I'm planning on having a booth at a women's fair here in Vegas next month to advertise my portraiture services. Anyone done something like this? Any good marketing ideas to share with me?

I'm planning on having large prints, samples of books and albums for kids, large monitor with slideshow... some sort of goodbag type things with info. any great ideas for me?

Thanks!!!!

I'm totally getting into the same thing, girl. Actually, I'm not really even advertising weddings anymore, I LOVE kiddos, and that's what i really love to shoot, so I'm also in the process of finding ways to advertise in that direction. So far, I just made up pamphlets/postcards exclusively with kiddos pictures on them, and I'm going to do a blurb book for people that come over and want to see work. I'm also curious if anyone else has any opinions!

<3 Kristy

That's a great idea. I love shooting families and children too, and I seem to get along with children really well. I'm thinking of getting out of weddings altogether because this other thing is SO MUCH MORE FUN and so much less stress and pressure to "get the shot." Plus, it seems there aren't that many people around here doing the sort of lifestyle photography that I'm doing, so I feel like I have a nice little niche here.

** BUT, I was at the mall the other day and a photographer with a style somewhat similar to mine had put up a lot of large prints on the OUTSIDE of a store front (like when the store is under construction and they cover the front of the store with decorative boards) and there were double-sided cards in holders for people to take and people were taking them IN DROVES. It totally freaked me out. Card listed the name of the photographer and the Web site and a phone number.

He had several LARGE prints beautifully framed, some storyboards, very unique-looking stuff that you don't get at Picture People. But his stuff was about 70% studio stuff and maybe 30% outdoor or location stuff. (Whereas mine is all on-location -- no studio.)

I really think the thing that grabbed people was the BIG prints and the beautiful distressed wood frames. It instantly said "HIGH QUALITY, EXPENSIVE" to me.

Once I got home I went to the guy's Web site and it wasn't at ALL as impressive as the mall display. Totally turned me off. I don't think he thought that through very well.

Plus, he's at least an hour away from our mall. Strange. And most of the pictures he displayed in the mall were kids whereas the Web site is CLEARLY wedding-heavy, not many kids pics at all.

So I guess ultimately, my advice to you would be to check your Web site before you go to make sure it looks as great as it can look and is updated with your best CHILDREN pictures featured. It should compliment whatever image you are portraying at the fair.

Downplay the non-children stuff.

Goodie bag might include: price pamphlet with sample pics, a sample greeting card (if you do that) on great paper, maybe a pen and/or nice-looking magnet with your name or logo on it. You might even put inside the bag a card for a discount for families that book a specific package by a certain date. I would make this bag look REALLY nice, tied up with ribbons or something in the colors that define your Web site and logo.

Keep us posted. Take pictures! I'd love to know how this works for you!

Along the lines of putting up large prints at different venues/stores/coffee shops, I always feel really akward just walking into a business and asking. Has anyone done this? How do you go about it diplomatically and professionally? I would LOVE to get some beautiful big prints set up at some coffee shops around here, but not sure where to begin. I might also have an open house once I get my studio set up, and get some poster-size prints and some funky photo-products displayed. That way, it's like "WOW" - when you walk in. I just really love shooting kids/babies/preggo mommies as well, it's my passion....so I want to be gung-ho about it, not so-so as far as getting the word out there (aside from word-of-mouth, which all my advertising seems to be lately).

Me too: awkward. I live in a small town with a very active but small downtown area which is on the walk for many communters who take the train into NYC. Gotta get into the coffee shops! If I personally knew the store owner, I'd have no problem with the approach. So one of my goals this year is to get on the board of the Chamber of Commerce. People who don't already know me will get to know me personally through meetings, and then the approach will be easy. In theory.

GREAT idea jules, I didn't even think about that. I, too, live in a fairly smaller town (growing huge now, so I want to be one of the top names of photographers in the area, since their aren't many yet!).