Wednesday, November 12, 2008

inexpensive ways to market your photography business

Inexpensive Ways To Market Your Photography BusinessWriten by Cindy Bracken

You do not need a huge marketing budget to effectively market your photography business. Here are a few low-cost ways to get started:

1.Display your work. This is one of the best ways to market your business. Approach stores, doctors offices, dentist offices, florists, wedding shops, childrens boutiques and toy stores, maternity shops, etc. about displaying your work in their place of business. They may be willing to rent you a space, or supply the space free of charge in exchange for some photographic work. They may also offer the space free of charge if you also agree to market their business in some way. Bring along your portfolio when you make the initial contact, so that the business owner may see your work. Malls are another good place for a displayin most cases you will have to pay for the space, so contact your local mall for more info. Along with each display, make sure you leave business cards or brochures for potential clients to pick up.

2.Organize a charitable photo event. Examples of this are free pet portraits at the local humane society, free senior portraits for kids at a local group home or shelter, a portrait event at a local hospital, etc. Use your imagination and you can come up with some good ones. Make sure to send a press release about the event to your newspaper or television station.

3.Leave and give out business cards EVERYWHERE! Make sure you keep a good supply of business cards handy, and leave them everywhere you go. The library, the grocery store shopping cart, local restaurants, etc. If you arent shy, hand them out to moms shopping with their kids. Hand them out to pregnant women if you do maternity photography. Leave them on car windshields at the park. You get the idea!

4.Offer free sessions and one 8x10 as a prize or giveaway. You can do this by becoming a sponsor of any local contests. Radio stations, banks, and schools are good contacts for this sort of thing.

5.Include a sheet of wallets with every client order. On them, print a great image from their session, along with your business name and contact info. The clients will be happy to give these away since they can show off their portrait and they act as business cards for you.

6.Enlist seniors at your local high school to advertise for you. Give them a free senior portrait session and some free prints in exchange for them giving out your business cards and showing off their portraits to their friends. A nice 4x6 album full of their images is inexpensive and easy for them to carry.

Cindy Bracken is the founder of http://www.shuttermom.com, an online community for photographers of all levels. Stop by to create a free blog, enter the photo contest, join in the discussion forums, read free articles, and find out how to start your own photography business.