Promoting yourself

[Jay McLaughlin]

How do you people promote yourselves?

I have my website - http://www.jmphotographer.com

I hand out business cards whenever possible

I use myspace - http://www.myspace.com/jmpics

I network with people as often as I can.

I also have my car stickered up now...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/446151823_a46186c89f.jpg


How do other people promote themselves?

[bcap]

Website - www.memoriesinmotionnf.ca (under construction)
Business cards
I have a 6 x 4 foot banner that I have with me at all events
Flyers that I have readily available at all events

I also have the website and phone number on all order forms, letters, etc that go out. All products I deliver have a business card with them.

Word of mouth is the best form of advertisement for our industry. So exposure is the best form of advertisement in my opinion.

[Jay McLaughlin]

So exposure is the best form of advertisement in my opinion.

No pun intended I'm sure ;)

[bcap]

No pun intended I'm sure ;)


Obviously not ;)

Jay, I really like your logo (your avy), great work!

I also like the car advertisement - very simple but effective.

I am getting a 5' x 8' enclosed Haulmark Trailer soon to transport equipment to events, I plan on putting my logo and website on that as well.

[Jay McLaughlin]

Thanks. Comes from having a graphic design background.

You need a trailer for all your stuff?????

[Zilly]

i have a website www.modernpics.co.uk
a myspace page (do ALOT of business threw this :S )
business cards
and a custom shirt
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h152/zilly_photos/modernpicsT.jpg

[bcap]

Oh yeah, all our employees wear MIM uniforms too ...

Jay, the trailer is for transporting our event coverage - for our portable event booth.

We have monitors, computers, laptops, signs, display cases, tables, chairs, printers, etc.

It can all fit into a full-size van but it is a tight squeeze.

[Jay McLaughlin]

a myspace page (do ALOT of business threw this :S )




Tell me about it! I was shocked at how useful myspace actually is for getting work!


I'm going to be makingup some tshirts tomorrow to wear over the weekend

[Jay McLaughlin]

Oh yeah, all our employees wear MIM uniforms too ...

Jay, the trailer is for transporting our event coverage - for our portable event booth.

We have monitors, computers, laptops, signs, display cases, tables, chairs, printers, etc.

It can all fit into a full-size van but it is a tight squeeze.



Ahhh. I was gonna say. The boot of my Smart is tiny and I've managed to fit my kit bag, 2 light stands, 2 flash heads, a soft box, and umbrella, a laptop and all the cables aswell as my folder of forms and samples etc.

[bcap]

Ahhh. I was gonna say. The boot of my Smart is tiny and I've managed to fit my kit bag, 2 light stands, 2 flash heads, a soft box, and umbrella, a laptop and all the cables aswell as my folder of forms and samples etc.


Unfortunately I just have a small Grand Am and there is NO WAY all my stuff will fit into it, let alone have room for employees that I may have to bring with me.

Having a trailer woudl allow thing sto be more organized and I can keep soem thing sin the trailer at all times (i.e. trailer, chairs, banner, etc) so it would be less time consuming to prep for an event.

[Jay McLaughlin]

Ok, I've just taken this to the next level!

I've got a show this weekend, so as well as having my car all stickered up, and wearing a tshirt with my logo on it, I've also got pink in my hair to match my logo! Hehehehe

No I'm not gay, yes I am strange!

[Zilly]

wow never heard of some one dieing there hair gotta see a picture of this
where you working this weekend???

[tcphoto1]

I think that the sign on the vehicle says "Break into me, I might have something valuable inside".

[Zilly]

but its a smart so that should fool 99.9999 percent of criminals other wise ;)

[Jay McLaughlin]

I'll be at Donington Park this weekend


As for people breaking in, I thought about that, but most people would expect photographers to take their kit out of the car (which most of us do!)

I was considering putting a small notice saying that nothing valuable is kept in the car overnight etc

[liza]

1. Two websites, one for sports and one for portrait & wedding work. The wedding site is a flash site under construction.
2. Google and Yahoo business ads.
3. WeDJ ad
4. WedPlan ad
5. Business cards
6. Newspaper Ads. My sports images run regularly in the local paper as well, so people know what I can do.
7. High School yearbook ad
8. Posters advertising my senior portrait work posted at area high schools.
9. I'm designing an upcoming ad campaign with a coupon special for high school seniors and already have one for weddings on Google.
10. Photo credit in our Senior Video, which is shown to about 2,000 people at the end of the graduation ceremony. I also have my business cards on the sales table in the lobby.
11. My Space
12. Word of mouth

[ppuga]

1. My website.
2. Business Cards.
3. Word of mouth/Recommendations
4. Branding, with small stickers of my PABLOPUGA.com logo on:
-Lens caps
-My car (and some friends cars)
5. Branding, with large stickers of PABLO PUGA PHOTOGRAPHY + PABLOPUGA.com on the car I get or the truck I rent to use when going to a rally or offroad event.

And the better of all, talking to the people, beeing nice when someone gets close to ask something about the photos, and having cards on the hand.

[rossdebiasi]

I got some business cards made up and as i shoot motorsport and take part as well i got viynl stickers of my web address on my car, i sell to the racer so i post a link to the gallery of the event on the two local motorsport forums and finally and by far the best is word of mouth. Also in exchange for a few free images a few guys have said they will place web address viynls on their bikes, rally cars and track cars for me. I am attended a track day in Le mans in august so i am gonna get a t shirt with my logo and web addy on it to wear whilst track side.

