Two weeks ago, I was looking for good photographer here in Calgary. I need a head shot picture for my blog.
So I Google “calgary photographers” and I was surprised how many freelance photographers we have in the city.
I guess a photography service is a great side job.
And then I saw this guy’s work and I was impressed. So I gave him a call to talk about his services.
From our discussion, I can feel how much he loves taking pictures but I can also feel that he struggles in getting consistent income from this talent and passion.
Photography is no doubt a profitable pursuit nowadays.
I know quite a few people—I’m sure you do too—who’s decided to buy their own Canon DSLR cameras, but no amount of high-end gadgetry can match the artistic and careful eye of a talented photographer like yourself.
No one would trust their wedding day in the hands of an amateur with an expensive camera. They’ll hire a professional. You want to venture out into this world, hopefully make a small profit doing something you love and know you’re good at. And you’re aware the online industry is the place to start, but how? Where does a solo service professional begin to make a name for himself online?
The thing you need to know about marketing your photography service business on the internet is you need to stick to a realistic plan with a realistic goal in mind. Start small. Keep a modest budget in hand. As your client-base grows and business starts to pick up, then you can invest on a broader set of online tools to increase traffic flow into your website.
Here’s what you need to get started on your online marketing campaign:
-
Your personal website which you designed for free
When a person needs something nowadays, the first thing he or she does is search for the product or service on the internet. That’s given.
A website advertising your skills and services is vital to your early success as a professional photographer. But a successful website doesn’t necessarily translate to an expensive website. There are several online tools that let you piece together a professional-looking website from scratch – for FREE. I recommend that you use Wordpress.
These tools require no design or coding experience whatsoever. I call them “plug and play” online publishing platforms.
-
Consider touching stock photography as a side service
Stock photography is when clients purchase your photographs from a supply on a website instead of hiring an actual photographer. The smart thing about stock photography is it lets you showcase your work on your website at the same time, so it’s a win-win situation for you. You can choose to discontinue offering stock photography service once your client-base has grown to a comfortable level.
-
Easy payment methods for your clients
I’ll make this short and sweet. If you offer stock photography services, make it easy—and safe—for your clients to send payment. Direct payment is still your best option. Otherwise, think Paypal.
-
Market cost analysis
When you start small, you make more out of every dollar investment on your project. The average ROI for online marketing is $10-$13 per dollar spent.
-
Tap into social networking
As a service provider just starting out, you want your name to resound in places where more people are likely to hear or read about it. Why look elsewhere other than social media? Namely Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Multiply, photo-sharing platforms like Tumblr and Photobucket, and the social media platform king – Twitter.
Get active in these forums and start talking directly to enthusiasts and other professional photographers. You’ll expand your horizons as well as learn a few tips of the trade. For someone as dedicated to the craft like yourself, investing an hour or two of your day talking to fellow photographers should be a welcome task.
The internet is a powerful tool for anyone looking to start their own small business. But unless you learn the ropes on how to get started effectively, you’ll end up getting the attention of no one and only hurt yourself in the process.
As a professional photographer, take to heart these low-cost startup tips I mentioned above. Remember, the first step to success is getting the first step right.
Before I end this post…
Do you know that the most popular stock photography company, iStockphoto, is based in Calgary?
If you live in Calgary, why don’t you call them and see if they’re looking for any freelancers.
About Jon Orana
