Marketing help - DPChallenge Forums

07/02/2010 08:06:52 PM · #1

Hey guys, it seems Im not drawing enough attention. I have noticed that my website views increase dramatically from my facebook ad campaign, so I know thats a route i need to keep investing in.

However, it seems Im not drawing enough attention or not getting my work in front of the right people...

Maybe my wording isnt good enough with the titles I post. I post an image each day on facebook, I have a twitter which is gaining slowly as well...

However, here is what Im working on now.

Im making a list of magazines and other publications/establishments that I would like to market myself to.
Are there any creative ideas for getting your work to stick out like a sore thumb without seeming desperate?
Heck, maybe my work just isnt that good or not exciting enough, or I havent found the right target market.

Can anyone either help me by telling me what I can change in my portfolio or tell me which area my style/photography would fit best.

Thanks everyone for helping :)

07/02/2010 09:36:55 PM · #2

bump

07/02/2010 09:47:42 PM · #3

My background is in Advertising so I'll take a look and see if I can offer any advice.

ETA: had a look at some of your challenge entries, many are very atmospheric and mystical. The first piece of advice I would give you is to NOT change your style to suit the market (I may get smacked around for saying so). I firmly believe in developing your own style. On the other hand, don't be afraid to play with your style and expand, try new things...hope I am making some sense here!

Now, where and to whom...you mention magazines. I would make up a list of the magazines in which you would want your shots to appear, then go to the archives for that mag - be they online or in a library - and read up on their specs for submission as a photog. Look at what they have already published. Become familiar with their needs, so you cab send them select images (another no-no...no 'form letters' of photographs. In other words if you are submitting images to one magazine, don't submit the same batch to everyone. Don't forget, many publications are housed under the same roof, as it were. You don't want the photo editor from different mags telling you that they already saw your images, before they reached their inbox.

Also, be reasonable and realistic. I'm a woman so not at all afraid to play the wide-eyed noob, in that I'm not afraid to ask questions...but not to the point where I sound like a ditz!

Don't forget, too, photography is very much a dream occupation for many. There is lots of competition out there. But there is also always room for niches, so it may take some exploring of yourself and your photography, to determine what that is.

I would also very strongly recommend that you pm

Bear_Music. Robert has been in this wacky business for what, 40 years now? and may be able to help you more than I.

Good luck! :-)

Message edited by author 2010-07-02 22:00:43.

07/02/2010 09:57:53 PM · #4

Thanks so much.

My website is www.garsteckphotography.com in case you wanted to look and check that out.

07/02/2010 10:07:53 PM · #5

Originally posted by mgarsteck:

Thanks so much.

My website is www.garsteckphotography.com in case you wanted to look and check that out.

Will do...

07/02/2010 10:14:46 PM · #6

Ok thanks for responding :)

I am making a list of magazines right now. I was putting in a plan to do exactly what you suggested. Im making a list of photographs and learning from them (instead of changing my style that is).

I have a few models that want me to shoot for them, so I will take advantage of that to shoot for the magazines.

Im sure Art Directors and such get thousands of emails per day, what could be done to increase the chances of being seen? Maybe my images just have to be that different or stick out. Ill research this a bit more, on how to approach art directors.

07/02/2010 10:28:04 PM · #7

Hmmm...well here's what worked for me, way back when in the early 1990s when I was first moving to Vancouver. Fresh out of Advertising school and wanted to freelance or get on with an agency.

So I sent out an advance piece approximately 3-4 weeks in advance to all the creative directors in town. I got a bunch of little matchboxes, painted them matte black and glossed them, and on top had a piece of paper saying: Looking for a good copywriter? And inside the little sliding matchbox tray, which was also black and glossed, it said: Good?! Hell, I'm matchless.

Then I followed up approximately 1 week before I flew out with a letter boldly requesting an interview with them.

I landed in Vancouver the evening of March 14, 1993. By 10:30 am March 15, 1993, I had my first freelance job lined up. A year or so later I did another promo item with some jalapeno-pepper jelly, hand-delivered.

Now, several years later, the Internet rules all and pretty much everything is done online, so that makes things a bit tougher...but maybe I've helped spark your interest and creativity. I really haven't done any online work, as I left the business by 2000, but again I hope this helps! Keep me up to date! :-)

07/02/2010 11:11:03 PM · #8

Well, as soon as I know I have a definite rock solid portfolio that people will love, then I want to put a DVD package. I want the packaging to be similar to what you get when you buy Mac Software. A nice little box with my logo and a little booklet inside with a few pictures and contact information. And of course a DVD of images they can view. (I think a CD would be better)

07/03/2010 08:13:34 AM · #9

Sounds like a good idea! When I was in Advertising, mostly as a copywriter, I had to be creative on demand (for $50/hr...) so I'll be happy to offer input re the actual wording etc of your package if you like. For free :-)