Marketing / Getting your name out there

Today I put my 2 weeks in at work with no fallback (currently) but photography. Even just booking a few sessions in my downtime while I search for a new job would be really helpful for me financially, but I am HORRIBLE at marketing myself.
I've done contests in the past to get activity on my page, but last time they didn't work out all that well (and this has something to do with the fact that my client base is usually young girls who want prom photos; the majority of them have been irresponsible and horrible at keeping appointments ). To anyone who has a business still going: how do you get there name out there? I could probably be doing a lot better with what I've got if I could find a way to market myself to families, but I just don't know how.


What do I do? lol.

Reach out to friends and family and ask 'who do you know'. Get referrals from them and grow your business

Leilanee wrote: (and this has something to do with the fact that my client base is usually young girls who want prom photos; the majority of them have been irresponsible and horrible at keeping appointments ). To anyone who has a business still going: how do you get there name out there?

I decided 6 months ago, after recognizing that there are a lot of "pros" charging for less than stellar work, to work towards finding paid work so that my hobby can fund itself. Having G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome) is a bad thing and I need a way to buy toys.

1) decided to do portrait work as a relatively easy entry point. I like working with people, enjoy kids and babies, and like going on location. I got bold and asked friends to be my guinea pigs while I learned to capture moments. That took some work and and lot of self-criticism.

2) figured out a style that reflects my view of the world, but is attractive to potential clients. Made that the centerpiece of my work; everything else (lighting, posing, etc) is built around that.

3) researched what portrait photography rates are. Figured out what my session fee and image costs are, and I don't apologize for them. I have a "friends & family" discount of 50%; I don't apologize for that. I give away freebies as a gift, but I am very up front about the value I place on my work, and that I want to provide my services as complimentary.

4) researched how to run a photography business. The first problem I read about is "I didn't get paid" or "client is doing this with images" or whatever. Define your service, write up a contract and present it to your customer before you ever start work. When you book an engagement, get a non-refundable deposit, and make it enough that the client has made a not insignificant investment in you. They'll follow through. Even if you have to get a check at the shoot, work does not begin until it's understood that you must have a deposit and a signed agreement and contract. My deposit is my session fee, which pays for my time at the shoot. If you had a deposit for you prom shoots, they wouldn't flake out on you; even if they did, you have the money to cover your time.

Other thoughts:

Use a website to showcase your portfolio, which is your best work (which clearly changes over time) and is targeted for your audience. To that end it's time for me to update mine with new images. Point to your website. Facebook/G+/etc are fine, but they're not portfolios. They're about awareness. If you can show good work, and get it noticed and shared, great. You want word about you to spread so that when people think of photography, they realize, "hey, I know someone that does good work!"


I'll stop there. Feel free to IM here or on FB.

Gary

www.grhookphoto.com
facebook.com/grhookphoto

All very useful things, but all things I've been doing. I always give potential clients reference to my website, which has my portfolio and session rates based on the type of session they want, all clearly listed, and I'm really quite professional in my demeanor when it comes to signing for a job. I also have my own revised Model Release Form which I go through with every client when I meet them to set up a session, and that has usually kept out of those problems you mentioned, although I have seen clients take the facebook photos I post (before getting their own copies) and cropping out the watermark, which is annoying. I've also seen them applying their own dramatic, ugly photo filters to my already edited work (yuck).

But I seem to be doing everything that has been mentioned. I talk around and grab opportunities ("Oh hey, I see your friend just got engaged. Do they have a photographer?"), I pin up my business card in local places where it's allowed, I have my own well-established style and trademarks, and a few friends-of-friends clients who have worked with me who would likely be willing to put in a good word... but I still don't book often. At all.

_{Maybe my photography just sucks...}

I even make my own little envelopes for the discs! Hahahaha

Jim Photo wrote: Reach out to friends and family and ask 'who do you know'. Get referrals from them and grow your business

best way to build a name for yourself

Leilanee wrote: All very useful things, but all things I've been doing. I always give potential clients reference to my website, which has my portfolio and session rates based on the type of session they want, all clearly listed, and I'm really quite professional in my demeanor when it comes to signing for a job. I also have my own revised Model Release Form which I go through with every client when I meet them to set up a session, and that has usually kept out of those problems you mentioned, although I have seen clients take the facebook photos I post (before getting their own copies) and cropping out the watermark, which is annoying. I've also seen them applying their own dramatic, ugly photo filters to my already edited work (yuck).

But I seem to be doing everything that has been mentioned. I talk around and grab opportunities ("Oh hey, I see your friend just got engaged. Do they have a photographer?"), I pin up my business card in local places where it's allowed, I have my own well-established style and trademarks, and a few friends-of-friends clients who have worked with me who would likely be willing to put in a good word... but I still don't book often. At all.

_{Maybe my photography just sucks...}

I even make my own little envelopes for the discs! Hahahaha

It just takes time, keep at it!

Also, do some searches............
www.mcpactions.com/blog/2010/04/15/5-mar...s-for-photographers/

effron wrote: Also, do some searches............
www.mcpactions.com/blog/2010/04/15/5-mar...s-for-photographers/

That page is worth book marking

Leilanee wrote: All very useful things, but all things I've been doing. I always give potential clients reference to my website, which has my portfolio and session rates based on the type of session they want, all clearly listed, and I'm really quite professional in my demeanor when it comes to signing for a job. I also have my own revised Model Release Form which I go through with every client when I meet them to set up a session, and that has usually kept out of those problems you mentioned, although I have seen clients take the facebook photos I post (before getting their own copies) and cropping out the watermark, which is annoying. I've also seen them applying their own dramatic, ugly photo filters to my already edited work (yuck).

I never post anything on FB until after it's been paid for. If I find a something that has been used prematurely or in appropriately, I send an email or IM politely pointing out the problem and asking them to take the photo down.

Unfortunately, it takes time and a lot of work to market yourself. That's why going pro is a challenge for everyone, and why you keep the day job until you're well established.

Gary

www.grhookphoto.com
facebook.com/grhookphoto

Roy Wilson wrote: That page is worth book marking

Gary

www.grhookphoto.com
facebook.com/grhookphoto

Have you tried working out a performance based incentive plan for wedding vendors to promote you as a photographer?