Firstly I’m hoping that you use database management software to organise all of your lovely clients. If not put it at the very top of your shopping list as it will make you more money than any lens, Photoshop action or whatever else has caught your eye at a trade show.

There’s no denying that in regards to social media, 2012 is all about Pinterest. Everybody seems to be racking their brains to find a way to make it work for them as a marketing tool. One simple idea that I’ve seen is a competition in which participants aim to create a board in order to win a prize.

I’ve seen lots of different promotions from photographers who have run different competitions and many that do charity work but this marketing campaign is a little different.

The biggest difference is that you will be raising funds for charity but you’ll also be making some money for your own pocket too.

There’s something about April Fools day which I love. It’s not recognised as a national holiday, Hallmark don’t sell ‘happy fools day cards’ (then again I could be wrong about that one) and there’s no real target market as adults and children both equally participate.

The one great things about the changing seasons is the fact that we can all jump on the promotional bandwagon and take advantage of the numerous holidays throughout the year.

Your blog is undoubtedly the most powerful online marketing tool you have at your disposal but if you think that you can rely on SEO and cleverly written post titles to drive traffic your way then think again.

This poses quite a problem as I love the idea of using video to promote my business. Webcams are fine enough, but really what I want to communicate can’t be done with me sitting in front of my computer.

We have mentioned 365 photo projects in the past but a 52 project might be more suited to your work-flow.

As a professional photographer you might scoff at the idea of using an app like Instagram to market your business. Or perhaps the fact that you’ll be using a camera phone to take and share images might chill you to the bone. But the fact of the matter is that Instagram is popular, very popular indeed so why wouldn’t you be embracing a popular photography community?

If you have been using timeline already you’ll no doubt have played around with different cover photos. You’ll also might have come to the same realisation as I did that it’s not easy to find an image which fits neatly into the 850 x315

As its convention and trade show season I’m sure that you’ll be overwhelmed with ideas and inspiration for marketing campaigns. The biggest problem is that you might have come across a golden nugget that at this point in time isn’t quite the right fit for your business.

The last ever (maybe) recording of the PhotoCreative Podcast. Host Michael Shilling shares a few thoughts on the past two years and looks forward to 2012. There are three (unedited) behind the scenes videos to go with this podcast.

The 1st of January 2012 will be the last of my posts at my personal photography blog project PhotoCreative365. Since December 3st 2009 I have posted daily thoughts, ideas inspiration for photographers. Tomorrow I’ll be publishing a list of the most popular posts from the past 2 years but with over 1000 articles that still leaves out quite a few of my favourite rants, ideas and thoughts on the business of photography. There’s lots to read so get stuck in!

The Penultimate Episode of the UK professional photography podcast looking at the business of photography specifically pricing and working out your client capacity.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week I’ve been discussing different areas of my own business which includes baby photography and weddings. There’s also plenty of marketing talk and a social media marketing idea based on the #archiveday concept.

This isn’t by any means a new type if promotion, in fact the MPA here in the UK have been running pretty much the same promotion since 1988 (Cherubs). It is however very successful and something that I have been using since the start of 2011.

The UK professional photography podcast looking at what’s happening in the world of photography, marketing, social media, WordPress and the last week at PhotoCreative365!

On my way to a meeting the other day I passed through Vauxhall station in London and saw a sight which first made me think of a great idea for a marketing campaign but also of an old customer service video I watched years ago while working as a boil in a bag chef (I’m no Gordon Ramsey put it that way).

The UK professional photography podcast looking at what’s happening in the world of photography, social media and the last week at PhotoCreative365!

For portrait photographers gyms can be a good source of referrals but they are often overlooked. But if you think about it every yummy mummy wants to get back in shape after childbirth and gyms are often filled with young parents with a descent income.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we’re talking about client capacity, shoot santa, The Societies 2012 Convention, free ebooks for photographers and the rest of the week at PhotoCreative365

This marketing campaign is useful not only as a networking tool but also as a way to introduce your business to the local community. You could try this at any time of year but I’ve found it works particularly well either when you first open your studio or in the run up to Christmas.

