How Do You Market Your Photography Business?

7 years 10 months ago #483107 by JakeHare
I have had many a conversation with photographers about how they market their business, and I wanted to see what my friends here on PT have to shed light on that.

Say if you use one or more of the following ways, and how it has best helped you maximize your return on your investment and business.

1. Social Media
2. Website (Free Design)
3. Website (Paid Design)
4. Word of Mouth
5. Local News
6. Google Maps
7. Search Engines
8. Magazines
9. Art Shows
10. Local Listings
11. Farmers Markets
12. Craigslist
13. Networking Events
14. Photography Events
15. Other

Hopefully those starting out can pick up some great ideas from this thread, and those who are still working out the kinks can see how to improve! 
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7 years 10 months ago #483131 by Ira Weber
Good topic to chat about.  For me, it has been a mixture of many that you have listed.  

Social media is a hit or miss but from my experienced for finding clients, barely paid for it self. 

Google and Yahoo paid search - about the same

Word of mouth - very good

Business directory's - very good

Relationships with wedding and events vendors - good (very cut throat and on/off)


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7 years 10 months ago #483136 by MYoung
Yes, agree good topic. 

I've had good success with partnering with: 

1. Wedding cake makers
2. Bridal shops
3. Tux rental shops
4.  Wedding dress shops
5.  Wedding coordinators (this one always takes much more time and requires portfolio) 
6.  Popular wedding venues 


Word of mouth has been good for me.  This requires much hand holding most of the time. 

Local listings are good, but get over run and you become one of so many others lost in a list

I'm just exploring search engines now.  

will see!  


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7 years 10 months ago #483153 by Vahrenkamp

MYoung wrote: Yes, agree good topic. 

I've had good success with partnering with: 

1. Wedding cake makers
2. Bridal shops
3. Tux rental shops
4.  Wedding dress shops
5.  Wedding coordinators (this one always takes much more time and requires portfolio) 
6.  Popular wedding venues 


Word of mouth has been good for me.  This requires much hand holding most of the time. 

Local listings are good, but get over run and you become one of so many others lost in a list

I'm just exploring search engines now.  

will see!  



:agree:  Bing from my experience isn't too bad 


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7 years 10 months ago #483224 by cabbot
I'm not a pro by any means, but I hope to be someday. That said, it seems to me that most people talk about word of mouth and referrals as being the primary ways to generate business. 


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7 years 10 months ago #483263 by Chris Briggs

Ira Weber wrote: Good topic to chat about.  For me, it has been a mixture of many that you have listed.  

Social media is a hit or miss but from my experienced for finding clients, barely paid for it self. 

Google and Yahoo paid search - about the same

Word of mouth - very good

Business directory's - very good

Relationships with wedding and events vendors - good (very cut throat and on/off)



Which directories do you use that work?  I've not had any luck with them. 


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7 years 10 months ago #483308 by Sawyer
Directories IMO are over run, and you name in there just doesn't get much traffic.  The bigger benefit will be a slight SEO juice.  

Word of mouth - kind of works at the same degree of efforts you put into it.  

Facebook - requires understanding of their constantly changing environmnet 

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7 years 10 months ago #483923 by Street Shark
I've explored many of them, however never tried farmers market.  Anyone try this and had good success?  


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7 years 10 months ago #483924 by Street Shark

Chris Briggs wrote:

Ira Weber wrote: Good topic to chat about.  For me, it has been a mixture of many that you have listed.  

Social media is a hit or miss but from my experienced for finding clients, barely paid for it self. 

Google and Yahoo paid search - about the same

Word of mouth - very good

Business directory's - very good

Relationships with wedding and events vendors - good (very cut throat and on/off)



Which directories do you use that work?  I've not had any luck with them. 



Try BOTW.org


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7 years 10 months ago #483925 by JakeHare
If there were an app that brought clients to photographers easily, would you guys use it? 
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