#collaboration tips

Big Bang Etiquette: Tips for Writers & Artists Working Together

Sometimes it feels daunting to start talking to someone you don’t know on the other side of the world, particularly if you’re a little shy. Here are some tips to make your Big Bang experience fun and productive!

After all, it’s in everyone’s best interest to finish the fic and artwork. So we have tried to come with a handy guide. Hope this helps you!

For Writers:

1. Be Clear with Your Vision: Share your story ideas early. Let your artist know about key scenes or vibes that inspire your work.

REFERENCES, REFERENCES, REFERENCES: These are key to make sure that the artist understands what you are envisioning.

Pinterest boards can also be your friend.

Share your outline and your chapters as soon as possible so that the artist can start planning!

2. Respect Artistic Freedom: Trust your artist’s interpretation. Their unique perspective adds depth to your story.

Be Open to Surprises: Your artist may come up with ideas or visual elements you hadn't considered. Embrace their creativity as it often leads to a richer final product.

Constructive Criticism: If you’re unsatisfied with a piece, don’t be scared to speak up, but do so respectfully. Frame your feedback in a way that’s encouraging and helpful, like suggesting adjustments instead of outright rejections. 

3. Deadlines Matter: Stick to agreed timelines. Your artist is working around them too!

Plan Ahead: Keep track of all deadlines and set internal checkpoints to ensure progress is on track. If you anticipate delays, communicate early to find a solution together.

Be Reliable: Consistent and timely updates build trust and show your commitment to the partnership. If you meet your deadlines, your artist is more likely to do the same.

For Artists:

1. Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to seek clarification on characters, settings, or moods. A little detail can spark the perfect illustration.

Dig Deep: Ask about character motivations, the tone of scenes, or any specific visual details the writer envisions. Even small things like the color of a character’s eyes or the style of clothing can make a big difference.

2. Share Progress: Show sketches or drafts early on. Feedback from the writer can steer your work in the right direction.

Step-by-Step Updates: Share your progress in stages—initial sketches, line art, color blocking, etc. This allows the writer to give feedback at each step, preventing major overhauls later on.

Encourage Input: Invite the writer to share their thoughts openly. Remind them that it’s easier to make changes during the sketch phase than in the final stages.

3. Be Flexible: Sometimes the story evolves. Adapt if needed and stay open to adjustments.

Offer Solutions: If a requested change seems challenging, suggest alternatives that stay true to the writer’s vision but might be easier or more effective artistically.

4. Respect the Story: Your art enhances the writing. Keep the narrative in mind and aim to complement the writer’s vision.

Stay True: Your art should reflect the mood and style of the story. Whether it’s lighthearted, dark, whimsical, or intense, align your artistic choices with the writer’s narrative goals.

For Both:

Communicate Regularly: Check in often, even if it’s just to say everything's on track.

Be Considerate: Life happens. If something’s going off course, let your partner know ASAP.

Celebrate Each Other: Acknowledge each other’s efforts. This project is a team effort—cheers to collaboration!

Ways To Get Conversation Flowing:

1. Artist

Ask the writer what inspired the story or how they come up with ideas

Tell the author your favourite scenes. The creation process takes a long time, and some writers miss getting the in-flow of kudos and comments from Ao3 for motivation. During this phase, you are their source of motivation!

2. Writers:

Ask why the artist why they liked your idea.

Tell them about yourself, anything from the Timezone you are in to help with communication or to what inspires you.

If you have something big coming up, like a holiday or an exam, let your artist know. Who knows you might find out you have similar interests!

3. Both: 

Talk about anything and everything! Compare head canons, your favorite episodes, maybe even your favorite fics!

Provide regular updates! Ask for feedback. It doesn’t have to be a complete work. You’re just providing each other reassurances that there’s progress!

Gurl, Nakakain ba ang Exposure? Ang “Sosy” Guide sa X-Deal, Collab, at Professionalism By Kali Seyre It’s been a long time! Bago tayo magsimula, let me just put out a disclaimer: This is a guide to my industry based on my years of experience. Wala akong pinapatamaan dito, but this is the brutal truth that every creative needs to hear. Sa mundo nating mga Makeup Artists, Photographers, at UGC…

Moving to a new place? Feeling shy about meeting new neighbors? You’re not alone! But guess what? The sooner you introduce yourself, the faster you’ll feel at home. A friendly wave or a simple “Hi, I’m new here!” can open the door to meaningful conversations. Community building starts with small, thoughtful gestures. Whether you’re in an apartment or a house, your neighborhood can become more…

3 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN COLLABORATING WITH A BRAND

Hello Fashionistas,

It’s been a while I shared knowledge via my experiences on here, the blogging streets been dry and empty for too long & we phasing out. Say hello to greener streets, flowing water and limitless content via my blog, newsletter (sign up here if you haven’t), my IG Page and Yess my Youtube Channel is coming soon.

