Getting Noticed
If you have read my previous posts, then you know I ordered the free business cards from vistaprint.com. They only cost me about $7 in shipping and handling and I got 250 one-sided cards. I still agree that this is a great way to get started and get your name out there. However, I have ran into some problems.
1. Do people perceive my business cards as cheap? All they have to do is flip them over to know I got them for free!
2. I recently set out some business cards at a children's boutique which already had 5 other photographers cards on the table! Mine was a generic card that did not stand out in the crowd. 2 of the photographers were well known in the community. If I was a customer, there is no way I'm picking up all 5 cards. Most likely, I am going with the name I know or the card that is the most appealing to me visually. So with that in mind, my cards didn't stand a chance
3. I set my cards out at the local antique store and someone had the same exact design as mine!
Testing the waters
So now what to do? The only advertisement I have going for me is my Facebook page and my business cards. But are my cards doing the job? I decided to experiment.
I went to http://us.moo.com/ and ordered a nicer business card. I bought the smallest pack available and have decided to put the nicer cards in one store and the generic ones in another and see which ones get picked up faster! I will put the same amount of cards at each store and then check back in a week to check the results. Check back with my blog next week to see the results!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Marketing Your Business
First Purchase
Obviously, your first purchase was a professional camera. Perhaps, you spent a couple of months or even a year, learning to operate it properly. Now you have it all figured out and you are ready to start your own photography business. Where do you go from here? What do you buy to get started? I have found this to be the HARDEST question when starting my own photography business. Getting started with photography is expensive! You could spend $1,000 of dollars and see very little return! So, what do you purchase? What do you pass up? Well here is what I know so far...
Marketing
Find ways to market yourself! You could spend thousands of dollars on the best equipment, but if customers don't know you are there you will not have any income. You have to get out there and let people know you are hard working and want to earn their business! There are so many photographers out there. You have to find a way to stand out and be noticed. Chances are, there is already an established photographer in your area. If you are just getting started, you may think, "How can I compete with that?" Sure, this photographer is good, but he/she's prices are probably higher than what you would charge starting out. Advertise this! People are skeptical to try a new photographer when they already have one they like, but if you can offer a better price more will be willing to give you a try!
How to save money in Marketing
Vistaprint offers 250 free business cards to help you get started! You pay shipping(about $7) and get a standard, one sided business card for free. You are limited to only a few designs and these will not help you to stand out in the market, but it's a good place to start when start-up budgets are tight! You can always order more, nicer cards down the road. Click the link below to get your free business cards:
http://www.vistaprint.com/freeprembcrs.aspx?GP=10%2f16%2f2012+12%3a58%3a36+PM&GPS=2592196704&GNF=1
Make sure to give a few extra cards to every client you photograph. Now when your clients show off their wonderful photographs, it's easy for them to send a friend or family member to you by simply giving them a card.
Word of Mouth Advertising
Word of mouth advertisement goes a long way! Do you know someone who owns a local business? Are you a frequent shopper or loyal customer at a business? Ask the store owner for help.Some will let you leave business cards for their customers to have. I actually have a local store that is displaying one of my framed photographs in their store along with my business cards so their customers can see a sample of my work! Now that is some awesome Marketing! You never know until you ask.
Social Media
I assume everyone has heard of https://www.facebook.com/. This is a very popular social media site. Set up a free business account there. This is a great way to get in some free advertisement for your business! You can show samples of your work, offer deals, etc. Also provide links to other social media sites you may maintain such as twitter, blogger, etc.
My Facebook business page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/snapshots.shannon. I try to offer a monthly free giveaway or promotion to create interest on my page and draw in new fans.
If you are not currently using any social media to market your business check out this video below to see why you should start now! You need to be seen by your customers and your customers are online.
Your Tips
If you know of any other clever, fun, or money saving ways to market your business, please let us know in the comments!
How do you let people know about your business?
What marketing challenges have you faced?
