10 Genius Photography Marketing Hacks

Inside: These 10 Photography Marketing Hacks can be used to help you get photography clients fast as well as help you get a photography business marketing plan that works and is successful.  

The idea of marketing my photography business use to scare me to death! It was such a big word and it seemed even more difficult to begin and execute a marketing plan. It wasn’t until after I dove right in until I realized you can change your marketing game with just a few simple, easy-to-start hacks!

Photography Marketing Hacks

1. Get Social

Social media is one of the easiest ways to begin to market toward the photography clients you want to book! It’s a proven fact that most of our clients are already on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and even Snapchat! Why not use these platforms to share your photography work and gain new fans!

Tip: Create your own photography group on Facebook! Not only can you track the people who join your group, every time you post it will send a notification to your members! This ensures they’ll never miss a post about your photography business.

2. Create a unique experience

Once I went to an expensive, “fancy” restaurant. Yes, the food was wonderful but that wasn’t what I remember about the restaurant. I remembered the experience of it! The beautiful menus, soft high-end napkins, the service of the waiters. The combination of all the little touches created an unforgettable experience.

We should strive to do the same for our photography clients. Bring small treats for the kids to the portraits session or take the time and send hand written “thank you” cards in the mail after the photo session or orders are complete. Small gestures can go a long way!

3. Pay for it

The most standard way to market toward our photography clients is to pay to reach them. This method may not be for everyone but consider creating a Facebook Ad or a Google ad to reach potential photography clients. You can set a daily or weekly “budget” on how much you will spend before your ad is not shown. This is a great way to keep track of your spending so you don’t go over budget.

Photography Business Marketing Plan

4. Set up your website

Social media is a great, free way to reach clients! However, it’s important to have a separate platform to show your work and reinforce the look and feel of your business. A beautiful website can explain to your clients what you enjoy to photograph, why you do, and the style you use to do so.

5. Get blogging

I’m the first to admit I’m horrible at blogging. But blogging is also another important platform to show your work and reinforce your brand. If a photography client stumbles onto your website, having a blog linked will not only show them more of a variety of work but shows REAL clients who have entrusted you to capture them beautifully.

Don’t make these five mistakes in your photography business, especially number 5 in your photography marketing plan.

6. Have the client market for you

The best way I market and book my clients is through word of mouth. This is the most powerful marketing tool I have behind my photography business marketing plan and it doesn’t cost me anything.

A happy customer will rave about your services to their friends and family and convince them you are “worth it”. All we have to do is sit back and wait for the inquiries to roll in!

Photography Giveaway Ideas

7. Hold a contest

Creating a social media based contest is a great way to gain a larger following in a short amount of time. Contests can be anything from asking clients to see how many “likes” their photo can get to offering a complimentary session by drawing a name from an email subscription. Either way, a contest can be the next marketing technique you could try!

Tip: This is a great way to gain new clients, but may not always be the most effective way if you already have an established business.

8. Vendor collaborations

Whether you are in the wedding photography industry or work exclusively in portraits, there are many vendors to consider when creating a collaboration. If you are a children’s portrait photographer maybe consider doing promo sessions for a local children’s boutique. Not only will this drive business to your partnered vendor, creating friendships with such vendors can also drive business right back your way.

I’ve learned along the way it’s better to create strong business bonds with vendors whom your clients also spend money on and love!

9. Help Others

Yes, we are in business to make money, however there are times when doing a charity session or event can speak volumes to your community.

Collaborating with local charities and non-profits is not only great for your photography business but good for the soul too.

10. Be YOU!

This should probably be number 1 one my list but I want to leave you with the most important marketing tip I can give! Always be yourself. Create your own brand, your own way of shooting/editing. If you show clients your own unique personality you will create a lasting photography/client bond that’s crucial for nurturing life-long customers! Trust me, when they love YOU there’s a better chance you’ll see them again!

Interested in more FREE ways to market your photography business and have a successful photography business marketing plan visit what the ModernTog has to say and suggest as well.