Ideas for marketing....suggestions

[Clint_Smith]

Some of you know that I have been looking for a higher paying day job. Unfortunately I have yet to land that new job.

But a situtation arose last week in which my wife and her employer parted ways. At first I was totally concerned about our cash flow. We have been limping along with our photography business mainly through word of mouth, because of a lack of time actually to work photography because of us working our day jobs instead.

Now fortunately our photography business was profitable last year even though we didn't really work at it all that hard. But with her now at home I am looking for ways for her to work for US rather than working to pay a baby sitter.

If you guys have any ideas about how to get her to really market to new clients I am all ears. I have calling many of our previous clients trying to drum up new business, but nothing so far.

I know that a well placed ad will work wonders for a business, hell I shoot commercials for a living. But as of right now, my wife has no idea how to shoot so booking during the week is out of the question. And I am concerned that if I do advertise I dont want to turn too much business away.....so suggestions on marketing for weekend shoots will be great. Now if I can get her trained up while she is at home over the next couple of months we may consider making this even more of her full time job than it is now.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

What about getting her up to speed on post processing? That would allow her to work at your home and if something comes up she can shut down for however long that she has to. This way your time can be spent shooting.

I guess the one direction is "weddings" but for some people that is a dirty word.

[Clint_Smith]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

What about getting her up to speed on post processing? That would allow her to work at your home and if something comes up she can shut down for however long that she has to. This way your time can be spent shooting.

I guess the one direction is "weddings" but for some people that is a dirty word.

I will be changing my wedding policy....but I am trying to decide if I wanna be a full blown wedding guy or a give me the cash and get prints guy. the full blown way will be more money, but also more work.

The problem with weddings in my market is nobody wants to pay for what I consider good coverage. and most are happy with Guy With a Camera. But I am gonna Test the water.

I am redoing my office this weekend so I can get better organized and get her up to speed on at least processing my RAW files. But getting her to do retouch may be asking a little much. One of the reasons we are looking at her remaining unemployed by a traditional employer is to avoid the cost of daycare for our daughter. she is 2 and a hald full. But in August she will be 3 and will be enrolled in some sort of preschool.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by Clint_Smith

Some of you know that I have been looking for a higher paying day job. Unfortunately I have yet to land that new job.

But a situtation arose last week in which my wife and her employer parted ways. At first I was totally concerned about our cash flow. We have been limping along with our photography business mainly through word of mouth, because of a lack of time actually to work photography because of us working our day jobs instead.

Now fortunately our photography business was profitable last year even though we didn't really work at it all that hard. But with her now at home I am looking for ways for her to work for US rather than working to pay a baby sitter.

If you guys have any ideas about how to get her to really market to new clients I am all ears. I have calling many of our previous clients trying to drum up new business, but nothing so far.

I know that a well placed ad will work wonders for a business, hell I shoot commercials for a living. But as of right now, my wife has no idea how to shoot so booking during the week is out of the question. And I am concerned that if I do advertise I dont want to turn too much business away.....so suggestions on marketing for weekend shoots will be great. Now if I can get her trained up while she is at home over the next couple of months we may consider making this even more of her full time job than it is now.

Funny you ask.

Today my wife and I drove over to Fast Signs near our house. We met with the husband & wife (Fred & Betsy) who own & run the store. At first I was just gonna purchase a few window stickers to place on our Tahoe & Accord. The original plan was just to print my business name & website on the stickers in plain white text. Then he showed us Ready-To-Apply Lettering. BUT WAIT....not only can he print ANY custom designs, Fred and his team can also print your photos on to this vinyl material in very high detail.

He showed us their company van which has this Ready-To-Apply Lettering. I looks so sweet. The graphics will cover the entire back windows of our Tahoe. How will I see out of the back windows you ask?!?!?!?!?!? I'm glad you asked! The vinyl has tiny little holes all over so you're able to see thru it from the inside of the vehicle.

The cost will be $160. That includes material, design, and install! My wife and I believed this was the best way for us to advertise in our area. Michelle (my wife) is a stay at home mom, but during the day she is out and about running all over nw houston running errands. We're excited to see how much more business this will attract.

[haraki74]

Clint,

Can she take care of your accounting, electronic order entry with your lab? Perform the administrative duties from the house like calling customers back who have questions, setting appointments etc?

As far as marketing goes, you need to ask yourself this first question. What kind of photographer do you want to be? Portrait, wedding, sports, schools, newspaper, special events? Each would require a different approach to marketing yourself.

Harry

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by haraki74

Portrait, wedding, sports, schools, newspaper, special events? Each would require a different approach to marketing yourself.Harry

Do you mind explaining how that is?

[Clint_Smith]

Originally Posted by haraki74

Clint,

Can she take care of your accounting, electronic order entry with your lab? Perform the administrative duties from the house like calling customers back who have questions, setting appointments etc?

As far as marketing goes, you need to ask yourself this first question. What kind of photographer do you want to be? Portrait, wedding, sports, schools, newspaper, special events? Each would require a different approach to marketing yourself.

Harry

While I have never considered myself a Wedding photog, I have done some and all of those clients were extremely happy. But the way it looks I am goning to have to really market ourselfs as a wedding team and also try to maintain the seniors that have been our base for the past couple of years.

[haraki74]

Sonny,

Think about how each potential customer will want to find someone to use for photography. A new bride won't look in the same places for a photographer that a newspaper would for a sports photographer. If you are shooting mainly sports, then marketing yourself to the "bride" market would be a waste of your time and money. The key here is to "niche" market yourself to the potential customers you want to attract. It certainly is not a easy task, but you have to sit down and think about what kind of photography you want to do.

Harry