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Want To Get More Photography Clients? Try These Methods

Every photographer would love to get more work. While there are lots of opportunities out there for potential work, there has also never been a more difficult time to be a photographer. The competition is fierce with many photographers undercutting each other. Even if you are not a professional photographer, wouldn’t it be great to get some photography work to supplement your income? But how do you that? Here are a few different methods that you can try to get more photography clients.

Mailing list

OK, this is not anything new. Every business knows that having a mailing list can help their sales. There are photographers out there with mailing lists of customers and clients. But for some reason, the vast majority of photographers don’t utilise this tried and tested method of getting clients. The important part for a photographer is not to blanket email their potential clients, but tailor messages almost on an individual level.

So, for example, if I come across a potential client, I would first send an email explaining who I am and why and how I could help their business. Even if I send a newsletter, I try to batch send to only those that the newsletter would be most relevant to. For example, if I have a restaurant client, there is no point telling them that I just have a new collection of lifestyle shots. But that is information that picture editors might find useful.

The message here is not to treat your mailing list as one big list but each person as an individual client.

Promo material

In this age of digital photography, it has become so easy and cheap to just send emails. There is nothing wrong with sending emails to clients and it is and will be the best way to market your work and speak to clients. However, there is always something nice about receiving an actual hard copy of something. It can often make you stand out from the competition and keep you in mind for editors and buyers.

For example, I often send my best clients a small print from a recent shoot that I might have done. Almost always I receive an email thanking me for the gesture. I should point out that I generally only send existing clients that I work with these types of marketing material. For clients I don’t know, I would generally start with an email to introduce myself.

Social media

I think that social media sometimes gets a bad reputation for just being a vanity exercise for photographers. The obsession with “likes” and “followers” has overtaken the real value of what social media can offer photographers. Of course, the obvious element is finding customers. But one of the best ways to utilise social media is to interact with brands and potential clients. But you need to have a strategy and be genuine in your approach to them.

Again, don’t send a blanket message to everyone but rather try to interact with them. For example, I recently came across a magazine that had used one of my images on its cover. I simply messaged them saying how much I loved the cover and thanked them for choosing the image. A few days later I received an email from the Production Editor saying how nice it was that I got in touch and if I would like to work with them on a shoot. This came from a simple message of genuine gratitude rather than me trying to sell something.

Word of mouth

It is one of the most proven methods of advertising – but word of mouth is a great way to get new clients or even new connections. So, don’t be afraid to reach out to your contact list and ask if they know of anyone who might be interested in your services. Because you never know who that person might know.

Personally, I only ask people I know well to spread the word. It is unprofessional to ask clients to act as marketing manager on your behalf. But certainly, people who you know well like friends and family can be a big help in putting you in touch with potential clients. I would not do this on monthly basis, but occasionally make sure you try and utilise your friends and family’s contact list.

Attend trade shows

Wherever you are in the world, it is likely that there will be a trade show of some sorts near you. Whether you are a wedding photographer or a travel photographer, there will be events where you can meet potential clients. Make sure you attend as many of these as possible. But more importantly, have a plan of what you hope to achieve. In other words, don’t just turn up at stands and try to get clients or work, if you can get in touch beforehand to make an appointment and have something that you can leave with the prospect.

For example, create a one-page document of who you are and your services (almost like a CV) to leave with clients. Don’t treat these events as an “I have to get work”, but rather as a place to get introductions to potential clients in the future.

These are by no means everything that you can do to get clients. There are plenty of other tactics like making YouTube videos to help you build a presence. But these are some of the ways that I utilise to get potential clients. What is for sure is that you need to actively look to get clients and not just sit and wait for them to come to you.

5 Ways To Avoid Being Viewed As An “Unprofessional” Photographer

The word “professional” in photography is often used to describe those whose primary job is photography. But for me, this has a far greater meaning in this day and age. The reality is that very few photographers make enough money from photography alone to support them. The vast majority of photographers will either have other jobs or they will have other revenue streams aside from just taking photos. For example, some might give talks or lectures. Others may run photography workshops or tours and some may be a writer, filmmaker or even dabble in design and art direction.

So for me, the words “professional photographer” mean more than just the number of hours spent on photography. It’s about how a photographer works and conducts themselves. So here are 5 mistakes to avoid if you want clients to view you as a professional photographer.

Respond to emails

There is nothing more frustrating for a client than when they don’t hear from you or can’t get a hold of you. That doesn’t mean that you need to respond in minutes, but set yourself a system whereby you can respond to potential queries in a timely manner. If it’s a new client it pays to respond quickly as they may move on to someone else if you take too long to respond. If it’s an existing client that you have a working relationship with, gauge the importance of the email and respond accordingly. For example, if I find that an email response requires a long reply I would send a quick email to the sender to say I have received the email and will respond properly tomorrow/day after etc.

