Professional Photography and Marketing Monday

© WrightStudio

Over the years I've shared a lot of great content thanks to my good buddy, Scott Bourne.  In fact, his advice below was shared in a post a year ago and several years earlier as well. And, while things might have changed a little on a point or two, like Instagram being a potential player, etc. nothing has changed in the potential for you to build a better business.

I know how often all of you get caught up in the stress of building a stronger presence, and miss many of the easiest things you could be doing. In this terrific post from the SCU archives, Scott's sharing ten easy to afford marketing ideas to help you establish a stronger brand and business. I'm adding two more to the list as well.

• Share images with the vendors you work with at various events. It's all explained in this short podcast Chamira Young and I did with Bob and Dawn Davis.
• Do a career day presentation at any of the schools in your area. One of the greatest ways to get to Mom and Dad is through their kids. You're not selling anything, just helping kids become better photographers and at the same time planting the seed for photography as a career choice. It's an easy program to do, and helps get your name out in the community!

The common denominator with all of these tips is the low or non-existent cost, but that doesn't mean they can happen by themselves. You've got to make the effort, and this is definitely a you-snooze-you-lose scenario.

​And, if you're stuck and need help you know where to find us!

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by Scott Bourne

Today I just have a quick hit list for those of you who have a small budget and need something to jumpstart your photo business.

1. Ask your local municipal government if you can use an old or abandoned building as a make shift art gallery and organize a display of your work and the work of other aspiring pros in the area.

2. Offer to do a free "how-to" make a portrait session for your local Chamber of Commerce or service organization such as Rotary. 

3. Barter your products and services to help launch your business and get other local vendors familiar with what you do.

4. Offer to provide free framed prints to local children's clothing stores if you do kid's portraits - offer to provide free framed prints to local pet stores if you do pet photography - you get the idea.

5. Offer a print or portrait session or _____ as a prize for a charity auction.

6. Set up a Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Facebook business page as well as a business Twitter account, etc.

7. Make "how-to" photography videos and post them on YouTube. (YouTube is being treated as much like a search engine as it is a place to see video.)

8. Make yourself indispensable to thought leaders in your segment of the photo industry.

9. Start a podcast.

10. Issue press releases every time you do something significant and hand deliver these to your local media.
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