Special midweek podcast recorded in an attempt to finish the year on 100 episodes. Last week we published Business Ideas for Photographers #39 which I found hidden away on my hardrive. I realised that I didn’t get around to recording the final four episodes of that mini series so I’ve put them together on this podcast.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we’re talking about dealing with days when things aren’t going great and how you might give you and your business a boost. We’re also discussing why big businesses are scared of social media and how they deal with bad comments and why it’s worth taking note of what they do.

This marketing campaign aims to bring back the sense of being part of a local business community. I should stress that the aim of this campaign is not just to get half price coffee but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be a little added bonus.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we’re talking about the new updates to Google Analytics and Twitter, 3G data packages [rant], teaching photography basics and the rest of the week at PhotoCreative365.com

Let’s face it, everyone today is an aspiring photographer whether they are taking pictures of their kids with a camera phone or shooting over your shoulder at a wedding with an entry level DSLR.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we’re talking about getting organised, Google+ Pages, the 500px iPad app, the final 7 weeks of PhotoCreative365 and what’s been happening the rest of the week.

Perhaps it’s my entrepreneurial spirit they made me think of this marketing campaign, or perhaps it’s just another good way to create some interest in your business.

The products or services you sell don’t have to cost tens of thousands of pounds (or dollars), they can be simple, affordable and convenient.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week I’m talking about the ‘Christmas lights effect’, knowing your Christmas cut-off dates, taking images with the iPhone 4s, asking what would Jesus do to increase fan engagement on a Facebook page and discussing the problem with imposing your style of photography on people that aren’t expecting it.

When I think back to my photographic/artistic education the most productive year was my Art and Design foundation course at Wimbledon School of Art. It was a one year pre-degree course in which you spend the first 10 weeks doing 10 different projects in all different areas of art and design before choosing an area to specialise in for the rest of the year. I choose photography in the end but the course also gave me a taster of different areas such as fine art painting, 3D design and sculpture.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week I’m talking about my new series The Monday Morning Ramble, Canon Pro Solutions, running competitions on Facebook and there’s even a mention of spot colouring in there somewhere.

Creating a video with the intention of it ‘going viral’ isn’t the easiest of things to accomplish but if you use your imagination and stay clear of Gay Asian Kittens then even a modest amount of interest can aid your marketing efforts.

The UK professional photography podcast looking at what’s happening in the world of photography and the last week at PhotoCreative365.

Your thing doesn’t have to be your USP but it should be something that people remember you for and something that sets you apart from the crowd. I guess by definition that is a unique selling point but it’s a little more abstract than that.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week I start off venting my frustration and disappointment at not being able to upgrade to the iPhone 4s. Then we have a look at the last week at PhotoCreative365.com including a ‘How it was done” by Damian McGillicuddy, ebooks for photographers and sharing a few tips for those of you starting your own photography business.

There are dozens of different discount or voucher books available for all sorts of different industries. I’m sure at some point you’ve been offered the opportunity to appear in one, for a small fee of course.

The UK professional photography podcast looking at what’s happening in the world of photography and the last week at PhotoCreative365. This week we have a few UK photography training events dates to watch for and we announce the winner of the people’s choice for The 2010 Project.

When I talk about Shooting Santa in the run up to Christmas other portrait photographers often look at me baffled and ask ‘Why do you bother? You can’t make much money doing that.’

In a way that might be true but short term financial gain isn’t what I do it for. My real reason for shooting Santa……. Data collection and promotion.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we’re looking at the winners of The 2010 Project photography competition and voting for the people’s choice award which closes on Friday at midnight. Plus there’s the usual look at the last week at PhotoCreative 365.

Pop-up studios and shops have become increasingly popular in recent years and not just in the photography industry. This is by no way a new type of marketing for photographers, in fact the UK’s most successful photography franchise is built around leads from mall stands.

