Getting jobs

[promans]

I am interested in getting some side work. No interest in being a full time photographer... call it a way to help finance new gear. =)

I've done a couple weddings, rather not do them again if possible...
Looking for more portraits or sports stuff.

Used to have a full photography site, but took it down as I wasn't getting business enough to justify it. (password protected review-galleries, etc)

How do others get work on the side?

Phil

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by promans

I am interested in getting some side work. No interest in being a full time photographer... call it a way to help finance new gear. =)

I've done a couple weddings, rather not do them again if possible...
Looking for more portraits or sports stuff.

Used to have a full photography site, but took it down as I wasn't getting business enough to justify it. (password protected review-galleries, etc)

How do others get work on the side?

Phil

Why did you take down your site? With some careful search engine optimization, your site will be more easily found by potential clients. No site = no quick and easy way to find you. You need to have a website with, at the very least, examples of your absolute best work, an explanation of what you specialize in, and a way to contact you. Most of my new clients find me through various search engines.

Also - business cards - hand out to friends and ask them to hand them out. Leave them in public places. I specialize in kids and families and when I'm out and about, if I see a cute kid, I tell the parent I'm a photographer and hand them my card. There are plenty of places to get business cards very inexpensively, too - no need to spend a fortune on them.

I've also gotten clients simply through word of mouth.

Keep in mind, I don't do this full-time, either. I only shoot on weekends and I'm not making enough to pay the mortgage with it, but definitely enough to buy new equipment and pay a few household bills. Once both of my kids are in school full-time (my youngest is only 4 and in preschool), I do plan on advertising and marketing myself more in order to go more towards full time.

That's my two cents; I'm sure some of the gurus here will further elaborate! Hope this helped, anyway.

[nokiN]

Originally Posted by promans

I am interested in getting some side work. No interest in being a full time photographer... call it a way to help finance new gear. =)

I've done a couple weddings, rather not do them again if possible...
Looking for more portraits or sports stuff.

Used to have a full photography site, but took it down as I wasn't getting business enough to justify it. (password protected review-galleries, etc)

How do others get work on the side?

Phil

It won't come and knock on your door.

You have to be proactive and get out there, with camera in hand, and find it.

You have to network and talk to people.

Most photographers ultimately get hired because of their personality, not their photography.

[promans]

Funny enough, I went to a Halloween party Friday night for kids. I did a small setup, snapped some of my kid and wife in their outfits, got the hosts kids... and other people asked if they could get their kids done. I did a few, but quickly broke it down due to space, time, attention, etc.

So far I have gotten a couple inquires just from that for either kid portraits or family shots.

Totally unintended, but I will take it.

[Alex Bond-Smith]

I am lucky in that my niece and her fiance are website designers and gave me a free site.

Niece being a graphic designer also made me a poster which I have put up in local schools etc.I have also emailed the poster to my whole address book and asked all recipients to pass it on, (Sounds like spam, I know!)

However, where I live there is a website (called Gumtree) where you can advertise your services(or more or less anything else) for free and this is where I have picked up most of my portrait shoots. Do you not also have something like this?