When you are dealing with busy picture editors who often have looming deadlines to adhere to, they will really appreciate being kept up-to-date quickly rather than having to constantly chase. All it would mean is that they will be less likely to use you again in the future.

Don’t miss deadlines

There really isn’t an excuse for missing a deadline that you have agreed to. If you want to be seen as a professional photographer you should be professional enough to be able to manage your time. This includes everything from supplying photos on time to responding to queries and invoicing. If you do find that you are going to miss a deadline, then let the client know as soon as possible. It is much easier for them to give you an extension if you tell them early rather than the night before. Never, ever miss a deadline without communicating with the client well beforehand. It will erode their confidence in you and probably mean them not working with you again.

Spell check everything

Just because you are a photographer doesn’t mean you should forego other parts of your business. If you received an email from a company trying to sell you something and it was littered with typos and bad grammar you would be less likely to trust them. While editors, buyers and clients can be forgiving for the odd typo here and there, why not eradicate as much of it as possible by simply using a spell checker or even a free version of Grammarly which can help avoid these types of errors.

Go above and beyond

One thing that is for certain is that in today’s world, the competition between photographers for work is fierce. So if you are lucky enough to build a connection with a potential client through being hired for a job, the best thing you can do is to deliver the best possible work that you can. But not only the work itself but also the way you present or send the work can make a huge difference. It goes without saying that you should check your photos are perfect terms of sharpness and colours but also free of dust blemishes. But beyond this, if there is an opportunity to make the client’s job easier then do so even if it means a bit of extra work.

For example, I recently did a shoot for a client to accompany a written piece that I also wrote. As well as providing them with the images and word document, I also provided another word document indicating which images were relating to which part of the copy. I received the following email from the client:

“Hi Kav, just a quick email to say a huge thank you for dropping in the images into the word document. Our designer was so grateful as he usually has to re-read copy several times to try to match up images to copy…”

The email then went on to commission me on another piece and has since led to 13 jobs from this particular client. In total dropping in images in the word document took me about 15 minutes, but might have saved the designer hours of work.

Don’t be afraid to say no

Even with all of the competition these days, sometimes you have to turn down jobs. This could be for a variety of reasons like for example the fee being paid isn’t enough for the job you would be agreeing to. Whether you decide to go down this road will also depend on future work that might come from it. For example, over the years I have often agreed to take on work that might pay lower than I would charge normally because it was an exciting and interesting project that I really wanted to work on. Or sometimes because I felt there was potential for a better deal down the line. Sometimes I was proven right and sometimes not. But even during uncertain times I sometimes turn down work that I feel isn’t paying enough.

On other occasions, I may turn down work because it’s not a speciality of mine and I don’t feel I would do a good enough job. So I explain that to the client and suggest someone (if I know anyone) who might be suitable. Not only will the client respect you for this but you also leave a good impression which might mean they come back to you when something more suitable to your skillset comes up.

These are just some of the things that I have learned over the years through my experience of working with clients but also photographers who I sometimes commission to work for me. The key thing to remember is that once you have got your foot in the door with the client through a commission, it’s just as important to make sure you impress them enough so that they will continuously want to work with you. Try to avoid making the mistakes above and you’ll immediately put yourself in a better place with them.

5 Things You Should Avoid When Starting As A Photographer

Making the decision to move into photography as a full-time career can be scary. There are so many unknowns like any new job. Add to that the fact that the whole industry has slowly been declining over the years, and it can make it even more daunting. The reality is that like any business photography requires planning and patience to become successful. But there are also lessons to be learnt along the way that only experience will teach you. In the meantime, if you are thinking about starting your photography business, here are 5 things you should avoid.

Work for free

Unfortunately, there seem to be more and more expectations from clients for photographers (especially newbies) to work for free. Often the phrase that you will hear is that “we don’t have any budget for photography”, or “in return, we will give you credit for your work”. The thing is that only you can decide whether you want to go down the path of working for free. But if you do, there is a danger of setting a precedent with that client or potential new ones. Once a client sees that you are willing to work for free it will likely be even more difficult to get them to pay for future work, not just from you but also from other photographers as well. This becomes a vicious cycle that has a negative impact on the whole industry.

Even if the client does then decide to pay for photography they might go to someone else. After all, if you don’t value your own work enough to get paid for it why should someone else? Get into the habit of asking and negotiating because often you will find that clients will find the budget to pay for it. This doesn’t have to be an enormous amount, but something that would be fair to you as a photographer.

You may also find that the client ends up offering you a service in return for your work. For example on one of my very early shoots for a high-end restaurant, after discussing their requirements the client informed me that they didn’t have any budget for the shoot. We discussed it further and I told them that I wouldn’t be able to do the job for free. He asked me to quote how much the job would cost and offered me and 4 of my guests an 8-course tasting dinner which worked out to be the equivalent value of the shoot. I continued to work with this client for several years after this on a paid basis. The point is that even if the client genuinely can’t pay you, they may be able to offer something in return. But if you don’t ask you will never know.

