These last two moves have been just plain rough..packing, unpacking, changing info for addresses..personal and business...school changes..yadda yadda. But what has been most difficult is that I have had to start over twice as far as my client base goes. I have recently been given an amazing opportunity to re-enter the corporate world again..but I just LOVE my photography business. But I have to really make a strong go of it to make a living and also now that I know there will not be a move again...or at least for a SUPER DUPER long time. I am confused on the best way to get my name out there. I was asked to advertise with Welcome Wagon..but my gosh it is so expensive ($1000) a month and I dont' think it will get me what I need. Should I just go around and ask to have different locations display my b-cards?

Thanks to everyone on here that has been so amazingly helpful!!!! I so much appreciate you all!

I am not sure what type of photography you typically do. I am assuming more lifestyle side in this reply....
A thousand dollars a month to advertise seems rather extreme that is simply adding to your overhead. Also, business cards are a dime a dozen think about how many times you have actually picked up someone elses random business card you saw... Something that has worked for me as well as one of my photog friends was bringing client friendly large prints(canvas gallery wrap 30x30 with your studio name load and clear make an awesome impression, or you can do a simply mounted print to save some dollars) for them to hang in their establishments. ie...in a childrens hairdresser's some cute headshots of young kids with great hair, high-end clothing store shoot some of their items on some models. If you can get in with a local store start a referral program of some sort .
I have not tried this but I know some photographers that have sample nice albums made up and leave them at local doctors. Establishing yourself in a new market is always difficult(I have done it once) but reaching out and networking always makes it easier...If there is a local chamber of commerce join or at least attend some of their events and network a bit you will not believe the opportunities that will become available to you...This is just some random stuff that has helped me in building a local strong client base...Best of luck to you!!!

Lisa:

I have moved a couple times in the last 4 years, for my husband's work, and needed to re-establish my business both times. Although it's a challenge....in the end I'm impressed at how fast you can rebuild your market! A few tips that have helped me:

1. I have always joined the Chamber of Commerce - if yours has a good website with good links, it can be a lifesaver.....

2. There have always been a few local charities that I gave away portraits to initially before I had enough work of my own. I offered children's portraits to a local organization that helped children with disabilities.....it was a great experience! I also did a school fundraiser that was reduced rates, but really got my name out there!

3. Network network network.....wherever you can hand out a card or get a link....

In the end, it's fun! You have an opportunity to "start all over again" in a new community! To re-invent yourself & your focus! Good Luck!

Thanks Amy! Yeah, I just about fell out of my chair when she quoted me the fee to advertise with them. I thought.."no way!" and I just do not think I would get the exposure that way. I will give the Chamber a go..I have also joined a Meetup group, but I don't know how much they get together. It is for small business owners in the area. I see your point on the business card, do I just go and ask different businesses if I can put a display up in their store?

Great ideas Kay. I have enjoyed reinventing myself a bit Funny, I never thought the Chamber of Commerce was a good source to network through, but I hear that it is over and over again. So, I am going to join on Monday I think the impatient side of me is kicking in is all! Thank you!

silly question..should I have business insurance?

I think everyone should have business insurance.....some of the professional associations like PPA offer it through a regular membership.

Some Chamber of Commerces are GREAT for marketing & some are not. I think it's worth googling photographers in your area & finding out how fast the Chamber website comes up......some regions are better at internet connections & direct links to your website! My chamber actually has a leads program for potential wedding clients since there are a lot of destination weddings here!

I can't say it works well in all areas......

Who's your target market?

I think it's relatively safe to assume it's NOT small business owners, in general.

Are your kids involved in sports? Do you go to church? Are the kids involved in dance or drama or SOMEthing where other parents congregate?

Honey, THERE'S your target market. Get out, mingle, make friends, have a portrait party. It only takes ONE great blabber mouth client to get the ball rolling, but you might have to network with various parent groups until you find a few great blabber mouths. With your wonderful pictures, great web site and easy-going and friendly personality, you'll do fine.

