Photo Marketing 101: Intro to Marketing Yourself as a Photographer

As if by some form of blog magic, I’ve landed here with an opportunity to share all of my knowledge about marketing with you.  As the Director of Marketing for the New York Institute of Photography, I’ve seen it all.  I’ve seen photographers who have amazing websites and some who have less than stellar websites.  I’ve even seen some with no website at all.

In today’s world, whatever your experience level, some sort of online presence is essential to success.  That rule holds true for business ventures of any kind.  And photographers looking to make money with their photography should learn to treat themselves as a brand, or business.  Sure you’re an artist, but if you want to make a living, you’re also a businessperson.

I’ve been invited to share some of the tips and tricks I’ve picked up along with way with you, and will continue to do so until we’re all millionaires (I wish).

Lesson 1 is simple: Think of yourself as a brand.

Marketing has a tendency to take on an ugly connotation with some people, conjuring up images of sneaky advertising or annoying salesman.  But what marketing is, for our sake, is the simple act of building a brand, promoting your work, and attracting the attention of potential customers.

Any good business starts with a plan, or strategy. What is the name of your business?  Is it your name? Your studios name?  Whatever it is, that’s where you start.  That is your brand.  And in future editions of this Photo Marketing 101 blog series, we will explore how to build around that brand, and expand the reach of your brand to attract attention.

Homework: Your assignment, should you choose to accept, is to brand yourself.  Name your photography business.  And share that name with us in the comments below.

Comments

[Jessica K. Sullivan]

Sullivan Photography. We are on facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/SullivansPhotography, twitter https://twitter.com/#!/SullivanPhotog and blogger http://photographybysullivan.blogspot.com/. I am very excited to get our own website. Don't feel ready to take that next step though.

[LaTosha M.]

I'm new to photography and in Unit 1 of the complete course at NYIP. My favorite word is serendipity... so I found a way to incorporate that within my business name:

Visions of Serendipity

You can find me at http://visionsofserendipity.tumblr.com/

I also welcome feedback!

[Savannah]

I choose Savannah Williams Photography as the name of my photography business. I secured the domain for it, but I haven't yet set up the web presence. I currently post my photos on Flickr, but not viewable by the public.

[Rick F.]

I am a current NYIP student and a former computer tech. I have no website yet but have done heavy research into the best templates / web hosts for photographers. Thus far I really like the offerings on www.photocrati.com (excellant if you want to get into blogging to promote your work and is 100% NON-flash. Meaning that your site will work well on most devices including iPhone) If you just HAVE to have a site based on Adobe Flash, I really like the look and feel of the templates on www.livebooks.com as well as www.photoshelter.com

[Amanda (Carpe Diem photography)]

Hello
I am a freelance photographer, my main photography is landscape and seascape. I have a website: www.carpediem-photography.co.uk and a facebook page, my website is currently being made so it currently links people to the facebook page.

I make sure that I put my logo on the photo's that I'm putting up, if people choose to use them as their profile pictures then that is more advertising for me to. I am also sending out business cards and post card sized business cards as well as having stickers made of the logo

I think the important thing to remember in marketting is that people will remember a logo if they see it often enough.

[Nicolás]

ndz fotografía

[Shona Curtis]

I'm arriving late to this conversation but I'm finding the information very helpful as I begin to explore the opportunities and pitfalls of using social media to market my relatively new business. My business is called ShonArt Photography. I hope that it communicates both my name and my desire to share photographs, whether landscapes or portraits, that are works of art.

[pfotologist]

Seize The Moment Imaging

[Laura Cybulak]

My brand for my photography side of business is Lovin' Photography. I also have a quilting business called......you guessed it......Lovin' Stitches.

[Holly Stigen Art Photography]

I have choosen Holly Stigen Art Photography as my brand to show that I am a fine art photographer versus portraits, weddings, etc. I also have a tag line "Capturing the Art in Life". I have a facebook page, a blog, and two websites, one serves as my catalog for my signed limited editions and the other has more photos that can be purchased directly. My blog serves as my central hub so to speak, it has links to both websites and my facebook page. I also have it set up that I can go to my catalog, send it to my blog, and then send it to my Facebook page, so I do a daily photo. Knowing all of this, should I also set up an Etsy or an E-bay store?

Thank you :)

[Jonah Berglund]

I decided upon Jonah Berglund Media because I have done more than photography in the past -- I've done some video slideshows, as well as personalized cartoon doodles. Am I too broad in my focus? I would love some feedback.