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The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Photography Business With Instagram

January 19, 2017 by Ty Merkel Leave a Comment

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.

@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.

@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.

@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.

@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.

@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.

@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.

My Best Advice for New Photographers

January 14, 2017 by Jen Dziuvenis 2 Comments

Editor’s Note: All images taken by the author.

I’ve been shooting for a long time but it was only recently that I made the jump from doing this for fun to doing this for work. The transition went far more smoothly than I expected — mostly because I’ve gotten a lot of really good advice from some really smart people. If you’re wondering how to make photography a business — not just a hobby — I know what you’re going through. I was there too… and it wasn’t all that long ago.

I’m far from an expert on any of this stuff but I’ve learned some things along the way — and I wanted to share them with all of you. I’m not trying to sell you anything — this post doesn’t include a sales pitch or affiliate link. I’m just sharing the love because I’m 100% on the “community over competition” train.

So with all that in mind, here is my best advice for new photographers:

Don’t be afraid to invest in your business.

Yes, I own a lot of bikes and camera gear but the reality is that I’m pretty freaking thrifty. I have a hard time parting with my money but pretty early on in this adventure I realized that if I wanted to be successful, it was going to cost me. Especially early on. I’ve enrolled in workshops (more on that later), upgraded equipment, paid for software, ordered samples, bought presets, and done all the boring things necessary for starting a business (hello liability insurance, registering an LLC, etc.)*. I’m not telling you to start throwing money around wildly (please don’t do that) but I am saying that you’re going to have to be OK with spending some cash.

*As a side note, if you’re wondering why photography is so expensive, this is why.

Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself.

Shortly after I started taking this thing super seriously, a spot opened up in a popular, sold-out workshop. It was expensive and on the other side of the country. I sucked it up and registered anyway. It felt indulgent at the time but I am SO glad I did it. Yes, I learned a ton (OMG did I learn a ton!). It was a commitment of time, money, and energy, and once I had made it, I felt like there was no going back. I was all in. I’m hoping to make this an annual thing (I’m dusting off my passport for next year’s workshop!). I’ve also spent money on online classes, local workshops, and shootouts and I’ve never regretted any of it. You are not throwing money away. You are investing in yourself.

Find your tribe.

I was going to title this “network” but, to be honest, it never really feels like networking to me. I’m an introvert (a very outgoing one, but an introvert nonetheless) and everything about “networking” kind of gives me hives. I initially found my tribe online (which was perfect for a quasi-hermit). I joined photography groups on Facebook, which led to other photography groups on Facebook. I learned stuff. I met people. I got clients. I got inspired. And oh yeah, I also made friends. Having people to go to for advice, critiques, and inspiration? It’s been invaluable. This leap would have been a lot slower and harder without getting help along the way.

Find your niche.

Look you guys, there are a lot of freaking photographers out there — and a lot of them are very good. It’s competitive. You don’t want to compete on the quality of your photos alone (not because you’re not good but because A LOT of people are good) and you don’t want to compete only on price (the race to the bottom is one you don’t want to win) . You need to find what you’re good at and what you love and then foster the hell out of it. For me, I love photographing authentic connections between fun, adventurous people in the outdoors – and that is what all of my efforts are geared towards. And while you’re finding your niche? Make sure it’s authentic. Because clients are smart and can see right through it when it’s not. Be you – even if “you” is someone who is pretty informal, is obsessed with dogs, and really loves “that’s what she said” jokes. (Hi, I’m Jen. Have we met?) Your clients will appreciate who you are and the ones who don’t are not your clients.

Shoot with other photographers.

I don’t think this can be said enough. SHOOT WITH OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS. Do it at workshops. Second shoot at weddings. Sign up for shootouts. Meet up with randos you met online and go take pictures of each other. Shooting with other people was super intimidating for me at first. To be honest, I was sort of terrified. But now I realize the value in it and I do it every chance I get. You will learn SO MUCH about how to shoot, how to pose, and how to connect with your clients. You will learn how you like to shoot … and how you don’t. And all of it will be helpful.

Be prepared to work your ass off.

I used to have a regular 9-5 job. I sat at my desk, put in my hours, and at the end of the day I’d go home and not work again until I went back in the next morning. That’s not the case anymore. If you follow me on social media you see that I spend a lot of time outside during normal “working” hours — hiking, mountain biking, hanging out with my kid and my dogs — but don’t let that fool you. I work way harder now than I ever did before — I just do it at different times of the day, on different days of the week, and on my own schedule. I heard someone say that you have to work 16 hours for yourself for every 8 hours you worked for someone else. It’s true — and it takes a boatload of discipline. But don’t let that scare you because it’s also super satisfying.

Be good at being uncomfortable.

