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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> How do you advertise your photography?
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 05/13/2006 12:00:57 AM · #1
I'm wondering from those here that make at least some of their income from photography how you advertise your services - what works and what doesn't.

I've setup a small studio, have a website, ads in the local paper, some local websites, google adwords and the phonebook so far. I'm not getting much response as yet. Mainly trying to do portraits so far, perhaps I should do some other photography too.

Feedback on my website leoklein.com.au is also appreciated.
 05/13/2006 12:06:27 AM · #2
I make almost all of my income from photography. And I use the best source of advertising known to man - word of mouth, mostly. I alos do have business cards in places such as beauty salons and maybe in a few bathroom stalls... LOL

But, really, building a client base to advertise for you is the most effective form of advertising you can have. For example 90% of the weddings I shoot are refers.
 05/13/2006 12:57:04 AM · #3
Thanks, I know word of mouth is very important. I guess the question is how do you find the 10% that refer you the other 90%...

Getting started is always a challenge!
 05/13/2006 01:00:39 AM · #4
Freebies... Really. It's not uncommon for me to do a "freebie" here and there to help get more threads.

Works well for portraits.
 05/13/2006 01:22:43 AM · #5
...and cheese helps....right fotoman?
Maybe you should make that your calling card...
I bet you'd get some jobs then, eh?

Message edited by author 2006-05-13 01:36:39.
 05/13/2006 01:27:42 AM · #6
well, I don't personally have a photography business, but I have heard of people joining churches, setting up boothes at local farmer's markets, and cold calling businesses to set up alliances with that previously wouldn't have been thought of as an ordinary place to have photography.... just networking, get more involved in your community, find out community events and volunteer your time as a photographer, throw in a few freebies like fotoman said... also, maybe just go shooting in the park of people's pets and get them to ask you to email them and send lo-rez photos that they will be sure to ask if you sell prints... etc...
 05/13/2006 01:30:24 AM · #7
i think, contacts ,
i have the same problem, i have a web and all but just must to pacience
the jobs will come ... hopefully soon
 05/13/2006 04:53:58 AM · #8
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Freebies... Really. It's not uncommon for me to do a "freebie" here and there to help get more threads.

Works well for portraits.


Thats freaky, I just got my first booking - between my last post and this one. I took some photos of a young lady, an aspiring model as a freebie. Tonight I get a call - they want some family photos done and will pay for my time and prints. Yay!
 05/13/2006 08:28:29 PM · #9
I really should say a big thankyou to fotomann_forever. Your input is much appreciated.
 05/13/2006 09:03:15 PM · #10
seriously word of mouth is the best way to go. You need to get your foot in the door, then in a bigger door, and so on.

and staying in one place helps. I'm all over the place and have to say no to most photo shoot requests I get because a- i dont have time at school or b- i cant get to the area for whatever reason, even so..word of mouth has helped me get all the potential clients i had to say no to.
 05/14/2006 02:48:29 AM · #11
Hey just visited your site, looks good, the only thing I would change is the font... the small white font against the black background really hurts my eyes to read... keeps doing that optical illusion thing where the letters are pulsating and going black white black white... etc.. but overall, nice job
 05/14/2006 08:39:43 AM · #12
Hi amandalore, thanks for the feedback, what computer / browser were you using? The font is not supposed to be really small... will have to fix it somehow.
 05/14/2006 09:15:49 PM · #13
Originally posted by Leok:
I really should say a big thankyou to fotomann_forever. Your input is much appreciated.


You're very welcome. Glad the advice helped.
 05/14/2006 09:17:54 PM · #14
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Freebies... Really. It's not uncommon for me to do a "freebie" here and there to help get more threads.

Works well for portraits.


I knew there was a reason I offered a freebie for my first wedding and got it. Got til November to practice though.

Message edited by author 2006-05-14 21:18:41.
 05/16/2006 06:51:34 PM · #15
Rex - congratulations on your first wedding booking - plenty of time to practice! Hope all goes well for you ;-)
 05/16/2006 07:00:00 PM · #16
Word of mouth, mostly. My only real collectors are my parents and when I'm whining about how broke I am my friends might pitch in and buy a few prints, but other than that... I guess I have my photo blog, my blogging blog, my website, DPC Prints, and the exposure gained from every single time someone clicks on my profile here after I've said something in the forums - over 1000 hits in just six weeks. And occasionally I might remember to upload an .xls file to Froogle. Basically my philosophy is just to spread out as much as possible.
05/16/2006 07:03:01 PM · #17
I have the same question but I'm not selling a service - no studio or events photography. Just prints. I am asking everyone I know to pass it on and I'm posting it where I can - I have marketing postcards made up with the most popular photo on them and give those out where I can. What else can I do? Any thoughts?
 05/16/2006 07:59:11 PM · #18
What about exhibiting your work? There must be places you can do it at a low cost (or even free). I've no idea what galleries would charge for wall space, though. You probably wouldn't need that many different prints, either, just plenty of pre-framed versions handy, and in different sizes.
 05/16/2006 08:05:44 PM · #19
Originally posted by _Io_:
What about exhibiting your work? There must be places you can do it at a low cost (or even free). I've no idea what galleries would charge for wall space, though. You probably wouldn't need that many different prints, either, just plenty of pre-framed versions handy, and in different sizes.


Oh yeah - cafes often give wall space to emerging local artists.

Something else I thought of is my annual calendar, which are mostly given as gifts but also ordered by friends as gifts, and I seem to get a fair bit of buzz off those every year.

And I am not above randomly sending prints to minor celebrities who mention in interviews that they collect photography prints or politicians who do something I agree with, like support the arts, etc. I have a very nice thank you letter from the architect who is designing the new Nobel Peace Center in Oslo - he happened to mention that he prefers to trade art, particularly photos, with his artist friends over buying Jackson Pollacks or whathaveyou.

And I don't expect this will ever drum up business, but I also volunteer my camera and services for the local Girl Scout council's PR department. It's a valid photo credit, is helping me learn to shoot people, and I get to call myself the "Special Events Photographer - Mile Hi Girl Scout Council", which sounds nice and impressive.
05/16/2006 09:00:41 PM · #20
An ad in the local newspaper, they did a bridal edition and that got a few weddings.
my website. i have tie ins/listings with a few wedding oriented sites (free ones) and that works very well for weddings.

I know of people that love The Knot and others that hate it. It is not cheap to try it. if it works, then the cost is unimportant. if it flops, well, it's educational.

I got some free ads in the newspaper. some photogs claim the paper doesn't work for them, but it seems to be a good deal to me. this fall they do another bridal tab, and i'm doubling the size of my ad.

I plan on running some x-mas time ads in the paper too in the fall - pet stuff mostly as i did that last year wiht a local grooming store and it worked pretty well, so now that i have some studio space i will try and go direct to the people, so to speak.

direct mail can work, especially to past customers, but it has to be frequent. I'd love to do this but don't have the time to do it well/right at this time, nor the customer base to justify farming it out.
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