Don't spend a DIME on advertising. It won't go nearly as far as a hundred bucs spent on giving out some free prints from the soccer game, or the dance recital, or the Christmas pageant. But the thing is, you have to give those prints to people who see you as a FRIEND and not necessarily someone who is trying to get their business.

Yes, join the Chamber of Commerce, get on their Web site, all that stuff is good, but if you have time to NETWORK, make sure it's with people who are your ACTUAL target market -- parents with young children.

If you're going to start shooting weddings, then a great network is the wedding vendor market, so in that case, you would spend your time meeting those people, showing them your work and becoming their friend.

Well said, except the part about "IF YOU HAVE time to network...."

You MUST MAKE TIME to network. Period.

If you are going to reestablish yourself, then networking is the fastest way to make it grow substantially.
Networking can be done everywhere you go. Always carry business cards. Give out five per day, to anyone and everyone.
Then find a way to get display prints into public locations, WITH your contact info on the front as suggested before.

If you are doing weddings, use what we call "The Power Of Ten."
Find THE ten wedding vendors who serve the market you wish to serve. THEN, market these ten vendors regularly, and consistently!
These ten vendors, marketed properly, can and will send you more business in a shorter period of time than marketing to brides directly.

Good luck,
Mark

Hugs to all of you for taking time to respond and give such wonderful advice. Wow, I feel like I am making this WAY more difficult than it needs to be. Funny, I think deep down I know that networking one of the best ways to get out there, but I seem to keep going back to things that would take money to do and would be less effective. hmm, why? not so sure. I LOVE being around people and meeting new people...but I didn't get comfortable handing out my cards to those I just met until lately. I would often shake my head and think "wow, I am doing what I love and I love talking to people all the time...why is it hard to hand out a card and even ask for the business?". I have gotten over that part (mostly) but I guess I just need to know that THIS is THE way to market. I checked out my Chamber and only a few photogs are listed...I wonder why. There are a ton of them locally.

Thank you Kay, Jules and Mark...I am off to print this and put it in front of my nose to read daily

If there is anything I can do just e-mail me or call. I'm in Greenville too ; )

+1 on the networking!!!
I work with 2 dj's 1 caterer, 2 florists and one wedding planner. We keep each other busy...

I did a trial with wedj.com I didn't like it...
The one that I do like that is inexpensive... www.ourweddingday.com

I think it's 30 beans a month? I get 3-4 hits a month. Some are out of my "area" and some are REALLY low budget brides. (like 5-600 bucks) but some have been in and above my price range...
I hand out cards to everybody. Most of the time its a "hey let's get together for dinner or something!" But still the card is out there!
I put a stack up at a few local bridal shops and florists also...

Thanks Ron..I really appreciate that.

Mike, I agree on Wedj.com, I got hit after hit after hit..they all said the same thing.."viewer wishes to remain anonymous". hmm. I will check out the other. See, I am totally new to weddings. So networking for weddings is something I do not know much about and am learning here all the time. Oh, still working on screen capture, for some reason it didn't want to copy, but I am working on it this a.m.

I got MORE hits from wedj as a NON paying vendor.. Same thing... Nothing but an IP address...
I think they are baiting... Personally...
ok.. Hit ctrl and Print Screen. Open up Microsoft Paint and hit ctrl "V"
File>save as, (name your file) and Email it..
I'm not sure if you can paste it in PS though...

First rule: take your BIG PRO camera EVERYwhere you go and take pictures LIKE A PRO everywhere you go (you know, with that certain way a pro stands when taking pictures)

Second rule: always have business cards in your pocket.

You are friendly and approachable, so people will ask you about the camera. (I'm mostly talking about parents at these social and after-school functions you're always going to.) Once they ask about the camera, there's your opening to start blabbering about your LOVE of photography!

Third rule: Once they open the door by asking about the camera, START TALKING!

Well, that's how I do it anyway.

I get the feeling you enjoy shooting families the most, I could be wrong, but if that's true, then GO AFTER WHAT YOU WANT TO DO with all the gusto you have in your heart and in your head.

When I first started, there was a lot of negativity around me -- people giving me subtle messages that I couldn't do this thing I always dreamed of doing -- that it wasn't possible or that it was unrealistic to think I could actually succeed.

