Okay, so I'm a pro photographer (mainly newborns) and have been in business for the last 5 (almost 6 years). I typically shoot 6-8 times per month, but as of this month, both of my kids are in school so I would like to ramp up my business (10-12 shoots per month). Thus far, I've only relied on referrals from current clients and google (I'm ranked 3rd for my keywords) to acquire new customers. I'm going to do a big pr push and am in the process of having some onesies screen printed that I'm going to package with a promotional card good for free birth announcements with their newborn session. I've made contact with two large OB practices and they are going to hand out my packages to newly pregnant patients. I'm also going to contact a prenatal yoga studio and ask if I can pass out to their clients. My clients orders average $768 per order, so I definitely need to target a certain clientele. Can you think of any other places to find potential clients?
hospitals/birthing centers stationery shops and printing stores kids' clothing boutiques and consignment stores Babies R' Us and Buy Buy Baby churches, temples daycare centers schools supermarkets (my local Shop Rite has a community bulletin board where you can hang flyers) a gym that offers daycare and/or classes for children
Post by delawarejen on Sept 16, 2014 15:02:55 GMT -5
Are there any specialty baby stores in your area - high-end baby boutiques, cloth diaper stores, etc? Also - do you know any wedding photographers who don't do baby photography and who might be willing to refer their former brides and grooms to you?
Post by spankswife on Sept 16, 2014 15:12:51 GMT -5
Do you have a Facebook, and offer give-aways (free prints etc) or holiday mini sessions? I have found most of my photogs through FB/friends by liking a friend's pics.
Do you have a Facebook, and offer give-aways (free prints etc) or holiday mini sessions? I have found most of my photogs through FB/friends by liking a friend's pics.
This is a good thought. Or do a mailer/promo to repeat clients who tend to place big orders offering something for free (a canvas, or a photobook, or whatever is a popular item for you) with the referral of a friend who books a newborn session.
Oh I do a bunch of children/families also. About 40% of my newborn clients do a newborn/6 month/one year package. I'd just like to concentrate on increasing newborns right now.
My OB office has big prints from local photographers displayed in the exam and waiting rooms. Next to the pictures are a pocket filled with business cards of the photog. If you can do that, I think it'd help because it catches attention more than a packet handout. You could probably extend the idea to other businesses. (consignment stores? baby boutiques? daycares?)
Post by oliviapope on Sept 16, 2014 17:26:55 GMT -5
Maternal fetal medicine/pediatricians (to give to new moms who are interviewing).
Also, high end salons that offer multiple services, or even aesthetic offices (I have found that these clients pay good money to someone who makes them look good in photos).
Do you have a local college or university with marketing majors? See if you can hire one of those students--even as an unpaid intern--to increase your marketing capabilities.
Our newborn photographer offered us a small discount if we linked to our "teaser" photos from her business's blog on FB and tagged her business's FB page. I guess this helps to get her name out there.
Post by lindyanne on Sept 16, 2014 19:56:00 GMT -5
I know it's not actually a place but two ideas -
Have a contest and give away a small gc. Make liking your page a condition of voting. More people will like your page and you'll come up in their feed.
Run a few mini sessions. Our photog does this a lot and I know she has gotten a few people who use her for regular sessions out of doing them.