ONce my bsiness cards come down I will be asking the local petrol stations and tuning shops to have some till side ( i only shot motorsport)

All that and i am not even in business really just sell photos to cover the hosting of the site and to fund memory cards lol luckily all the viynls and business cards cames to around £25

[scottykm]

I have to ask, how does myspace generate work?
I have a myspace acct, but mainly to host a blog and stuff for friends/ family,

I found that uploading images onto myspace was, to be frank, a pain in the a#se

[coreypolis]

careful with car decals, that screams that you carry expensive gear

there is no better advertising than word of mouth from networking and referals. Treat you customers well and even offer them something in exchange for a referal and you'll be set.

[liza]

I have to ask, how does myspace generate work?
I have a myspace acct, but mainly to host a blog and stuff for friends/ family,

I found that uploading images onto myspace was, to be frank, a pain in the a#se

I market senior portraits and sports pics to high school students. Since I teach at the high school and know all the kids, they add me and visit my page to see my latest background or slide show that showcases my work. I can also reach a number of them at once via blogs and bulletins, and I post business contact info on my site. It's great free advertising.

[Zilly]

where are you guys getting your stickers done trying to find a cheep place to get some printed out for giving out as freebies to the racers

[Steve Parr]

I've got an "onstagephotography.com" sticker on the back of my van. In fact, I need to get some more of those made.

I've got business cards that I hand out everywhere, and postcards which I slide under the windshield wipers of cars parked outside a gig I'm shooting. I also put the postcards on admission counter of whatever venue I'm shooting in.

When I had my business cards made (from Vista Print), I also had business card magnets and calendar magnets made.

I've got the website, a MySpace page (which, in all honesty, hasn't done a damn thing for me), and links on the websites of others. I also have embroidered polo shirts which I'll wear whenever I'm shooting...

[Jay McLaughlin]

wow never heard of some one dieing there hair gotta see a picture of this

It's faded a bit now. It was bright pink :lol:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/465146473_ff313cd8a6.jpg

[Wazza]

Word of Mouth
Website
Business Cards
and did I mention Word of Mouth?

[Jay McLaughlin]

Word of mouth is the best way to get new business

It's just not something you can rely on

[Wazza]

Probably more ideal in my position, when I'm running a stressful full time job as well.

The time I decide to do photography full time, I'll definitely advertise, but up till now haven't that the need. 6 weddings in the past 8 weeks, I guess can say I've been busy. :p

[tlc]

first off, website;

business cards

i then had some nice brochures printed up and i drove around to different wedding venues and distributed them, making contacts along the way - offering to do the wedding of a manager of one of these venues for free - that's going to probably get me more bookings than the brochures!

advertising at online wedding sites

friends

leaving business cards with florists helps and at bridal boutiques. but i feel working with wedding venue people is the most valuable - because that is usually where the bride starts off at.

[_Ash_]

Jay, who did your car stickers?

[Jay McLaughlin]

Jay, who did your car stickers?

I designed them and produced the files in the appropriate format. I then went along to a local sign place and had them made up. I picked them up the next day and fitted them myself

[SWPhotoImaging]

I promote myself whenever I feel I have exceeded my expectations.
Last week I promoted myself to VP.
I may have been too easy with that one, as I don't feel I really earned it, but I like myself, so I did it anyway.
And it has nothing to do with the rumors that I have been sleeping with myself.
:)

[Picturesports]

1) Being cool with clients makes people talk about you when someone asks "Who did the photo?" Remember to buy your round of drinks at the bar. You don't have to like them or be there best friend, but being polite and interacting goes a very long way.
2) Branding on photos on the web site - people go to all sorts of lengths to "borrow" them and there is your advertising going along with it
3) Photos/posters at what ever venue you're working at. It places the link for people between you and how you can make them look.:)

[lingham]

Thanks. Comes from having a graphic design background.

reminds me of the new look logo :)

[lingham]

i have a website and car graphics at present

[Jay McLaughlin]

reminds me of the new look logo :)


You know, I thought that the other day when I was walking past new look! Even down to the pink blob! :oops: :lol:

[Kiddo]

Word of mouth
My website
Business cards
Posters (I live in a small community)
And my kids are into football, so that's how I got to shoot all game photos and team photos over the last 3 years!!
The paper every now and again.

The car decals are a really cool idea. I know a guy that does this stuff, I should see what he's charge for. I also like the idea of 2 web sites!!

[cdifoto]

I need a nicer car before I do the sticker thing. If I labeled up my van, I would never get a booking again! :eek:

[Jay McLaughlin]

Is your van that bad?

[lingham]

You know, I thought that the other day when I was walking past new look! Even down to the pink blob! :oops: :lol:

can i point and laugh yet? :P

[S.Horton]

Excellent marketing image.

Add a big one, which works: Direct Mail

Old fashioned, but becoming unique because of that. If done well, you will get business.

[Tandem]

For sports I got permission from the athletic directors to display some of my 16x20 prints along with my business cards, a price list and a sign with my business name and photos available at coloradosprings.smugmug.com. I did that for a wrestling tournament and got a lot of out-of-town business from it. Showing what a large size print looks like really gets their attention even more so than a down sized photo on a website.

If you are into high school sports, putting your photos out on highschoolsports.net (well duh) will get you a lot of attention. Again, it helps big time with the out of town teams. The last two big track meets I photographed, I sorted out the photos into teams and loaded each group to its respective highschoolsports.net page. I got 117,197 picture hits so far on my website from the meet last month and I already have 62,131 picture hits from the meet last Saturday that I only stayed for three hours and got mostly boys high jump photos along with runners that passed by. :shock: (my wife came with me and contributed about 50 running photos)

I have the t-shirts with "PHOTO" and my website url on them and I'm going to look into getting my url put on my minivan. That sounds like a great idea.

I agree with the idea about being friendly and having a positive attitude. Along with that is showing respect and encouragement for your fellow photogs - even those who are just starting out. You never know when that will pay dividends.