If you enjoy taking photographs, you might be able to turn your love of
photography into a thriving business. Opening your own portrait photography
business is a good way to profit from your hobby, but it can be difficult to
market a photography business effectively. There are several marketing
strategies for marketing a new photography business or building a stronger
clientele for an existing one.
Step 1
Offer discounts
and other incentives to current clients who refer new customers. The portrait
photography business operates largely by word-of-mouth, and offering referral
bonuses is one of the best ways to spread the word about your business and what
it has to offer.
Step 2
Frame several
of your best photographs to use as samples in your marketing campaign. Make
sure you include several different kinds of shots, including both posed and
candid photographs. Hang one set of those sample photographs in your studio for
customers to see, and use a second set of photographs as you travel around to
shows and special events.
Step 3
Create colorful
sales flyers that incorporate several of your favorite portraits. Have the
flyers printed at a local printer or office supply store. Also, print business
cards with a quality sample of your work. Full-color business cards are
available from a number of sources, including Internet retailers and office
supply stores.
Step 4
Set up a
website where you can post the pictures you have taken. You can design your own
site, or you can use a service like the one provided by Intuit (see Resources),
the maker of QuickBooks software. Intuit sites are designed specifically for
small-business owners, and the templates provided are easy to use and
customize.
Step 5
Attend local
arts and crafts shows to showcase your work. Small arts and crafts shows are
generally inexpensive to attend, and they are excellent venues for showcasing
the work of local photographers and artists. Hang your best photographs around
the booth, and have prints and originals available for sale. Also, be sure to
hand out business cards with your website address to everyone who stops by your
booth.
Step 6
Set up a table
at local festivals and special events, and display your favorite framed
photographs as samples of your work. Street festivals can be particularly good
places to showcase your work, due to the high level of street traffic and the
relative low cost of attending. Place a stack of business cards and flyers on
the table, and talk to passers by about your services.
Step 7
Hold a contest
for a free sitting to market your business. Holding a contest is also an
effective way to gather the names of prospective clients. Do a stellar job for
the winner of the contest; this can help you get word-of-mouth advertising.
Step 8
Donate a free
sitting to a local charity auction. Donating your photography services to
charity will help you gain name recognition and boost interest in your
services. Offer a discount for future services if the auction winner refers a
friend.
Step 9
Offer several
photographs and portraits to local restaurants, taverns, stores and businesses.
Many businesses will be happy to have these free items in exchange for allowing
you to market your portrait services. Place a small business card holder under
each portrait with a link to your website and contact information.
Step 10
Use
social-networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to market your work and gain
new clients. Post your newest photographs to your Facebook page along with a
short blurb about your business. Use Twitter to tell your followers which
festivals and art shows you will be attending.
Things Needed
- Business cards
- Sales flyers
- Entry forms
- Sample photographs
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