Having a social media presence is now vital to every successful business, but especially so for photographers.
Discover new customers, maintain relationships with existing ones, build professional relationships with other photographers and wedding professionals, showcase your work, and get creative ideas. If you utilize social media properly, you can grow a sizable following.
Instagram is an excellent location to promote your elopement photographer business because it is a visual platform. Beautiful material attracts a lot of followers, and you may get your posts seen by the right people by strategically using hashtags.
Your page as a whole will look better if the photographs you submit are all well-coordinated and reflect your brand's values. Photos are a great way to show off your artistic style and give potential clients a glimpse of what they can expect from working with you.
In order to succeed in Instagram's competitive algorithm, you need to be reliable. Make an effort to post once per day at roughly the same time. When you prepare and arrange your material weeks in advance, you can also check that all of the photographs mesh well with one another.
When trying to gain a large following on Instagram, it's crucial to show that you're always one step ahead of the curve and that your work is truly original. Why not promote your company using the brand new Reels feature? It's not as difficult as it seems; just read our instructions and get started.
If you're already well-known as a wedding photographer on Instagram, you might want to switch to elopement-focused photographs instead of your larger, more typical wedding shots. Pick shots that will best demonstrate your skill at creating a cozy wedding atmosphere. Follow the adage you've probably heard: Feel free to share your intended targets.
Make a Pinterest account right now if you haven't already!
To promote your services as a wedding elopement photographer, Pinterest is THE ideal platform. Your posts are less likely to get lost in the shuffle because of the platform's lower size compared to Facebook and Instagram. Pinterest users have one goal in mind when they log on: to discover and collect inspiring pictures.
It's similar to a virtual look book, which many brides use to help them decide on a style for their big day. Elopement couples, who are likely to be on a tighter budget and to forego a wedding planner, are a prime demographic for this service. Someone is waiting to view your photographs right now.
Again, whatever you share must be consistent with your USP. If you're an elopement photographer, you want to stand out from the crowd and connect with clients who are looking for your specific style.
If you're unfamiliar with Pinterest, read our marketing guide to get a feel for the platform and how to best promote yourself there.
Social media marketing on Facebook is still worthwhile, despite the fact that users are increasingly abandoning the site for alternatives.
Here's additional specific advice on how to maximize your Facebook engagement, including how to run targeted advertising that tend to have a good rate of success and how to share information and blog articles with your followers. Some professional photographers even use Facebook to facilitate communication with current and potential customers, as well as other wedding photographers.
That reminds me: have you joined the official Dirty Boots & Messy Hair Facebook page yet?
Relationships, networking, and word-of-mouth
Putting on your social hat is required as having a photography business is all about making connections. Clients can be found online, but word-of-mouth is where you'll make the most money.
You should put in a lot of effort into networking, especially at the beginning of your career. Although it's natural to view your fellow local photographers with suspicion (they are, after all, your rivals), it's in everyone's best interest to network with them rather than pit yourself against them. Sharing information, boosting each other's profiles, and maybe forming a joint venture are all viable options.
Networking with other wedding professionals (e.g., DJs, caterers, bakers, musicians) is also highly recommended. Since elopements typically involve fewer vendors, it's beneficial to strike up friendships and establish a mutually beneficial "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" relationship with those you do work with.
If you're a professional wedding photographer with a large list of contacts in the industry, why not see if any of them might be interested in partnering with you on an elopement-themed styled shoot?
The establishment of such a base of reliable vendors is an excellent place to begin when planning an elopement.
Keeping in touch with your clientele is crucial. Of the twenty weddings you photograph this season, this one is the only one for this couple. Give them the impression that they have been heard and comprehended. Before the big day, stay in touch by email, text, and even FaceTime if you'd like. It's crucial to put in the time and effort to cultivate a positive relationship with them so that you can count on a glowing recommendation when the wedding is over.
Research your options, please.
A photographer's knowledge of local elopement regulations is crucial, regardless of how long they've been in the business (as these may differ from what you are used to).
Take the question of whether or not a witness is required at your wedding as an example. In your capacity as the couple's official wedding photographer, may we ask that you please sign the appropriate Does being in a national park or other off-the-grid place necessitate any additional paperwork?
It's important to put in the time and effort before launching your elopement services to make sure you and your couples are set up for success, and knowing all of this ahead of time will be a huge help!
Relax; you can do this.
Marketing and audience development can feel like a mountain to climb when you're just getting started.