Marketing Yourself As a Photographer

You’ve got the qualification or feel you’ve got enough experience to go it alone, so how do you go about marketing yourself and your work? It’s important to decide where your strengths are, for example you may want to specialise in weddings or portraits, before you start promoting yourself. You probably know whether you want to work for a photography studio or work as a freelancer − it’s now up to you to find the work.

Becoming a Freelance Photographer

Research

It’s important to research the market. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is there room for another photographer in the area you wish to work in?
• Could you specialise in an area of photography that no one else covers?
• Do you want to work locally or promote yourself to a wider field?
• Who is your target audience?

If you want to work locally check the yellow pages to see who else is offering a photography service. If they have a website study it. Call them anonymously and see what prices they charge.

What service can you offer that makes your photography different from the competition’s?

Marketing Methods

There’s no better way to promote yourself as a photographer than to show examples of your work. Consider the following and take into account the budget you have:

• A business card
• Flyers and leaflets
• A website
• Advertising (newspapers, local magazines, yellow pages)
• Networking − tell everyone what you’re doing. Some of the best work comes from word of mouth.

You might be lucky enough to be able to afford to open your own shop or studio. In addition to being able to display your own work this has the advantage of being able to offer extra add-ons, which will increase your profits, for example:

• Frames and albums
• Camera accessories
• Cameras
• Printing machines

Your true desire might not be to sell products, but every good business person looks for ways to increase their income. This means more money to be able to buy the best equipment and promote yourself even more.

Working as an Employed Photographer

Don’t wait for jobs to be advertised − contact all the photography studios in your area and ask if they’ve got any work. Face to face meetings are better than telephone calls as you can take your portfolio with you.

If you’re inexperienced offer to work for free for a period of time. This demonstrates your commitment and dedication and will help you gain valuable knowledge.

Whatever path you choose to take remember to always be unique. People like to see something different and creative. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new and original ideas. If you’re not adventurous someone else will be. And finally, believe in your skill as a photographer.