The UK professional photography podcast. Interview with photographer Tim Hoy. Organiser of The 2010 Project fundraising photography competition for MacMillian Cancer Support.

I know for a fact that I’ve secured bookings purely based on a quick and thorough response to both email and phone enquiries. It’s also nice to get response emails that start with “Thank-you for your rapid response”.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we’re talking about what it is to be a “green” photographer, publishing prices on your website and the last week at PhotoCreative365.

Last week’s marketing campaign [Publishing Prices] was the first part of 2 looking at publishing prices on your photography website. I suggested two options which you might want to experiment with and here are the next two options:

The UK professional photography podcast looking the last week at PhotoCreative365. Main topics this week, Google search results and publishing prices on your website.

A well known photographer once told me “The only reason people ask how much is that it is the only question they have.”
In some respects this is true but the decision to publish prices and rates on your website can make a dramatic impact on your online marketing efforts.

Along with looking at the last week at PhotoCreative365 we’re talking newsletters which was this week’s marketing campaign for photographers article here at CurrentPhotographer.com

There’s nothing simpler than creating a monthly newsletter that I’m surprised more photographers don’t do it. After all, you have a big database of past clients that at some point you’ll want to ask if they’d like to use your services again.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we’re talking customer service, Stumble Upon, Guy Gowan’s new pre-process action, speeding up your WordPress site and the Evernote iPad App.

This marketing strategy was suggested to me by my good friend and photographer with over 30 years of experience, Tim Hoy.

The UK professional photography podcast. Roundtable discussion with Kevin Mullins, George Fairbairn and Alan Hutchison. In our first ever podcast roundtable we start off by talking about photography forums.

What! I hear you say….. Christmas…. It’s still August! Well I was just thinking the same thing this week but then this happened……

The UK professional photography podcast. this week we’re talking about Google+ and Google Authorship as well as looking at what’s happening in the world of photography, Photoshop, WordPress and the last week at PhotoCreative365!

This is another low cost marketing campaign which is prefect for portrait photographers and works particularly well when used with The School Fair Set-Up

The UK professional photography podcast. We’re talking about SEO training with Kevin Mullins, iPad apps for photographers and the rest of the week at PhotoCreative365.

Whilst working for a high street portrait studio franchise a few years ago this marketing campaign was suggested to us from our head office as a summer campaign. For the most part it worked quite well but there could have been some improvements so I’ve included those in this article.

This week we’re talking about training with Ray Lowe, 500px, The 2010 Project how to get your work featured at PhotoCreative365! Plus of course we’re looking at all of the other posts from the week.

One of the easiest ways to build inbound links to to your website is to sign up to online directories. The effectiveness of such sites is of course debatable but online directories do come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and the right ones can help bring in some good referrals.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we have something a little different! I went to see contemporary family portrait photographer Kels Noades who has quit her teaching job and is now taking her photography business full time.

Today’s wedding photography client is very different from days gone by (or so I’m told). Some of them have children, some have been married before but for the most part many couples already live together either in their own or rented property.

The UK professional photography podcast. This week we’re talking shoot to burn, Google+, the new look Memory Gate Website and what’s been happing in the last week at PhotoCreative365.

Link love is a wonderful thing and regardless of it’s actual effectiveness in terms of SEO (increasingly less and less if you believe everything you read from certain experts) but it’s still the top of people’s marketing agenda.

This week I am recording on a brand new microphone which is a slight upgrade from my £11.99 Logitech mic! We’re also talking about photographic training, Social media, wedding fairs and my favourite application at the moment….. Evernote.

Wedding fairs or fayres can be fruitful when it comes to getting leads but at the time they can costly and hard to get into. You do have a couple of options when it comes to how you approaching a wedding fair.

The UK professional photography podcast looking at what’s happening in the world of photography, Photoshop, WordPress and the last week at PhotoCreative365!

