How to sell photography

Best Ways To Make Money Selling Photography:

What are some good ways to get people to know my photography business and get clients?

I recently started a photography business in my hometown and I am wondering how I can get my name out there and gain some potential clients. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Public Comments

1. Have promotions! Start with flyers to get a free 11x13, I say that big because they will have a harder time to reproduce a bigger pictures. That will get people in the door and it hard to choose when you see so many cute pics. Also the hospital will hand out your coupons to new mothers in there welcome package. you can see who applied for marriage licences and send them info on your services. Another thing you can do is to donate some of your services. People will see you out doing something good and they will associate your name with the good humanity. Contact the local school and tell them you would like to help them raise money, have the students hand out special coupons and you will give the school back 5 bucks out of every package sold or whatever. Hey congrats on starting an new business in this economy. Good luck I wish you the best. My boss started photography only as a hobby, Now he owns H&R Imaging and does the school pictures for tons of schools. So start small and aim high!!!!!!!
2. i would like to answer its very difficult you dont give any details of your business. what is your niche? is it sports? market to people hire sports photographers, is it weddings? go and market to those who wedding shooters market to. is it mums and dads? go market to parents. have you followed your business plan? have you followed your marketing plan? do you have such things? do you have a studio? what type of business do you have?
3. Well, business cards are always good. This way, you can hand them out to friends, associates, and clients. I'm not sure how large your hometown is, but here, the businesses are really trying to help each other out, and they often do a "business card swap". They'll set out your business cards (usually ten or twenty at a time) as long as you do the same for them. Post fliers on windows or on the corkboards (community event boards or whatever) of local businesses, if they'll allow. With computers and printers being so widely used these days, this is a very cheap way of advertising...and I've even seen some of the bigger business that are well established turning to this as a cheap alternative to costly advertising. Try to advertise in your phone book, local paper, at your local radio station, and on your local television station. Yes, it usually costs money, but business is all about taking some chances, right? Having colorful brochures with samples of your work and a price list is also another good thing to keep on hand, and also good for giving out and leaving with other businesses. The point is to get your name out there...and these are all good ways to do this. If you haven't already, set up a web site. You can also advertise on social pages, but be sure to keep them professional. If you have a personal page, keep it separate from your networking page. But...if you have a personal page, and have a lot of friends, you could always add your business as a friend...and have your friends do the same. This will network your company to friends of friends of friends. But be careful (if your personal page is identifiable with your business page) not to have anything on your personal page that might make you look unprofessional. This is the only problem with using your personal page as a means of networking your business. Try mingling with others...always keeping your cards handy. If you go to a party or social function and chat with people, and they ask what you do, smile and tell them...then offer a business card. Make sure that all your contact info is there (business phone, cell, email address, and a web site with samples of your work and price lists) so that they don't feel like they have to ask for all the details right then and there. But, if they ask, make sure to tell them. Blogs can be another way of getting your business' name out there...if you do this in a professional and clear manner. You could set up a blog that talks about the different aspects of photography...lighting, makeup, backgrounds, etc. Talk about the different things you face as a photographer (difficult clients, children, pets, scenery, etc.), but never complain...make it known how much you love dealing with even the difficulties. You can also post a link to your business site in your blog. Just a few ideas off the top of my head. For more ideas, you could try Google searching "low cost marketing ideas" or "marketing a small business"...things of that nature. I wish you much luck and success!