Back to Business ~ Chapter 3, Knockin’ on Doors

A Success Series for Modern-Day Photographers

In last week’s edition, we talked about tactics for getting your work in front of more eyes through partnership marketing strategies. Has anyone start working on that strategy yet for YOUR business? This next idea is a more recent one and so far it has worked very well for those I’ve shared it with. Here’s the story behind how it started…

A photographer called me and told me that his business was going down the tubes. He said he had been shooting weddings and portraits for over twelve years and it had never been this bad. He asked if I had any ideas.

Hmm, I said. I told him to go buy a photo studio lighting kit, the ones that sit on the counter for about $80.00 or so. Then I told him to go to the closest town with a decent population, and go door-to-door to all of the businesses you can. Tell them your name, your business name, and that the reason you’re stopping by is because you’re a seasoned portrait and commercial photographer and you are personally turned off when you see poor quality images on company websites. I’d like to offer my services for only $10.00 per photo that have to do with your business web site. I’ll even upload them to your computer for you (the idea was to give him a reason to introduce himself, it’s for the connections & exposure, not the $10.00 – remember, the more people that know about you the better!). In exchange for the competitively priced services, you’d like to have credit given on any website images with a link to my website.

This is a fair exchange in my service. The company gets professional quality images for their website, which should help them, present themselves at a higher level, and thus sell more of their product or service. The photographer gets exposure and a little money on top, plus they just expanded their portfolio and got a back link to their website (think SEO).

Well, three weeks after talking to this particular photographer, he gave me a call back. He took my advice and went to a local downtown art show – a perfect place to start. The first three vendors he approached said yes, and between them they had 120 products; so the first day he made $1,200, gained exposure, and expanded his portfolio! Not bad for an $80.00 investment in the light box.
The market for shooting images for the web is endless. If you’re struggling or looking for a new niche, get out there, get some customers, and make some money. Once you start knocking on doors the possibilities are endless.

Thanks!
Mike Connors | MorePhotos | CEO
photo by "Simon Howden"

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