9 Lesser-Known Ways Of Marketing Your Photography Business

More than technique, photography is an art. If you are starting a photography business, it could be bread and butter, too. A lot of homework is involved, from learning how to start a photography business to mastering the ins and outs of marketing your photography business to excel in the field truly. Research is crucial for professional photographers to attract potential clients.

You’re in the right place if you’re tired of the same old tricks and want to explore fresh, unexpected strategies! We’re about to dive into nine lesser-known ways to market your photography business that will help you stand out from the crowd and capture the attention of potential clients in ways you might not have considered.

1. Photo Blogs

It’s great to have a portfolio website, but marketing your photography business through blogging never goes in vain. Build a feed of the best of your shots. The ones you want people to see.  

You can also follow some prominent photographers and see how they do it. Be regular by posting new photographs of the projects you’re working on. It is quite similar to how you maintain your social media.

The difference is that here, you can even gain followers. And you never know. Your followers may turn out to be your clients.  Writing blogs on your photography portfolio website is another good way to build your reach.

2. Get Photographs Published In Magazines

It’s no rocket science to figure out that a photograph published in an industry-leading magazine builds credibility and gives a photographer a lot of exposure.

But it’s not easy!  It could be sheer luck for some, but it’s a lot of work for others. The first step towards getting a photograph published in a magazine is to find out some of the leading magazines in

For instance, if you’re a wedding photographer, the following magazines would offer a huge exposure-

• Premier Bride
• Wedding Style
• The Knot Magazine
• Wedding Affair
• Asiana

However, magazines such as National Geographic Traveler, Outlook Traveller, Travel+Leisure, and Lonely Planet, among others, would be suitable options for travel or wildlife photographers. If you’re not a commissioned photographer for these magazines, there’s little chance your photographs will be published, but keep at it. So get your best photographs out and send them to the respective editors of these magazines.

If fashion and lifestyle interest you, keep reading Vogue, Elle, Verve, Instyle, and Cosmopolitan. You may find opportunities to be published in these magazines. Also, don’t forget to participate in photography contests and competitions by photography associations and magazines.

Check out Photography Business Cards Bundle

3. Marketing Photography Business Through Exhibitions

Show what you want to sell! Why not? Begin with group exhibitions at local art galleries or any other venue that suits you. Once you experience it and feel like doing bigger, go for solo exhibitions.

You can meet numerous people at exhibitions, which will surely help you grow your business and network. You can also get your favorite photographs framed and hang them in your studio. A picture speaks better than words, after all!

4. Networking

This is one of the best ways to market your photography business. Success won’t come overnight. Wait for it! Rather, work for it! Networking is important for all kinds of businesses.  How would you work with others if you know just a handful of people?

To expand the business, a good network is needed. You often have to walk up to strangers and talk. Interpersonal communication, after all, is way better than mass communication. It gives you instant feedback and responses without a long wait.

Get to know them and build good relationships with people. Have patience and give them some time. Don’t be clingy, too. Look, approach, and act like a professional.

Check out Photography Business Essentials: The Promotional Flyers

Where To Network?

Attend photo walks: Always join your friends, colleagues, and mentors for local photo walks. It helps you meet new people, discover new places, and, again, build a network. You may also learn something new during the process.

Participant in events: Events like fests, fashion shows, and fairs are not meant to be missed. Move out with your cam-buddy (camera) and look for opportunities. Yes, you have to make an effort. Take the lead if any bride-to-be seems interested or anyone is planning a family shoot.

Get out of your comfort zone: In this business, you can’t afford to be shy or uncomfortable in walking up to people and starting a warm conversation. Confidence is the key.

Exchange business card: Always keep your photography business card handy. Offer your card after a healthy conversation. If they seem interested, ask for theirs, too. Do not forget to add a portfolio website address on your card if you have one!

How To Network At A Photography Event

Plan Your Photography Marketing Strategy: Always plan how and what you will do and say/ show to the concerned person. Look for ways to be presentable and organized.

Prepare: Prepare a day in advance. Keep your camera charged. Keeping an extra battery for backup is always a good idea. You never know when you need to look through that lens. Make sure you don’t run out of business cards.

Execute: Dress well and look neat. These things impact the communication before it even starts. Be friendly and nice while talking. By the end of the conversation, you should analyze whether the person is your target customer.

Follow-up: Text or mail them, saying you look forward to working with them.

Stay in touch: Even if your project is over, keep in touch and tell them you would love to work with them again.

Check out How to Start and Succeed in the Wedding Photography Business

5. Personalized  Messages

Every time you deliver a customer’s photographs, leave a handwritten card with something as simple as ‘you look beautiful’, ‘you look good together’, or ‘I am unable to get my eyes off’ written on it.

Between the shoot and delivery, you can mail them saying you’re already working on their beautiful pictures and will be handing them over soon. Note their birthdays/anniversaries and send personalized cards or just their photograph, which you must store on your hard disk.

One small print doesn’t cost a bomb, and congratulations, they will appreciate you for this effort.

Check out Elementor: The Ultimate Photography Website Builder

6. Marketing Photography Business Through Holiday Offers

Now, this one is obvious when it comes to photography marketing strategy. Offer special offers on festivals and holidays. People spend this time with their friends and families, wanting to be clicked.

But remember, if there’s a rise in demand for photographers, there is also a chance they would want the best professional—the best in both the business and fees! So give some offers or coupons and grab more clients.

Pre-marketing: Make a list of days you are occupied. For the remaining days, advertise in advance and declare your availability. Post on social media and try to gain customers.
Post-marketing: Flaunt your social media with the best festival shots. This may also help you next year.

7. Marketing Photography Business Through Social Media

Do we need to tell you this is the easiest and pocket-friendly photography business advertising tool? Even if you are not much into social media buzz, bring it into practice for your business’s sake. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, don’t leave anything.

Don’t use it to showcase your pictures; be a watchdog instead. Keep updating and stay updated. Know what sells and work accordingly. Don’t hesitate to re-design your price chart, props and locations.

Always focus on what’s in because no one wants to spend bucks on an old-school photographer. Post pictures or content at least thrice a week. We repeat, at least! Try to engage the audience by asking for their feedback in the comment section. Be humble and learn to accept criticism as well. Also, be careful not to bug people off by being too pushy.

Also, take note of what and where you are posting. Avoid posting landscapes on Instagram or making them display pictures, as you may get to crop them. You could use them well for Facebook, especially on the cover. Before proceeding, do some homework for captions.

Check out How to Use Photography in Graphic Design

8. Offer Occasional Photography Workshops

On free days, when you don’t have any photo sessions to rush for, you can offer photography workshops to aspiring photographers. A lot of professional photographers turn to offer workshops after working for significant years.

Even though you’re just starting, you can contribute to these in many ways by volunteering for them. This will open up networking opportunities that might lend clients.

9. Marketing Photography Business Through Giveaways

Gifting will always help in promoting your photography business. Seek occasions to gift photographs to friends/ ex-colleagues/ relatives with your contact details. They surely would be impressed and might refer you to their known ones. The contact details you mention could be used further by them to get prospective customers.

If you want more helpful tips on marketing photography business, head to Pixpa.

Rohan is a Digital Marketer @Pixpa who helps professional photographers build stunning portfolio websites.