Photography Marketing Tip

A Photography Marketing Tip For Getting Customers

This page outlines a successful, long-term, practically no-cost method for getting customers to sell your photos and to increase the public's awareness of you and your work.

There is a strategy to taking pictures of people taking pictures of people.

On days that I am out shooting for fun, I see so many people taking pictures. It seems that everybody has a camera, these days. When they don’t have cameras, they take pictures with their cell phones (thanks to the advancement of technology).

Photography Marketing Tip - Taking Pictures of People Taking Pictures of People

Here it is: I usually do my ‘fun’ shooting in populated places. Where there are lots of people, there are lots of people taking pictures of each other. When I see someone taking a picture of someone that they’re with, I ask them if I could help them out by using their camera to take a picture of them and the people/person that they’re taking a picture of. Often they’re posing in front of some monument, icon, landmark, etc. Without someone like me to help out, everyone won’t be in the same picture together. Most answer yes when I offer and appreciate my gesture.

People taking pictures of their companions are people that need someone to take photos.

I take the photo. No matter what type of camera that they have, I make it a point to frame, compose and balance the shots. As a rule, the shots that I take are better than the ones that they take. Most of the time, they note and make comment about the quality of the shot. Sometimes, they ask me what I did to get such a good shot. Actually, the shot is usually better than theirs because I specifically frame and compose the shots.

I give brief tips to them on framing and composing so that they can take the same type shots. Or, they may ask me about my camera – I’m usually using my Canon 20D. Most almost always assume that I’m a professional photographer. And, if I am helpful to them, they seem honored that they’re receiving assistance and tips from a ‘professional photographer.’ I never tell them that I’m available for photography work. If they ask, I simply let them know that I do get paid for my work, but, I’m not fishing for more business. (I am, however, ‘building relationships’ to increase people’s awareness of me, as a quality photographer.) I let them know that I’m just shooting for fun and to keep practicing my photography skills.

Here's a picture of people taking pictures of people taking pictures of people.

By the time the brief conversation is over, they have their picture taken and, if they ask, they get a business card from me (I prefer to give the magnetized business cards out because people have a tendency to keep those longer. Magnetized business cards is one of the many tactics that I regularly provide to subscribers to my photography marketing online newsletter, the “Best Amateur Photography Tips Digest” ezine.)

This particular strategy is a long-term tactic. And, it is a hit and miss method. In my case, for example, many of the people that I assist take photos are visiting from somewhere else in the world. So, chances are, they won’t ever call me for my photography services. Local people, however, call me within six months to one year later, when, and if, they call. (My unofficial 18 month test demonstrated that of 10 that called me, 4 became customers.)

Actually, I accidentally discovered this photography marketing method. And I fine tuned it and tracked different variations for two years. The strategy explained above works best. Adjust it to fit your style. Don’t over-complicate it. Relax. Have fun. Be helpful. Don’t purposely try to impress by talking a lot. Try to let your photos speak for you, so to speak. Don’t aggressively ask for business. Be helpful.

Other than the cost of business cards, there really aren’t any costs to apply this method.

Invest in yourself to make sure that you learn digital photography. You will see a ten-fold return when you know digital photography and you know that you know it!

Remember, photography marketing is needed because photos just don't sell themselves.

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