There are many marketing strategies we covered in the last episodes but
there are two questions you need to answer to yourself. 1. Why you are not
making money from your photography clients? And number 2. Who is your ideal
photography client? It is money Monday marketing for photographers
For the new faces here, my name is Zdenka Darula. I work as a photographer for many
many many years. I am a former model and few other things. I make a tutorials and
fun vlogs and also creative photo challenges, so you might want to hit the
subscribe button.
There is one common mistake photographers make and that is that
they're trying to sell themselves to everyone and even worse they are trying
to sell themselves in all areas of photography... kind of deal I can do
everything that type of thing. The worst scenario is when you
start thinking that everybody is your customer. For example, when you go
shopping to a shopping mall, you will go to certain stores while you will avoid
others.
Well there are a few problems with that. If you try to shoot everything, you're
gonna know a little bit of everything but you're not gonna be the greatest in
a certain style of photography. You're not gonna grow artistically that fast
and you're not gonna enjoy photography as much. Plus you might be dealing with
some kinds you are not gonna enjoy very much, in fact they might actually be
driving your crazy. Before we find out who is your ideal client you will need
to ask yourself few questions very truthfully though. Who are you? How
old are you? How long have you been taking photos? What are your interests
or are your hobbies? How much do you know in photography? What do you like taking
photos of the most?
And I'm going to start with myself here. I've been doing photography for 12 years
I think I know quite a bit technically but I will be always learning and in
fact when it comes to photography we will be always learning because
technology is developing, styles are changing. We need to stay on top of the game.
I enjoy taking photos of models more in a glamor way not so much in the fashion
way because I just don't like those artificial poses. I really don't feel
comfortable taking photos of naked people. I don't mind taking lingerie
shots and swimwear photos in a sexy though and very upscale way. And since I
like the glamor side of it the bling-bling I guess that's why I enjoy
weddings. Also I am very highly romantic person so it makes me happy to see happy
people during the wedding. I don't like taking photos of very very small
children and babies, just doesn't feel very comfortable unless they are my own.
I'd rather take photos of older kids and teenagers and adults. I am a very private
person. I don't like very large crowds. I like to be alone quite a bit. I love
sports I like to do them actively. I don't like
as much watching them on TV. You all know that I do figure skating. When it
comes to places I love to be in the nature. That explains I guess what I like
to be alone and I'm shooting a lot in a nature. I don't like big cities because
it's overcrowded and I simply don't feel comfortable around a lot of strange
people. I am NOT a strong salesperson. I really hate chasing magazines and big
companies I hate asking for big money and that's why I'm probably poor. That
way stock photography is absolutely ideal for me because they sell it for me
and just make a commission I don't have to deal with the whole business side of
it. So me personally I shoot lifestyle and commercial photos for stock
I do glamour photos and modeling portfolios. I do portraits as well and I
so shoot weddings. Out of this little group I have to push for weddings,
glamour and portraits. Weddings is obviously the biggest for me.
You should grab a piece of paper and write down those answers truthfully and
honestly and choose your specific niche. What is niche? It is a job or position
very suitable for someone especially if they like it. It is a speciality. That
specific niche will also depend on your age category. When I was in my 20s I
photographed very different things than I photograph now. So now that we know who
we are, let's find the ideal client. Now you might think is it just waste of time
and it's very silly and all that but let me tell you why you should do it too.
You will end up working with clients you enjoy. You will feel that you connect
with them on a personal level. You will just be much more happier as a
photographer. You will not feel like you have to fight for the money because they
will know your value and that is very important. Most importantly, you will not
have to market blindly. That means, you will not just toss your money all over
the place. Who is your ideal client? Here are questions you should answer. Who are
they? How old are they? What do they for living? How much do they make? What do
they like? What do they dislike and mainly what kind of websites do their
visit? Once you answer all that and you know who your ideal client is, the only
thing you have to do now is just to find them. Communicate with them. Whenever
you're going to write something on a social post or on your website ask
yourself if it is good enough to attract that type of group of people, if it's
gonna inspire them or maybe even just make them laugh. You should use their
language so if they feel like you're actually talking to them and letting
them know how you can help out. Go where they go. What social media platforms are
they on? What other vendors outside of photography do they like? Maybe you
should consider collaborating with them. Lastly clean up
your website and your portfolio. Just post whatever you think that particular
group of clients would like and that's pretty much it and then all you have to
do is apply all those marketing tips I was giving you in the last ten episodes.
If you've missed those episodes, all those links are in a video description
below. I have been also thinking when it comes to my Youtube channel here what I
enjoy the most and definitely it is stock photography as well and since I've
been getting so many requests from you we will be already covering some stock
topics next Monday so feel free to shoot me all kinds of questions you might have
when it comes to stock I will try to definitely answer them. So if you liked
today's video please give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to all
future videos, just hit that Bell notification, so you know when the next
video is up. If you have any questions like I said about stock or simply want
to say hello please do so in a comment section below. You know I read them all
and I will always respond. Thank you so much and I'll see you next time ... Cau... Ahoj...
oops ... was there a bird on my head? The worst thing scenario is.....
I don't have anything..
look at that. The worst scenario is. When you think that everyone is your ideal
customer..... interest.... interest.... what photography do you enjoy.... what what
photography do you enjoy the most? He's not gonna leave me alone ...okay come
then I don't have anything. Come have a look..... not my microphone........ not on my camera......
crazy bird