How did you overcome them?
What worked? What did not?
Let us know in the comments.
Obviously, your first purchase was a professional camera. Perhaps, you spent a couple of months or even a year, learning to operate it properly. Now you have it all figured out and you are ready to start your own photography business. Where do you go from here? What do you buy to get started? I have found this to be the HARDEST question when starting my own photography business. Getting started with photography is expensive! You could spend $1,000 of dollars and see very little return! So, what do you purchase? What do you pass up? Well here is what I know so far...
Marketing
Find ways to market yourself! You could spend thousands of dollars on the best equipment, but if customers don't know you are there you will not have any income. You have to get out there and let people know you are hard working and want to earn their business! There are so many photographers out there. You have to find a way to stand out and be noticed. Chances are, there is already an established photographer in your area. If you are just getting started, you may think, "How can I compete with that?" Sure, this photographer is good, but he/she's prices are probably higher than what you would charge starting out. Advertise this! People are skeptical to try a new photographer when they already have one they like, but if you can offer a better price more will be willing to give you a try!
How to save money in Marketing
Vistaprint offers 250 free business cards to help you get started! You pay shipping(about $7) and get a standard, one sided business card for free. You are limited to only a few designs and these will not help you to stand out in the market, but it's a good place to start when start-up budgets are tight! You can always order more, nicer cards down the road. Click the link below to get your free business cards:
http://www.vistaprint.com/freeprembcrs.aspx?GP=10%2f16%2f2012+12%3a58%3a36+PM&GPS=2592196704&GNF=1
Make sure to give a few extra cards to every client you photograph. Now when your clients show off their wonderful photographs, it's easy for them to send a friend or family member to you by simply giving them a card.
Word of Mouth Advertising
Word of mouth advertisement goes a long way! Do you know someone who owns a local business? Are you a frequent shopper or loyal customer at a business? Ask the store owner for help.Some will let you leave business cards for their customers to have. I actually have a local store that is displaying one of my framed photographs in their store along with my business cards so their customers can see a sample of my work! Now that is some awesome Marketing! You never know until you ask.
Social Media
I assume everyone has heard of https://www.facebook.com/. This is a very popular social media site. Set up a free business account there. This is a great way to get in some free advertisement for your business! You can show samples of your work, offer deals, etc. Also provide links to other social media sites you may maintain such as twitter, blogger, etc.
My Facebook business page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/snapshots.shannon. I try to offer a monthly free giveaway or promotion to create interest on my page and draw in new fans.
If you are not currently using any social media to market your business check out this video below to see why you should start now! You need to be seen by your customers and your customers are online.
If you know of any other clever, fun, or money saving ways to market your business, please let us know in the comments!
How do you let people know about your business?
What marketing challenges have you faced?
How did you overcome them?
What worked? What did not?
Let us know in the comments.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Money Saving Tips for the New Photographer
The Cost of Photography
If you are just getting started with your photography (be it just a hobby or business) then you know how expensive it can be. Most people don't realize photography is so expensive until they get started.
When you think of photography the first thing that you think of is, "I need a camera." Well okay, let's start there. A nice digital camera for a beginner can run between $600 to $900. This only includes the camera, battery, and 1 lens. Well now you need a camera bag, tripod, memory card, cleaning supplies, extra battery, etc. just to get started.
Well now that you have all that you have probably spent between $1,000 to $1,500 or more! I know it's depressing, but this isn't even the end of it. Still there are photography backdrop stands, backdrops, lighting systems, flashes, props, lens, and much more that you will need to start up.
Well if you are starting to second guess you passion, DON'T! Yes, photography is expensive, but it is so fun! Don't give up or quit. There are ways to save money and get your business or hobby started without spending a fortune! Read on for some money saving know how!
Money Saving Tip #1-Build Your Own Backdrop Stand
For a detailed list of materials needed and instructions visit, http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_studio_equipment_backdrop_stand
Along with the instructions to build your own backdrop stand, you will also find tips on types of fabrics to use and how to install the fabric onto your backdrop stand.