Getting in over your head

Even though you should try as much as you can not to work for free, it is also important to make sure that you are confident and comfortable in being able to actually provide what the client needs. So if you are not comfortable in doing the shoot you should be honest from the outset. You can charge a much smaller fee and offer a re-shoot if the client isn’t happy. The one thing that you should avoid at all costs if you are not 100% confident that you can deliver, is scenarios that are one-offs that can’t be replicated. For example, if you are taking someone’s portrait and they are not happy with the result, it’s an easy re-shoot. But an event like a wedding has to be captured first-time as there are no second chances. Not only will it mean ruining someone’s day but it could also damage your reputation if the client isn’t happy. If you are honest from the start about things and the client still decides to hire you than that is their choice.

Blame your equipment

This is one of the most common beginner excuses that I hear. Whilst better equipment no doubt does help in certain ways, it will not make you a better photographer. Regardless of how expensive your camera or lenses are, a poorly composed photo in a bad light will not look good. So instead of blaming your equipment or becoming obsessed with buying the latest gear, focus your time, energy and money into improving yourself as a photographer. In reality most photographers, even the pros can get by with basic equipment. In the vast majority of scenarios better equipment will just mean the quality of your photos (i.e. resolution, size etc) will be better, not the actual composition.

Being too picky about jobs

Whilst it’s important as a photographer these days to have a niche that you focus on, it is also vital that you are not too picky about the jobs that come along. We live in an era where the demand for photographers is lower than it has ever been. So if you constantly wait for your perfect job then you will be in danger of never actually earning any money. So even though you can’t be the jack of all trades, you still need a broad skill set so that you work in several different genres. For example, if you are a wedding photographer, you may also have to venture into portraits, events and even travel photography to be able to earn a living.

Sitting and waiting

The thing about a photography business is that it is like any other business. In that, you have to get out there and actively look for work. Very few jobs will come to you if you just sit around and wait. You have to learn to not only be a good photographer but also a great marketer. In fact, marketing yourself and your work is more important these days than ever before. That means embracing social media. It means learning how to build and optimise your website. It also means knowing and having the confidence to approach potential clients for work. If you wait around, it could be that no one actually comes knocking.

A photographer’s job has evolved a lot over the last decade. Nowadays as a photographer, you have to be a social media expert, your own marketing executive, website developer and business manager. You will learn and adapt along the way, but in the meantime try to avoid these 5 things on your photography journey.

Why You Should Or Shouldn’t You Set Up Your Own Photography Business?

You may have been thinking about it for a while. You might even have already started making plans about becoming a professional photographer. Or you might still be unsure? Turning to a career in photography as a full-time profession has its risks and rewards. Here are arguments for and against taking the plunge and becoming a professional photographer.

YES – You can follow your passion

People always say that you should do what you love because that is the best way to excel. If you love going to work then how can it be a bad thing? Whether your passion is wedding, food, travel or any other genre of photography you should follow your passion and expertise and try to forge a career in that sector. The thing about doing something you love is that even the mundane things will sometimes excite you. Things like admin, accounting and even being stuck in traffic on the way to meet a client just don’t seem as bad when you are your own boss.

YES – You can be your own boss

What could be better than running your own business? No one to answer to and living life to your own time and schedule. You’ll have the freedom and flexibility to take a day-off if you want. You can work from home or wherever you are most productive. Being your own boss also means that you get rewarded for your hard work, not someone else. There is also the satisfaction of running your own business which can be exciting and give you a great sense of pride.

YES – You can aim for the stars

One of the exciting aspects of running your own business is that there is no limit to what you can aim for. Do you want to grow your business by photographing different genres? Fancy running an advert in a local magazine. Or do you simply want to become the best in your field? Whatever your ambitions are, your own business allows to achieve them whereas if you work for someone else you are limited to their vision.

YES – Be more professional

How many times have you contacted a big company and felt like you were being passed around from one call handler to another? Having your own photography business allows you to deal with people the way which you feel is right. A personal service that is far removed from a corporate one that working for a company entails. Providing good service means satisfied customers which in turn can enhance your reputation within your field.

NO – Your passion will become a job

The idea of your passion becoming a job might sound exciting. But the reason that your passion is actually your passion is that it’s a hobby and there are no stresses attached to it. You might enjoy photographing animals but would you still enjoy it if you have the added stress of having to make a living from it? Or demanding clients who are making your work more difficult and stressful? There might also be times where you won’t be able to photograph things the way you want to due to a client’s brief. If you want your passion to remain your passion, keep it as a hobby detached from the added stress of a job.

