Hey everyone....got a question....how do you market yourself? I am really trying to figure this out right now. Would love to hear some of the things that you do!! Thanks
i do. I have a couple senior reps each year. This year it was two pretty popular girls at one of the hugh schools and my name is getting around but the sessions are NOT coming in. I have a little contest set up for them, but i think the error lies in it requiring student to student marketing and students are young! I know my facebook pages helps a little. But I think the biggest power is in word of mouth advertising.
My business cards will be going up at the count in the coffee shop at the local high school and I am excited about that. I am seeing more and more photographers set up at vendor fairs and things like that.
I am next to one in a home-based business fair this weekend. (I am with a direct sales business not my photog one) So I am interested to see how in pans out for her. I do believe she is setting up a "photo booth"....
All I have ever heard about High School reps is that they don't work, I think it's better to go after the moms. Facebook has been the best Marketing for me! Also getting my name out around town - volunteering and going to community events.
I've done one high school rep and got about 8 inquiries from that one rep. the first year and then about 5 from some further word of mouth off the same girl the next. I ended up only taking a couple of those seniors because I filled up with families too fast... I am terrible about waiting to book what I really love doing and usually fill my books with families because they plan ahead farther than most seniors and they come heavy in the fall. I am an all word of mouth business and I am SO surprised at how well that has worked for me!! When my nurse was scheduling the Ultrasound for this baby she was on the phone and gave the gal my name and the gal from the US place knew who I was! I felt almost famous in a weird way :) I think one thing thats been really great for me is for each bride I give them a set of 200 gallery cards. These are super simple and cheap business cards that have a photo (usually black and white) from their engagement session on the front and their gallery information on the back so that guests can go look at the gallery after the wedding. It has all my info on the back as well. I give them the option of having them at their place settings during the reception or after the wedding to be put in thank you cards. That has brought lots of wedding business and print sales! I also truly believe that if you go above the call of duty that your brides and clients will rave over you and that will build you biz. I've got a few friends doing bridal shows but that's super competetive and they've done a few adds too. Anther thing you might think about doing, if you're into weddings, is submitting your work to different wedding blogs like greenweddingshoes.com or ruffled.com or some others out there (there's lots!). There are local blogs as well that are a bit smaller and, for me I'd feel more confident submitting to them just because I wouldn't be competing with Gabriel Ryan or J* for a post! Anywho, hope that helps!!
I feel like I am sort of starting from scratch again. All the clients I had before I did a price adjustment probably won't hire me again because they either a. can't afford it or b. will have price shock because they have paid lower prices in the past. Now I am trying to figure out ways to market myself...but I am coming up short. Sort of in a funk over it and wondering if my business is going to thrive or fizzle out at this point. Gosh, I am a downer!
Don't jump to conclusions Miss Lisa ;) I was SO worried about raising prices. OH MY. But ya' know it was one of the best things I did for my business and family. Almost everyone stayed with me and referals kept coming in almost more than usual. My sis in law and I have talked about this very phenom a lot. The higher you price yourself the more people think you're worth and the more they will pay you for prints and everything. It seems backward to cheap skate me but it's been proven in my business and in my sister's. When I raised prices it also cut back on knit picking, special requests and a lot of the back end work coming from "bargain shoppers". It really changed my business for the much better and while some people went to other photogs, I remained the one they referred because they could totally justify my prices even though they may not afford it. When I was thinking about diving into price increases across the board I decided that I'd rather shoot fewer paid gigs for higher prices than more shoots for lower prices with lots of hassle. It totally worked out that way for me! Be encouraged Lisa, YOU"RE WORTH A LOT! Your work is amazing and you just keep getting better. I say hike those prices and tell your clients what your time is worth!
