Photographers are a dime a dozen these days. If you're in the business, you probably already know that, though.
As awesome as digital photography has been for making photography accessible to the masses, it's sort of a downer, too, because it seems like photographers are coming out of the woodwork and crowding the market more and more every day.
That means that if you're in the business, you have to figure out ways to get people excited about your work and set yourself apart from the photography crowd.
There's plenty of ways to do this, but I think I've got an idea that just might take the cake - portrait parties.
Let's dive into the details about this fun and effective marketing tip for photographers.
What the Heck is a Portrait Party?
There's nothing tricky here...
A portrait party is exactly what it sounds like!
You throw a party, invite people to attend, and you take their portraits.
It's incredibly simple, yet something that has the potential to put your photography business into overdrive.
Think about it - everyone enjoys a party, so by inviting people to an event with a few drinks, some food, and the promise of a few great photos, you have a real chance of grabbing people's attention and putting together a solid group of people to show off your skills to.
And the beauty of a portrait party is that you can throw one for just about any type or size of group. Do one for a local company as a corporate event. Gather up some stay-at-home moms or dads for an afternoon portrait party with their kids. Do a family night at your studio or even in the local park and invite neighborhood families to enjoy the festivities.
Will your portrait parties require a good bit of planning and strategic marketing? Absolutely! But is the time and effort you put into it worth it? You bet!
I'll cover a few benefits in the next section.
Learn More:
- 7 Things You Need to Know to Succeed in the Photography Business
- 8 Simple Ways to Increase Your Photography Income
Portrait Parties Get You Clients
The whole premise of a portrait party is to interact with a ton of potential clients all in one fell swoop. And because of that, it's a great way to get leads and add people to your mailing list.
If 20 people come to the party, that's 20 opportunities to have a one-on-one session with each person.
And it's not just a photography session, either. It's a marketing tool that allows you to shake hands, kiss babies, and get your name and face out there amongst the buying public.
What's more, not only is it an opportunity for you to interact with a bunch of potential clients at the same time, it's a golden opportunity for you to display some of your work.
And I don't just mean showing each person a few of the shots you took of them on your camera's LCD, either.
Bring a few framed portraits, your portfolio, heck, even a few small prints to display. Believe me, people will look!
And if you're just starting out in the business, a portrait party is great practice. It gives you a chance to practice your marketing skills, your people skills, and your photography skills, too.
You can also make some great connections in the community.
For example, to promote your event, get with your local chamber of commerce to see what they can do to help you get the word out. Making contact with local organizations like that will prove beneficial to you as you build your business and your reputation in the community.
For additional details on how to get your dream clients, check out the video above by Mango Street.
Learn More:
- Fact vs Fiction: A Day in the Life of a Self-Employed Photographer
- Get More Clients by Doing This One Simple Thing
Portrait Parties are the Best Marketing
As we've already established, throwing a portrait party is a great way to get new clients.
But that's not just referring to the people that come to the party...
The marketing that you get from a portrait party has a ripple effect, so the 20 people that come to the party tell their friends and family, word of mouth spreads, and before you know it, you might have hundreds of people talking about you, your party, and your skills as a photographer.
Remember, word of mouth marketing is one of the most effective marketing tools, so think of your party as a way to get referrals for even more clients.
That means you need to put on a top-notch event, give attendees incredible portraits, and be sure to get their contact information (and a testimonial) right then and there.
You can then use their testimonial to double-up on word of mouth - not only with they tell their friends and family, but you can proudly display their testimonials on your website, your Facebook page, and so forth, to build even more credibility.
Get some more insights on the importance of word of mouth marketing and social media in the video above by Richard Wilkinson Brennan.
Learn More:
The Key to a Great Portrait Party
To get the most out of a portrait party, you need to ensure that each attendee has a great time, particularly when you're taking their photo.
That means you need to be friendly, engage them in light conversation, crack a few jokes, and show them your personality.
Doing so not only makes you out to be the fun and personable photographer that you are, but it also helps relax the person as you take their portrait. A relaxed model is one that will look better, too!
As I mentioned earlier, a great portrait party requires a good bit of planning. You have to find a venue - and one that's ideal for taking portraits. You'll want to offer something in the way of hors d'oeuvres, some drinks, and maybe some music too.
That doesn't mean you need to have escargot, champagne, and a professional DJ, either.
Bring a few friends to act as servers, have some cheese, crackers, veggies, and soft drinks, have your nephew spin some tunes on a portable stereo, and make it into a "pop-up party" that has a bit of an impromptu vibe. It's as easy as that!
Your guests won't need a ton of things to entertain them if you're engaging, professional, and take some really awesome photos. So, give it a try, and see how a portrait party can jumpstart your photography business!
Get even more photography business marketing tips in the video above from Joy Michelle Photography.