Originally posted by mike_311:
this is good stuff as i would love go semi pro. i enjoy doing portraiture and would love to get into going doing informal engagement photos or anniversary shots.
no kids, i dont have he patience... and a wedding seems to be way too overwhelming, i need to build up my confidence.
my main question is, how did you advertise yourself at first? i thought about doing a few freebees, advertising such on Craigslist and doing some stuff for my family just you get a small portfolio built. |
You need a portfolio of samples - you need to show what you do (you'll eventually develop a style but try to show one or two 'styles' at first so prospective clients know what they'll be getting)
You can shoot friends, family, ad on CL, etc. Find the local pro org, join, attend meetings, network - offer to assist or second shoot or work for free - it's called paying your dues, getting an education, etc. It will pay off in the end for you.
Confidence comes wtih experience and with the confidence comes the money and the "dumb" questions stop being asked. As in "how long have you been a photog?" or "have you ever shot a wedding at...(in a certain tone)". You get to be self assured and people trust you - you can get seniors to crawl into sewers or have brides jump in lakes...when they trust you.
As for advertising - you need to identify your target market/client - who, what, where, etc. Then where do they go, shop, read, etc? it's different for each market segment. Some I have partly figured out and some not at all (family ports...just beginning to get some baby traction. Weddings, seniors are decent)
A website, listings on websites (to increas seo), FB can help but i'm not finding it to be all that great. Email newsletter works for me, but Iv'e spent 7 years accumulating a mailig list of 3000 names. And after 7 years they know me, my work, etc.
Being new (in any business) means you need customers - and every customer for a product already has a place they're buying it from. Your toughest task is to take customers away from already established businesses. The 5 biggest studios in my county (that do seniors, sports leagues, schools, etc) have been around decades. Many have shot pics of grandparents, parents, and now the kids. THey shoot the school and sports pics for 10 years then get them as seniors and then brides. "You go where you know" type thing. This works in your favor eventually - I've gotten 3 seniors from the same family as they keep bringing their younger kids, then weddings as the kids get married, family ports in there too. |