You guys, I was so anxious before my first paid shoot. The day leading up to it was pretty much ruled by fear and anxiety. I was scared. And while the nerves have subsided a good amount, they are still there. If you get nervous before a shoot I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone. I still get nervous (although much less so now) every single time. And ya know what? I’m OK with that, mostly because I believe the nerves actually help. They keep you on your toes. They keep you constantly pushing to be better. They mean that you care. I’ve heard photographers who I look up to who have been doing this for years say that they’re still terrified every single time. Maybe it will get better. Maybe it won’t. Either way, it doesn’t really matter. So ya know what? Embrace it. Be good at being uncomfortable — learn how to deal with fear. And yes, this applies to way more than just photography.

I hope this was helpful to someone out there in internet land. What did I miss? What advice do you have? And if you’re new and trying to make the leap, tell me what your biggest struggle is. Maybe we can help. We’re all in this together, y’all. Leave your comments below!

Author pictured above.

The FCA Is Growing… With Amazing New Partners!

January 11, 2017 by Phat Chiem Leave a Comment

Once upon a time, a girl sat down, dreamed up a website that would one day help many thousands of creative people get through the endless struggles that we go through in our attempts to birth our visions, dreams, goals and ideas into the world, and created it.

It began as the Female Photographer Association and very soon after that morphed into the Female Creatives Association, as the dream began to take shape and grow.

But I have a confession to make.

I didn’t know quite what to do with it.

I felt the burden of responsibility, but I had no idea really of how to run an absolutely MASSIVE brand. As the combined following staggered up to 25K, I began to feel insignificantly small.

Instead of realising everything I had achieved in business, I began to look inward, instead of out at the big dreams and visions of my own.

Instead of remembering how I could help people, I started to feel awkward, unconfident, not good enough. I’ve never been very good in the spotlight, always the girl who talks too fast that betrays the confident exterior.

And I began to shrink away. I wanted my own little corner of the internet again, and I made it, set up under my own name.

One that was more ME, more a home for myself, where I didn’t have to fit into a brand that had such clearly defined goals and objectives.

I needed to be me for a while, to dream and create and explore again.

But still… the FCA sat there like an unattended plant.

I ran my courses through it. Continued to post helpful posts. Relaunched my books for film photographers but still… never quite going full throttle on it. Never quite giving it my everything. Torn between the rapidly growing brand of my own and this business baby that I had birthed a few years earlier.

I still… could not let go of the dream and the vision I had for the FCA.. I couldn’t ever bring myself to close it down!

And then one day… in rode a knight. Two, actually.

Storytellers, like me, but bigger, brighter. Actually, that doesn’t do them justice at ALL.

It was actually two writers slash entrepreneurs (an ex-Yahoo editor and a Forbes contributor)!!! who swept in, shone a light on the FCA and saw it for its shining potential — indeed, its ability to continue to impact and help thousands of us creatives with our marketing, biz & skills.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The FCA will now expand under the guiding hands of a fabulous company that goes by the name of StoryCraft! Yes, StoryCraft.

Which, OBVIOUSLY I thought was totally heaven-sent, as for those of you who follow closely you’ll know about my successful course Storyteller-

And the tagline on their website?

We’re storytellers, makers and dreamers.

COULD THERE BE ANY MORE PERFECT MATCH FOR THE FCA?!?! –

More specifically, by the names of Phat (yep, I also wondered if his parents knew how cool his name would become) and Rochelle (whose career path from writer to entrepreneur will be very familiar to many of you).

Storytellers, content creators, creatives, and dreamers. And a ton of talent and experience at shining the spotlight on businesses + brands.

Say hello to Phat and Rochelle….

And I will be supporting and riding alongside them for what I know is going to be an incredible ride. I plan to stay on as an advisor to Phat & Rochelle — and continue to create new courses and content for them as my time allows.

With their leadership, in 2017, the FCA is going to become exactly as I intended; fulfilling it’s mission to help many more thousands of creatives and creative entrepreneurs across the globe to get seen, stand out, and shine.

So, that’s my exciting news for 2017. I’ve been literally dyyyyying to share it, but I’ve had to keep super-quiet on social media until all plans were confirmed.

I’m excited for what this means for the FCA.

I’m excited that a FORMER MANAGING EDITOR OF YAHOO IS NOW LEADING THE FCA!!! (what? Did that actually just happen?!?!)

I’m excited about the future plans we have all been excitedly discussing (and OH they are beautiful. Big, beautiful, inspired plans and goals for this year. MUCH MORE CONTENT + COURSES + INTERVIEWS + VIDEOS + ADVICE + TIPS)

And I’m excited about what this means for you.

2017 is going to be ALL about supporting YOU more in your ambitions and aims >>> don’t miss the next FCA mail.

Charlie, Phat & Rochelle @ The FCA.

P.S… Already purchased one of the FCA’s awesome courses or products? Don’t worry; there are ZERO changes being made for anything you have already purchased and access remains the same. Got questions? Email Phat & Rochelle directly at hello@storycraft.me, or leave your questions in the comments!

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

January 9, 2017 by Ty Merkel 4 Comments

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.

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!

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!

Buy Now

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!

