever considered that there are other places for you in this business?)

Come join us at Shelter Studios for an insightful evening full of pressing questions and truthful answers about the world of photographic assisting from the professionals who are doing it right and doing it right now.

Tweet your questions ahead time and during the event using #assist2012

Be sure to follow us @asmpmsp

]]>Inspiration Series - Live by it.http://www.clreps.com/blog/2012/1/27/inspiration-series-live-by-it.htmlClreps2012-01-27T04:45:48Z

]]>Inspiration Series: THAT is inspiring.http://www.clreps.com/blog/2012/1/25/inspiration-series-that-is-inspiring.htmlClreps2012-01-26T01:16:32ZInspiration inspiration mixed media

]]>99 MN Photographers who should be on your radarhttp://www.clreps.com/blog/2012/1/16/99-mn-photographers-who-should-be-on-your-radar.htmlClreps2012-01-16T18:01:35ZList Minnesota Photographers Photography(A quick disclaimer: This is NOT all the photographers in MN. Not even close. This is also not a list in any particular order.)

In compiling this list I was still SHOCKED at the number of websites I came across that were straight out of 1999. You may want to take a second and update your copyright information to the current year at the very least...

]]>Inspiration Series: Illustrationhttp://www.clreps.com/blog/2012/1/12/inspiration-series-illustration.htmlClreps2012-01-12T16:34:44ZInspiration illustration inspiration

]]>Inspiration Series: Street Arthttp://www.clreps.com/blog/2012/1/8/inspiration-series-street-art.htmlClreps2012-01-09T01:09:18ZInspiration fish inspiration

]]>FOUND event on January 20thhttp://www.clreps.com/blog/2012/1/2/found-event-on-january-20th.htmlClreps2012-01-02T15:01:03ZEvents FOUND event wedding

]]>Scouting in northern FL - Farms farms farmshttp://www.clreps.com/blog/2011/12/18/scouting-in-northern-fl-farms-farms-farms.htmlClreps2011-12-18T14:58:57ZConor Lawrence Represents Florida Travel farms

]]>"You are doing it wrong!" A guide to invoicinghttp://www.clreps.com/blog/2011/12/6/you-are-doing-it-wrong-a-guide-to-invoicing.htmlClreps2011-12-06T14:00:48ZFreelance Knowledge invoicingHaving just wrapped a couple larger production jobs I have seen a sea of invoices come across my desk. It still amazes me how some people don't know how to invoice. Even people who have been in the industry for years!

Let's start by pointing out a few "don'ts:"

Don't just put all your numbers and information into an email and shoot it off to the client. Your invoice should at the very least be a document that can be downloaded, saved and placed in a larger invoice that is going to be submitted to the final client.
Don't wait to submit your invoice. If the photographer/producer has to hunt you down to get your invoice they are going to remember that the next time they need to do hiring for a project. Distinguish yourself by being the first one to submit you invoice.
Don't hesitate to brand your invoice similar to your website, business card etc. It is a chance to reiterate your brand and be remembered for the next project.

Here are a few options for creating your invoices:

BlinkBid - a fantastic program that allows you to not only create an estimate but do the final invoice as well. Allows you to collaborate on projects with other remote users as well.
Quick Books - it's more an accounting software of small business. It might be more than you are looking for but it has an enormous amount of functionality.
Invoice2Go - an online tool that allows for greater access if you are working on multiple machines.

Conor Lawrence Callahan is a producer and consultant based out of Minneapolis, MN. He invoices within 48 hours...most of the time.

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