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Ty Merkel

Everything You Need to Know About the Instagram Shadowban

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If you are reading this article then you’ve probably heard of the next big Instagram plague— far worse than the non chronological feed debacle and a thousand times worse than the infamous Instagram purge of 2014. The shadow ban. It’s here and it will seriously wreck your precious Instagram account. Whether you’ve been affected or not, read on to discover what causes it, how you can avoid it, and how you can un-shadowban your account.

What is an Instagram Shadowban?

The Instagram shadowban is when your hashtags become unsearchable, undiscoverable, and for all intents and purposes, invisible to anyone outside of your current followers.

You can still use hashtags and from your perspective everything seems dandy. When you click through your tags, your photos pop up where they should. Although, when a stranger searches for a hashtag that’s linked to your photo, like #pnw for example, your post will be totally missing on the gallery page, while other people’s photos are still displayed.

This hashtag specific ban means you will have a difficult time gaining a following, especially if you are a smaller account. Reversely, if you have painstakingly built a fantastic profile with a large fanbase, that account might become stagnant.

How do I know if I’ve been shadow banned?

Believe it or not, some people’s accounts have been banned for months and they are just noticing. Other users notice almost immediately. The primary sign is that you’ll see a drastic drop in engagement, and upon more investigation you’ll realize that virtually all of your likes and comments are coming from your current followers.

If you’ve noticed this downward trend, then you can conduct a hashtag test. You simply put up a new post and tag your photo with an underused hashtag that doesn’t get many updates. Then while you are still on your own account, click through to the hashtag gallery and look at precisely where your photo is located.

Then log onto another account that doesn’t follow/ interact with your profile. If your hashtag pops up, congrats, your account is in the clear. Sleep easy. But if the photo doesn’t show up where it should, you might be shadowbanned.

Update: Now you can use this shadowban checker.

Why did my account get shadow banned?

So you might be asking, why? Why me? I’m not a robot, I don’t use any third party apps, I don’t post nudes —I’m a maternity photographer for goodness sake!

Instagram hasn’t acknowledged this shadowban, let alone stated what actions will land you in time out. After exhaustive research, here is what might be causing your shadowban:

#1 You are using a broken or banned hashtag

We all know that certain tags like #booty is banned. Yet, sometimes perfectly innocent hashtags get overrun with so much spam and nudity that Instagram decides to nix the entire hashtag rather than sort through the rubbish. For example, #Newyears, #Instagirl, #eggplant and even #kansas are banned tags. Also, if you incorporate one banned hashtag into your post, it can essentially poison your entire set and render you invisible on all other legit hashtag galleries.

#2 You are using the same hashtags over and over again

Do you use the same set of 30 hashtags every time you post? Do you only switch up the last tag or two? Well, that might look a little spammy, as Instagram flags any repeat comments (or captions) you post.

#3 You’ve gone on liking sprees and mass following/ unfollowing

Instagram has a limit on how many actions you can make in an hour and if you go on a spree, IG will eventually block that action and say that you can’t use that feature for a while. But even if you don’t go over the limit, Instagram might recognize these surges of engagement as an Instagram bot on a liking rampage.

#4 Other users have reported you

Anyone you interact with can report your actions to Instagram HQ, and this is the one area of IG customer service where they act swiftly. So if you have been spamming, following/unfollowing rapidly, posting nude photos, stealing photos, or posting weird comments— some people might report your inappropriate behaviour, and you could be shadow banned instead of having your account outright deleted. Also, if you have been using the following/ unfollowing method you might be following/ unfollowing the same person a bunch of times, so much that they notice and report you.

#5 Using any kind of instagram automation software

This goes without saying but any service that claims to boost your account or perform any actions on Instagram on your behalf might be sabotaging you. In simple terms, anything automated is directly against Instagram’s terms of service. But maybe you have the automation set to slow speed, to mimic human actions on IG? Well, Instagram will find out anyways, because one minute your automation service is liking photos from an IP address in Washington then a few minutes later you comment on some posts from an IP address in New York. The algorithm will immediately recognize all of that as shifty behavior.

Is this a glitch or is Instagram doing it on purpose?

Instagram has released a statement vaguely addressing the invisible hashtag issue…

Screen Shot 2017-04-13 at 7.37.41 PM

As you would guess, not many people are happy with this answer (and that’s putting it lightly).

The gist is that you should simply not lean on hashtags for growth and instead focus on other avenues, like creating good content and reaching out to potential followers. But hashtags are the main discovery mechanism on Instagram and growing your account without them is like going back to dial up internet.

Additionally, from what we’ve researched no one has personally heard back from Instagram if they reported this issue on the app. So for now, we are in the dark and at the mercy of the Instagram gods. But there are three valid theories which will help you make sense of the hysteria.

#1 Since this summer, Instagram has been changing their algorithms. Why? To crack down on automation services and Instagram bots. So one possibility is that the system is a little overzealous and is incorrectly punishing regular accounts. If this is true, the problem will be remedied when Instagram “gets the resources” and makes their algorithm smart enough to differentiate between bots and normal users, like yourself.

#2 Some people suspect that not enough business users are paying for ads on Instagram, especially considering Facebook’s acquisition of IG. So this could be the beginning of a pay-to-play system that has already been implemented on Facebook for businesses. Where your engagement is lowered automatically by the algorithm and you have run some ads to bring engagement back up.

#3 Many people suspect Instagram is deflecting from the issue, and will just continue to silence various accounts that appear spammy or don’t “behave well” via IG’s mostly unwritten engagement rules. Never communicating with the accounts as to not cause alarm. Scaring people straight with the constant threat of a shadow ban seems like an effective way to punish users who use get-followers-quick tactics.

How can I get my account back to normal?

We know, it sounds hopeless. Instagram’s customer support is notoriously silent in these sort of situations. But here’s what some other users have done to get the hashtag rights reinstated:

#1 Immediately stop suspicious activity

That means no more sprees of any kind. Make sure to do everything in even measure. What seems safe is to engage for a few minutes (5-10) every hour, like a few photos, post a unique comment specific to the post or photo, follow a new user, and like another photo in that order essentially. Don’t move too fast and don’t perform too many actions in a row or excessively.

#2 Revoke API permissions

Remember that one time you signed up for a follower tracker app and gave them your login info? Well, that could be the sole reason you are banned. So log onto your account and make sure that no other applications have access to your account. Additionally, if you have dabbled in any automation services in the past, they won’t show up on this authorized permissions page, because automation programs don’t use Instagram’s API in that way. If you can’t remember what service you used, or you are roped into some godforsaken annual plan, you’ll have to change your password to cut off the automation service.

#3 Switch from a business account to a personal account

It is possible that Instagram is trying to coax you into using ads. Businesses rely on engagement to increase sales, so decreasing reach could definitely force people to use sponsored posts. Reverting back to a personal account might be a way around this.

#4 Take a sabbatical

Take a few days off. Sign off and don’t log back in. No liking, no posts, and no following. Then when you get back on, ease back in slowly, and engage like you are being watched (because you probably are).

#5 Avoid growth hacks and engagement groups

Using 60 hashtags in your comment and caption? Following and unfollowing people by tracking them with a tracker app? Joined up with an engagement group that promises to like each other’s photos at a certain hour, in a certain way? Stop. It. All. These hacks may work for a brief second but if you get shadow banned then it’s all kind of pointless right?

#6 Delete questionable content

If you have posted anything that might be deemed questionable (this applies for hashtags too) go ahead and delete it. Getting rid of banned or reported clutter on your page might do the trick.
In the end, what matters is that you avoid anything spammy or questionable. If you follow these rules and recommendations there’s a good chance you can get your account back to normal. Have any of you been banned? Have any of these solutions helped? Anything that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!

How to Build a Blog-Worthy Photo Studio on a Budget

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It’s easy to get lost in the photography world’s endless sea of image stabilization lenses, titanium tripods, extra battery packs, and UV filters. But what gear do you really need to set up a photography studio to meet all your blogging needs? And how can an upstart photographer or entrepreneur find all that gear without breaking the bank? Fear not: I’m here to say that with a little elbow grease, a few tips and tricks, you can piece together a mini studio that produces Vogue-crisp images without the huge price tag.

You may be blogging for business or for fun. You may be a photographer who wants to break into the blogging sphere. Perhaps you are a seasoned blog star looking to switch out some worn gear.  As long as you’re a tight budget and need photography gear, this article is for you.

Here is exactly what you need to build a blogger’s photo studio on a bootstrapped budget. I’ll show you the equipment I use myself or would highly recommend.

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All photos by me 🙂

Cameras

I have a Canon 5Ds which I adore, but it is definitely pricey and not exactly startup friendly. So here are some sensible alternatives, which I have used and loved. 

1. Canon Rebel t5i

Canon’s Rebel t5i (which is priced at $649) is a super starter and well-balanced entry-level DSLR, but its capabilities are on par with the best cameras. And if blogging and product shoots are your main outlets, then it will suit your needs just fine. The list of pros is long for this little camera. With its 360-degree tilt-able touchscreen, good image detail at high ISOs, and fast autofocus, this baby has enough technical headroom for you to really spread your creative wings.

2. Canon Rebel SL1

But if your budget is suuuuper tight and you want to shave off a few hundred dollars, you can opt for Canon’s less tech-packed entry level DSLR— the Canon Rebel SL1 (currently priced at $399).

The downside of this camera is that it doesn’t have a swivel screen, the burst mode shooting isn’t as quick, and it has less cross-type Auto Focus points. Upside is that this camera is two hundred dollars cheaper, and it has a higher effective ISO, meaning you can take photos in low light with less noise (which is when photos look fuzzy).

Lenses

When you are starting out, do yourself a favor and skip the kit lens and opt for a Canon EF 1.8 50mm lens. At just $125, it is a remarkable lens and truly the best bang for your buck. It is a prime lens (which means it has only one focal length and you cannot zoom) but the major benefit of this is that you can maximize available light and get crisp foreground/background separation. You’ll have faster apertures, crisper detail, and a whole lot more of that velvety bokeh (that out-of-focus blur in a photo’s background).

But if you are shooting flat lays all day, every day and need a wider focal length to broaden your angle of view and pack more detail into your shot, then I would recommend this Canon 28mm lens ($149).

Tripods

Everyone who has dabbled in studio photography knows that you will sometimes need to mount your camera on a tripod in order to snap from those impossible angles and perspectives (because you are a photographer not a contortionist). I keep this Targus Light Weight Tripod on hand because it is paper-light and delightfully affordable at $19.

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Bonus Tip

Holding your camera over a flat lay scene can be a major workout. You can save yourself the strain by opting for this insanely versatile Vanguard Alta Pro Tripod at $135. You’ll be able to get that perfect bird’s eye view of the scene with ease, and if you’re as frugal as me, you can just use a lunchbox stuffed full of your rock collection as your tripod weight. Whatever works!

Wireless Camera Remote

A camera remote might be one of the best (and cheapest) accessories around. It allows you to be your own photographer, to step away from the small screen or tiny viewfinder to compose your photos from a different vantage point. Most of all it allows you to completely avoid that micro shake/blur caused by your hand when you click the shutter button (because the slightest movement kinda ruins the shot and it can get frustrating quick!)

Wireless remotes are especially useful in studio and blogging shots because those require a long shutter to capture enough light with a high aperture and low enough ISO so everything looks sharp and perfect.

I use this Amazon Basics controller. It’s the bare bones option, but I don’t need it for anything else. It’s $8 and only works for Canon or Nikon cameras.

But if you have a Sony, Olympus, or anything else Opteka sells remotes for nearly any camera for $8 dollars as well.

Lights + Diffusers

This kit ($121) offers just the big basics you’ll need to get started — two bright lights with diffusing umbrellas attached along with a set of large backdrops to add background behind your shots.

You could argue that diffusers and reflectors are the most important tool in a studio photography kit. They allow you to avoid harsh shadows, and they make photos look bright and clean even on stormy, grey days.

Backgrounds +  Props

Larger photo gear companies typically overcharge when it comes to tabletop backdrops (backgrounds that you lay across a table or the floor). Don’t waste your money. You can DIY your own for just a fraction of the cost.

When it comes to color backgrounds, I typically head to the nearest craft store and pick up some colored paper, or better yet project poster boards (since they are sturdier, stiffer, and easier to set up than paper). This white board ($13) is my go to for most projects.

Also, if you can swing it, I would recommend these 24-inch reflective acrylic boards ($29) that give a lux glean to your snaps.

Finally, Amazon’s Interesting Finds offers some quirky bright objects for staging scenes that you can use over and over again. For example, this shot right here is quite literally half objects I found on Amazon.

This is also the time to hit up thrift stores or dig through your attic for interesting knick knacks to populate your shots.

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Memory Card

When you are shooting on a DSLR, the files are large and always end up eating more space in your memory card than you expected. Even when it comes to studio photoshoots, you end up taking dozens of shots just to get that perfect angle.

So allow yourself the luxury of buying a SanDisk SD 32 gb memory card for $15. As a photographer who is chronically running out of space on every device, my opinion is the bigger the better, because running out of memory can really throw a wrench in your workflow.

There you have it! That’s everything you need to set up a killer studio for creating some dreamy images for your blog, Instagram, website and beyond! Get your budget studio set up and get creating those stunning images!

Where to Find Stunning Stock Photos for Absolutely Free

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Ah, stock photos. When done right, they can really spice up your work, while also saving you some major time and energy. Good stock photos give visual power to the stories you need to tell. They allow you spend less time creating content for your blog posts and more time creating a beautiful product for your client. But that’s only if those stock shots are visually captivating.

Obviously, there are some brilliant creatives out there (you might be one of them!) that create stunning stock photos and if you can, you should turn to these photographers for your stock needs. But if you can’t for whatever reason, free stock photo banks are a helpful tool for upstart photographers looking to enhance their blogs and social media game.

Read on to learn how you can find your own high-resolution stock photos for free.

Licensing Legalities

First, the legal stuff (sorry, I’ll try to keep this interesting). The free photographs available on the sites listed below fall into two categories: CC0, and CC.

CC0: Creative Commons zero license means that you can use the photos in any way you’d like—copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Take care to remember that these photos can be used for personal and commercial purposes but cannot be sold or redistributed (aka trying to pass off the photo as your own intellectual property).

CC Attribution: Creative Commons with attribution means that you can use the photo in any way you want, as long as you credit the creator of the photo. Attribution is simple: next to the aformentioned stock photograph, write ‘Photo by x’ with a link back to their website or their profile on the licensing site.

It’s usually all as simple as that, but this small legal blurb compels me to say this: I’m a photog not a lawyer, so triple-check the licensing before you click that download button.

1. Pexels

Where to find free stock photos

Pexels is one of the first places I go to find incredible free stock photos. All of its more than 25,000 images are not only free for you to use in any way you choose, but they’re all tagged and searchable. I can’t tell you how hugely convenient this is when you need to find exactly the right photo that conveys just the right mood for your project or landing page. Amazingly, some 3,000 images are added each and every month to its database. Pexels is essentially becoming the Google of free, beautiful stock photography. It even has a growing library of free videos.

Licence Type: CC0

2. Unsplash

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Unsplash offers a massive, searchable collection of jaw-dropping, high-resolution photos with everything from whimsical work spaces to NatGeo-style photographs of foxes. If you subscribe to its email list, then you get 10 of its best snaps delivered hot and fresh straight to your inbox every 10 days. You can also make a personalized home feed that highlights photos you’re interested in. The site also has a handy feature that displays curated collections of images such as “Women At Work” or “Fashion Startups.” Attribution is preferred but not required. Next to Pexels, this is one of my all-time favorites.

Licence Type: CC0

3. Death to Stock 

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Death to Stock photographs are insanely gorgeous. Join their mailing list and a pack of 10 photos within a certain category (categories like “mountains,” and “coffee shop”) will be delivered to your inbox each month.

Death to Stock also offers a paid plan where you get an extra 10 photos each month. At the end of the day, Death to Stock excels because their quality in photo style and usability is the best in the biz. But they have their own licensing agreement which you can read more about here.

License Type: Photograph End User License

4. Life of Pix 

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Life of Pix is a photo service created by the LEEROY creative agency and it is chock-full of free, high-resolution images for any project. Also, if you are interested in donating a few shots for some exposure, there’s a chance that the Life of Pix site will highlight you as a “Photographer of the Week” and if so, they will plug your work on their social media outlets and website (for free).

Licence Type: CC0

5. Tookapic

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Tookapic is a curated collection that offers both paid and free stock photographs. It is characterized by its moody, hyper-stylized, people-centered snapshots. You can filter by free photos which can be used for personal and commercial projects, although you must attribute the photo to the artist and link back to Tookapic website.

Licence Type: CC w/ attribution

6. Pixabay

PIXABAY

Pixabay is stock marketplace that offers over 850,000 photographs, illustrations, vectors, graphics, and videos, all free of charge. A large portion of their photos could be classified as art pieces, and are as glossy and attention-grabbing as any magazine cover page.

Licence Type: CC0

7. Kaboom Pics

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Kaboom Pics is a collection of super high quality, editorial-style photographs that covers everything from fashion to food. It’s easy to browse since you can search via keywords and hashtags. Even though Kaboom is a CC0, the site’s owner does love it when you throw some attribution their way.

Licence Type: CC0

8. FreeStocks.org 

free stocks

FreeStocks offers a wide range of shots for personal and commercial projects. You can browse narrow categories (everything from iphone on desk to girl drinking smoothie), and you can search trending hashtags, which is nifty.

Licence Type: CC0

9. Negative Space

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Negative Space releases 20 new photos every week loaded with plenty of street and workflow scenes. Their collections are searchable by category, color and copy space. Here attribution isn’t required.

Licence Type: CC0

10. Epicantus

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Epicantus contains Pinterest-perfect photography by Daria, visual & UX designer extraordinaire. These minimalist images with a french blogger edge were specifically created for landing pages, blog posts and the like. All of Daria’s original shots are free and up for grabs for commercial and personal use.

Licence Type: CC0

11. Jay Mantri 

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Jay Mantri offers a stunning collection of simple, minimalistic images. These lovingly crafted images showcase stunning architecture, rich landscapes, and his beloved oxford kicks. He releases seven new photos every Thursday. You can search and filter the images by date and hashtags. 

Licence Type: CC0

Thus concludes our tour of sites with jaw-dropping, free stock photos. When you’re in a pinch, or looking to optimize the heck out of your workflow, turn to these stock photo gods. 

And remember: Enjoy, and attribute responsibly!

The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Photography Business With Instagram

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Everyone is on Instagram—reality tv stars, startup coffee shops, Taco Bell, landscape photogs, and flower crown designers. With more than 400 million active users, the app is changing the way people advertise their businesses. High visibility as an “influencer” on Instagram is becoming a coveted status that can quickly transform a fledgling photography business into a money making machine.

However, many photographers are just discovering the app, and you might be wondering if you missed the window when it was easy to amass thousands of followers.

I’m here to tell you it’s not too late, and with a little direction and structure, you can hop on the social media gravy train and drive tons of benefits for your business.

Hold up though—you might be wondering how Instagram can grow your business. The answer is this: Instagram allows you to curate a journey, a story populated with your professional work. It can help you lift the veil between your photography business and clients, and convince followers that they shouldn’t just hire you for your photography skills but also for your unique perspective and personality. Then on the practical end, it increases visibility, adds credibility to your business, and makes you more SEO-friendly. 

Best of all, Instagram allows you to do this all for free, which makes it one of the most effective marketing devices…well, ever.

So yes, you should be on Instagram, if you aren’t already. Here are 10 tips to help you whip your gram’ into shape.

1. Only Showcase Your Best Work

While posting regularly is key to developing your Instagram folllowing, make sure you are posting only cream of the crop images—the kind of photos that incite an automatic wow. Create an Instagram persona that strikes the balance between formal and carefree, and keep your followers hooked by mixing up the sort of images you post. But always share shots that fit distinctly into your brand. India Earl, a wedding and elopement photographer based in Utah, has curated a beautiful Instagram that speaks volumes about her personal style.


#1 Only Showcase Your Best Work@indiaearl

2. Decide your niche ASAP

From the get-go, you must position yourself as an authority within a specific field, because you can’t be a jack-of-all-trades photographer. If you try to specialize in everything, you’re really specializing in nothing. The more narrow your niche (like babies in fairy costumes or enchanting elopements) the better, because it will help you stand out from the rest of the Insta crowd. Additionally, you never want users to be confused about your forte. My advice is to make it so glaringly apparent that a random follower only needs a millisecond glance at your Instagram page to know exactly what your expertise is.

3. Tell Good Stories

When someone decides to follow you on Instagram, they become avid consumers of your work. Your job, then, is to keep them addicted.  Even though you want to represent your brand accurately, don’t be afraid to be funny or too whimsical. Your followers obviously admire your work, but they tune in to connect with you as an artist with an authentic personality. At the same time, don’t feel pressured to spin life changing stories or reveal universal truth. Just be yourself. Like what happened at your last shoot? Did it start to rain during the marriage ceremony? Or did you make goofy faces at a toddler just to grab one good photo of them? I know you possess a unique perspective and stories that only you can tell. So go ahead and narrate them! I promise your followers will fawn over your candor.

3. Tell Good Stories@tecpetaja

Thinking about using social media to grow your business? Facebook Ads Academy for Photographers gives you all of the fundamentals you need to leverage the most powerful social network in the world to make much, much more money than you’re making now. We’ll teach you the tricks & secrets to create a successful Facebook campaign on your very first try.

4. Use Hashtags and Geotags Effectively

Hashtags and geotags increase your post’s reach across the app. While it might be tempting to use a hundred tags to promote a post (I’ve been there), a tactful approach will help you so much more. First off, an effective hashtag is searched but not overused. Your post is probably going to be lost in any hashtag with over 500,000 entries.

Also, avoid common tags such as #sunset, #fun, #dog, and the like, since they are overloaded and the engagement from these tags is quite spammy. If you tag all willy nilly you might attract bots or aimless likes that won’t convert into followers (let alone clients). You want to cultivate an intentional, active and caring following.

In terms of placement, don’t substitute real words in your caption with hashtags. Example A:  “#Sunsets in #Iceland are insanely #beautiful”. Avoid this cardinal Insta sin at all costs. It is just a tad grating to read, and the human attention span is shorter than a goldfish’s while scrolling the Gram, so keep your captions clean and legible to keep your audience captivated.

Instead, put your hashtags at the end of your post or in a comment below, and please try to limit yourself to 20, which is a classy amount. Don’t bombard your poor followers with 50+ hashtags.

Here’s a starter template for deciding what hashtags to use:

  •  Always, always geotag the location of the photo, and if you can, indicate the specific name of the park, building or event (some examples are #losangeles #lacmalights #dodgersgame). Followers invariably want to know where a photo was snapped, and it makes your photo pop up if someone searches that location.
  •  Indicate the type of photography (eg. #newbornshoot, #seniorportraits).
  •  Tag the equipment you used (eg. #canon5ds #35mmsigmalense). 
  •  Pair up your location and expertise (#losangelesweddingphotographer #chicagosportsphotographer). 
  • Tag the details of your shoot (#newbornclothes #weddingdress). 
  • Lastly, use Instagram’s Explore feature to discover trending hashtags such as #newyearseve2016 and #earthday and integrate those trending combos which are relevant to your post.

4. Use Hashtags and Geotags Effectively@kathvphotography

5. Apply For Shoutouts

Besides hashtags, geotags, and interaction, shoutouts remain the single best way to gain followers. But how do you court a feature account, you ask? Here’s how you do it—follow an account that is analogous to your niche, authentically engage with their posts often (aka more than the thumbs up sign), and tag photos that would fit right into their feed. It’s that easy. If you are consistent, the moderators will eventually notice you. Then, when you finally nab a feature, make sure to flex that ethos and issue a heartfelt thanks so they feel compelled to feature you again, because everyone likes doing favors for grateful folks— am I right?

6. Ask Questions In Captions

An effective way to spark engagement is through posts that ask a question. Queries are irresistible because they ask for opinions, and everyone loves to give their two cents.

I have even found breathtaking adventure spots just by asking my followers for suggestions. Get creative. Ask what life-changing book they read this year. Or what is their favorite national park? What kind of cat do they want to be? (Like I said. Don’t be afraid to be whimsical). Ask anything, because your followers will appreciate the fact you care about their thoughts and interests and that following you means a reciprocal show of affection.

6. Ask Questions In Captions@indiaearl

7. Forge Authentic Community

If you feel intimidated by other influencers with a million followers, don’t sweat it. Followers aren’t necessarily fans—and popularity doesn’t denote profitability. Because at the end of the day, you don’t want a successful Instagram, you want a successful business. Back when I was working for a wedding photography company, our Instagram only had 1,200 followers. But half of our business came from the app! Yes, HALF.

While the dreamy goal is to gain a massive following to increase the exposure for your business, you want to first focus on treating your current followers well. Follow them back, like their photos, show them sincere appreciation beyond a nonspecific “thanks.” Always aim to start conversations with followers that prove you care about their support. Because the more you talk to each of them, the more they will not only feel compelled to follow you, but also to support your business financially, and champion you in a myriad of other ways. Also, reach out to current and past clients and flatter them with tags. Puff them up, tell your followers why you had a stellar time working with this client, and just be genuine.

7. Forge Authentic Community@elizabethmessina

This is a bit taboo, but you should also reach out to your competition. Yeah, I said it! Why not convert them into friends instead of foes? Trade marketing secrets, observe each other’s client conversion tactics, and maybe even partner up for a fancy project. This is just another way to increase visibility and become deeply involved with your Insta niche. You could even cross-promote one another, and you just might win over a few of their fans. At the end of the day, only use Instagram to build bridges, never burn them.

8.  Host Giveaways And Advertise Discounts

Giveaways are huge on Instagram. Whereas contests and free prizes on the general internet off the social media grid are always viewed with skepticism, Instagram is a rare exception. Although, in the midst of all the Insta-revelry, remember that the goal is to have users advocate for your brand while pursuing your prize. Here’s how you host one in five steps: 

  • Choose a theme based on your specialty (eg. babies, family portraits, dogs in cool hats).
  • Decide the prize: whether that be free headshots or five canvas prints.
  • Determine how users can enter the contest. They can like a photo, follow your page, share your post, tag their friends and or comment or perform a combo of all the above.
  • Choose an entry deadline. If you are giving away seven separate prizes you might want to give it a week. Or if it is just one prize, 24 hours might suffice. Just make sure to give people enough time to enter and allow the contest to gain traction.
  • Promote your contest. Because who’s gonna enter the contest if they don’t even know it’s happening right? Send out polished emails to past clients, post it on all social media mediums, tell your aunt who likes every single one of your posts. Just get the word out!

Additionally, Instagram is an effective megaphone for advertising discounts sans content. For example, you could announce a 25% discount on a newborn photo session if you book within the next 48 hours. Sometimes a small savings is all it takes for a client to take the plunge and book a session with you.

8. Host Giveaways And Advertise Discounts@kateholsteinphoto

9. Post Behind-the-Scenes Images and Videos

Instagram’s stories are basically a copycat of Snapchat that lets you create photo sequences that expire after a day. It is where you get to be a real human and not just a profit-obsessed robot who happens to take stunning photos. Deposit content into this feature that wouldn’t work in a traditional post—like behind-the-scenes shots, selfies with clients, snaps of your perpetually messy work desk, or you wading into a frigid lake in the middle of freaking winter to get that perfect shot. Since this content only last 24 hours, the stakes are much lower and it won’t affect the aesthetic of your home page.

10. Make Sure Your Linked Page From Instagram Is Sales-Centric

That link in your Instagram bio should lead directly to a “Book Your Session” page instead of more examples of your work, because at this point your Instagram is your portfolio as far as your prospective customer is concerned. Make it painfully easy for followers to arrange a photoshoot so they don’t get cold feet while exploring your site.

The final word:

Obviously, Instagram won’t replace your portfolio or traditional networking. Who knows, it could become the next Vine and die abruptly tomorrow. But for now, 30% of the internet is on Instagram. If potential clients are logging onto the app, you need to get on there and catch em’. Don’t be afraid to get reach out, be inspired, tell good stories, and most of all, have fun! It can only help your business. So log on, post those gorgeous photos of yours, and start meeting your 400 million new besties.

12 Ways to Make More Money With Your Photography Business in 2017

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Author pictured above.

This is the year that your photography business is really going to take off. How do I know? Because if you follow many of the tips I’m going to offer below, you’ll be well on your way to a successful 2017.

Do you want to make more money this year? I’m going to guess the answer is “heck, yes!”

Where do you even start? Raising your prices? Starting a referral program? Offering freebies? (wait, that sounds wrong… but it actually works!)

Read on to learn some solid strategies to attract more clients, increase your visibility and grow your brand, and at the end of the day — and year — pad your profits.

1. Offer a Freebie

Offering your services for free may seem counter-intuitive. After all, you’re trying to make more money, not less. Still, if you’re relatively new to the photography biz, one of your most important assets is word-of-mouth advertising. So get out there and work it! You want to generate buzz, and get as many people familiar with your brand as possible. Say you give out freebies to 10 people, and “only” two of these clients decide to purchase a larger package. That’s a 20 percent “conversion rate,” which is actually a fantastic return on investment — and you now have two customers you didn’t have before.

Whatever you offer, whether it’s free canvas prints, free headshots, or free retouching,  just make sure to offer something that is valuable since everything you produce (even for free) is reflective of your brand’s quality. Still, make sure those nifty free goodies are quick to produce and not too expensive  — no sense going into debt for freebies.

2. Book Mini Sessions

Mini sessions are an excellent way to entice commitment-phobic clients. For example, a $50 session might only take you 15 minutes and your client walks away with five finished images. That’s a very satisfied client who’s likely to rave about you to other prospects.

Keep in mind that mini sessions are not a full session at a discount. Gently remind clients that they are scoring a deal, so make sure to streamline these sessions to make it worth your time. One location, 15-20 minutes tops. Don’t offer these quick jobs expecting an immediate payday. Just like freebies, mini sessions are an investment in networking and converting clients into loyal customers.

3. Streamline Your Editing

Using your time efficiently is one way to generate more income. Time saved is money earned. This was actually my first mistake while starting out: I spent way, way too much time in post-production. I would devote three extra hours a day trying to get my color balance and white highlights just right. Avoid my mistake by using Lightroom presets and Photoshop actions. You can automate these programs to overlay filters and customizable edits onto your imports, create your own presets and actions, or (in the true spirit of time saving) you can just purchase preset packages (No shame, here. I’ve always opted for pre-made filters. Hey, it works for those influencers on Instagram!).

4. Partner with an Influencer

Speaking of… social media influencers attract a massive following because they have captured some sort of zeitgeist. There are many reasons to work with influencers: They will help you tailor your message with their insider experience.They are typically cheaper than a proper advertising campaign. And they’ve already established trust with their cult fans. With their quasi-celebrity stamp of approval, they help make your brand more effective and trustworthy. If all goes well, their fans will be tempted, and artfully encouraged to become your fans.

5. Offer Word-of-Mouth Incentives

In the world of creative services like photography and graphic design, referrals are king. They provide “social proof,” or evidence of your value based on someone else’s opinion. Some people who totally ignored my business suddenly came calling after their cousin, or teacher,  or sorority sister put their stamp of approval on my work. So don’t be shy, and openly encourage your clients to vouch for your business. But remember to reward them accordingly with a discount or free prints. Even if you can’t offer an incentive, give them a shout out on good ol’ social media. Public flattery is always a good idea; it’s free, and takes just a few hot seconds.

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6. Update Your Website

For the majority of customers, your website is their first impression of your business. It is the online equivalent of a storefront and customers will decide your value and trustworthiness within seconds. Your website needs to communicate your capabilities, your personality, your brand, availability, and some ballpark of your fees. Always make sure it is painfully easy to locate that golden “book me” button. Also, invite friends and clients alike to test the usability on your website, whether they get lost navigating around your portfolio, or whether certain wording is a major turnoff. Then make the appropriate alterations. If you aren’t a software developer in your free time (I am most definitely not; numbers and HTML scare me), then it would be best to start with a WordPress or Squarespace template. You can put up a professional-looking site in mere hours with these services; no coding required. If you can afford one, it’s worth hiring a website designer to customize your online portfolio.

7. Improve Your Marketing Automation

Automation tools are gifts from the tech gods. With of these tools, you won’t waste your time sending emails and texts with every new submission or booking. Establish automated responses and then fill in the gaps with personalized content when necessary. Schedule your blog posts, newsletters, social media updates to go out when your audience is online. For instance, if each task takes just one minute, at my current rate of over 7,000 tasks per year, that’s about 14 working days back in my pocket for more shooting, post-production, Netflix binges, whatever!

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8. Spread Your Content

Having multiple points of contact with your brand is vital. It increases brand awareness and adds another layer of trust to your product. It is the Web equivalent of leaving breadcrumbs for customers to follow back to your booking site. You need to scatter your work across all platforms—Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ (if only to improve your SEO), magazines, and blogs like this one! (There are some tips to get published in your dream magazines.) You don’t just want views, you want attention from people who are interested in your service. Compose a content calendar to help yourself brainstorm what promotions, content and platforms you are posting on for a given day or week. Also, remember to set up specific, measurable goals to help yourself determine if your efforts are successful or need adjustment in the future.

9. List on Deal Sites

Sometimes folks aren’t brand-loyal, they are deal-loyal. Thus, coupons are a way to introduce them to your business. Listing photo discounts on sites like Groupon is a simple way to expand your clientele and dip into that frenzied coupon crazed market. Fair warning though: Set up an enticing deal, but not one that’s so cheap it devalues your brand or isn’t worth your time.

10. Advertise on Social Media

When it comes to advertising, it’s a given that you’ll turn to social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. Why? Because their image-driven formats are perfect vehicles to showcase photography businesses, and because your target audience is already on these networks, waiting to be wowed. And because it’s almost impossible these days to stand out with “organic” traffic alone. You need to boost your presence with paid advertising. Make sure to target your ads to specific audience groups so your photos are landing in front of qualified leads, so you don’t waste money  marketing to people who have no business learning about your business.

If you’re new to Facebook advertising, our Facebook Ads Academy for Photographers is the guide you need to transform your business!

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11. Bundle Together Package Deals

Rather than book one shoot – book two, three, five! Aim high, because the worst someone can say is “Eh, no.” Use a discount to peak their interest. For example, you could offer a newborn shoot that is paired with a photoshoot for the child’s first birthday, or you could book engagement snaps along with wedding photos. In the end, bundling several shoots into one package is really just a photographer’s version of a short-term subscription service. Less courting and more commitment and money from your clients. Sounds dreamy, right? Also, your clients will love the simplicity and discount you’ll give them for upgrading to a package.

12. Shoot for a Cause

Shooting for a charity or nonprofit is a brilliant way to increase exposure while messaging to clients that your brand has heart. Back when I was starting out, I routinely offered free photography and videography to a nonprofit that helps the homeless population in downtown San Francisco. Why? Because it was a cause I cared about and I had a valuable skill that could contribute to their marketing. In turn, I was able to count the organization as a bona fide client and showcase my work.

Most people get stuck on trying to drum up fast money-making schemes. The secret is that your greatest chance for success is routinely implementing a series of small changes, like these strategies, over a long period. So test, try and explore. Have any of these tips worked for you? Did I leave out any illuminating advice? Let me know in the comments below!