3 tips you would pass onto an aspiring photographer?

What would be 3 tips you would pass onto a photographer trying to get more wedding and portrait clients?

1. Keep at it
2. Market yourself
3. Advertise

JoAnne Muzila wrote: What would be 3 tips you would pass onto a photographer trying to get more wedding and portrait clients?

Practice
Practice
Practice

From Magnum shooters:

erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/09/35-m...iring-photographers/

MLKstudios wrote: From Magnum shooters:

erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/09/35-m...iring-photographers/

Can't you give your own input?

I'm a aspring photographer myself. Although the link you posted was nice to read, it's still nice to have people answer it in their own words.

effron wrote:

JoAnne Muzila wrote: What would be 3 tips you would pass onto a photographer trying to get more wedding and portrait clients?

Practice
Practice
Practice

Completely agree. I'm no longer "aspiring photographer", however I am no where near a pro either. And I still spend my days practicing.

bs3f wrote:

MLKstudios wrote: From Magnum shooters:

erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/09/35-m...iring-photographers/

Can't you give your own input?

I'm a aspring photographer myself. Although the link you posted was nice to read, it's still nice to have people answer it in their own words.

Sorry I missed this earlier.

I will, but I'm also biased.

1. DON'T read UE.
2. Don't try to teach yourself.
3. If you want to be a great photographer, take my course.

It's a start to something fantastic. Will take you further.

Get training.

Be a sponge and learn something.

Develop your own style.

Practice
KISS (keep it simple stupid)
and keep striving toward your goals

1. Create a printed portfolio of your best work to showcase to prospective clients
2. Print rep cards (large business cards, 5x7, etc) to share with your friends/family, etc...and have them pass them out, featuring your work, coupons, etc, to everyone! (Offer them $50 if they bring in a client!)
3. Make sure you've got a GREAT website! Every prospective client will want to see your work online!

Jamie@Photobacks wrote: 1. Create a printed portfolio of your best work to showcase to prospective clients
2. Print rep cards (large business cards, 5x7, etc) to share with your friends/family, etc...and have them pass them out, featuring your work, coupons, etc, to everyone! (Offer them $50 if they bring in a client!)
3. Make sure you've got a GREAT website! Every prospective client will want to see your work online!

1. I would add to use social networks to showcase bits of your work & to advertise your specials
2. Blogs are a good idea as well.
3 If you are interested in weddings seriously think of working as a second shooter for a more experienced photographer to get experience & build your portfolio.

I'm going to throw in a fourth since I really think it does help when jumping into the wedding game...
4. Once you have a working portfolio, get a table at Wedding Expos. You will reach your target audience & establish the initial contact. During this contact you can take notes on what the client is looking for, the budget they have & venue site. Then when you do call backs you can already have worked out a custom package designed around that contact information. Which brings a 5th point I guess.
5. Do call backs to remind your client of upcoming specials & gain further insite on the client's needs & service requirements.

It's all about what you know as a photographer & what you know about marketing yourself as the viable option for the clients needs.

The name of the game is exposure, and practice. How ironic? Get out there build your experience with practice, get the right exposure in your photos, doing so will keep your overall exposure on the rise! Think about that one

Maria21 wrote:

Jamie@Photobacks wrote: 1. Create a printed portfolio of your best work to showcase to prospective clients
2. Print rep cards (large business cards, 5x7, etc) to share with your friends/family, etc...and have them pass them out, featuring your work, coupons, etc, to everyone! (Offer them $50 if they bring in a client!)
3. Make sure you've got a GREAT website! Every prospective client will want to see your work online!

1. I would add to use social networks to showcase bits of your work & to advertise your specials
2. Blogs are a good idea as well.
3 If you are interested in weddings seriously think of working as a second shooter for a more experienced photographer to get experience & build your portfolio.

I'm going to throw in a fourth since I really think it does help when jumping into the wedding game...
4. Once you have a working portfolio, get a table at Wedding Expos. You will reach your target audience & establish the initial contact. During this contact you can take notes on what the client is looking for, the budget they have & venue site. Then when you do call backs you can already have worked out a custom package designed around that contact information. Which brings a 5th point I guess.
5. Do call backs to remind your client of upcoming specials & gain further insite on the client's needs & service requirements.

It's all about what you know as a photographer & what you know about marketing yourself as the viable option for the clients needs.

Yes, so much you can do... Of course, sometimes you do all of this and still wait for the phone to ring...but you'll have a much better chance if you're putting yourself out there, and eventually it rains...and when it rains, a lot of times it pours!

I am still aspiring, but this is my advice:

1. Keep learning, never stop. Always be a sponge and listen, even when it's tough.

2. Don't be afraid of the failures you learn from them. Mistakes can be great tools.

3. Practice and promotion.

I guess for me if I am doing 1 and 2, I am shooting and practicing. Like I said I am still aspiring.

1. Don't be so keen to be a pro (i.e. enjoy yourself)
2. Read about photography every day (you can teach yourself, but it takes years).
3. Marketing is just as important as skill but marketing without skill is a dead end.