Money Saving Tip #2-Saving Money on Props
Props can really add up! Those cute little crochet hats for newborns run about $10 to $80 each. Blankets $70 and up. Are you experiencing sticker shock yet? Well you could learn to crochet yourself, but then you would have no time for your photography. So here are some tips on how to find props you can actually afford and when business starts booming you can come back and splurge on that $80 hat you really want.
Where to Find Affordable Props
If you have any tips or suggestions for saving money when starting your photography business, please leave them in the comments.
Do you know a great place to find bargain props?
Do you know how to make something that could save a new photographer money?
Share your tips and ideas here and help other photographers get off to a great start!
If you use my tips and suggestions to find props, please post what you found and how you plan to use it at your next photography session.
Thanks for reading and Happy Hunting!
If you are just getting started with your photography (be it just a hobby or business) then you know how expensive it can be. Most people don't realize photography is so expensive until they get started.
When you think of photography the first thing that you think of is, "I need a camera." Well okay, let's start there. A nice digital camera for a beginner can run between $600 to $900. This only includes the camera, battery, and 1 lens. Well now you need a camera bag, tripod, memory card, cleaning supplies, extra battery, etc. just to get started.
Well now that you have all that you have probably spent between $1,000 to $1,500 or more! I know it's depressing, but this isn't even the end of it. Still there are photography backdrop stands, backdrops, lighting systems, flashes, props, lens, and much more that you will need to start up.
Well if you are starting to second guess you passion, DON'T! Yes, photography is expensive, but it is so fun! Don't give up or quit. There are ways to save money and get your business or hobby started without spending a fortune! Read on for some money saving know how!
Money Saving Tip #1-Build Your Own Backdrop Stand
Learn how to build your own backdrop stand for $25! The cheapest one I found was on Amazon for $40, but a nice one can easily run up to $150. I promise you this stand is so easy to build that it's worth it to save the money!
For a detailed list of materials needed and instructions visit, http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_studio_equipment_backdrop_stand
Along with the instructions to build your own backdrop stand, you will also find tips on types of fabrics to use and how to install the fabric onto your backdrop stand.
Money Saving Tip #2-Saving Money on Props
Props can really add up! Those cute little crochet hats for newborns run about $10 to $80 each. Blankets $70 and up. Are you experiencing sticker shock yet? Well you could learn to crochet yourself, but then you would have no time for your photography. So here are some tips on how to find props you can actually afford and when business starts booming you can come back and splurge on that $80 hat you really want.
Where to Find Affordable Props
- Yard sales- One persons junk is another's treasure! Look for baskets, barrels, crates, large clocks, furniture you can repaint, etc. Be creative. Yard sales are always the best prices!
- Friends- I asked my Facebook friends for old tires and was blown away at how many I could get my hands on(you have to pay a fee to dump them so my friends were happy to give them). I cleaned the tire and spray painted it and had a FREE prop in no time! Look at the image below to see how I used my free prop.
- Clearance Racks- I always check the clearance racks at Hobby Lobby, Target, and Walmart. You never know what you might find! Today I got 2 square stools for $14. They were originally $20 each!
- Family, Church Members, or Members of the Community- Do you know someone who can knit or crochet? Ask them to make you some hats or blankets. Family or Friends are usually happy to help you get started and give you a better price than strangers!
- Goodwill- You can find some great pieces here! With a little imagination and some paint you can find some great photography props!
Any Tips?
If you have any tips or suggestions for saving money when starting your photography business, please leave them in the comments.
Do you know a great place to find bargain props?
Do you know how to make something that could save a new photographer money?
Share your tips and ideas here and help other photographers get off to a great start!
If you use my tips and suggestions to find props, please post what you found and how you plan to use it at your next photography session.
Thanks for reading and Happy Hunting!
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