Photography is more than just capturing beautiful moments; it’s also about building a sustainable business. Finding clients, managing relationships, and growing your reputation are all essential elements of a successful photography career.
Whether you’re just making the jump to professional photography or looking to scale your existing business, this guide will cover strategies that can help you land more clients – from streamlined editing to getting listed on VSCO Hub.
Finding Clients as a Photographer
The most successful photographers often lean into what makes them unique to gain new clients. Although your photos should always speak for themselves, this doesn’t always have to be about your portfolio – it could also be how well you collaborate or your quick turnaround time. There are many different paths to success, and different photographers can find success in many different ways.
Always take a holistic approach to finding clients. Your photography business is a brand – and that means your own unique voice will need to scale and speak across many different channels.
Marketing for Photographers
Marketing is an all-encompassing term that can cover nearly any aspect of landing new photography clients. As a photographer, your marketing will likely take you a lot of places, from social media, to in-person events, to paid advertising platforms.
Social Media
Create profiles that showcase your work and make it easy for potential clients to learn more about what you do. Think about the social media, search, and customer review platforms that your clients are most likely to use and focus on those first. Stay active, and stay yourself.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization (SEO) can help clients find your photography online through location, common search terms, questions, and keywords. Publish regularly and cater what you create for your audiences.
Advertising
You may want to place ads online through services like search engines or social media platforms, or consider alternatives, like local bulletins and newsletters.
Check out our dedicated article to learn more about marketing for photographers.
Build a Photography Website
A professional photography website covers a lot of bases when it comes to landing new clients and keeping them. With VSCO Sites you can showcase your best work, share your skills, and expand your professional reach. By linking to your site, you can drive streams of potential clients to see your photography at its very best.
It’s important to keep your website updated – as a photographer your portfolio is always evolving. With VSCO Sites it’s easy to curate your posts, Albums, and Blogs directly from your VSCO Profile.
Sign into vsco.co on desktop and go to your profile to preview your site today.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Working alongside established businesses, or even other photographers, can be a great way to build credibility, grow your network, and ultimately, get new clients.
If you’re a beginner photographer, ask if other photographers need an assistant or second shooter. Once you build a rapport, ask if they’d be willing to refer any clients your way – there’s a lot of reasons a photographer may pass on any given shoot – scheduling, budgets, and location to name a few.
Consider attending any relevant industry events, from weddings expos to car shows. See if you can connect with other businesses that could complement your services as a photographer like wedding planners, a specialty car dealership, or a well-connected business in your community. We’ll cover strategies for different photography specializations a bit later.
Get Listed on VSCO Hub
Pro Members can choose to get listed on VSCO Hub, where brands and businesses search to hire the best photographers on VSCO. VSCO Hub is great for getting new clients because they come to you for your unique style – all you have to do is post your best work.
Update your availability on your profile to indicate that you’re open to “Professional Work.” The more you post to VSCO, the more likely you are to appear in searches on VSCO Hub. Learn more about VSCO Hub and how you can increase your visibility to brands.
Make the Most of Referrals
Leveraging your existing clients can be a great way of getting new ones. If you have some happy clients under your belt, you can ask them if they’d like to refer anyone in their network in exchange for a discount or additional services. Word-of-mouth marketing and referrals can carry more credibility and help you get high quality leads. You can even start a referral program to incentivize all of your clients to get involved.
Land Clients with Your Photography Portfolio
Even with an arsenal of photography marketing approaches, your portfolio can still be your most powerful tool for attracting new clients. A good photography portfolio will showcase your skills, style, and versatility. Consider building multiple portfolios or photo albums to showcase different projects and specialties – they all come together to capture the attention of potential clients.
Build a Strong Foundation
Start with projects and albums that highlight your strengths and align with a business strategy or photography specialization that you can develop over time. Make it easy for clients to navigate through your photos, get excited by your work, and contact you if they’re interested.
Learn more about using VSCO to organize your photography portfolio for clients.
Iterate and Update Your Portfolio
Keep your photography portfolio fresh by adding new projects and refining your selects. This shows that you’re active and evolving, and opens doors for you to attract new kinds of clients. You may want to check out this article about building and developing your photography portfolio.
Client Management
Keeping existing clients happy can be the best way to keep them coming back and establish yourself as a photographer. Client management is important at every stage of a potential photoshoot, from looking over creative briefs to delivering your final selects.
Communication is Key
Always respond promptly to any inquiries about your work – it can be helpful to set up notifications for your photography business email or inbox. Be clear and transparent about your services, pricing, and process. Let clients know how you plan to stay in touch from start to finish.
Contracts and Agreements
Always use contracts to outline the scope of work, payment terms, and delivery timelines. This protects both you and your clients and ensures everyone has the same set of expectations. Here are some simple tips for navigating photography contracts.
Client Photo Galleries
Pro Members can use VSCO Galleries to privately share photos and gather feedback. Clients can review photos, ask questions, and let you know what they’re thinking. Enabling you to get your job done with maximum speed and efficiency.
Exceed Expectations
You should always aim to exceed expectations while always staying focused on the core task at hand. Once you’re confident you’ve accomplished all the must-haves for your photoshoot, you can look for ways to add value for your clients. This can be as simple as offering a few extra editing looks for them to choose from or some extra photos in the final deliverables folder.
Always follow up with clients to make sure they’re happy and thank them for successful collaborations.
Collect Feedback and Testimonials
Following up with clients after a completed job can be a great way to both build a professional relationship and gather important feedback. Always listen to what your clients have to say and try to find ways you can improve their experience. If everything goes to plan, you can ask to share positive testimonials alongside your portfolio of completed photo projects.
Client Tips for Different Photography Specializations
Different kinds of photographers will want to cater their efforts to match the kinds of clients they want to get. Here are some specific strategies for different photography specializations, but all can be adapted to fit your own niche.
Get Wedding Photography Clients
Weddings utilize all kinds of businesses and services. As a photographer, building relationships with other industry pros like wedding planners, florists, and venue managers can help expand your reach and broaden your client base. Be sure to create dedicated wedding portfolios and consider offering different packages that fit different needs and budgets.
Get Portrait Photography Clients
Portrait photographers can benefit from seasonal opportunities like graduations and holidays. If you’re looking to get a lot of new clients in a short period of time, consider offering ‘micro’ portrait sessions where you set aside multiple portrait slots at one location with a set schedule. With a more approachable price and quick turnaround, these can be great for building your client base.
Get Product Photography Clients
Product photographers often have specializations within specializations. Consider building specific portfolios for the kinds of clients - and products - you’d like to work with. This often means self-producing some shoots at first or sending sample images when you first reach out. Product shots often get used across many channels, so value-added bundles can also help set your photography services apart.
Get Real Estate Photography Clients
Architecture and real estate photographers also benefit from professional partnerships and relationships. Reach out to local real estate agents and property managers to see how you can help streamline their listing process with high-quality images and a quick turnaround. You can also offer specialized services, like 3D imaging and drone photography.
Get Travel Photography Clients
You don’t have to travel to start building your travel portfolio. Reach out to local tourism boards and regional events that make your area unique. As you get more experience, apply what you learn to the new places your cameras take you. As a travel photographer, it also helps to have a ‘local’ mindset that takes viewers beyond the postcard views and destinations.
Finding and Working With Photography Clients
Getting clients as a photographer requires a blend of creativity, persistence, and a bit of planning. By leveraging your portfolio, mastering client management, engaging with your community, and tailoring your approach to your niche, you can build a thriving photography business. Remember, every connection you make is an opportunity to grow your network and showcase your talent.
