Hi guys!!
Welcome back to my channel.
I'm Joy - founder of Joy Michelle Photography- a fine art wedding and lifestyle photography
company here on the East Coast.
And today I'm really excited because I'm going to be sharing with you guys some of my tips
for finding your very first wedding photography clients.
In your first year of business.
When I was first starting out, uh- let me tell you...I didn't have a lot of gear.
I didn't have any experience, and I had no idea what I was doing- especially on the business
side of things.
My first paid photo session...I actually used a borrowed lens, you guys.
like I didn't even have a prime lens that I owned.
I only had the kit lens that came with my camera.
So I was taking a film photography course at the time, and my professor let me borrow
the lens that I wanted for this session.
And I used a borrowed lens for my first session.
I had no idea what I was doing, but I went from that (borrowed gear) to being a full
time Fine Art wedding photographer.
So I want to give you guys a little insight into what I did to get here and some things
that didn't work as well.
So let's dive in!
The first tip that I have for you guys is to simply start putting it out there!
And namely, putting it out there before you are ready.
Because I can't tell you how many times I talk to photographers and they say "Well,
I'm working on my website" or "I'm, not quite there yet..."
"I'm still working on things" GUYS, done is better than perfect.
So please - start putting your work out there.
Start sharing it.
and start talking about yourself like a photographer.
My first bride- my actual first booked wedding was a friend of mine from college who was
seeing my work on Facebook.
and I was sharing and I thought nobody was seeing what I was sharing.
and she ended up booking me because I was putting it out there and no body was liking
my posts, nobody was commenting, it was just crickets on the internet.
But it worked! and it's why she knew that I was doing what I was doing.
So my first tip for you is- GO- put it out there and start talking about yourself like
a photographer.
The second thing I want to share with you is the value of social media.
I mean, 10-20 years ago, we didn't have any of the social media platforms that we know
today.
So we have a huge leg up on what used to be a slow climb for a lot of businesses.
So there are an amazing amount of platforms out there and I know it can be overwhelming....so
I'm going to summarize this into two points.
Point number 1, Choose your favorite 3 platforms, or even 2 , and stick to what you know.
Stick to what you're strengths are honestly.
Because if you're better and great at 1 platform, it's better than just being mediocre at everything.
The second tip I have for you guys for social media is to know your WHAT and your WHY before
you even start.
Know what you're offering and your story and why you're offering it and who you hope to
connect with BEFORE you start sharing.
Because you may end up doing what I did, Just copying what a lot of other people were doing
when I was first starting out, because I had no idea what I was about in those first few
months, and honestly I was spinning my wheels.
I was wasting my time.
So the sooner you can find out your story and your why and who you are, the sooner thats
going to shape what content you put out there.
I've got 2 words for you - Styled shoots!
When I photographed my first styled shoot, I gained 3 amazing things in my business.
I created valuable connections and friends within my industry, I grew my portfolio, and
I got published.
These things are pillars within my business.
This is networking, marketing, and advertising.
And also, it's all free!
So I hope between these three reasons alone, you understand the value in styled shoots.
The fourth tip that I have for you today is to second shoot.
Now, if you're interested in photographing weddings and being a wedding photographer,
in any capacity, even if you have experience in other areas of photography...I still strong
recommend second shooting.
The next tip I have for you guys is to collect reviews ASAP.
Brides love reviews.
Which makes sense.
Because they want to make sure they're getting the best possible product, and also research
shows that a client, or prospective client, is 63% more likely to buy from a website where
they can read reviews.
Which is phenomenal!
so, make reviews a top priority as soon as you possibly can.
One more bonus tip in the whole world or reviews!
Once you get some reviews, be sure that you show them off.
Put them on your website, add them to the side bar of your blog maybe, make sure that
they are somewhere really easy to find and super visible so that your brides can find
them and prospective clients can read them.
Alright!
we're on our last tip!
The very last tip that I have for you guys today is to make your brand clear.
Now, the way I see it, our websites and brand, are essentially the digital equivalent to
a store front.
So what used to be somebody walking in front of your store and kind of seeing what you're
about, that's really your website.
So you need to make sure that your brand and your story and who you are and what you offer
is very clear to those who visit your store - or your website.
Maybe you're not sure if your website really speaks to your brand, or if it's sending the
right message.
I really suggest - ask a friend or a family member to go on your website and give them
a list of kind of specific questions that you want to have answered as to what impression
you're giving off.
So that you can make sure that what you're putting out there is the same as how you're
being perceived.
I also highly recommend hiring a professional graphic designer to accomplish your website
or your blog.
Just to make sure that all those colors and fonts are cohesive and that you're being consistent
online.
And there you have it!
those are our 6 tips for Finding Wedding photography clients in your first year of business.
If you liked this content and you want to read more and get more bonuses, and find out
ways to implement this into your business today, I actually wrote a 10 page course on
this very topic!
It's free!
you can grab it in the information section below and start reading more in-depth about
how I grew my Wedding photography business from the ground up.
So I hope that you enjoyed this video!
if you did, please like it and subscribe, and I'll see you guys next time.
Bye!