It is one of the questions most asked by photojournalists starting out on their careers – how do I get noticed and market my work?

Nile Tuzun from California posed it to our expert, Sinartus Sosrodjojo, General Manager of JIWAFOTO, the assignment and stock photo agency representing international photographers across Asia.

"For a self-taught aspiring photojournalist, what would you recommend in regards to marketing a portfolio and getting exposure in the industry?” asks Nile.

“How can a photojournalist who is just getting started in their career go about making contacts and establishing relations in the field?"

A web site is certainly a plus since photo editors can view it at their convenience.

It can be updated regularly and marketed through email invitations. However, it should not be the end of your marketing effort.

The downside is that editors receive tons of email every day and your invitation might easily be disregarded as spam or lost amongst all the other emails.

Create teasers in the form of postcards or small brochures that can be sent in the post to drive editors to your site. Plan out your yearly marketing and send this material every quarter or so, showcasing part of your new work. Then editors will be lured into seeing something new on your site from time to time.

Keep in mind that photo editors are more interested in your ability to capture moments and photographs than in fancy web designs that takes ages to download. You only have one chance to impress.

Keep it simple yet elegant and to the point of showing your work.

It is good to make the initial contact through a phone call or email and then a personal visit showing a hard copy of your portfolio. Most editors are busy but will usually set up an appointment.

Your hard copy portfolio should also be of manageable size for viewing, with captions and explanations of your work. You want to make things simple for them to enjoy viewing your pictures as much as talking to you in person.

The most expensive CD presentation, web site or brochure will not gain you exposure if you are not consistent in how you shoot and market your work. Consistency is the key.

If you are starting, use local media as your source of exposure. Work for local magazines or newspapers and learn the tricks of the trade.

Making contacts in this industry requires both lots of networking and consistency. Making an initial contact is easy but keeping it is hard. Usually photographers make the round to editors but they rarely follow up with showing their work consistently and with respect.

By respect, I mean that you are not bombarding them with phone calls or email every day but having a schedule throughout the year when you will be sending out new material for them to see.

JIWAFOTO