Photography Business Marketing

Marketing in any business is tough, and when it comes to a photography business it can also be tough. This is sometimes because of the non-commercial interest that comes in to picture when we talk of photographs adorning walls. However, despair not. You can still make your photography business a highly marketable product or indeed, service. Follow some simple rules and get off on the right track!

Decide what your photography business is going to be like

There are two kinds of photography businesses that you can set up. It can be either Assignment photography or Stock photography. In both cases, the name explains it all. Assignment photography is the kind of business where you are assigned or hired to take photographs of something. It can be any event or just someone. The event can be someone's wedding. And that someone of course could be anyone.

Stock photography, on the other hand, is a business where you already have photographs in stock and you are selling them to interested parties. The stock photographs can be anything from flowers to nude women.

Therefore, you have two options to decide on. Basically, people start with the assignment photography thinking that it would give them a meagre but steady income. That is true to some extent but it will give you a very small audience.

Whereas stock photography business will help you reach a wider target market audience. Stock photography is recommended because that is where the potential of the photographer has better chances to be recognized.

Target your audience

When you are dealing with stock photography, you have a great chance of spending lot of resources without any returns. This is especially the case when you don't know who your audience is. When you are out to click those beautiful moments, make sure you know who you are going to show them to. This streamlines your clients and would also help you take photos that are relevant to your market. Try sending postcards or samples of your photos to your targeted clients and see their response. This way you can make a mark among the circles you want to feel your presence.

Give them what they want

When you do present your customer's photographs, make sure you're giving them what they asked for. So many photographers don't! This is important. They have chosen you because they believed that you were going to supply them with what they wanted. If you make a volte face and give them photos they don't need, you are sure to lose them. Therefore, be very attentive to the details and give your customers what they ask for. Take notes when they tell you what they want. People rarely remember more than 7% of what they've been told in a conversation 24 hours later - so take notes. A happy customer means more business!

Be present at places that matter

- When I say be present, I am not speaking about the physical presence of the photographer. I am talking about exposure of your work. Advertise them wherever possible and that's relevant. Keep the costs in line, advertising can get out of hand. Make sure your advertising in the right places. Publish your work on the net through some of the photography sites or stock houses. This would greatly increase your client base as your photographs are showcased along with the others. The sites may take a percentage of your earnings but it is worth it as you are just building your base while you are being paid. You can always start on your own once you have a considerable presence in the right circles.

- Think about organizing an internet site and drive traffic to it.

- Advertise on AdWords at Google.com and Yahoo.com (you can now target local areas through Google)

Look for local markets too

- Join your local library that may publish your photographs in their weekly or monthly journal, ezine or newsletter. Making sure that your contact details are always available. This way you can get a foothold in your own locality.

- Go to your local florist and leave some business cards with the promise of a tip if work successfully comes your way from their referral.

- Visit your local church, mosque etc. and leave your particulars. You never know when questions are asked in these circles. Reciprocate with some free services from time to time.

- There are many venues you can work with like this, just put your thinking hat on.

Accept help from your peer photographers

Knowing some other photographers can also be immensely helpful. If they are good enough, they can show some of your collections to their clients who have some specific requirements. Even if they don't showcase your photographs, they may help you with some valuable tips to market yourself and networking ideas.

No replacement for quality

No matter how much you market yourself, if the quality of your photographs is not up to the mark, you are definitely poised to face doom. The quality of your photographs should be the best you can possibly present and keep in mind that there's always room for improvement. Quality most often results in recommendation and referral. Once you have a customer, never, ever skimp on quality because it's more costly to find a new customer than it is to keep an existing one.

Photography business marketing is often a case where your photographs have to be in the right place at the right time. Do not think that it is all by chance. The truth is, it is you who will make them available at the right place at the right time just by following a few commonsense marketing rules. All the best and happy marketing!

Courtesy of Roy Barker. Roy often coaches photography business marketing and is dedicated to coaching on how to start your own photography business but places strong emphasis on profitability issues & guidelines. You can also gain photography insights, help (mostly free) or even adigital photography tip or two. For brief reviews on services or equipment see http://www.profitable-photography.com/resources.php

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How To Start A Photography Business - Knowing When You're Really Ready And Knowing Other Differences

Here's a question: How do you know when you're ready to start a photography business? Answer: When you 'know' that you 'know' (the doublespeak is for emphasis) the difference between your artistic photography skills and your understanding of business. Knowing the difference makes the difference between success and failure when you start any type of business, for that matter.

Tip #1

Think about it, the art of taking pictures is getting easier and easier - especially with the advancement of technology. Digital technology has made photography so easy that it appears that everybody and their brothers and their sisters are photographers! Such ease makes photography a very popular attraction and very compelling to start a photo biz.

But, what many budding photographers fail to realize and take seriously is that: Business is Business. Whether selling teddy bears, cell phones or photography, the business principles are the same. And they are basic and simple (not easy - simple). Successful photographers aren't necessarily the most skilled. They understand and practice the basic and simple principles of running a photography business. They also don't confuse the quality of their photography with the need to plan, market and operate their photography business.

