Advertising - What works best for you?

JDrake

I am new here but I have been doing photography professionally for awhile now but I have yet to do any real advertising. I would like to make more than I currently do and I think that advertising will really help me out in that department. I have mainly been shooting sporting events like horse shows and dog shows with the occassional wedding and family portrait session here and there. I would like to move to do more weddings as I feel this would provide a nice stable income for me.

I know there are a bunch of different types of photographers here who make money doing what they love and I would really like to hear from some of them as to what they have found works best as far as advertising goes...especially for weddings.

Here is my website if anyone would like to see my "stuff" (my husband and I designed it ourselves so I am quite proud of it).
http://www.drakephotography.net

Thanks to anyone who is willing to give me any advice about advertising ideas!

~Jan~

Do you proof online? If so, I think that is your best advertisement. My clients send their online gallery link to friends and that is how I've gained 90% of my business. I haven't advertised at all yet, but I'll give you some ideas I've tossed around. Business has slowed this time of year and I might do something.

Also, how do you do on Google searches? I know a lot of people get clients there. I don't mean when you search for your name--when you search for "photographer + your city" type of searches. If your Google searches aren't up to snuff, maybe Adwords by Google would help.

I am currently looking into advertising on my city's website, as the clients I am looking for are online savvy folks (I do all online proofing).

You could try fliers/cards in beauty shops, veterinary offices, etc. Given your large # of animal shots, maybe a vet's office would hang a large print of yours in the office w/ your biz name on it.

JDrake

I do do online proofing. I haven't seen any business from it as of yet...though I have noticed some people taking screen shots of their pics and just having small pics of them printed out...or just to have on their computer which is a little frustrating. There isn't really a way to stop that totally...but I have started using watermarks now as a result of that.

As far as google goes... I get a lot of traffic for people looking up my real name...apparently there is a famous person with my name and I get hits from people looking for that person... though Id rather not be associated with this person. Those people usually dont stick around too long either... and I do get people searching for my business's name...and also Ive seen "horse show photography" "equine photography" "engagement photography" "senior pics and tennessee" "engagement pictures in smoky mountains tn" etc...used with hits to my site. So I guess I do fairly well with google/yahoo/msn...though I wish I got more traffic. I get about 20 visitors a day to the site...more if I just did a horse show or other event.

I plan on putting up some ads in the vet's office...if they will let me and also the local tack shop (horse store). But those are both geared towards non-wedding type stuff and I would really like to get more into weddings. Are there any magazines or online sites that are good to advertise on? I don't want to waste my money on advertising that isn't going to work as I am recently out of college and still paying off loans so money is a bit tight for me still. I want to invest in my business but I dont want to just "spin my wheels" with advertising that isn't going to be effective...I dont have the time or money for that.

~Jan~

Gosh definitely watermark!! Right across the face.

thenimirra

~Jan~ wrote:

Gosh definitely watermark!! Right across the face.

Word of mouth has worked wonders for me. I haven't done any direct advertising. I do think my job as a print journalist has helped me a great deal. If you tell someone you are a reporter AND a photographer, they tend to want to do business with you. But mostly it's just been passing out my card every opportunity I get. I even sent it out with Christmas cards this past year!

I went to a holiday party and passed cards to one person. When someone called that person frantically looking for a photographer, my contact gave them my information, and it helped me net my first major paying gig.

JDrake

I have started leaving my card when I go to eat at a resturant for the server to pick up when I leave with their tip...and make sure I leave a nice tip so they like me more. So I guess I am headed in the right direction with the word of mouth style. I just really need to have a good year this year so I am wanting to do some advertising that will create some QUICK/effective results... so if anyone else has any more suggestions, Im all ears!

Has anyone had any success with adwords on google???

justus

Horse Show Photography
If you're trying to increase your horse show photography business, go to local little shows and offer to shoot. Hand out business cards to EVERYONE there and make sure it has your smugmug account website (or wherever you put your proofs) for them to go home and look up to order. That's how I started and it has grown like crazy just from word of mouth. I try to do ONE thing every day to promote my photography, whether that's a phone call, offer to shoot a show or a friend's horse portrait, whatever. The little local shows pay well usually, once they know where to find you, since those shows hardly ever get photographers to show up. If that's the only level these kids show at, you're the only photographer they'll see. Hope this helps!

kristen

JDrake wrote:

I am new here but I have been doing photography professionally for awhile now but I have yet to do any real advertising. I would like to make more than I currently do and I think that advertising will really help me out in that department. I have mainly been shooting sporting events like horse shows and dog shows with the occassional wedding and family portrait session here and there. I would like to move to do more weddings as I feel this would provide a nice stable income for me.

I know there are a bunch of different types of photographers here who make money doing what they love and I would really like to hear from some of them as to what they have found works best as far as advertising goes...especially for weddings.

Here is my website if anyone would like to see my "stuff" (my husband and I designed it ourselves so I am quite proud of it).
http://www.drakephotography.net

Thanks to anyone who is willing to give me any advice about advertising ideas!

HELLO! I want to start by saying WOW! I really love your web site. You designed it yourself? Do you think you may want to help a lady out a little? I am in the process of changing my look around but it's taking a lot of research before I can even begin because my abilities are limited.

Your photos are great.

I am going to read further to find out about the advertising. I need help in that area myself!

JDrake

Thanks for all the replies! I have been doing all the local shows that I can get into...there are not very many where I am located and most of them already have a photog covering them...or so Ive been told by management (it may be different than I am told...but I can only go if they let me in). On the shows that I've done....Ive not seen much business (maybe $200 max in sales). But I usually get a lot of traffic to my site from people checking out their pictures.

One frustrating event that happened last year was that I was at the Horse Park in KY to support a client I had (they were showing a colt they had and I was doing some photography for their farm). I photographed part of the show as I wanted to get some portfolio images. There was a photog there but come to find out....the photog covering the event was NOT there to sell pics to the people showing their horses! So if I had known that...I would have been able to photograph a pretty big show at the horse park! I did make ONE sale to a lady I handed my card to bc I knew I had taken a pic of her horse...so at least I got that. lol

Ive also been doing free photo-shoots in the fall and spring the past year at the barn that I board my horse at. I pick a weekend and have them sign up for a 1-hour time slot per horse and I shoot then doing whatever they want either protraits or some action shots. (Again that only got me about $200 per weekend) but it at least helps build up my portfolio with pretty college kids and their horses. (The barn was being used by the college I went to for their equestrian team to practice).

I wish I was in a bigger horsey area than I live in...the market is VERY hard to get into for the equestrian photography....not many farms and too many photographers basically. I think I can count the number of GOOD farms on one hand even. Weddings seem like a whole lot less work for a bigger pay check... anyone know if bridal shows pay off at all??

Ive been trying out the Adwords on Google and so far Ive only had ONE visit to the site from it. It is apparently a very competitive market with not a whole lot of traffic. I've shown about 600 impressions for my ad for the whole day! and the ONE click I had cost me over 90cents! (I hope they at least bookmarked me) I am starting to think I need to find a more effective form of advertising but I will give it some more time. I'll let you all know what happens as I figure this out some more.