Comments on: 6 Direct Marketing Tips For Wedding Photographers http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:37:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Norml http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-68859 Norml Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:25:37 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-68859 [img]http://naturalportraits.smugmug.com/Weddings/Wedding-Portfolio/6453400_cvZ6d#623375497_4iUrt[/img] 6453400_cvZ6d#623375497_4iUrt"

]]> By: Norml http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-68858 Norml Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:24:35 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-68858 Having had a marketing career for many decades (!), before finding my passion in pro photography (weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs), I'll be the first to support the premise of this article: you need more than one arrow in your quiver. I'd also like to suggest that there are many more "arrows" available to you as an independent photographer than the six mentioned here. While videos and blogs have their appeal (for vastly different reasons), videos can cost a lot of money; don't attempt a do-it-yourself video any more than do-it-yourself dentistry. If you're selling high-quality photography, you'll want and need a high-quality video to showcase you. Blogs can get you bogged down, if you're not a facile writer. If you are, then also consider a direct e-mailed newsletter. Templates abound to make them look professional. Check out Constant Contact or Vertical Response. Social media can help get the word out, but they can be huge time sucks. Walk before you run. Surprisingly, the article omits advertising either in print or online. Admittedly, I'm still getting the hang of this myself. I have listings running in The Knot and Service Magic, as well as a linked display ad in a local community website. There are other websites that target brides-to-be, so do your research. Also, consider writing articles for your local paper, community websites, religious organizations and so on. Keep to topic focused on useful information ("How to..." rather than self-promotion. Volunteer. Yes! Network with other wedding vendors, such as caterers, videographers and DJs. It's entirely possible that they may be asked for a referral for a photographer. Offer them prints or files for their own marketing purposes whenever you work with them at an event. Overall, you do need an understanding of where you are in the market, who your audience is and what image (brand) you want to project. Oh, keep track of where your leads come from. Stay with what works, abandon what doesn't. You only have so many hours in the day. Having had a marketing career for many decades (!), before finding my passion in pro photography (weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs), I’ll be the first to support the premise of this article: you need more than one arrow in your quiver. I’d also like to suggest that there are many more “arrows” available to you as an independent photographer than the six mentioned here.

While videos and blogs have their appeal (for vastly different reasons), videos can cost a lot of money; don’t attempt a do-it-yourself video any more than do-it-yourself dentistry. If you’re selling high-quality photography, you’ll want and need a high-quality video to showcase you.

Blogs can get you bogged down, if you’re not a facile writer. If you are, then also consider a direct e-mailed newsletter. Templates abound to make them look professional. Check out Constant Contact or Vertical Response. Social media can help get the word out, but they can be huge time sucks. Walk before you run.

Surprisingly, the article omits advertising either in print or online. Admittedly, I’m still getting the hang of this myself. I have listings running in The Knot and Service Magic, as well as a linked display ad in a local community website. There are other websites that target brides-to-be, so do your research.

Also, consider writing articles for your local paper, community websites, religious organizations and so on. Keep to topic focused on useful information (”How to…” rather than self-promotion.

Volunteer. Yes! Network with other wedding vendors, such as caterers, videographers and DJs. It’s entirely possible that they may be asked for a referral for a photographer. Offer them prints or files for their own marketing purposes whenever you work with them at an event.

Overall, you do need an understanding of where you are in the market, who your audience is and what image (brand) you want to project. Oh, keep track of where your leads come from. Stay with what works, abandon what doesn’t. You only have so many hours in the day.

]]> By: Allison http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-56391 Allison Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:36:22 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-56391 Great tips, Christina! Thanks so much! Great tips, Christina!

Thanks so much!

]]> By: Lyndon http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-53579 Lyndon Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:40:37 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-53579 I agree that a blog is agreat way for photagraphers to express their creativity. This is a great way to update clients relevant info. Great tips! I agree that a blog is agreat way for photagraphers to express their creativity. This is a great way to update clients relevant info. Great tips!

]]> By: Simon http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-48234 Simon Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:58:25 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-48234 Re facebook: last time I looked, it actually said more like "we can do anything we like with your stuff for the purpose of providing the service". They kinda have to have that right... But each to their own level of mistrust, and if you're not comfortable, of course, you must stay clear. Good to think about these things. And to the original post, good stuff, thanks :) Re facebook: last time I looked, it actually said more like “we can do anything we like with your stuff for the purpose of providing the service”. They kinda have to have that right… But each to their own level of mistrust, and if you’re not comfortable, of course, you must stay clear. Good to think about these things.

And to the original post, good stuff, thanks :)

]]> By: Tom Sparks http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-48142 Tom Sparks Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:07:20 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-48142 Thanks for a great, thoughtful article. Much of this stuff is common sense, but sometimes one doesn't put it all together. Tom Thanks for a great, thoughtful article. Much of this stuff is common sense, but sometimes one doesn’t put it all together.

Tom

]]> By: Karen http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-47611 Karen Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:27:15 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-47611 Great list apart from number 4. Facebook. Take a look at the terms and conditions of social networking sites. They can be very dubious on what rights you have to any work you publish there. There was a point were Facebook basically said, "If its on our site, we can do what we like with it." Now while there has been a certain amount of retraction, I personally still wouldn't trust it one little bit. Just something to be aware of. Great list apart from number 4. Facebook. Take a look at the terms and conditions of social networking sites. They can be very dubious on what rights you have to any work you publish there.

There was a point were Facebook basically said, “If its on our site, we can do what we like with it.” Now while there has been a certain amount of retraction, I personally still wouldn’t trust it one little bit.

Just something to be aware of.

]]> By: frank t http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-47417 frank t Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:42:11 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-47417 What a timely article! I have found working with the local community folks to not only generate more clients, but to be a very rewarding time and experience. What a timely article! I have found working with the local community folks to not only generate more clients, but to be a very rewarding time and experience.

]]> By: Emily Hancock http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-47412 Emily Hancock Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:50:29 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-47412 Hi, this is a great list. great ideas have been considering making a promotional video for some time! Thanks Emily @ emilyhancockphotography Hi, this is a great list.

great ideas have been considering making a promotional video for some time!

Thanks

Emily @ emilyhancockphotography

]]> By: new media photographer http://digital-photography-school.com/6-direct-marketing-tips-for-wedding-photographers/comment-page-1#comment-47401 new media photographer Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:30:19 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5132#comment-47401 Excellent list. “It’s not what you know, but who knows you.” - is right on target. The more you can get your style of images in front of prospects eyes the better. I've also linked a list of 189 business ideas for photographers http://is.gd/rFp5 Also agreed: Seth Godin is always a great resource. Rosh @newmediaphoto Excellent list. “It’s not what you know, but who knows you.” – is right on target.

The more you can get your style of images in front of prospects eyes the better. I’ve also linked a list of 189 business ideas for photographers http://is.gd/rFp5

Also agreed: Seth Godin is always a great resource.

Rosh
@newmediaphoto

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