Technically speaking today’s marketing campaign is really business ‘best practice’ or something that might fall into the realms of customer service. Delivering your work

Accounting for Photographers – If you live in the UK and would like some advise from photography account Emma then please feel free!

Ideas and Opinion – Automating your life while you’re away

The Sunday Showcase – Miss Wimbledon 2011 Sunny Plaisuwan Sin

A couple of weeks ago I was taking an afternoon off to do a bit of shopping in Sutton High Street (although that isn’t important). As I came out of the train station I was greeted by a cheerful fello who had a microphone and a mobile speaker. He was ‘spreading the good word’ but that isn’t the important part either.

Today’s podcast is a one off special and it’s basically me listing off important tools for your photography business. I recorded today’s episode a couple of weeks ago as I’m currently what you might call ‘out of the office’ ……. or on holiday in other words.

For the past 21 weeks I’ve been sharing lots of different ideas for marketing campaigns. Some are inevitably better than others and some have been tested a great deal more than most. But they are still in essence ideas, not a set of rules that must be adhered to otherwise your business will fail!

The UK professional photography podcast looking at what’s happening in the world of photography, Photoshop, WordPress and the last week at PhotoCreative365!

This marketing campaign isn’t for the faint hearted and requires a considerable amount of commitment but it’s fruit can ultimately be plentiful and delicious (finically speaking).

I’ve experimented with several forms of advertising in the past and one form of print advertising I’ve been mildly happy with has been on wedding dress shop appointment cards. After a while I started thinking….. why am I paying to appear as a small ad when I could produce these cards at the same cost?

This might sound like a strange idea for a marketing campaign as it’s unlikely to bring you hundreds of bookings overnight. What it will do however is get you (and your site) noticed by people you admire. The marketing campaign is really more about building relationships and raising your public profile.

I’m a keen consumer and producer of podcasts…… you can hear my rambles every Monday at photocreative365.com
In fact the New Media Photographer podcast where Trevor had a regular guest spot, is how I first came across Current Photographer.

As a wedding photographer there’s nothing worse than receiving a great lead from a big spending past client only to realise that you’re already booked!

Self publishing today isn’t what it used to be…… it’s miles better! What are the marketing benefits of publishing a book? Do I really have to answer that question?!?!?

The title of this marketing campaign really should be ‘Keep hammering away at those keywords!’

Today’s marketing campaign for photographers is an à la carte approach social media and a great way to keep tabs on all of your preferred platforms.

What questions do prospective wedding clients ask you when they first meet you? How easy is it to explain what you do and how you work? You can answer all of these questions and more with the simplest of things….. a behind-the-scenes video.

45 minutes of daily social media marketing. This week’s marketing campaigns for photographers is designed to help business owners manage their social media time more effectively.

Last week we looked at one way to associate yourself with local venues using your blog. Today’s post is something you’ll want to do in addition to last week’s post rather than instead of it.

This is the tenth in our series looking at different marketing campaigns for photographers. out of 10 times the first thing any couple looking to get married will search for is the venue. It’s become harder and harder to become a recommended photographer in many venues especially if you’re new to an area or in fact the wedding industry.

Seasonal promotions are a great way to connect with older clients and a wonderful reason to get them back in the studio. Make sure your seasonal marketing offers something for both old and new clients.

Whatever you think about a 3 year old traveling with a passport that has a picture of him or her at 6 days old……. it’s a goldmine for studio portrait photographers.

Raise your profile by seeking press coverage. Approach your local magazines and news papers and offer them something interesting to publish.

The humble keyring…..this isn’t just a gift…… it’s a personalised business card you’ve made especially for each and every one of your clients…… and it works wonders!

Today’s campaign is about organizing an exhibition of your work. This campaign can be done even if you don’t have a studio. You can even organise a group exhibition with some other local photographers to save on costs.

