Hello everyone,
I was writing to get some advice on advancing my photography career. I have started out doing freelance photography specifically networking events, headshots, family and individuals; however I am wanting to number one create a steady stream of clients and two how to market myself to do so. I would really appreciate any insight as to how you have done this. I would also like some criticism, and suggestions on if I should submit my photos or not.
How to market yourself, easier said than done these days, and there's no just one magic thing to do that would work for everyone, everywhere and in every market. You kinda need to figure it out in your own field in your region, within your own chosen niche.
One thing is pretty clear, though, just taking/making nice pictures is hardly enough any longer, if it ever was. There's no shortage of freelance photographers, even of those specialising in networking events, headshots, family and individuals.
Rather ironically, there's no shortage of suggestions, tips, tutorials, webinars, or online and offline courses all teaching us how to become successful or at least better photograpers, either. Quite a few former full time photogs have chosen to go into the teaching and mentoring business during the past decade, either as a side business or as the main focus. That particular niche is beginning to become a bit saturated, too.
Yet the vast majority of aspiring photogs out there are still struggling to make it, unless they settle for a hobby or maybe just a side hustle. If it was easy, everyone would be making it. But these days there's an oversupply of both nice photos and good photographers out there.
We all need to figure out our personal reason why we're doing what we're doing before trying to plow our way into a successful business. If that's the goal in the first place.
We all need to find an itch to scratch and a 'problem' people are willing to pay for us to solve. Whatever that means in each case. Or we'd better have a side hustle or a job to cover our living costs.
We got to find and build our own audience, not just with photos, but with our personality, connections and hard work. In other words, finding a niche, hustling, networking, making great photos that mean something to the chosen audience and so on. Start by planning and doing your own affinity marketing, for example. What is it that you would love to do and which whom you would love to hang out with the most? Forget about becoming the next Joe McNally or whichever celeb photog you're aspiring to just yet.
As for whether or not you should submit your photos, that's a bit vague question, isn't it. Should you submit your photos... to where exactly, to whom and for what purpose?
After all, simply submitting your photos, like sharing them all over the web and social media won't help you much, unless there's a particular context and a goal for it. Your photos in this thread are nice, especially the first one, the second one being a bit more bland. But like said, there is no shortage of nice photos of even girls and basket balls out there.
Simply sumbitting your nice photos is not going to help you much. Unless you manage to grab the attention of someone willing to pay for your services related to basket ball, for example. Now who would want or need photos like that first photo, and in what kind of context? What kind of service could you come up with based on that? Rather than just showing off your photos, have you asked what they actually want, and what they really need?
Let's say for example that [photographing] basket ball is your thing. Okay, you can create fine looking shots underneath the hoops, but so can many other people. So maybe you might want to get to know and hang out with people in the basket ball scene, ask them what they need, offer to help them somehow, provide some nice photos for those who need them, and that way slowly make some connections and some rapport, and eventually some name for yourself.
Make use of your assets, whatever those are, but simply being able to snap nice photos with fancy gear isn't one. That one is a given, as you no doubt know by now.
Sorry if I'm rambling on and repeating the kind of talking points already submitted by others, and perhaps this is not too helpful, but that's my 2c stream of consciousness, anyway.
Good luck with your endeavour.
