@hiretogs - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and The Hope

After having a pleasant tweetversation almost 4 months ago with a few photographers about why their isn't a Craigslist for photographers for paid work and photography listings only, Hire Togs was born the next day. Basically, the page would be a place where I would retweet tweets from clients looking for a photographer so that photographers could see them and reply to those clients. I would also retweet photographers who wanted to advertise their services, portfolio link and location as well as create Twitter photographer lists by specialities. The page took off, packing on many followers and helping many connections to occur. The page's statement is: Clients tweet needs, togs tweet services. Connect! So four months later, here is where it stands:

The Good

As of the writing of this post, 332 client tweets have been retweeted with potential photography gigs all around the world, though most tend to be in the United States and Australia. Some have been in Europe as well and I recall a few in South Africa.

Many photographers and non-photographers alike respond positively to the page and thank me for it daily. The page has over 1100 followers and is on 150 lists as of the writing of this post.

I retweet client requests for photographers, even if they did not originally tweet the hiretogs page. They always thank me for the initiative and some explore the photographer lists by specialty.

I have heard many success stories from the page or basically photographers who got a gig or two using the page. I previously blogged one of those success stories and other photographers sent DMs to me about getting a gig.

The Bad

It is just me managing the page so it can become overwhelming. I have other projects that I have become more passionate about and when I get to the "ugly" part of this blog, you will understand why.

Some clients do tweet the page looking for free photography. I do remind everyone that there are times when photographers work for free, actually I recently wrote a post on that. But for this particular page @hiretogs, I retweet potential gigs that are paid.

It isn't connecting as many photographers to clients as I would have liked. This is because many clients tweet that they need a photographer but really aren't prepared to seriously book one so some photographers feel that they waste time replying. I don't see it as a waste though since it is not any different than pursuing any other lead. Sometimes it pans out, sometimes it does not.

The Ugly

Oh it gets really ugly. Complete and utter disrespect by some photographers has become the norm. They are spamming the page expecting their services and portfolio tweets to be retweeted multiple times a day. Once they realized that I was not going to do that, since I want the page to show many photographers for whomever reads the timeline, they stopped tweeting the page and began abusing the #hiretogs hashtag instead.

They send rude DMs. They are using the #hiretogs hashtag in their mood updates, even ones that have nothing to do with photography. They use it to advertise their current calendar (i.e. I am shooting tonight) which has nothing to do with communicating a tweet to a client. Even after several tweets were sent weekly explaining how to use the page, which is quite simple actually, they DM me expecting me to "connect" them with the client instead of sending the client a polite hello tweet. They want Hire Togs to operate as a staffing company, instead of its original intent--a quick, easy and friendly way to get the conversation and connection started for clients who want to hire a photographer. They complain about not getting a gig as if I am "assigning" the clients to people and the clients are not choosing themselves. I retweet, not create potential gigs. I even have received tweets with exclamation points and DMs in all capital letters and full out verbal tantrums.

The Hope

Though it has brought some wonderful things for clients and photographers (including an unplanned bonus--other photographers meeting ones they did not know exist on Twitter. I've followed maybe 100 or so just from seeing them tweet to Hire Togs and did not know about them before) I don't think I will continue managing this page. The disrespect is overwhelming and I have enough challenges and stress in life without having to deal with that.

I wanted to help other photographers as I do in many ways, but I am no longer sure that Hire Togs can be one of those ways. I hope that I can find a photographer who is well versed in using Twitter that would like to take over the page at this point. It would only require 1 email of training to explain how and I am open to them choosing to expand the page (though I like the idea of it being only on Twitter--keep it simple). I also purchased the domain www.hiretogs.com a long time ago so that in the future it could be used if I or anyone else chose to.

I am still thinking about it and will make a final decision soon as to whether I will turn the page over to another photographer. If I decide to and can't find a photographer that I approve of to take over the page, I will regretfully have to take it down.

Again, thanks to the people who have enjoyed the page and to the support from some amazing photographers, they know who they are.

Related Blog Posts: @hiretogs - A Success Story, @hiretogs - 1st Month In Review, @hiretogs - Connecting Clients and Photographers Through Twitter, When Should Photography Be Free?

| Friday, March 05, 2010 | 8 Comments