This is the fifth in our series looking at different marketing campaigns for photographers. I’m sure you know this one but it’s as simple as “If you recommend me to a friend then you’ll get a ………”

This is the third in our series looking at different marketing campaigns for photographers. Also in this series: Win a Car! Gift Vouchers The Facebook Group Tag If you have any campaign ideas or suggestions then please use the comments or email me at info@photocreative365.com Marketing Campaigns for Photographers #4 #archiveday This week we’re looking [...]

Last summer British cellular network Orange launched a very clever social media campaign. So I was wondering how as a wedding photographer I could do the same thing.

This is the second in our series looking at different marketing campaigns for photographers. This is a great little campaign as not only is it effective but it’s great for building relationships with other businesses.

This is the first in our series looking at different marketing campaigns for photographers. I first came across this campaign at a Mitche Graf seminar at last years’ SWPP convention here in London. The campaign Mitche recalled was forwarded to him from a US based photographer who specialized in senior portraits.

What is important with any marketing campaigns or strategy is that it requires you to put the work in to make it successful. The key to being an overnight success is often based on years of hard work. It’s not just about having a Facebook page, tweeting once and a while or just printing off a few flyers.

This is the seventh in our series looking at essential tools for your photography business. We’re going to be looking at some of the essential tools you’ll need to acquire in at least the first year (if not the first month) of your business.

This is the sixth in our series looking at essential tools for your photography business. We’re going to be looking at some of the essential tools you’ll need to acquire in at least the first year (if not the first month) of your business.

This is the fifth in our series looking at essential tools for your photography business. We’re going to be looking at some of the essential tools you’ll need to acquire in at least the first year (if not the first month) of your business.

We’re going to look at two recommended setups for portrait photographers with the first being a basic studio setup. Depending on what you specialise in might change what set-up you have but really only in regards to the props you use. I’m going to concentrate on the things you’ll need for nice and simple family portraits

This is the third in our series looking at essential tools for your photography business. We’re going to be looking at some of the essential tools you’ll need to acquire in at least the first year (if not the first month) of your business.

This is the second in our series looking at essential tools for your photography business. We’re going to be looking at some of the essential tools you’ll need to acquire in at least the first year (if not the first month) of your business.

There are dozens of tools you’ll need to set up a successful photography business. The bad news is that simply owning a nice camera doesn’t make you a professional photographer…… although sadly some folk seem to think it does

It seems that these days we’re constantly arguing about whether we should offer digital images or not and forgetting about the bigger picture….. what else do you have to sell?

The essence of a photography support network is having a group of photographers that you can call upon for advice or assistance.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in business for 10 minutes or 10 years, there’s always something than you can learn. While there seems to be an infinite resource of ideas and training online there does also seem to be a growing amount of offline training courses that have emerged.

Love it or hate it, high dynamic range photography is the future. HDR photography isn’t new by any means but the technologies that are evolving are quite exciting. Here’s quick example of how I like to increase the dynamic range of my images.

Just because you have no money and business is slow doesn’t mean you can’t outsource! In fact getting someone else to lighten the load might even give you more time to make some more bookings!

However you feel it’s going with your wedding photography business the chances are it could be doing a little better……. am I wrong? Here are 10 quick ways you can increase your wedding revenue.

In an ideal world every one of those twentysomething bridesmaids at your last wedding is newly engaged and in the market for a photographer and it just happens you build up a superb report with all them during the prep photos. Sadly this doesn’t always seem to be the case but it’s worth remembering that nearly everyone at the wedding will at least know someone who is getting married in the next 12 months. It’s not easy marketing yourself to 200+ people all at once but here’s a few ideas that might help you along the way……

Trying to figure out how much to charge for your photography and products is a dilemma for any photographer whether you’ve been in business for 30 years or 30 minutes.

In this article Michael Shilling shares 10 different ways to set yourself apart from other photographers.

Here are 15 ideas that will actually increase your portrait revenue…. trust me these are tried and tested in the height of a recession! It’s not about the hard sell but you do need to be able to say no once and a while.