BUSINESS BASICS

10 Ways Freelance Photographers Can Find New Clients

Freelance Photographer

Do you spend hours looking at gorgeous mountains? Are you constantly hanging out with random families? Are you always busy going to weddings, events, and other social gatherings? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you might just be a professional photographer.

While some pro photographers are bombarded by tons of work daily, others (especially beginners) may struggle to find clients. However, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Tons of photographers go through periods when finding clients seems like a steep mountain to climb. Luckily, there are professional photo experts out there who have dug themselves out of the trenches to make a pretty great living by snapping photos.

In this post, we’ll discuss 10 ways you can find new clients as a photographer. After reading these tips, we hope you’ll have even more confidence as you work to propel your photo career to the next level.

Volunteer

While your ultimate goal isn’t to offer your super-awesome photo-taking skills for free, that can sometimes be a great way to get a foot in the door. And before you know it, your volunteer gig might result in tons of paid services. To proceed with this tactic, be on the lookout for local events and contact their organizers to get the ball rolling. Potential clients will see your work and you might even get to post your amazing photos on the event website or social media account.

Find Your Focus

If you offer photography services for every occasion or any purpose, you’ll be competing with a million other photographers who offer the same thing. While you should be available for all types of photo sessions, it’s sometimes best to focus on a certain area to gain new clients. Whether that’s maternity shoots or sports photography, find what you’re passionate about and offer specialized services in that niche. While a focus area might limit the number of clients who contact you, you might just find solid clients that will come back to you again and again.

Hang ‘Em Up

To get your name out there and show your worth, you need to strut your stuff. Hanging your work at businesses is a great way to let the world know what you’re about. Depending on the type of photos you take, visit relevant businesses and ask if they’d let you display your photos. These pictures can be grabbed from your portfolio or you may even offer to take pictures for the business. Not only can this lead to new clients but it can also show that the business supports local entrepreneurs, like you!

Attend Fun Events

Similar to our first tactic which involves volunteering, another strategy is to simply attend events as a spectator. But you must keep your camera in hand at all times! Look for fun and casual events, and snap pictures as you see fit. As you’re taking pics, do your best to socialize and get to know people. Who knows? Someone may approach you looking for a professional photo shoot or you just might find a new client you’ll have for years to come.

Use Automated Emails

Many clients will contact freelancers right at the exact time they need the work completed. But if you have another job or a busy schedule, it may be hard to answer all inquiries right away. That being said, another tip is to use automated email responses. While you want to try your hardest to respond to every inquiry within minutes, that can sometimes be very difficult. Luckily, it’s simple to create an automated email response, but you want to make sure that you follow up with these inquiries as soon as possible!

Design an Amazing Website

In today’s tech-driven world, photographers need a website if they want to make any money. A website is a great tool to show off your photos, provide a little background about yourself, and display your contact information. But as pretty much every photographer has a website, you’ll want to spend some time making yours unique and compelling. Be sure to make your website simple, straightforward, and focused on your breathtaking photographs.

Post Some Stock Pics

Another tip we have is to submit stock pictures you’ve taken. Sometimes, stock photo companies need awesome photos, so this could be an amazing opportunity. Not only do you get paid for your uploaded photos but these sites are also a great place to showcase your work and could lead to new clients knocking at your door! Many sites even have biography pages about their photographers, which can provide an easy way for clients to contact you.

Build a Blog

If you want to establish yourself as a top-notch photographer, designing a blog is a huge step in the right direction. This blog can either be a part of your website or you can use a free blogging website like WordPress. Not only will a blog be a great resource for showing off your unique photo-taking skills but it also shows professionalism and your intellectual capacity (as long as your content is well-written). When creating blog posts, be sure to discuss a wide range of photography topics, or you may choose to talk about subjects related to your work such as nature or home improvement tips.

Develop a Brand

Think about some of the top photographers out there. While not always the case, the majority of these successful business owners have developed a brand. Building a brand can help you reel in those new clients you’ve been waiting for. In a world that is flooded with freelance photographers, you need a way to stand out from the crowd and your brand can make that a reality! In addition, having a brand with unique designs and a creative logo looks more professional, which could set you apart to land that client!

Build a Killer Portfolio

We now want to talk about the number one strategy for getting new clients: building a one-of-a-kind portfolio! Nowadays, we have tons of technology and multiple software options to help you build a portfolio that’s designed to turn heads. Unfortunately, every photographer also has access to these same software choices so you’ll want to find ways to stand out. All in all, you want to design an impeccable portfolio that showcases your skills perfectly. You’ll first need to find an effective website builder, then be sure to optimize your blog so clients can find you. After building a killer portfolio, clients will be licking their chops to get the opportunity to work with you!

Constant Growth is Key!

Even if you try some of these strategies and fail, it’s important to never give up. Although you may feel defeated at times, it’s vital to understand that success doesn’t come overnight; sometimes the road is a little bumpy. Stay the course, focus on your goals, and never stop growing as a professional photographer! Before you know it, new clients will be kicking down your door.

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