I’ve Always Been For Sale

We all need to sell our selves or our work in some capacity. Whether that’s in the traditional form of presenting products to customers, or on a smaller scale, say, defending a creative decision we’ve made to a colleague or potential employer.

As much as I can, I try to let my work do the talking (he says as he types a blog instead of designing something). Making good things feels like the easiest, perhaps purest way to approach success to me. I’m always a little uncomfortable when I’m actively trying to sell something, so a quality or honest product helps keep a clean conscience. I say this in spite of the fact that technically I’m a commercial artist. It’s kinda my job to sell shit…whatever it may be.

The following insight comes from people in commercial arts. People who sell, help sell, or make things intended to sell. With that in mind, the measure taken to present ourselves really interests me.

Brett does a bit of everything. And he should. He has the energy, imagination, curiosity, patience and dashing good looks for a bit of everything.

He’s not without focus though. Brett is the design half of Oxford Pennant, a pennant and flag company based in Buffalo, NY. With Oxford, Brett explores the history, function, and aesthetic of pennants. In Brett’s hands, the company and it’s products look great and actively participate the history of their medium.

Brett and I have been pals for over a decade. Occasionally he’s my house guest. Other times he’s my collaborator, savior, competition, confidant, cheerleader, and/or coach. I trust him creatively, so am wondering where this question sits in his head…

As I’ve said before, Jessica is incredible. As a designer, she’s thinking, knowledgable, and her talent seems limitless. She’s also generous enough to give me another answer for this little project. She answered Question Market 4 a couple months ago about stress and anxiety.

She’s created fantastic work for projects large and small and I picture her putting the same amount of thought and care in to each project that comes across her desk. I was curious how she views presenting herself to clients and the world…

““Selling yourself” isn’t quite the term I would use—I’d more call it “establishing trust or confidence”. When I’m working with a new client, my first job and the job I really need to accomplish at every presentation with them, is for them to feel like I’m really devoting myself to the work and that they made a good decision in trusting me with the project. As far as “selling myself” to others online, I just try to be real. I share things that I’m excited about, nervous about, angry about, etc. I don’t let clients bully me into sharing and hash tagging on their behalf. I have built up an audience that is interested in me and work, and it’s important to me to not betray them by being disingenuous.”

The majority of Graham’s professional work is photos of products and things that his clients hope people buy. He’s shot for Tiffany & Co., Barney’s New York, Nylon, Milk Makeup, and Martha Stewart. And, had work published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, WWD, and Bloomberg Businessweek. He works for companies and brands that have a long, and distinguished history. His work has to live up to that.

Graham has an incredible sense of composition and color. He brings that to his clients and their products so seamlessly that I almost don’t notice his personal touches. Which is exactly the way it should be for a great commercial artist.

With that…

In what you do, how important is selling your self or your work?

“As a freelance photographer, selling myself is very important, but I don’t think about it in this way. I’ve never wanted to be a salesman and it’s my least favorite part of running a business.

I put that ‘selling’ energy into building and maintaining honest relationships with other creative people. My work is a natural extension of myself. Knowing me is understanding and hopefully appreciating my artistic vision and process.”