by Gavin Seim — With winter coming on, as well as an economic downturn (at least in the USA), you may find yourself looking at the numbers in horror. OK maybe I’m going too far, but I have seen people chatting about grabbing new work their schedule. I am blessed, and while I’m booking weddings well into next year, I still need more on my calender.
I’m going to keep this short and list six tips to help bring in bookings. I also found a nice article by Sean Clayton about this very thing.
I’m not the chief authority however. What works can vary greatly by your situation. What are you doing in your market to drum up photography business? Share your tips. There’s rarely a magic bullet, but we know business is hard work. Share your ideas in the comments.
- 1. Send a newsletter:
I collect email addresses of clients, and people who sign up at weddings and events. Then I send an occasional newsletter. I’m about to send my fall edition to over 800 emails as a way to get past and future clients thinking about my work. If you want to see mine, you can sign up on my photo site. Sending a newsletter is a great way to put your business in front of many eye’s for a low cost. It does take time to build your list, but it’s worth it. Just don’t email too often, and don’t buy lists of emails or you’ll be marked a spammer for sure.
- 2. Send Images to Venue’s:
Sending out prints with your logo or name on them is a great way to make venues remember you. It’s also a great way to use that extra time during the slow season. This year I plan to send a simple venue packet with a letter, some free images taken at their venue, and plenty of business cards.They’ll appreciate the free images, and you may well get some free advertising, and that’s the best kind.
Continue reading ‘Freaking Out In Slow Season? Build Your Photography Business:’
I get email from photographers asking me to look at their photography, and give my thoughts. In ten seconds I can usually tell them how to improve it. Other pro’s can see things in my photo’s as well. There’s nearly always something we can improve, no matter the experienced we have.
Many rules are universal to any photographer, of any style, any experience level. Of course rules are made to be broken, but we all need inspiration and reminders. These are things that I try to remember in my own work, and I’ve spend the past week compiling them. Share yours in the comments, then post some of your work in the forums and get some personal feedback. OK let’s go…
- Omit needless objects:
- Simplicity is at the heart of great images:
- Bold colors make bold photographs:
- If a background is too cluttered, blur it:
- If a background still doesn’t add to a scene dump it:
- Light; Where’s it coming from? how can you leverage it?:
- Don’t center everything. Use the rule of thirds. It works:
- Eye’s? Watch them close. They control emotion:
- Blur used right can be magical:
- Keep it vivid. Watch your shutter speed, and movement:
- Crop out needless space:
- Harsh sunlight is usually bad:
- Shadows are dramatic. Use them:
- Clouds are your friend, they give shade & put you in control:
- Go with your gut. Have an idea? Then try it:
- If the weather is foul, it doesn’t mean pictures will be:
Images & Content By Gavin Seim
<<Click To Listen - PPS #46 with Kevin Kubota.
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Todays Panel…
Kevin Kubota ~ Kubota Image Tools, Kubota Photo, Kubota Blog
Gavin Seim ~ Seim Photography - Seim Effects & LR Presets
Todays Show…
A big thanks to Kevin for coming on the show. We start out talking about Kevin’s photo tools and how he got started, and then move in techniques, and photography tips. Kevin gives us some thoughts for lighting, marketing, and branding and plenty of other good nuggets inlucding using your personality to interact with your customers.
Comment here, or join the PPS #47 Forum Discussion. You can find out more about Kevin’s workshops by going to his website (above)
A few links to things mention on the show.
Podcast subscription feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/prophotoshow
Click Button To Listen, Pro Photo Show #43 Getting the Action
To download mp3 podcast, right click above link, and “Save As”
Rate us in itunes, or Vote on Podcast Alley
Show Notes…
PPS #43 Forum Discussion. Post your action pics here too!
this discussion starts at time index 30:31
Cnets Aperture Poll caused a stir, Polaroid dies, the HDR blog Reviewed Mircosoft HD Photo format & Lightroom 1.4 is available
Kodak 35mm SLR rumors (correction, these are film cameras not digital) Nikon trumps Canon in ISO & Canon 5D MK II is rumored.
Gavin Seim is on Facebook and Twitter, and Power Workflow Lightroom Presets are now RAW & JPEG compatible.
Reviewed… Lensbabies review at time index 20:02 I think it’s not for everything, but cool. We also talked about the Canon Pro 9000
Pick of the week was Braketeer, an easy HDR photo merging software for Mac.
Images by Gavin Seim
Podcast subscription feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/prophotoshow
Click Button To Listen, PPS #40 Bridal Show Planning, Tips, and Photography Marketing Ideas
To download mp3 podcast, right click above link, and “Save As”
Podcast subscription feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/prophotoshow
Todays Hosts…
Gavin Seim ~ Seim Photography - Seim Effects
Dennis Zerawis ~ DZ Pics Photography
Show Notes and links…
Today we discuss bridal and trade shows, and ideas for setting up a great booth including marketing materials, photo presentation and the works. Even if you don’t shoot wedding you’ll get some good tips for doing shows.
DXO is getting bad press about using invasive DRM on Optics Pro 5. Gavin has launched his Lightroom Presets Power Workflow Collection.
The The HDRI Handbook
is available available and is full of tips on shooting HDR photography
We also talked about getting inexpensive easels to display your work on, and Gavin like the Economy Folding Easel from Dick Blick Art Supply. It’s a touch over the ten bucks Gavin originally though, but still a great deal.
Dennis’s pick of the week was Professional marketing and selling techniques for wedding photographers.
Gavin’s pick was Collages press printed books for proofing and inexpensive albums.
Lastly here a few few photo’s of a few of my past bridal show setups.
Continue reading ‘PPS #40 Bridal Show Planning, Tips, and Photography Marketing Ideas’
: Nick Brandt
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