Your Community: Every Little Bit Helps!

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito!
Dali Lama

Images by Steven Gotz

by Skip Cohen

Technically, spring seasonality ended with Father's Day. Now that we're in summer, it's the perfect time for you to fine-tune your presence in the community. I've spoken with so many different artists over the years who tend to view summer as limited to what can be done to capture the attention of their target audience. After all, except weddings and event photography, there's not a lot going on,  NOT!!!!!

Let's start with community involvement, a topic I've written about numerous times before. Everyone can make a difference. In a world that's currently upside down, imagine how much better your community could be if everyone got more involved.

There are so many different ways you can help:

Blogging:  A blog that regularly (at least twice a week) shares new content that's relevant to its readership helps establish your authority as an expert and builds your personal brand. Posts don't have to be long; they just need to be interesting to your target audience. 

For example, start and maintain a calendar of events related to non-profits in your community. And with each passing event, be there! Put yourself in the position of a photojournalist, sharing images and the stories behind various events. Within a very short amount of time, you'll be recognized as an Ambassador for the non-profits you're writing about. 

Your goal is to build a reputation for giving back to your community. You're not just another retailer! Additionally, being a photographer gives you the advantage of displaying your skills alongside your empathy for support.

Social Media: While I firmly believe in the effectiveness of a good blog, for those of you who don't feel the same, then use social media to create awareness. As much as we all have a love-hate relationship with Facebook, it remains one of the most effective ways to reach your audience...but stay focused on your target demographics.

​Live Support: Just about all of you can teach a class in photography. It doesn't have to be an advanced technique, just helpful. For example, consider organizing a program in your community to help your audience capture better vacation photographs, July 4 fireworks, or storytelling. If you've got clients with young children, suggest they put a camera (or phone) in the hands of one of their kids to document family events and vacations. (It's incredible when you see the world through the eyes of a child.)

Family Coloring Books: The idea is thanks to Steven Gotz, and it came out of the pandemic. Steven took images of clients as well as some of his animal shots, then pulled the colors and turned them into line art for a coloring book. Imagine the fun kids would have with a personalized coloring book of images of their own family! Even better, imagine the reaction from the parents as you help them document the summer ahead. 

Publicity: Summertime can be anything but slow! Utilize your network of community leaders, companies, and associations to share updates on your initiatives. Remember, it's all about building brand awareness. From local publications to community-centric websites - it's up to you to deliver a never-ending stream of information. 

The bottom line is simple: there's no such thing as support that's too small. But it's up to you to remind people you believe in your community!

---