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 12/04/2007 07:37:38 PM · #1
More in photography!!

i think to make it you need opportunities, skill contacts and luck and i think i have at least one of them..
i get a lot of comment and complements from people on here and other sites but i make virtually no money from photography yet lol
ide really like to take my photography traveling to places ive never been.. i hear that some company's give out sponsorships etc.. whats the best way to attract them?
or anyone got any other advice?

thanks in Advance Jay :)
 12/04/2007 07:38:37 PM · #2
They won't come to you, you must go to them.
 12/04/2007 07:41:28 PM · #3
Originally posted by JayA:
More in photography!!

i think to make it you need opportunities, skill contacts and luck and i think i have at least one of them..
i get a lot of comment and complements from people on here and other sites but i make virtually no money from photography yet lol
ide really like to take my photography traveling to places ive never been.. i hear that some company's give out sponsorships etc.. whats the best way to attract them?
or anyone got any other advice?

thanks in Advance Jay :)


It's funny, but the more portraits I do, the more people see them, the more business I get. I give my current customers a deal (10% off for each customer they send me and 10% for the referred customer as well) so they become my sales force. I do this with my business cards. They sign them and date them. The referred has 30 days to make an appointment. If they call, everyone saves :)

You might consider something like that... I have gotten a lot of jobs simply by word of mouth.

ETA: Of course, your work must showcase your abilities :)

Message edited by author 2007-12-04 19:41:54.
 12/04/2007 07:43:23 PM · #4
Originally posted by jhonan:
They won't come to you, you must go to them.


who are they? where do i start?
 12/04/2007 07:48:24 PM · #5
Originally posted by JayA:
Originally posted by jhonan:
They won't come to you, you must go to them.


who are they? where do i start?


Start with friends... ask them to model for you, or ask them to let you shoot their kids... tell them you are trying to build a portfolio and that you will give them 2 free 8x10s for signing a model release. Then, surprise! throw in a couple of wallets or offer to let them order some photos from the shoot. I promise, it works. Mama's are PROUD :)
 12/04/2007 07:49:31 PM · #6
Originally posted by JayA:
who are they? where do i start?


I was just thinking that myself last week. Ive come up with a great advertising "scheme". first you need to decide what "kind" of clients you want to draw. then think of where you might find this client shopping. lets say a high end dept/clothing store. go to the store and start dropping bizz cards into pockets of pants,shirts,coats ect...Ive even thought of dropping bizz cards into boxes of childrens toys. I just think its a neat idea...reach into a new pair of pants and find a card for a photographer...then they start thinking "well...I did just get a new outfit...". It also never hurts to ask business if you can put some cards on thier counter and also just pass them out to people as you pass them on the street. Biggest thing to geting a bizz started is letting people know your there. good luck!
edit to fix spelling...dang fingers just dont listen anymore

Message edited by author 2007-12-04 19:50:42.
 12/04/2007 09:36:06 PM · #7
Do something nice for folks, and you may be rewarded for it!

I've posted this before, but it's a story worth re-telling. My daughter (age 9) plays softball in the spring. In the spring of '06, I shot the heck out of one of their games, making sure to get every kid both at bat and in the outfield.

I did some minimal editing on the shots, made a nice graphic for the CD label (which conveniently included my contact info), and gave each parent a CD with all of the high-resolution files. That move has literally resulted in *at least* $15,000 in business... and that was one CD given to 12 people. (I did it without any real expectation that anyone would hire me for anything down the road -- first and foremost it was meant to be a goodwill, fun gesture since they were all really great kids on the team.)

I really believe in reaching out, doing some good with photography (I volunteer with an anti-drug group here, too), and it seems to come back to me in good ways. Even if I got no business out of doing the CDs for the softball team, it was well worth it to me because they all *really* genuinely appreciated the shots. Over a year later I've still run into parents who remember me because of that.

Message edited by author 2007-12-04 21:38:02.
 12/04/2007 10:54:34 PM · #8
Photographer's Market
I picked up the 2006 edition. Some of the advice is rather generic (i.e. some places want a submission packet, but there's nothing to tell you how to assemble one), and there's a number of the "for more information, purchase one of our sister publications...), but the contact information is invaluable, and there is quite a bit of worthwhile advice. Might not hurt to pick one up
 12/05/2007 06:40:01 AM · #9
It seems to me that you are asking more about how to get the notice of companies than how to build a portrait business? Start by getting your photos shown in art galleries. Get to know the "art" people in your area. Do some volunteer work for organizations. Enter contests in your area and internationally.
By hanging around people that are in the art field, I'm talking about people that are already in the business of art; professional photographers(I'd say commercial photographers or photographers that are in the field you want to be in), collectors, curators and such. By volunteering in causes that are art related, you can get your name known. When something special comes up, the people that are in charge of it will already know you and it could lead to big things for you. Basically, start making contacts with the people in your area that will be able to help you in the future. Help them and they will help you. Enter contests to get even more exposure.
 12/05/2007 07:44:11 AM · #10
Originally posted by JayA:
More in photography!!

i think to make it you need opportunities, skill contacts and luck and i think i have at least one of them..
i get a lot of comment and complements from people on here and other sites but i make virtually no money from photography yet lol
ide really like to take my photography traveling to places ive never been.. i hear that some company's give out sponsorships etc.. whats the best way to attract them?
or anyone got any other advice?

thanks in Advance Jay :)


Ooooh thnaks for bringing this up, I'm gonna keep an eye in the thread =]
 12/05/2007 08:59:17 AM · #11
You are so right. I haven't made in money yet but a lot of parents have quite paying a big name photographer to take the team soccer picture because they like my simple 5x7 that I give the girls at the end of the season much better. I have been doing it for approximately 3 years now and they are always saying I should do more with my pictures. It all started out as a nice memento for a great season. They especially get a kick out of it when I am able to photoshop a player in who was missing the day I did the team picture. Someday I will take it a step further in the mean time I just enjoy making people happy. Your CD idea is excellent. I may have to attempt that this soccer season or basketball season.
Originally posted by alanfreed:
Do something nice for folks, and you may be rewarded for it!

I've posted this before, but it's a story worth re-telling. My daughter (age 9) plays softball in the spring. In the spring of '06, I shot the heck out of one of their games, making sure to get every kid both at bat and in the outfield.

I did some minimal editing on the shots, made a nice graphic for the CD label (which conveniently included my contact info), and gave each parent a CD with all of the high-resolution files. That move has literally resulted in *at least* $15,000 in business... and that was one CD given to 12 people. (I did it without any real expectation that anyone would hire me for anything down the road -- first and foremost it was meant to be a goodwill, fun gesture since they were all really great kids on the team.)

I really believe in reaching out, doing some good with photography (I volunteer with an anti-drug group here, too), and it seems to come back to me in good ways. Even if I got no business out of doing the CDs for the softball team, it was well worth it to me because they all *really* genuinely appreciated the shots. Over a year later I've still run into parents who remember me because of that.
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