NO – Being your own boss means more pressure

Yes, you’ll have no one to answer to. But that also means you are solely responsible for your own business. That means generating leads, booking work and having to do all of the admin side of things like marketing, tax returns and so on. You’ll also have the added stress of knowing that all of the business decisions ultimately fall on your shoulders. Whether you make a good decision or not, you will have to pay the price.

No – No guaranteed income

By far the biggest negative aspect of having your own photography business is the potential lack of income. Photography is a tough industry to make money from. There is lots of competition and prices have been falling over the last 10 years. It might take some time to generate a decent income from your business. But even when you do, there is always a danger that the work will dry up. So, you have to constantly work and plan for those inevitable slumps in income.

No – It’s a lonely job

The one thing that all photographers learn very quickly is how lonely this job is. If you have come from an environment where you have been working with other people, it can be a shock to the system. Not only will you not have other people to delegate work to, but there won’t even be those interactions with other people.

Setting up your own photography business can be incredibly exciting and rewarding. You will have successes and failures. You will have good times where the business is great. But there will also be hard times when you will be struggling to get work. But in the end, if you can plan and persevere through good times and bad, you might just be glad that you chose this path. It may not be a profession for everyone. Only you know if it will be or not.

How to Start a Photography Business in 5 Steps

Ever wonder how to start a photography business and make money doing something you love? If so, the time is ripe to start today! As photography continues to rise in popularity, there are more and more photos saturating the market, but very few shutterbugs will actually take the full plunge into the world of professional photography. That’s mainly because running a photography business is more than just snapping photos and selling them to the highest bidder. This article will introduce a few key steps to take in order to legally and inefficiently set up a successful photography business.

1.Pick a focus.

Before you do anything, start by picking one main type of photography that you want to focus your efforts on. This step is key. You might have an interest in several different types of photography, but if you’re serious about making money and diving into the business side of photography, you have to choose just one thing to focus on at first. The photo subject you choose determines everything from the gear you invest in, to the way you target and market to photography clients, so choose wisely. Sample photography fields to focus on include portraiture, corporate events, weddings, products, landscape, etc.

2. Choose a business name.

After you select a photography field to focus on, pick a name for your business. The easiest way to do this is to name your business after yourself, such as Suzi Pratt Photography. If you have a unique name, this is probably your best bet since it will be easily distinguishable. However, if you have a less unique name, such as John Smith, this might pose a problem. Can you imagine how many businesses named John Smith Photography are out there?

If using your name doesn’t work, consider naming your business after the type of photography work that you do, and the geographical region you’re based in. For example, I could call my business Seattle Food Photographer or Tasty Images Seattle. Get creative, think out of the box, and be sure to check Google to make sure the name you choose isn’t already taken.

3. Set up marketing materials.

The next step in starting a photography business is to take the business name you’ve chosen and use it to create marketing materials. In today’s digital world, that largely means online content, such as a photography portfolio website and social media pages. The only physical marketing material you should definitely invest in are business cards. Most other materials will be digital.

Your photography website doesn’t need to be super elaborate. In fact, it should be the exact opposite: simple and to the point. All you really need is a page with your brief biography, description of the services you provide, your contact information, and your photography portfolio. Words should be kept to a minimum (aim for no longer than 5 sentences per paragraph), and your portfolio doesn’t need more than 30 images. Select only your best work to display, and make sure your website is easy to navigate and view.

4. Sign up for business accounts.

This is the point where you’ll need to rely on your local resources. In order to operate as a legal photography business, you’ll need to register your business on both a federal and state level. One of the first things you’ll need is an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is like a social security number for your business. An EIN is essential for filing your federal business tax returns and also filling out a w9 form for your clients. You can apply online for an EIN and get one almost immediately. Once you have an EIN, you’re good to go for the whole life of your business.

On a state level, you likely need a business license, but it depends on the country and state you do business in. For example, Washington State photography businesses must have both a State Business License and UBI number. The UBI number is what you’ll use to pay city and state taxes and the business license must be renewed every year for a fee. Be sure to check your local government website for specific requirements where you live.

5. Spread the word.

The final step to starting a photography business is to tell everyone you know about it. Write an email announcing your new photography business and send it to your family, friends, and colleagues. Include a link to your portfolio website and ask for recommendations or referrals for anyone in need of photography services. Also, take to social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn and write a similar message. You might be surprised at how responsive and supportive your network will be. People like to be helpful and will gladly spread the word of your new venture and help you get started.

You will probably want a more robust marketing and advertising campaign at some point. But the best way to get photography clients is to start with who you know. Personal referrals and recommendations are best because you often have a personal connection with the client. This can help you can work out your formal business processes with a familiar face.

In Conclusion

Learning how to start a photography business can be less intimidating if you break it down into the five steps listed above. Any thoughts or questions? Let me know in the comments below!