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Working with companies and brands...what you really need to know

Hello! & big welcome to my blog or hopefully back to it!  :)  

Before I dive into companies and brands I think it is best to describe some of the brand experience I have done myself. Early on I had a lot of amazing local companies reach out to me. Some of my favorites were Evita's Collections (who was a woman that traveled for a living collecting beautiful items and using that to influence and accentuate her collection), Big D Speed Shop (which was a local motorcycle shop that sold t-shirts and underwear. It was fun), Toni&Guy (I've had some good and some interesting experiences here but that is a whole other story I would work with them again they do great work) Exile Vintage ( a clothing brand that sent me free clothes in exchange for promotional pictures) and many more. I chose these because they work as prime examples in what to expect when working with a company or brand. 

First a warning:

When working with a company or brand. It is not professional of them to ask for you to do free promotion. Meaning, if someone messages you and it sounds like "I love your look and you have a great portfolio. I'd love to collaborate where you wear some of my tshirts for my brand/company...you just have to buy them off of the site at 40% discount..." Just don't. Really, don't do it. It's not fair of them to get free promotion out of you and your social media. Unless you just really love their look or are homies or something.
So in other words, if you are not homies. Don't do free work. Follow these next few examples to see what you can do instead.
Evita's Collections was a great first experience in what it is like to work with a local company. We got informed of the schedule multiple times before the day of. We were told who we would be working with, models, makeup artists, etc. We weren't paid a crazy amount for the hours spent. But it was one of my first checks. It didn't matter because I got so much out of it. Not only did I meet amazing people in the industry, I got provided many services done in exchange. (makeup, hair, pictures and paid) Now you won't always receive the pictures if you get paid and that is okay. It depends on the contract or agreement you all have had beforehand.




Big D Speed Shop was a great experience I had about halfway through my first year. They found me on Instagram and told me about their vision. I remember having probably the cheapest rates in existence at that time. He was a really cool guy and we shot a few different looks. Now I got paid and at the end of the shoot he let me keep a few of the items I had wore. Are you catching on? The companies you want to work with are the ones that are more established. They don't need "free promotion" they want someone talented with a look and have the money to pay for it. They are established and they want to further themselves more in some way. Whether that be social media or a new website.





 Toni&Guy is a hair school/company that works with up and coming models on a TFP basis (usually). They do have paid things as well but that is a whole different sector and not in my realm of experience with them. Usually when I have gone and worked with Toni&Guy it is for a competition or a look book of some kind. Meaning they will do my hair for me (dye and all) and my makeup. They don't pay but when I've worked with Toni&Guy I have usually always gotten pictures back. And the pictures are amazing and really able to do nicely on social media. I am still gaining something by working with them. They are a big company and are providing me a service in exchange for my time.




Exile Vintage was a brand that reached out to me on instagram. They had a decent following and many cute clothing items for sale on their site. They reached out to me and asked if they sent me swim suits if I would promote them by doing a shoot. I said yes of course! Because in this way we are both gaining something. I get a free swim suit and they get promotion on my Instagram page and pictures. They never asked me to buy anything. They just asked me to share the product if I liked it. 

Every company I have worked with has been different. But the point still stands that we are both gaining something from the experience. It is not a one sided shoot. We both walk away with something from that experience. When companies (usually apparel companies) message and ask you to buy something or pay to be a brand ambassador they are really just profiting off of your hard work and social media following. 

I think it is important to talk about these kinds of things. Especially since I am a freelance artist and a lot of my audience are as well. There are so many amazing brands and people out there and we need to make sure we are putting our time and energy into them. And not companies or brands that are looking for free promotion or a get noticed quick thing. I have been lucky enough to work with a lot of brands and people that I am extremely proud of. 

More blogs to come about how to look for these jobs..but for now make sure you know what you are getting into when brands and companies message you! 

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