Ashley...your story is exactly the way I thought mine would play out this year. I raised them at the start of spring/summer...ended up with only a few bookings. It totally backfired on me...the ones that I did book spent a significant amount and that was encouraging...but I just can't book anymore for some reason! I hiked my prices up after figuring out what I thought I needed to make to justify my time...every time I thought "maybe I should lower them" I would convince myself not to because last year I had gone through a lot of sessions for a little money and a whole lot of time spent on them and away from my family. At this point I don't know what to do since we are now heading into the "slow time" with late fall/winter approaching! yikes! I started the business so that I could stay home longer with my daughter...if we don't have the extra income, I am not sure what we will do. Its all very frustrating...I guess if I didn't need the income like I do it wouldn't be a big deal for us...but we really do need it. At this point I am not sure which way to turn :( I just keep praying about it and try not to let it get me down.
Okay so here is another thought Lisa, you live in a little bigger city right? My sister lives in a medium/small city and I live in a little town, like 15000 people. She has not had nearly the success with word of mouth that I have. She's been very frustrated as well with increasing prices and needing the extra income but not having much come back her way. I think with a bigger city word of mouth takes a lot longer to pan out that in a small community where all it takes is 5 people and the whole town knows you. I definitely have that on my side. Nonetheless, my sis is still raising her prices and little by little she is getting more business. There seems to be a gap in the middle of the pricing structure where you're too expensive for the lower end but not quite expensive enough for the upper end and the middle of the group goes with cheaper. You might really think about your areas economic structure and where you want to be as a competitor. Are you higher end, then price it higher end, find out where your clients hang out, in gyms, local boutiques, salons, and get business cards in them. My sister (sorry this is a lot about her but she's awesome and very sold on pricing higher even though she's not raking in the business) did a mock engagement shoot for a video I shot for her and she went with the girl to a fancy salon where they both had their make up done. She took pics of the whole process then afterward made postcard sized cards with the photos of the model, the salons logo (gotten off internet) and her info on the back. That way brides can see and have an option and that salon is much more likely to recommend her because she's been kind to them in making free marketing supplies. I have a local salon friend, a tuxedo friend and several other people in the business and I would venture to say they are integral in my word of mouth. If you take a senior guy out on a prom shoot find out where he got his tuxedo, make up some cute cards for the tuxedo gallery and send them over as a thank you for the great outfit! All just ideas. Don't be discouraged! I know it's scary but like I said my sis is getting more and more business gradually. It's just taking more time. As for the off season its a great time to invest time in your business so that you can really jump in when the shoots come back. Work on your website, your biz cards, your marketing, submitting shoots to blogs and magazines (I'll be more than happy to help with that if you want!) etc.. I would HATE to see you go get a job :) I know you can do it, you are so talented. I pray for you guys often and just trust the Lord. Listen carefully to him and he'll take care of you in his time.
thanks Ashley...this is soooooo what I needed to hear right now. You are exactly right...I am a pretty populated area and not small town at all. I have looked at the pricing of others around me and I am right in the middle...not really low and not super high. There is a woman who does shoot and burn for $250 (and she promises 80-120 fully edited images on the disk!!) who is about 10 miles from me...I can't compete with that...it would take all of my time away from any sort of family life I might have. I will still plug away...hopefully the families who hired me last year are just waiting another year to hire me again because its not something they can afford annually...super appreciative of the prayer support to...it means the world to me and I am sure everyone else too :)
Ashley - thanks for reminding us to trust in the Lord! :) and to listen carefully! I needed that reminder! Good advice from all angles!
I haven't read all of this yet...but, might be interesting??? http://zackarias.com/for-photographers/philosophy/cheap-photographers-only-kill-themselves-not-the-industry/
Oh I just thought of another thing that might be helpful Lisa, this video from Sal Cincotta; http://www.framedshow.com/archives/2565 He talks about competing based solely on the experience and not about the price. It made TONS of sense and he has amazing videos. Actually I'd recommend them all. Just scroll down until you see the labels in the right sidebar and click on Outside the Softbox. All of his videos will come up and he's really straight forward and not super saleman-y, which I hate being a salesman.
