New professional could use some advertising help

[3dshark]

Hi everyone, I am new to being a professional photographer and I need to get some business going somehow.

So far I only advertise on craigslist and wedplan.

My simple question is where are the hot-spots to advertise for photography. Free is best lol. But cheap is ok too. I do have some professional flyers I use on craigslist. I live in the Dallas, TX area if that matters.

If you want to see what I have look HERE.

Hope I did that link right hehe.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide.

[klynam]

Welcome to the forum Jeremy.

A few photographers on here will (probably) make some suggestions for your advertising placement. As for cheap or free advertising space: good is seldom cheap, and cheap is seldom good. Really, there are only so many quality advertising options in any market (and none are free.)

Beyond that, many shooters on here are working very hard to make a career (either part or full time) out of photography. If you want to talk techniques and challenges with the craft or equipment - we're all over it. But portrait and wedding photography is especially competitive, so you may not find too many willing to simply give away what they worked long and hard to figure out, just so you can directly compete with no skin in the game.

Beyond that, to be successful, you need to be very good at what you do. Looking at your work online, you've got a good start and some decent collateral, and this forum can definitely help you improve; but right now you're not ready for "professional" prime time competition against the established wedding/portrait/event photographers in a very hotly contested market like DFW.

Yes, you can certainly get there - and this forum can definitely help. You can also offer to assist on weddings and senior portrait shoots for free. The experience will be extremely valuable to you. Network in your local community: churches, wedding chapels, schools, team sports, etc. Get as many people to shoot with you as possible solely for the experience. (I shot for nearly two years before I even charged a dime for a session - just so I could lock in my skills and techniques.)

You may also benefit from a more "real" website (not just a landing page and SmugMug gallery.)

Nothing above is meant as criticism, and we (this forum) look forward to helping you improve seeing more of your work as you do.

[bondarnes]

Well your graphics look really great and your images are also good. Your marketing is too general in my opinion. It should be more targeted to your potential client. Unless you are going for mostly commercial work your target market is female. You have to think like a woman as you design your marketing material. There is no call to action. Nothing to make me go to the phone and call.

Once you have honed your message, your media will be more obvious. For instance, if you are looking for weddings, then your message must reach potential brides. Jewelry Stores, Bridal Shops, Florists, Caterers, Bridal Shows, Reception Venues.

And just a personal note. I don't think I would want to hire a "Shark" to photograph for me. You probably put a lot of thought into that name, but it doesn't do it for me.

[3dshark]

Thank you Don, I like your direction and your advice seems sound.

I know my 3dshark name is a little silly for some. I have just always been known by shark and my clients are mostly referrals from friends and other clients. For some reason this really seems to work well for me. I don't know why lol. I thought it was silly too.

Dear Kevin,

I am sorry you fell this way about my little operation. I am a paid professional and I will do my best to improve my means.

But as far as your post is concerned I am a little put off by the way it was worded. The statement "Nothing above is meant as criticism" seems to be a contradiction as it all seems to be criticism. I thank you for your intention to help if that is how it was meant.
I will try to take whatever sound advice I can from it.

[kimberley]

Jeremy,

I will have to agree with BOTH Don and Kevin....

Advertising is tricky...for the first 3yrs of my business I used WOM ( word of mouth ) it is basicly free advertising, then just recently as my marketing budget has allowed I have been sending mailers, snail mail...I will see if it is worth the money but really I have never paid for any advertising, no magazine, no prints ad etc, just my clients spreading the word...

I will agree if you are serious about your business then you need to "look" serious, if I looked at your "site" as a paying client I wouldnt go past the first page, its hard to navigate and not client friendly and in my opinion doesnt scream, professional, book me...

The Dallas market is a HOT market and very competive and if you want to compete and compete with the big boys then you need to focus less on paid marketing ( cheapo depo) and focus on your first impression, your work and your client, clients will always be your very best advertisers hands down...

and FYI, TPF is a great place to learn and sometimes learning can be hard to swallow take the advice for what it is, advice, sometimes advice isnt easy but constructive cristism is always helpful :)

anyone can call themselves a Professional Photographer but you must walk the walk and talk the talk :)

Good luck and welcome and I look forward to seeing more of you around the forum ;)

[3dshark]

Thanks everyone,

I think I may have been misunderstood in my intentions a little. Thats my fault.

I am not after any major market or new hot things. I just love to take pictures and have decided to turn it into my career this year.

My website is silly and I'm just waiting for my graphics artist to get some time to work on it. Give it a day or so and check it out again. I would love to hear feedback on it.

I like meeting new friendly people, I have no desire to chase money or clients around trying to get another dollar. I guess I'm just too much of a "nice guy" for most people lol. I just cant be mean like that.

I think I will just stick with what I have for adverts it gets me what I need. A few updates are in order after reading all of your advice.

Thanks again everyone :)

O by the way. if you guys ever have a computer question drop me an email I would be happy to help. I was a network admin for many years.

[snydersnapshots]

Jeremy,

I have to agree with Kimberley with regard to your website. If I was the father of a bride and about to drop several hundred bucks on wedding photos, I'd probably try to steer the my wife and daughter toward another photographer's site (knowing that, as FOB, I have no real decision-making authority when it comes to the wedding ). Mind you, that's not a reflection on your photographic ability, but it's the perception and first impression that counts.