Don't be confused! You must consistently produce top-notch quality products and photographic services. Constantly improving your skills is critical. So is the learning and consistent practice of business principles. If you don't consistently practice the necessary business principles, budding photographers that do know the difference and practice the principles will get the customers and the business that should be yours. If you fail to practice the principles you will fail at your photography business attempts. Period. You will be another charter member of the 'starving artist' club! There's a reason why they're 'starving!'

Once you do start a picture-taking business, every day that you're in business there's opportunity to grow and prosper, and the chance to stagnate and fail. Your being clear on the difference between photography practices and business practices determine the success of your photography business more than your photographic skills and talents. Be sure to spend as much time developing your photography skills as you do your business (marketing, self-promotion activities, for example) skills and you will find success.

Compliment vs Reality - Tip #2

Most budding photographers have this experience: a good friend, family member or neighbor sees a photograph and 'raves' how good it looks and how 'valuable' it 'should' be! Somewhere in their raving they proclaim, "you should sell that, you'll probably make a lot of money!" Red flag warning! What is given as a compliment of your photograph is instantly translated to your having a "diamond" that you can sell and that will change your 'status' in life. Here's a test: the next time you receive such a 'compliment,' do this: thank them and then ask them how much are they willing to pay you for the photo? I promise you that the same 'expert' that just raved about your valuable artwork will pass on the 'opportunity' to grab up your 'valuable' artistic photo. In the photography business value is determined by other criteria than a compliment or two. Knowing the difference contributes to your success in business.

Develop your knowledge and skill and your confidence as a photographer will dramatically increase. Likewise with business: develop and practice basic business principles and your confidence as a successful professional photographer will dramatically increase. I promise.

Research Builds Confidence - Tip #3

Do your research. Go online and read the available research on the business of photography. Read before you buy. Online research is just a click away. Take your time. Take advantage of free and easily available information online. If you choose to buy something offered, determine what goals you want to accomplish and ask yourself will what you're buying help you to really meet your goals. Avoid the resources that promise and guarantee you that you can make $200 - $300 a day overnight - for obvious reasons. Also, there are no "secrets that the pros don't want you to know!" There is information that you do not know now. But, isn't information that is unknowable or impossible to find out - they're just unknown to you at this time. Do your research. Besides, if they're for sale, how "secret" can they be? Do your research

In the business of photography, it is more profitable to specialize. Specialization (also referred to as your "photography niche") is how your customers will find you. Another development of technology is how customers - those who can afford and are willing to spend money for photography - find the photography that they buy. They look for something specific (in photographer speak that means "photography niche"). Go online and do a search on "photography niche" and take advantage of the information available. Remember, read before you buy; there are no"secrets that the pros don't want you to know;" and great photography does not sell itself. In the world of business, nothing does.

For business purposes, go online and do a search on different business topics that you want more information about. For example, do a search for "photography marketing" or "marketing for photographers" or "amateur photography tips" or "how to sell photos online" or "how to start a photography business" etc. etc. Read before you buy.

Know And Start Where You Are And Be 'Sincere' - Tip #4

Start where you are with the equipment that you have. If you don't have a photography studio don't take on photography jobs that require a studio. Don't be all things to all people - remember, specialize (research "photography niche" - you'll be head and shoulders above the majority of your competition). If you feel that you have to purchase equipment to take on a job - that's a red flag that you're not ready, yet. In successful photography, the profit is in the "photography niche" and your understanding of that simple difference.

Doing your research will prepare you for one of the biggest challenges most photographers have - pricing. The challenge of knowing exactly what to charge stops most of us in our tracks. It shouldn't! Do your research. Search "photography pricing," for example. The information is available and most of it is free. Remember, read before you buy.

In my opinion, there really is no one criteria needed to start a profitable photo business. However, my experience has convinced me that self-confidence is the most significant asset a photographer in business can possess. You develop that self-confidence by knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know - and being crystal clear on the difference. Confidence is gained by knowing the necessary criteria needed and knowing that you possess the knowledge and skills to consistently accomplish tasks in a satisfactory manner.

Research, develop and practice both your photography knowledge and skills as well as your photography business knowledge and skills.

Finally, when vaudevillian, George Burns, was asked what was the secret to his successful career, he responded - "sincerity, be sincere - even if you have to fake it!"

Kalem Aquil is a 'semi-burnt-out' photographer that dispenses free, unsolicited (yet, very good and accurate) tips and advice to budding photographers that want to take their photography business to the next level. He dispenses such advice to budding photographers such as "where to start," "what to charge," "how to know if you're really, really ready," etc. etc. etc. He dispenses his free and unsolicited advice here. Subscribe to his free ezine, the "Best Amateur Photography Tips Digest," and receive a Bonus Special Report - "How To Build Your Own Successful Photography Website." Click here to subscribe.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kalem_Aquil

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