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DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> Need ideas for drumming up more business
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07/15/2010 07:15:58 AM · #1
I'm sure this is the norm for many areas, but this area is riddled with photographers and wannabe photographers. I don't want to make a "living" at this, but enough to pay for my daughter's piano lessons and save up some money. I'm a stay at home mom for a reason so I don't need this to become my full time day job.
I've done the CL thing- went so so. I got a few customers off of it- one got me a couple other shoots and has always returned for another shoot themselves. I'm averaging one or two shoots a month. I want to be doing more.
I was thinking of putting an ad in our local paper, we are in a very small town so our community paper is actually distributed within the whole county. Then I thought of doing a mass mailing type thing- sending my flyer out.

I wasn't able to drop my senior flyers off before school got out for summer so I have only a few seniors coming my way. It's sad that I'm going to Seattle next month and I have 4 sessions scheduled and I don't even live there!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know it's not my pricing because I have my prices lower than anyone within a 100 mile radius of me.
07/15/2010 02:44:57 PM · #2
I'm not in the business but you might find the excerpt below from a PopPhoto.com article helpful.

Social Media Marketing

Facebook, as Tammy Swales says, “is the single most successful marketing for me, hands down,” and others agree. Whether it’s a fan page for the studio or a personal page (Swales has both), Facebook — and MySpace — is a direct line to seniors. Watermarked images are posted on the photographer’s Facebook page and tagged with the seniors’ names. Then it goes viral, with tagged images appearing on friends’ pages as well. Word-of-mouth recommendations add another dimension to marketing. A number of photographers invite a group of about 10 select seniors to participate in a “senior models” or “senior rep” program each year. Session fees may be waived and other perks are used as incentives for the teens to spread the word among their peers about their photo session. It’s a win/win situation — the kids love being part of a select group, and it costs the photographers little or no expense for effective marketing.

I believe idnic has used this method before.

Tim

07/15/2010 03:13:03 PM · #3
I watched an interesting segment with Lori Nordstrom on the Photovision #81 DVD. She generates business by going to higher end local retailers, not big chains, and offers to do family portraits of the owners, their kids, and grandkids. She stipulates that she will show the best prints of such on their store walls. The owners pay full mprice, are happy to be models, because who else is more adorable but their family. Customers come in and praise the work and the owners are all too happy to reccommend her.
07/15/2010 03:30:26 PM · #4
Naked Tuesdays!
07/15/2010 07:57:17 PM · #5
Well I do have a facebook page for my photography business, and I've offered various specials on it. I have a lot of fans, but most of them are friends and family lol- of which all but 3 live near me.
07/15/2010 07:59:34 PM · #6
Originally posted by missinseattle:

Well I do have a facebook page for my photography business, and I've offered various specials on it. I have a lot of fans, but most of them are friends and family lol- of which all but 3 live near me.


I just read an article about a guy who made a lot of money by running a targeted ad on facebook. of course that costs a bit of money so it may not be possible right now. best of luck to you. btw what part of va are you in?
07/15/2010 09:49:17 PM · #7
I had looked into do the fb ad thing, but too much money at the moment.

I no longer live in VA. We were in the Yorktown/Williamsburg area for 4 years and moved to ME 2 years ago. LOVE it here and hope we never have to move again!
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