OT Photographer advice :)

[jessp1021]

..I need suggestions on how to get my name out there and any suggestions that others would be willing to offer as far as props for Spring and Summer sessions would be graciously appriciated..

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Friends of mine were trying to increase their photography business as well and they offered one weekend where they did pictures at a local park and for $75 you got the cd of all the images (no editing) and the rights to do whatever you wanted with the pics. They gave each person a 45 min time slot. It worked out so well that they then had to do it over 2 weekends this fa to get everyone in and they charged $125 this time. Up here that's an awesome deal. They were smart because they sucked us in with the low prices and we keep going back!

Good luck!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

How young are your kids? Do you belong to a moms club? That was the other thing that really helped our friends was having a big base of mom fronds to start with. Have you done any free promotions? Like win a free session and and a few prints on your FB page?

 

[ah1126]

My husband has started doing photography on the side some. His jobs so far have all been word of mouth. We have several friends that are DJ's and they have given his info out. We are also friends with a big time photographer who will give our info out if it is a job they can't take or if someone has a small budget. You could always put a listing on Craigslist.

 

[Ladybugsy]

I would suggest opening up a facebook page with your photography "name". Post some shots that you're particularly proud of and ask your friends if they would add you. You can post specials and when you get customers, you can post a few of their pics as well with your logo on them. This is how I found our last photographer...on a friend's page.

 

[clh2]

A senior friend of my DD's found an amazing photographer for senior pictures.

The photography takes amazing shots (her parents have a garden which is a lovely background). A CD with rights to make copies is included with each of the 4 packages. The packages go from $100 to $400 (or pretty close to that) and the costs are based on number of locaitons, number of outfit changes and length of time for the shoot.

This is extremely reasonable.

The photographer has a nice facebook page which is update about monthly, with pics from the various sessions she has shot over the last month.

This photographer has the "specs" that the high school requires for senior pics to be submitted. Which is great - because I don't understand any of the lingo.

If you are wanting to come up with clients for the summer - try to develop a senior portrait package. And - I would think this would be a high priority - as DD will be using the photographer I mentioned above. She is going to be starting to take senior bookings in March.

Also - again - in the Senior Picture topic...the Community Scholarship group for our high school has an auction every February - and various business donate a wide variety of goods/services. Offering to donate a senior portrait package would get your name out to MANY families.

Good Luck!!!

 

[disneymarie]

I figured this might be a safe place to post I recently decided to venture into doing photography for others about mid fall this year..right now all I have to go by is word of mouth and fb..I need suggestions on how to get my name out there and any suggestions that others would be willing to offer as far as props for Spring and Summer sessions would be graciously appriciated..photography is hard to get your name out there bc there are soooo many others that are doing it too but I genuinely have a drive and passion more so than I ever thought I would!

If you have a local community library with a room do a show. Have the photos up for a month and have an open house one evening with light snacks.

The other thing is indoor flea markets, etc. Also if you display a large photo at local business, like floral shop with business cards. craigs list is another option.

 

[SplashMo]

I would also ask over at dpreview.com

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

Not a photographer, but know some and wanted to give some advice as a customer esp. because I see things they do wrong!

Not knowing how you are setting things up, one friend does NOT offer for you to buy a CD of the pics.... big mistake, I won't use her. I don't want prints, I use photo books with a few pics (okay, more than a few) up on the wall. I want a CD to put them in books mostly.

Be sure to POST your prices. I've looked at fb accounts and websites of photographers around here that I liked their pics. If there is not a good price quote I'm not even considering them. Some just have prices for big packages like wedding pics... where it's a whole process and thousands of dollars. So what are you going to charge me to take some pics of my boys? When I see nothing under $1000 listed on the site, I'm guessing I can't afford it. Along the same note, keep rates reasonable. The photographer I want to use for our Christmas cards next year charges $75 total to come out and take pics and you get a CD (I think with edited pics). Good price and I LOVE her work. Haven't used her yet as this is really a splurge for us and I do take good pics myself. I'm going to save up to use her for next year.

If you have it available to you, use things like local radio auctions or other charity auctions to get your name out there. Donate a session for their cause. We have radio auctions monthly in our area and a local photographer has a donation there every month.

We have an excavating business and no advertising $$$, something else we do, may or may not help you, is (if allowed) putting business cards EVERYWHERE we can. Vistaprint cards are nice and cheap. We put stacks of them at gas stations, post offices, restaurants, any place that will allow us and get lots of business from this and just the magnets on the car. I know, different businesses, but I think it's worth a try.

