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04/15/2009 09:10:13 PM · #1 |
So how do you guys/gals recommend someone relatively new to photography (and the area I live in) to get their name out there?? Should I buy newspaper/local magazine ads? Fairly pricey :( Word of mouth is helping some...
I'm not a terrible photographer and I've finally started booking a couple of paying shoots (MM finally served its purpose lol). Just wondering if there's anything else to try to help the word of mouth speed up... I havent posted much of my work on here but you can see it at //www.claytaylorphotography.com
Here's what I'm currently trying:
Myspace - add people from the area... post bulletins where I waive my sitting fee for like a 3 day period every month just to get faces in.. no pics are touched up/given away so if they want prints they gotta buy them.
Facebook - created a group - send a bulk message to the nearly 300 members that I have... same message as what I put on myspace.
I tried contacting local wedding planners today... they want to set up a meeting before putting me in for referrals...
Any other ideas/suggestions?? |
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04/15/2009 09:33:03 PM · #2 |
OH and I guess it would help on what I'm looking to book...
Weddings, Engagement, Bridal, Portrait, Seniors.. typical stuff.. |
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04/15/2009 09:49:16 PM · #3 |
| Only have a second to reply, so sorry no specifics, but SERIOUSLY buy "Guerilla Marketing" by Jay Conrad Levinson. You want ideas? Its full of 'em, and many of them are cheap to free. |
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04/16/2009 07:22:08 PM · #4 |
marketing is like fishing - you need to try different fishin' holes and baits in search of the illusive big fish.
There is no quick fix to finding clients - wom is cheapest but slowest.
money always works...you can buy a mailing list of HS kids and send them postcards - often. Problem is it's not cheap and you need samples to show of course. Bigger issue is most get their pics in late summer so it's not gonna do much good now.
Weddings is another thing that the most you might get now is deposits. Bridal shows are the way to go and then when you shoot at a venue schmooze the manager, send pics or even an album, offer to prints on teh wall, etc. But only at venues you want to work at.
Depends on how desperate you are...craigslist can work, or perhaps you can get a list of marriage license applications and dig up their addresses, send letters to church pastors "Hi, I'm a respectful wedding photog that never uses flash, stays in teh back of the church and you'll never know i'm there! Here's some cards to hand out to prospective brides" - hey, it's a longshot but if you have nothing else to do you have nothing to lose.
can you shoot babies? As in newborns? You'll need a studio and a few sets. if so approach the local hospital's labor and delivery to see if you can have them put your info (think coupon) in the new baby packets they give to mom's.
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04/16/2009 07:50:59 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
can you shoot babies? |
I'm pretty sure that's illegal in most states... |
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04/16/2009 08:08:19 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
can you shoot babies? |
I'm pretty sure that's illegal in most states... |
You're funny! |
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04/16/2009 08:29:19 PM · #7 |
| LOL yes.. have a few newborn shots done already.. I work in a Neonatal ICU as an RN to pay the bills.. :) so I'm good with kids... and especially babies lol. I have a home studio setup... got a few backdrops. some props.. two softboxes with continuous lights... if you want to see my newborn work then its at my site (www.claytaylorphotography.com) under maternity/newborn. |
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04/18/2009 11:37:53 AM · #8 |
First let me say that I am not a professional marketer (but it was what I went to college for).
Your post seems fairly focused on the wedding market which is good, and you are heading in the right path but looking at your site there are no wedding pics (at least that I saw). If you haven't really shot any weddings, or don't have the copyright to the photos (if you were a second shooter or shooting for another photographer) you may want to shoot a wedding extremely cheap just to get those portfolio images. Most brides want to see pictures of previous weddings before signing up for theirs.
To add to what you are doing there are some things you could try.
Acquiring new customers is always more expensive than keeping the ones you have. So instead of scattering your efforts look for a way to introduce yourself to a customer and keep them for life.
I suspect college students (now that they are spending their own money for the first time) would respond very well to a "loss leader" pricing scheme. After impressing them with your skills and professional attitude you will be on the short list of photographers to shoot the wedding in the next few years and if all goes as planned the shots of babies and kids later.
Now if you have a day job that pays the bills you can be really aggressive with pricing on your portraits for the college students. But be clear that it is a bargain! You don't want to be viewed as a cheap photographer. Try a promotion weekend or two for graduating college kids where you shoot like crazy and they understand they are lucky to be receiving a photo-shoot for such a low price (think of somewhere around half price). Possibly advertising it as a gift to graduates.
In the college demographic word of mouth spreads quickly with the new social media tools. The special weekend event will also create a sense of urgency for them to tell friend now and not put it off.
Also don't try to introduce several marketing techniques at once, try a promotion, measure the results and if it worked repeat. If it didn't examine why it didn't. Only adding a new promotion every few months to see if causes a spike in sales, referrals or web traffic.
Oh yeah, don't forget to find ways to measure success. Sales is not the only method. Keep your eyes on all your metrics. A promotion might cause a bump on your website but no contact. That might mean you need to look at the experience your visitors have when the visit the website. The promotion may have still worked (increased traffic) but didn't cause extra bookings or revenue.
Also if you are looking for more reading material find Seth Godin's "Permission Marketing". |
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04/18/2009 12:06:39 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by JCDean:
If you haven't really shot any weddings, or don't have the copyright to the photos (if you were a second shooter or shooting for another photographer) you may want to shoot a wedding extremely cheap just to get those portfolio images. Most brides want to see pictures of previous weddings before signing up for theirs. |
If you can't get a wedding to use as "models" for your portfolio, maybe you can work out a deal with a bridal store to do some cheap "product" shots of gowns and accessories in exchange for using the photos in your portfolio (and posting as stock images?). IMO the key (pun intended) to bridal shots is capturing all the highlight detail in the gown while having a full range of tones/contrast in the rest of the photo. With a mannekin you can control the lighting, and they hold still ... :-)
Good luck! |
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