New post from me...question about marketing...any input is appreciated!! Thx
ReplyDeletei do. I have a couple senior reps each year. This year it was two pretty popular girls at one of the hugh schools and my name is getting around but the sessions are NOT coming in. I have a little contest set up for them, but i think the error lies in it requiring student to student marketing and students are young! I know my facebook pages helps a little. But I think the biggest power is in word of mouth advertising.
ReplyDeleteMy business cards will be going up at the count in the coffee shop at the local high school and I am excited about that. I am seeing more and more photographers set up at vendor fairs and things like that.
I am next to one in a home-based business fair this weekend. (I am with a direct sales business not my photog one) So I am interested to see how in pans out for her. I do believe she is setting up a "photo booth"....
All I have ever heard about High School reps is that they don't work, I think it's better to go after the moms. Facebook has been the best Marketing for me! Also getting my name out around town - volunteering and going to community events.
ReplyDeleteI've done one high school rep and got about 8 inquiries from that one rep. the first year and then about 5 from some further word of mouth off the same girl the next. I ended up only taking a couple of those seniors because I filled up with families too fast... I am terrible about waiting to book what I really love doing and usually fill my books with families because they plan ahead farther than most seniors and they come heavy in the fall. I am an all word of mouth business and I am SO surprised at how well that has worked for me!! When my nurse was scheduling the Ultrasound for this baby she was on the phone and gave the gal my name and the gal from the US place knew who I was! I felt almost famous in a weird way :) I think one thing thats been really great for me is for each bride I give them a set of 200 gallery cards. These are super simple and cheap business cards that have a photo (usually black and white) from their engagement session on the front and their gallery information on the back so that guests can go look at the gallery after the wedding. It has all my info on the back as well. I give them the option of having them at their place settings during the reception or after the wedding to be put in thank you cards. That has brought lots of wedding business and print sales! I also truly believe that if you go above the call of duty that your brides and clients will rave over you and that will build you biz. I've got a few friends doing bridal shows but that's super competetive and they've done a few adds too. Anther thing you might think about doing, if you're into weddings, is submitting your work to different wedding blogs like greenweddingshoes.com or ruffled.com or some others out there (there's lots!). There are local blogs as well that are a bit smaller and, for me I'd feel more confident submitting to them just because I wouldn't be competing with Gabriel Ryan or J* for a post! Anywho, hope that helps!!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I am sort of starting from scratch again. All the clients I had before I did a price adjustment probably won't hire me again because they either a. can't afford it or b. will have price shock because they have paid lower prices in the past. Now I am trying to figure out ways to market myself...but I am coming up short. Sort of in a funk over it and wondering if my business is going to thrive or fizzle out at this point. Gosh, I am a downer!
ReplyDeleteDon't jump to conclusions Miss Lisa ;) I was SO worried about raising prices. OH MY. But ya' know it was one of the best things I did for my business and family. Almost everyone stayed with me and referals kept coming in almost more than usual. My sis in law and I have talked about this very phenom a lot. The higher you price yourself the more people think you're worth and the more they will pay you for prints and everything. It seems backward to cheap skate me but it's been proven in my business and in my sister's. When I raised prices it also cut back on knit picking, special requests and a lot of the back end work coming from "bargain shoppers". It really changed my business for the much better and while some people went to other photogs, I remained the one they referred because they could totally justify my prices even though they may not afford it. When I was thinking about diving into price increases across the board I decided that I'd rather shoot fewer paid gigs for higher prices than more shoots for lower prices with lots of hassle. It totally worked out that way for me! Be encouraged Lisa, YOU"RE WORTH A LOT! Your work is amazing and you just keep getting better. I say hike those prices and tell your clients what your time is worth!
