My wife goes to MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers) and POPS (which is AFAIK, only a local group, called Parents of Pre-schoolers). She goes on a monthly basis. She also routinely goes to story time at the library and other events with our 3 children (ages 5, 3, and almost 2). My wife does have a stack of my cards in her purse. But, my wife does not actively promote my business. She will occasionally tell someone "oh, my husband does photography!" But it isn't something that she is always thinking about.

Also, we home school. We are connected with lots of other home schoolers. I know of at least two (I am sure there are others) e-mail newsletters that are sent out to the home schooling community that will allow **** FREE **** advertising.

Any ideas on promos I can run to get these groups? Like maybe "Book your newborn session with Neal Jacob Photography and get 50 complimentary birth announcements"???

I do a "Baby Plan" (haven't had any takers on that, I just started it this year). The Baby Plan is a newborn session, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and 12 month session and then I will create a collage from all the sessions. Maybe throw in birth announcements for all Baby Plan Sessions booked by xx 2007??

I don't want to book non-wedding work too far in advance (so that I am open for weddings) I was thinking that I would only book a non-wedding for within 30 days of the date.

Ideas? Comments?

Thank you

When I quit my day job and had zero leads for photography work. My SIL was very active in her MOPs group. She arranged for me to come and speak about photography to her group. I also found out that they were going to a pumpkin patch thing that was to be happening in a few weeks. I planned my presentation AFTER the pumpkin patch outing.

So this is what I did...

I went to the pumpkin patch outing with the MOPs group. I took my D100 with a borrowed 80-200 2.8 lens (Thank again Climie!!) and I took a few disposable cameras. I shot with the 80-200 and then tried to make the best photos I could with the disposable. I had 4x6 prints made from each camera to hand out and I built a presentation around simple photo techniques for moms using basic equipment. Of course I also showed what could be achieved with pro gear. I also gave a family photo shoot away as a door prize the day I gave my presentation.

I booked about 15 family sessions from that presentation. I STILL get work from that presentation and I've gotten 2 magazine assignments from that presentation. That was a little over 3 years ago.

I did the same thing at my other SIL's MOPs group a few months later and booked about 10 sessions. I shot a whole bunch of families with Marc's 80-200 lens the first few months I was getting back on my feet in the photography world.

You have to be extremely proactive... dare I say... aggressive to get out there and bring in work. See if you can arrange a presentation on photography for families. It is a good way to really get your foot in that door. Also, think about offering a simple photography class to homeschool kids. Shoot portraits of the kids during the class and send a few 4x6 prints to the parents with your card.

Cha-Ching.

Cheers,
Zack

Where's the emoticon that says, "Zack is a Genius!"?

Neal, thanks for posting the question so we could get this tasty tid-bit of money-making advise. My gears are turning already.

HUGE thank you, Zack, for explaining this plan put to action. You're an inspiration and fantastic LoveCat!

great ideas Zack! I am part of my church's MOPS group, and have loved it. I've been a part of it for 4.5 years now, and served on the leadership board for 2 of those years. Some of my closest friends are from my MOPS group.

Let me tell you, once your name starts going around a MOPS group, you'll have sessions coming in I have people come up to me EVERY meeting asking me about my photography and booking a session. I will have to look into doing a presentation though Zack, what a great idea! They are always looking for speakers.

I ain't no love cat yet! I guess I have to post more.

I have to emphasize that I think the secret to my success in the last 3 years has been first and foremost God's grace and His calling on my life to pursue this madness...

AND

I was HUNGRY. Literally. Food was not going to be on the table if I wasn't shooting pictures and getting paid to do so. While I had nothing to lose when I quit my day job, I also had nothing coming in if I wasn't hustlin' for work.

Necessity is the mother of invention... or... Hunger leads to ideas.

I'm glad to be in a bit of a better spot now in my career to be able to share what worked for me.

Cheers,
Zack

Thank you Zack! You're awesome!

BTW... Thank you for the One Light info.

You are amazing Zack!! Glad you're right down the street (so to speak)! And you know youre a love cat whether you got 300 posts or not!!

Not sure how to market to these groups (my wife says TALK to them), but almost every church has a MOPS group and the homeschoolers, unless affiliated with a Christian academy or something, do not have access to "school pictures" unless they just go to the studio in a box in the big store down the street. Tons of opportunity, just get out there and get known!

Okay, maybe I went a little overboard here. How about 20 birth announcements instead of 50?

My wife is disagreeing with me. She said that in order to do the birth announcements I would need to get a picture of the baby (yepper!) and for that I would have to book a baby session and she said "What if they don't want to do a baby session??"

I really think you should tread lightly.


IMO you shouldn't spam your church for business. but if you must I would really be careful about pressuring people. I see this all the time and get frustrated that people get business by using the church when in normal circumstances, the would not land the deal.,

Do what you feel comfortable with, just don't go to church to make $$

My thought on this is fairly simple...

Read Anatomy of Buzz and learn about networks hubs...

Figure out who the network hubs that you need to reach are (in these groups specifically) and give them a session... At the end of the session, give them an invoice, with the amount for the session, but discount it to nothing...

If you are able to wow them with your work... they will be your best friend... and best friends are the best salespeople!

(Zack, that is a great idea as well!)

I do have to agree. While I've gotten quite a bit of business from my MOPS group, it's been all word of mouth. I have not advertised there at all. The most I did once was ask a pregnant mom if she would be willing to let me take her maternity shots for my portfolio. I shot the photos for no session fee and gave her a big discount on her photos.

Other than that, everything else has come from Word Of Mouth. I like Zach's idea of a presentation though, it's getting your name out there, without you "selling" them on your work.

We ran into several problems over the years with people seeming to come only to "network" and sell the moms on their product.

Jen & Eric (and others): For the record... MOPS is not affiliated with any particular church, but they do usually use churches for meeting space. MOPS is a non-profit, non-denominational group and you do have to pay a membership fee to attend on a regular basis (the first meeting is free).

My wife is a co-coordinator for a MOPS group.

I wouldn't actively advertise. It would be WOM. My wife carries my cards in her purse, so she could always say something to someone that is expecting, getting married, etc...

I just asked my wife about this and she said that they get people that come in all the time to give a presentation and that they are representing a business. She said that last year they had a "Spa Day" and had several vendors come in and do demonstrations and then give a card, brochure, etc... but not do actual sales right there at the meeting. The ladies could contact the vendor after the meeting to find out more.

I did speak at a MOPS group. I talked about my photography business (that's what they asked me to do), passed around some sample pics, & gave out coupons. That can be an excellent place for networking you just gotta get in the door & seems like you have a teriffic avenue (aka wife) to get in. Does she not feel comfortable handign out your cards & talking up your business?