Mara has been in the business for almost 15 years, both in advertising and publishing; she now consults with photographers on how to get noticed in crowded markets.   Key Takeaways [1:07] Heather introduces Mara and asks her guest to talk about who she is, where she came from, and how she found her way into art production. [9:24] From PR to photography to advertising, Mara’s breadth of experience enables her to think creatively, communicate information precisely, and problem-solve, which seem to be the underlying qualities that are needed in the industry! [10:50] Budget sharing is usually dictated by the clients, but sometimes, the art production budget is only a small part of a much larger budget which can still be ill-defined, making it hard to share. [12:05] Heather touches on the difficulties of not having a budget when dealing with new people whose idea of “enough money” may not be as accurate as they believe! [14:03] Heather asks if there have been noticeable changes in the levels of experience vs. workload in the teams Mara needs to work with — Mara shares why she thinks that may be. [14:40] Heather and Mara discuss the changes to their respective jobs that have come of the tendency for the industry to merge production departments. [17:37] Does Mara share who is going against one another in the context of multiple bids? [20:14] Mara will both work with photographers who do motion as well as directors, depending on the project scale and needs. [21:48] Is the motion information critical on a photographer’s website or will Mara dig deeper on her own? [23:06] Heather asks if Mara’s creatives generally rely on her to find people to work with or if they come with fully constructed briefs. [25:00] If she was not an Art Producer, what would Mara do? [26:43] Heather thanks Mara for coming onto the podcast and invites listeners to tune in for the next episode.   Thanks for listening.   In an industry where the rules are always changing, it’s helpful to hear from those on the front line. Heather Elder is the visionary behind NotesFromARep’sJournal.com; visit her website for industry updates, stunning photography and video, and the artists behind the work.   Mentioned in this episode Boston University Weber Shandwick FIT Photography Essence Magazine   More about your host Heather Elder’s Bio Heather Elder’s Blog Heather Elder on Instagram Heather Elder on Twitter Heather Elder on LinkedIn Heather Elder on Facebook   More about our guest Mara Serdans’ website Mara Serdans on Freelance Art Producer Mara Serdans on LinkedIn