In July 2022, Los Angeles-based photographer Tracie Davis and I embarked on a Client List Build journey. From our very first conversation, I was captivated by her diverse skill set. Not only is she a skilled photographer, but Tracie has also worked as an art director, stylist, retoucher, and videographer. In Mexico, we’d call her a “mujer orquesta” — a jack of all trades who achieves amazing results through her diverse talents. Tracie’s studio offers an engaging experience that her clients trust and love and she wouldn’t have it any other way:
I want to work in my Los Angeles studio and I don’t want to travel.
During our time together we aimed to develop an extensive list of one hundred contacts tailored to Tracie’s strengths as a Still Life and Food/Drink photographer. Her portfolio is a testament to her unique abilities, blending art direction, styling, and photography to create distinctive and engaging images. Tracie’s goal is to use her skills to draw in customers and inspire them through her photography.
What impressed me most was Tracie’s dedication to follow-ups. She shared that after working with a list of 50 contacts last year and consistently following up each month, she was able to triple her client base. Motivated by this success, she planned a similar strategy for her new list, focusing on Beauty brands, Lifestyle brands, and Food/Drink companies that are all related to product photography.
This approach led to a well-crafted list of a hundred contacts. In September 2023, we launched three targeted campaigns, each featuring a unique layout designed by Tracie. We also employed a special GIF created by her for the follow-ups.
The campaigns were a success, especially the one targeting Beauty brands, which had an impressive 74% open rate. One notable response was from Drink Ami Ami, a sustainable wine retailer, who requested a quote for a project. Another response from a spice and botanical sourcing company, Frontier Co-op, that praised Tracie’s portfolio and promised future consideration:
We don’t generally respond to just any email, but given the quality of work on Tracie’s portfolio, we forwarded it to our Creative Director. She was very impressed and said she would keep your info for future reference. We are certain she will do so.
Beyond these metrics, I believe in the personal aspect of every project. Building a relationship with the photographer and helping them connect with future opportunities is what makes each collaboration special and meaningful.
Further Reading
Specialty: Food/Drink Photography
Expert Advice: Email Campaign Analytics
Expert Advice: Email Design for Photographers