Ditching your agent?

There’s something in the air at the moment.

Several photographers I know have left their reps, and their reps are trying to come up with the best solutions for closure. I’ve had calls and Emails from photographers and agents around the world about this.

The end of a photographer/agent relationship is often fraught with emotion, (whether or not they’re voiced). It’s one of the most important partnerships you’ll ever have in your life, especially if that rep is providing the majority of your income, as I was for many of my shooters.

Your agent can spend months schlepping your work around and building your name before any income results from it.

He’ll get to know all your flaws, and fight for you regardless.

She’ll protect your reputation, whatever stupid mistakes you make.

BUT, the collaboration relies wholly on trust and good communication.

When the trust goes, you might as well kiss goodbye to the relationship.

And when it falls apart, especially messily, there are sometimes years of client relationships to unpick and rebuild, whether you’re the photographer or the rep.

Yuk.

Not all reps deliver what they promise.

REMEMBER: NO REP IS BETTER THAN THE WRONG REP.

Whether you already have a rep you’re thinking of leaving, OR you’ve left your agent, OR you’re looking for a new one, it’s the perfect time to take stock.

You know the drill: