This marketing strategy was suggested to me by my good friend and photographer with over 30 years of experience, Tim Hoy.
As Tim puts it….
“I make a point of saying hello to everyone, whether I’m in a shop, on the tube or just passing them in the street. Everyone knows someone who is getting married sometime soon and as a wedding photographer the more people who know me the better”
It’s remarkably simplistic and yet probably the best and certainly the cheapest form of marketing a wedding photographer (or any social photographer) can employ.
It’s not just about saying hi to random strangers in the street but actually being the one to start a conversation with the people you meet in your day to day life.
This can be the girl in the coffee shop your order your morning cappuccino from or the owner of a shop you pass everyday.
The effectiveness of this campaign is more about subtly rather than stuffing business cards in people’s hands but its certainly a good reason to carry a few flyers or even promotional vouchers with you to hand out.
You can help start these conversations by wearing branded shirts or publicly editing in coffee shops, it’s up to you! Sometimes just carrying a camera with you is enough but try and look for signs of people’s interest.
If you’re a wedding photographer then keep an eye out for engagement rings. “Wow that’s a big rock” is a easy way to break the ice.
Not only is it a great way to meet new people (and potential clients) but it’s also pretty good for building your confidence.
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Michael has been working as a photographer for the last ten years. In that time he has shot over 100,000 peoples’ portraits and worked in four different continents. In 2001 Michael graduated with a degree in photography from Manchester Metropolitan University.