Knowing you're on a budget, I would suggest checking out Photoreflect.com as a possible host for your site. While they don't have the flash player and music many wedding photographers' sites have, they do provide a good, basic, professional-looking site with no monthly fee. They handle credit-card transactions and take a percentage there. You can have photos processed by labs that contract with Photoreflect, or you can take the orders and do the processing yourself or at a lab of your choice. You set the prices and packages.

I primarily do action shots of my son's sports teams and sell the photos to the other team parents, so I know we're talking apples and oranges here with respect to the types of packages and photography we're doing, but I've been pleased with what they have to offer. Just for the record, I don't get a finders fee or any kickbacks from Photoreflect--I'm suggesting them because I think they would give you a more professional-looking yet cost effective website until you can afford to go with the full-fledged flash website with all the horns and bells and whistles. If you have any questions about them, feel free to PM me.

[janikphoto]

A few compliments first:

Your images look good enough. Most people in your position "think" they can shoot, but they can't. Your images look good enough for someone to pay for them. They will get better as your experience grows, but you are definitely ahead of the curve, compared to many people who want to be a pro shooter.

Also, your advertisement looks clean enough and I didn't spot any spelling errors or unprofessional slang. Again, many people put stuff like LOL or ROFL on their business websites and communication. You should NEVER appear to be less than professional, if you want to earn and keep a client's trust!

Now for the bad news:

Free marketing requires a LOT of effort, which is why many people prefer to just pay for their marketing. One thing I've done is joined different trade groups and/or offered my services for free to area charities. When I'm at these events, I network the heck out of everyone I see. It works, but it can take 6 months to a year of constant networking before you see a job come in. Eventually, it will snowball and everyone at these events will know you, trust you and refer you to clients needing photos. But, this is after spending hours at different events every week or two for months and months!

Oh, and are you looking for portraits and weddings? I don't remember you stating what kind of photography you are trying to do. The industry is like the medical field... you wouldn't hire a brain surgeon to do open-heart surgery. A wedding photographer won't do much catalog or newspaper work. You pick something to focus on, and run with it!

[3dshark]

Yes I am currently only doing events, portraits and weddings. They will be my focus as far as I am concerned.

you seem to have wonderful ideas on this subject and I do appreciate them. sorry for the long response having router trouble.

Yeah I have seen a lot of "pros" if you ask them what f/stop or shutter speed they used they say "huh?".

I did study my hardware and functions and for my shots it just boils down to experience and practice thank you for noticing my work effort.

If anyone has suggestions for my site now would be a great time as my artist is just about to do the updates. I hate paying him for hours I don't use lol.

[KD5NRH]

Originally Posted by 3dshark

My simple question is where are the hot-spots to advertise for photography. Free is best lol. But cheap is ok too.

Forget the flyers. Get a t-shirt made with your website prominently displayed front and back, then ride around on the bus beating the crap out of mouthy gangsta punks until you start getting some serious Youtube advertising

[3dshark]

Originally Posted by KD5NRH

Forget the flyers. Get a t-shirt made with your website prominently displayed front and back, then ride around on the bus beating the crap out of mouthy gangsta punks until you start getting some serious Youtube advertising

LMAO that would probably work too.

In reality though I do need to get some shirts printed. I have noticed in my travels the most of my friends in companies that people do not know the logo for ask what is blank and what do you do.

It's a great opener to give them a card or offer website information if you have a good one. not like mine hehe.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by KD5NRH

Forget the flyers. Get a t-shirt made with your website prominently displayed front and back, then ride around on the bus beating the crap out of mouthy gangsta punks until you start getting some serious Youtube advertising

Very modern idea. I'm all over it. See 'ya in jail...

[klynam]

Originally Posted by 3dshark

Thank you Don, I like your direction and your advice seems sound.

I know my 3dshark name is a little silly for some. I have just always been known by shark and my clients are mostly referrals from friends and other clients. For some reason this really seems to work well for me. I don't know why lol. I thought it was silly too.

Dear Kevin,

I am sorry you fell this way about my little operation. I am a paid professional and I will do my best to improve my means.

But as far as your post is concerned I am a little put off by the way it was worded. The statement "Nothing above is meant as criticism" seems to be a contradiction as it all seems to be criticism. I thank you for your intention to help if that is how it was meant.
I will try to take whatever sound advice I can from it.

My intent was solely to help, but I cannot control your perception. Good luck with your efforts.

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by 3dshark

II just love to take pictures and have decided to turn it into my career this year.

Originally Posted by 3dshark

I have no desire to chase money or clients around trying to get another dollar.

If you DONT chase money, or clients... how are you going to have a career?

[texascitydave]

Good luck on your upstart career.

Wow, you got some compliments on your photography from a couple of great folks. Comments like "ahead of the curve", etc. coming from them would make a pile of folks here feel good. And one of those would be me.

From what I've read, you have gotten a lot of suggestions in a somewhat short time to key upon. Read between the lines on a few if necessary. Looks like everyone wants you to succeed.

I personally can't help you much except give you moral support. I've done my career thing. I retired after 35 years of oil refining and do digital photography for fun not profit. Good thing, I'd probably starve in short order. But my digital doodling makes me feel good. At my age, feeling good feels good. Cheers. TCDave