ReplyDeleteAshley...your story is exactly the way I thought mine would play out this year. I raised them at the start of spring/summer...ended up with only a few bookings. It totally backfired on me...the ones that I did book spent a significant amount and that was encouraging...but I just can't book anymore for some reason! I hiked my prices up after figuring out what I thought I needed to make to justify my time...every time I thought "maybe I should lower them" I would convince myself not to because last year I had gone through a lot of sessions for a little money and a whole lot of time spent on them and away from my family. At this point I don't know what to do since we are now heading into the "slow time" with late fall/winter approaching! yikes! I started the business so that I could stay home longer with my daughter...if we don't have the extra income, I am not sure what we will do. Its all very frustrating...I guess if I didn't need the income like I do it wouldn't be a big deal for us...but we really do need it. At this point I am not sure which way to turn :( I just keep praying about it and try not to let it get me down.
ReplyDeleteOkay so here is another thought Lisa, you live in a little bigger city right? My sister lives in a medium/small city and I live in a little town, like 15000 people. She has not had nearly the success with word of mouth that I have. She's been very frustrated as well with increasing prices and needing the extra income but not having much come back her way. I think with a bigger city word of mouth takes a lot longer to pan out that in a small community where all it takes is 5 people and the whole town knows you. I definitely have that on my side. Nonetheless, my sis is still raising her prices and little by little she is getting more business. There seems to be a gap in the middle of the pricing structure where you're too expensive for the lower end but not quite expensive enough for the upper end and the middle of the group goes with cheaper. You might really think about your areas economic structure and where you want to be as a competitor. Are you higher end, then price it higher end, find out where your clients hang out, in gyms, local boutiques, salons, and get business cards in them. My sister (sorry this is a lot about her but she's awesome and very sold on pricing higher even though she's not raking in the business) did a mock engagement shoot for a video I shot for her and she went with the girl to a fancy salon where they both had their make up done. She took pics of the whole process then afterward made postcard sized cards with the photos of the model, the salons logo (gotten off internet) and her info on the back. That way brides can see and have an option and that salon is much more likely to recommend her because she's been kind to them in making free marketing supplies. I have a local salon friend, a tuxedo friend and several other people in the business and I would venture to say they are integral in my word of mouth. If you take a senior guy out on a prom shoot find out where he got his tuxedo, make up some cute cards for the tuxedo gallery and send them over as a thank you for the great outfit! All just ideas. Don't be discouraged! I know it's scary but like I said my sis is getting more and more business gradually. It's just taking more time. As for the off season its a great time to invest time in your business so that you can really jump in when the shoots come back. Work on your website, your biz cards, your marketing, submitting shoots to blogs and magazines (I'll be more than happy to help with that if you want!) etc.. I would HATE to see you go get a job :) I know you can do it, you are so talented. I pray for you guys often and just trust the Lord. Listen carefully to him and he'll take care of you in his time.
ReplyDeletethanks Ashley...this is soooooo what I needed to hear right now. You are exactly right...I am a pretty populated area and not small town at all. I have looked at the pricing of others around me and I am right in the middle...not really low and not super high. There is a woman who does shoot and burn for $250 (and she promises 80-120 fully edited images on the disk!!) who is about 10 miles from me...I can't compete with that...it would take all of my time away from any sort of family life I might have. I will still plug away...hopefully the families who hired me last year are just waiting another year to hire me again because its not something they can afford annually...super appreciative of the prayer support to...it means the world to me and I am sure everyone else too :)
ReplyDeleteAshley - thanks for reminding us to trust in the Lord! :) and to listen carefully! I needed that reminder!
ReplyDeleteGood advice from all angles!
I haven't read all of this yet...but, might be interesting???
http://zackarias.com/for-photographers/philosophy/cheap-photographers-only-kill-themselves-not-the-industry/
Oh I just thought of another thing that might be helpful Lisa, this video from Sal Cincotta;
ReplyDeletehttp://www.framedshow.com/archives/2565
He talks about competing based solely on the experience and not about the price. It made TONS of sense and he has amazing videos. Actually I'd recommend them all. Just scroll down until you see the labels in the right sidebar and click on Outside the Softbox. All of his videos will come up and he's really straight forward and not super saleman-y, which I hate being a salesman.