Today’s blog post is something I learnt as an Influencer &…

1. Authenticity Of The Blogger And Model

You need to check whether the person you are planning to do a shoot with is authentic or not. If they call themselves fashion bloggers, please go and check their bio and see for a link to their blogs. I have literally checked so many Instagram accounts of people who call themselves fashion bloggers or personal bloggers. What I found was astounding. They have never managed to write even a single blog in their life where they could be giving out some content of value to others. Yet they call themselves fashion bloggers and charge other photographers for any collaboration. They charge other photographers when they themselves have never paid for any of their shoots in the name of free collaborations.

Photographers should at least check the credibility of people who call themselves fashion bloggers or models before jumping into a paid collaboration with them. Only you know how much it cost to buy equipment. And how easy it is to give money to people who are of no real value. And who is just using you to make their Instagram look cool?

PS: There are indeed so many professional models who have invested an enormous amount of money in making a strong professional looking portfolio. And then after working day in and day out. After shooting for so many big brands and making their personal brand a hit, then they start charging for their services. I totally respect those people.

2. The Goals Of Collaboration Should Be Loud And Clear

Be sure of the goals for which you are doing the collaboration. Before you get started clearly define your goals. Influencer Marketing can increase your brand awareness through referral traffic, testimonials. Ask yourself the following:

· Would you like to grow your Instagram following?

· Would you like to get more referral traffic — building more links to your website and hence increasing your SEO?

· Would you like to get more testimonials so you can generate more trust

· Would you like to increase your sales

· Is there a specific product you want to start promoting

· Do you want people to sign-up to your newsletter and get more subscribers

· OR all of the above?

It’s best to pick any one goal and then go about it. That will make it simple and easy to implement.

3. Check Their Engagement Rate

If the other person is charging you for collaboration then its supremely important to keep a note of their engagement rate. As there is no point in giving somebody money when in return, they are not providing you enough value in exchange. Just keep this simple thing in mind that if someone is asking you for money then it means it’s a kind of business transaction and in every business transaction you need to weigh down each and every aspect of a certain action. Be mindful about it and take charge of things on your hand. Now is the time when anybody and everybody can buy fake followers and claim to be a fashion or brand influencer. Hence, having a large followers count is of no value. Be sure to calculate their follower’s engagement rate.

· Less than 1% = low engagement rate

· Between 1% and 3.5% = average/good engagement rate

· Between 3.5% and 6% = high engagement rate

· Above 6% = very high engagement rate

There are many online apps out there to calculate Instagram’s engagement rates. It very easy does it. You can do it yourself.

4. Check Out Their Professional work

Before considering someone worthy enough of your money for a collaboration. Consider this simple step in mind. Check out if they have done any professional work as in if they have worked with any top brands or photographers lately. As if they are charging you money then on what basis they are charging you money. Do they have that much amount of credibility and value proposition in their personal brand name?

5. Uploading Plain General Photos With Dogs And While Eating In A Fancy Restaurant Does Not Count As A Photoshoot. Period.

This is a very simple yet most neglected aspect in considering someone a professional model. There are a lot of people out there on Instagram who just posts photos with their cute dogs or random photos while having dinner in a fancy restaurant. These images are called general everyday images. They have nothing to do with you being a professional model or blogger. Check them out also. Don’t just fall for beautiful faces or figures. Not everybody who looks good is a model. Modeling is a very unique skill set that needs hard work, dedication, and passion.

Last but not the least. Keep one thing always in mind. All these steps are useful only when someone is demanding your money in lieu of a collaboration. You need to be aware of all these things when keeping a paid collaboration in mind. Otherwise if it’s a creative collaboration where no money is exchanged, then you don’t need to bother about all these things. Just do it for the sake of creating something unique and special.

The whole idea behind writing this post is to make photographers aware of what is going on these days special on Instagram. Any other random Insta guy or girl is claiming to be a model without even having a professional portfolio of them done by a professional photographer. I have myself suffered it quite a number of times, When I am being asked for a collaboration in which I have to pay the other person and that too any random guy or girl with fake followers and having no professional shoot of their own.

I hope this has been helpful. Any questions, please ask away. I’m not just a photographer, but also loves to write and share my views on the subject and loves to chat and discuss. Feel free to reach out anytime. And find me on Instagram here.

Check Out My Work Here: http://www.behance.net/thevipinbaloni

Join Me

Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/thevipinbaloni

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/thevipinbaloni

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thevipinbaloni

Tumblr: http://www.thevipinbaloni.tumblr.com