So I fought back.

I had a very specific SIMPLE little trick which I can PM to you if you like. It was just a simple way to tell myself that I would win this fight and prove to everyone that I COULD do it, that it WAS realistic and that I WOULD win.

Seems to be working pretty good so far.

Probably my single best source of referrals is my church. I'm very active and one of the things I do there is volunteer to take the new member portraits. (It used to be that there were snapshots -- really bad flash ones with red eyes and wood panel wall backgrounds -- yuck) so now there's an entire WALL of my pictures in the narthex when you come in the front door. My name is NOWHERE. But EVERYBODY asks about the pictures, and that's the key -- the pictures being there with NO PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT has everybody talking about me. And it has everybody ALWAYS asking me about my business, and that's when I get to give them my business card. (When I actually take the pictures, the people being photographed get a business card too, and I tell them that if they like the picture that I put on the bulletin board, I will give them prints in exchange for a donation to the church's mission fund. I don't like making money off of pictures that are directly related to church activities, but the referral business is pretty sweet. And the donations have come to around $600 this year. That's pretty sweet too.)

Mike...you wouldn't know that my degree is in math/computer science wooood ya? hahaha. Geez, let me go back up and give it a go again

Jules..you are ALWAYS a wealth of great info/advice/help/support/etc! You mentioned about subtle messages and all ..I am getting that. See, my family wants me to go for the big $$ corporate life b/c it is secure and safe simply b/c of a steady income AND b/c I think deep down they just feel it is the right way to go. NOW my artsy sister in Chicago says "you go for it girl!". When I first started the photog business, it was a 'serious' hobby and I didn't need to make the $$. Things have changed and I will need to do that now. So the panic button is going off "am I doing the right thing?"...but I love the art of photography..I love making people feel good in front of the camera (not stressed or insecure)..I love thinking of new ideas and enjoy sharing on my blog..but most of all, I have always worked hard. SOOOOOO..I presume those together will make my business what I want and need it to be.

This is just the info I needed to hear- a big thanks!

From your OSP friends....YOU GO FOR IT GIRL!

My degree was civil/environmental engineering - I did that for 15 years, and it made great money, but it didn't make me happy! Photography I'm great at AND it makes me happy and it makes enough money to be happy!

THANK YOU now tell me this daily for the next 30 days!!!! hahaha just kidding. There is definately something about being happy doing what you do

OK, I'll tell you that everyday for 30 days! And I went to your blog & found the Meez 3D avatars & created my own! Thanks for the great idea!

That's so cool! Speaking of your blog, Lisa, I tried to find it from within your Web site but couldn't find a link anywhere. Is it there somewhere and I just missed it?

It's a link on her splash page right under "Enter full screen" or "Same window"

Kay... You might want to pull that skirt down girlie... LOL!

He he...I love the skirt! too funny. Aren't they fun to make? I wish that they would work out the issue with being able to show the whole 'video'...but right now it is just a few short moves. So..everyday right??? I will be here anxiously awaiting my cheer!

Jules..it is on the main page under enter full screen...Oh, Mike just said the same thing!

hee hee heee.....as a 40-something mother of 2 at least my avatar can show some leg - I wear skirts to shoot weddings sometimes, but they are LONG skirts!

Ok, I see it now. I think it would be helpful to put it within your site too, on an "about" page, next to that GORGEOUS picture of you and your boys.

Great idea Jules...oh and thanks...I truly do not like having my pic taken I am going to have to see if my Blu site will let me add a link there...My brain is running overtime ever since you guys gave me such superb advice:) many hugs!

Lisa - YOU GO FOR IT GIRL! I forgot to say that yesterday!

I'm countin' on ya Kay Man I wish I was hanging out in Breckenridge right about now:)

But are you getting any wedding from them.
$10 per hit is really expensive!!
You can get more than that to your site with Google Adwords for less money.

Track your calls. Figure out how much return on investment you are getting from each marketing dollare placed in a specific location. If it's not giving you a good ROI, dump it.

Mark