The very best thing is word of mouth. It can take some time but it takes off quickly. If you are good, the work will come!!!!!

I wish you luck

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

One of our local photographers does school fundraisers she will set a package price and what you get for that price she just sets up at school and the club or sports team that has presold these sessions takes the appointments and helps keep them moving.

 

[DisneyScraps]

We had a local childrens boutique offer packages in the store. They did it on a Saturday. It got people into the store and got the photographer some exposure to people with little kids.

Lisa

 

[labdogs42]

I'd ask this over on the DIS photography board, too.

 

[mrsklamc]

I follow a blog called 'Digital Photography School.' I don't read them because I'm not going to be a pro, but they frequently have articles about how to get started/build your business.

 

[DisneyMOM09]

Here are my tips as a customer. Offer the cd with the picutres. My photographer includes this in the price of the session and it was one of the reasons we chose to use her.

Also she has two session types, 30 minutes and 1 hour. She also puts how many edited pictures you will recieve on your cd for each of these sesiions. She does not offer the unedited pictures on the cd and that is one thing that I wish she did offer.

Make sure you list your pirces on your fb page. If you don't have your prices listed I will not even consider you no matter how much I love your photos.

Since you are just getting started think about offering your services at a cheaper rate than you see others offering thiers. Our photographer is just getting started and one of the things tha appealed to me was her low price. I loved that I could afford to have them done outside of a studio ( sears ect). Now that I've seen her work with my family I'll be having our photos done with her again even if her prices go up.

Start taking tons of pictures so that you have some great ones to post on your fb page. If I love your photos, I'm going to keep coming back to your page to see what's new that you have posted.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I had a children's portrait business for several years. Some things to keep in mind:

#1 You are asking this question on a budget board. There are alot of responses saying they look for inexpensive photographers, who include a CD in the session. I do understand that, it is a "budget" answer. The thing you need to look at as a business owner though, is that going to fit your business plan? Big retailers undercut the little guy in price because they have volume. As an independant photographer, you are not going to even come close to Walmart/Picture People/Penney's photography studios. You need to focus on the difference in PRODUCT that you are offering for that extra money. (No offense to anyone looking for "a deal", but an owner has to look at things differently.) You're factoring time to get to a shoot (or set up, if you're doing at home), take the pictures, edit the pictures, post them/print them however you're doing proofs, take orders, then order them yourself, deliver.... Don't underestimate the time you will be putting into each order.

#2 If you read #1, saw "business plan", and kept right on reading- stop. It sounds like you're proposing a small scale, see how it grows sort of thing. Great, but you should still have a business plan and know what you need to fill out in terms of accounting and what taxes to collect, who to report what to, etc. Your first stop should be the SCORE website (score.org). This is a group of mentors who provide free advice to those starting out in business. They have seminars and places you can call for help- use it! Local folks in your area can maybe even give you ideas for marketing in your town.

#3 Don't jump in as an amateur. I don't mean that as an insult, but if you don't have a plan and think things out ahead of time, you're going to make things tough on yourself. Sure, sounds great to offer up "I'm just starting out, so I'll take your pics for $10 {or whatever} and give you a CD". That person tells 10 friends, great! But that strategy has lured in 10 people who want to pay $10 and get a super deal. Frankly (and I mean NO insult to budget board shoppers! I am one myself ) you want to be thinking about deals that are luring in folks who want to spend $200+. It's a totally different clientele, you need to market on that level. (Unless you want to spend a couple hours + editing time and display time, to make $10 a pop.... Didn't think so!)

#4 a great resource is ilovephotography.com. There is a free beginner's forum that is strictly talk about photography and technique. Post pictures, get some feedback. You may be used to hearing everyone around you saying how great your pics are and you may get feedback that you don't like on ilp. Listen to it anyway and see what they are saying! (There are some GREAT people on there!) It's invaluable and free advice!

You can also apply for their prePro forums, you have to have a website or blog with consistantly good images to be accepted. (I'll be blunt, if you're not accepted, you should work on your skills some more before hanging out a shingle.) That's $55 for 6 months but entirely worth it for the exposure (pun intended!) to photog pros as far as how they do their jobs and run their business. Lots of folks from around the world who share what works and doesn't work for them.

