Finding & Targeting Your Market...

[celticmama36]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Really? Care to share a name or two? I'm sorry you feel that way. And in a small percentage of the speakers that is true. But I know many of these speakers personally, especially the ones we have teaching at Texas School. A few of them actually get less money teaching for a week than they would normally make in their business. They teach because they love sharing.

And for the few that make most of their money teaching, I can tell you that they paid their dues and began by giving programs to small groups for almost no money until they could prove themselves.

That's the truth! Teachers, no matter the venue or industry, go through heck to get there. Knowing how to do something well and being able to effectively teach it to someone else are two entirely different things. It can be a long, hard road to get from doing the one to doing the other. It takes a lot of determination, and the love of sharing knowledge.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

...generalization much?

It isn't a generalization. I know people it applies to. I didn't say ALL speakers were like that.

Really? Care to share a name or two?

Don - no need to name names. And really, it isn't that important. If a guy is speaking and drawing enough to make bank teaching it, he probably knows his stuff.

And in a small percentage of the speakers that is true.

That's what I said.

And I would love to be in that same position.

But I know many of these speakers personally, especially the ones we have teaching at Texas School.

I'm not talking about Texas school. I believe Howard Eilers is involved with that and he is among my all time favorite people in the industry and one I am proud to have learned from.

A few of them actually get less money teaching for a week than they would normally make in their business. They teach because they love sharing.

Which is why I teach.

And for the few that make most of their money teaching, I can tell you that they paid their dues and began by giving programs to small groups for almost no money until they could prove themselves.

You have to know it to teach it, and to really know photography well enough to teach it, you have to pay your dues - no question.

[ChristopherCoy]

Ok... I have GOT to get SOMETHING printed up. Cards, brochures... something!

I went up to the Sanger Sellabration today, a little town square festival and met with three contacts in my little town. A pet grooming salon who is interested in doing a promotion together for holiday portraits, a pet training business who traines cats/dogs/horses, and a small veterinary clinic. Not to mention all the people I met while taking photos of their dogs. The worst part about it all was that I didn't have anything to give them. Not even a card directing them to my blog! Missed out on a terrible opportunity! The only saving grace was that I was invited to come to all three businesses later on to discuss it!

[celticmama36]

How exciting! I'm sorry that you missed the opportunity to leave marketing materials with them, but you have your foot in the door with the invitations from the groomer, trainer and vet to come talk to them. If you can leave materials with these places, then at least some of the people that you talked to otherwise at the festival will find you again, too.

Please let us know how the follow-ups go. I hope this works out really well for you.

You'll be ready to hit the ground running for the next Sanger Sellabration. :)

[Jaycee]

Hey Chris, Jill Flynn is a fantastic pet photographer and she teaches an online pet photography course for 200.00 for four weeks, which includes a lot of critiques. I'm planning to take the course myself as soon as I have time. Check her out:
http://jillflynn.bigfolioblog.com/

[mmuhlenkamp]

I'd say get an online portfolio, some business cards, and a printed portfolio to show any potential clients face to face and then do your best to sell yourself. (The last bit is the hardest, especially for people like me who are anti-social). Don't get too fussy with design or anything, pick a photo you like and cleanly put your name and contact info for a business card (quite a few cheap places to order these).

You need a few things for people to look at so make sure you got some great pics in your portfolio. Quality over Quantity, you'll be judged by the worst photo so make sure they are all great.

This is all easier said than done of course (which is why I don't get as much freelance work as I would like), but I know my biggest factor working against me is going out and selling myself. Practice a sales pitch in front of friends or the mirror, be confident, and good luck.