Is this email ok??

Ok, I'm going to bite the bullet and email some of the companies, that I have in my 'freelance photographers market handbook'. I figure nothing ventured, nothing gained, I've got to at least try the water, instead of just doing nothing towards my dream.

Anyway, tomorrow I'm thinking about sending this email to some of the companies, please could you guys tell me if I should add something else, or should I do/say something different.

Thanks! Here is the email:

Dear Ms. Clatworthy,

I am emailing to enquire whether you would be interested in considering some of my images to use on your products.

I shoot mainly colour photographs of flowers, trees, country scenery and seascapes and use a high quality 6MP digital camera for all shots.

I have taken hundreds of photographs, in the past year and would love to break into the field of producing images for companies such as yourself. I do realise that you most probably use stock libraries and/or established professional photographers to supply images for your products, but I would be extremely grateful if, when you have a spare five minutes, you could take a quick look at my images and consider whether you could find a use for them in some way.

I am not attaching any photographs with this email, but will wait to hear from you first to see if you are interested in seeing some of my images, maybe then you could advise on how you would like them sent i.e. By email attachement, or by CD and what size file you would prefer.

Thankyou very much for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely and kindest regards,

Sally Parker

Sounds good Sally - good luck!

One thing I would consider tho, is having a website portfolio and including a link to that

Thanks Azz!

But, I don't have a website..

You could include a link to your profile here which includes some of your shots - only thing then tho is it contains other info you might not want them to see, such as kit used etc..

Sally set yourself up a small blog Easy and quick to use and if done right can look very pro

I do think however if you dont link up to some images, your email may be over looked - People wont wantto keep "backing and forthing" with their time and will want everything on a plate to see and evaluate - Good luck!

DaisyChains and Azz, I do think you are both right that I should put a link on, or something. Do you think a link to my profile on here will be ok? I don't mind them seeing what equipment I use. I've never had a blog, or even know how to make one!

Sally, i have PM'd you

Seems like you're rushing.

I say don't rush. Gain some experience first.

That's true, I get CV's and people trying to sell us stuff, paper letters asking me to type in massive web addresses...can't be bothered, show me who you are or your product now...next!...occasionally something does stand out and I am curious but I will have forgotten about it ten minutes later unless it was exceptional in some way or it fits what I am looking for at the time.

Not sure what your options are Sally but my experience of people who have sold images and people illustrating Christmas cards etc. is they are quite few in number and don't seem to be that well rewarded. They seem to do it as part time for extra money or be happy with quite a low income. Appreciated if you have a thriving studio, weddings etc. things can be different but it may be worth evaluating where you are headed if you are considering it full time. Would be great though to see some of your own work on postcards/locl publicity etc. and I'm sure if you have a big portfolio the rewards asre there.

Thanks Favian and BlackCloud, I've really got to give it a go though and feel like I have waited long enough. To be honest, money wise, I couldn't be any worse off than I am now and this is what I want to do with my life, I don't want to do anything else! I'm 35 this year and have wasted enough time being miserable in jobs I hate and now I have found something I love, I must make try to make a go of it! Apart from not having the most expensive, professional camera and editing software, I spend almost every spare minute reading photgraphy books, to try to improve my skills, to improve on what I can produce, with the equipment that I have.

Ok, I realise that everyone of my photos may get rejected, because they are not quite up to standard, I really, really hope that doesn't happen, but if it does, I will have to try and improve...I'm not going to give up!