#5 Two big warnings. First, doing something you love for money, can make you not love it any more. It's a job, and who ever likes their job? Second, just because you're a good photographer, does not mean you're a good candidate for a photography business. The joy I got from taking pics and interacting with kids all day long was far outweighed by the bookeeping and needing to push sales. (I was so happy with the pictures, the parents loved them so, I just wanted to say, here, take them, enjoy! lol) This is the primary reason that I no longer do it. I am MUCH happier working elsewhere, taking pics when I want of what I want, and enjoying them.

Wow, this is way longer than I intended!

Good luck, but mostly think through what you're doing- besides just "how do I get more customers."

 

[jessp1021]

Whew thanks for the insight..I forgot to add in several factors:

 

[Kimberly Hill]

Michelle said a lot of what I was going to post - especially the part about asking this question on a "budget board" - so let me just add to her list that you need to think what it's going to cost you to run this business:

1. Insurance, both equipment and liability. You photograph a child in the park, child trips and falls, you can be liable.

2. Equipment. My pro camera cost over $5,000 and that's just the body. You'll need a backup camera and lenses, plus flashes, memory cards, batteries, tripod, camera bags, light meter,

3. Errors & Omissions insurance. You mess up a family reunion photograph (say... the memory card goes bad), they sue you. You need to be covered.

4. Business license. State, local, etc.

5. How are you going to deliver your product? Even if it's "just" a CD of files, you'll need a way to present it.

6. Accounting software. Sales tax, equipment purchases, office supplies, software, income, etc. need to be recorded somewhere.

7. Accountant or tax prep. You're now a small business.

8. Your online presence. Web hosting, site template, blog template, online shopping cart system, merchant account, etc.

9. The "fun stuff" - props, pretty marketing materials, a logo, and all of the other things you want to buy and now need the business to pay for.

I personally don't agree with the forum choice (sorry, Michelle... I started there too long ago and remember what it was like "back in the old days" before everyone had something to sell, LOL) but you do need someone other than your friends critiquing your work.

More to consider

 

[dodukes]

Michelle said a lot of what I was going to post - especially the part about asking this question on a "budget board" - so let me just add to her list that you need to think what it's going to cost you to run this business:

1. Insurance, both equipment and liability. You photograph a child in the park, child trips and falls, you can be liable.

2. Equipment. My pro camera cost over $5,000 and that's just the body. You'll need a backup camera and lenses, plus flashes, memory cards, batteries, tripod, camera bags, light meter,

3. Errors & Omissions insurance. You mess up a family reunion photograph (say... the memory card goes bad), they sue you. You need to be covered.

4. Business license. State, local, etc.

5. How are you going to deliver your product? Even if it's "just" a CD of files, you'll need a way to present it.

6. Accounting software. Sales tax, equipment purchases, office supplies, software, income, etc. need to be recorded somewhere.

7. Accountant or tax prep. You're now a small business.

8. Your online presence. Web hosting, site template, blog template, online shopping cart system, merchant account, etc.

9. The "fun stuff" - props, pretty marketing materials, a logo, and all of the other things you want to buy and now need the business to pay for.

I personally don't agree with the forum choice (sorry, Michelle... I started there too long ago and remember what it was like "back in the old days" before everyone had something to sell, LOL) but you do need someone other than your friends critiquing your work.

More to consider

This is more good advice, as for myself I too try to do this part time for a living and have to revisit the insurance issue. Thanks for the reminder! lol

My main thing to offer is like some have said is don't underprice yourself. You dont want to be giving your work away. Its ok to charge a little less than the competition to get your name out there but you dotn want to wok for free and it is amazing the time spent after a shoot.

 

[quentina]

Customer view here......allow the customer to have a natural photo. I cannot stand the whole put the knee up, put hand under writst, elbow on knee pose. My oldest is 13 and too be honest, it just doesn't look good anymore (I never really liked it).

THe local photographer almost had a heartattack when my kids took off their shoes and stood (gasp) and did nothing. Just smiled...no poses...nothing. THese are my favorite photos.

 

[jessp1021]

Customer view here......allow the customer to have a natural photo. I cannot stand the whole put the knee up, put hand under writst, elbow on knee pose. My oldest is 13 and too be honest, it just doesn't look good anymore (I never really liked it).

THe local photographer almost had a heartattack when my kids took off their shoes and stood (gasp) and did nothing. Just smiled...no poses...nothing. THese are my favorite photos.

This is completely what I am ALL aboout