Advertising?

[MelanieIvy]

When I finish my website and portfolio shots, I'm trying to decide where I should advertise. There's so many little city-wide magazines & little newspapers. Has anyone had any luck with these? Right now I'm just looking at advertising portrait photography. Eventually I might look into advertising for wedding photography.

[toverman]

If you are specializing in a specific type of portraits, I'd target advertising directly to that market. But word of mouth advertising is best, maybe partnering with a business or group that serves the same clients you hope to serve.

[janikphoto]

what type of portraits? senior, family, corporate head shots?

[MelanieIvy]

I'm just doing family/baby/children/maternity portraits right now.

[janikphoto]

I know a few people who do this kind of work. My advice:

Word of mouth goes a LOOOONG way. Hit up friends who have children in a mothers day out program, daycare, church circle, book club, etc. It seems like women make the decision on these types of photos. It will spread like wildfire through a social circle that you do a great job for a fair price.

When I used to book my own weddings, I would do someone's wedding, then their friend, then their sister, then their cousin, etc... It works the same way for maternity shots. Social circles seem to do things close together. You do one great maternity shoot, then her friend gets pregnant and calls you (assuming you pushed the fact that you'd appreciate some word of mouth advertising from your client). Same thing with kid shoots or family shoots, but keep looking for new social circles to hit up. You have to keep the marketing machine going!

[toverman]

Also look at partering with children's clothing boutiques (the nice ones, not resale shops).