10 Surprising Ways To Earn More From Your Business In 2017

November 7, 2016 by The FCA 1 Comment

Now is the best time to start making your big plans and dreams for growth for your business before you get caught up in festive madness and before you know it’s February!

Here are 10 Surprising Ways To Earn More From Your Creative Business in 2017.

1. Create Done For You Services

Right now, done for you services are HOT!

Nobody has time to do the things they don’t want to do – in an age when we are all encouraged to ‘do what you love’ where does that leave all of the things we DON’T love to do- setting up and running ads, admin, content syndication (yep, your content should be spreading far wider than just your social media pages)! even things like content creation itself for those who struggle to write?

Well, they become those nagging things that eat away at us on our ‘Really SHOULD do but REALLY don’t want to’ list.

Which leaves a wide open door for you to step in and offer your multiple skills and talents as a Done For You Service.

What is it you have been great at in your own business?

Perhaps it was designing your own website.
Perhaps it was writing content at a super fast pace.
Perhaps it was transcribing your own audio because you’re a super fast typer.
Perhaps it’s running and optimising your ads.
Perhaps it’s writing your sales and marketing materials.
Perhaps you’re just supremely organised (and if that’s you, send us an email. We are always looking for dynamic Virtual Assistants!)

Whatever it is, someone out there is probably waiting to hire you for it.

Create a new page on your site, advertise your services on your facebook page, register yourself with fiverr and / or upwork, post about your new services in groups you are part of. And watch the cash roll in.

2. Partner Up

Joint Ventures are common in the online marketing world, but not so common outside of it, for reasons why I can’t quite fathom.

When you team up your services (and promotional skills) with someone who has a complimentary business, you open yourself up to double the business.

They can either promote your business or product for a commission, you can promote theirs, or you can create something brand new together. It doesn’t have to be an entirely new business, but a course or program or combined skill can work brilliantly.

Like the videographer who partners with a photographer to offer a combined service, or the florist who partners with a stationery designer to create a floral-inspired contemporary range, like the graphic designer who partners up with an Instagrammer to create an online course about creating a beautiful visual brand.

Reach out to people at a similar level / with a similar aesthetic to you. The chances are they would love the opportunity.

3. Run A Workshop

So many of us put this off, either because they seem like so much work to organise (they are)! or because we don’t feel ready. So make it easy on yourself.

Work in small groups.

Run it for beginners.

Hold it in a cosy and lovely room or outside even! rather than a grand venue.

Whatever makes it feel like FUN to you. We tend to overthink events and workshops as this far off goal, but if you have had paying clients and you know you are good at what you do or you have any sort of social media following, official ‘training’, or have been in business for a long time and know the ropes inside out which you can then teach to others, this could easily be a viable option for you which grows your reputation as an expert as well as generates a good ‘lump sum’. Just make sure you set your costs beforehand so you can calculate a good profit margin!

4. Monetise Your Blog

We fall into the trap of thinking that our blogs have one purpose only; to showcase our work. Not only can that often be a missed opportunity for you to connect to your clients, it also is a missed INCOME opportunity!

If you can write interesting articles that you then share across social media and can generate traffic, you can earn from that traffic.

*Sell your own programs or someone else’s.
*Recommend a service or a product and earn commission via places like Amazon Affiliates.
*Use your blog as a sales tool to sell more of your own products DIRECTLY FROM YOUR BLOG> link to your shop, create reviews out of blog posts, write stories about particular items, share your behind the scenes processes, and so on. Include direct links so people know where to buy or book right away! *Sell advertising space

Are just four ways to start earning directly from your blog!

5. Diversify Your Main Product Line Or Service

So for example. If you are a florist, you could create an incredible floral calendar or line of downloadable holiday-themed cards with the help of a photographer.

If you are a photographer, you could sell some of your images on stock sites or creative market.

If you are a write poetry books, you could sell poems as gifts on fiverr.

If you write children’s books, you could create an entire line of audio books around your central character / s as bonus stories.

The ideas are endless- to get started, brainstorm who else would want your services aside from your current core target market.

Enjoying this post so far? download this PDF on 57 more ways to earn more in 2017

6. Write A Book

Writing an e-book increases your authority in your industry AND your business income. Plus it can also fulfil a lifelong dream! (I don’t believe I am the only creative who dreamed of writing a book when I was growing up)

And they’re surprisingly easy to write. The most important thing is to set aside time to write it, and to set your intention simply to share what you know. Start from this base where you have time to write, and an idea of what information would be useful to others, and just write!

I wrote my first book in a weekend with two children under the age of 2! If I can do it you can too- and generate lovely extra income from your business as you do so.

7. Raise Your Prices

I know, this one isn’t too much of a shocker. But why not move into a new price bracket, and target slightly more affluent clients or clients willing to pay for what you are creating?

So often, it is our mindset around raising our prices that holds us back from charging more. We tell ourselves things like ‘nobody here would pay that much’ and ‘I’m not ready to increase my prices yet’ and we continually hover around wanting to but letting our excuses hold us back.

If you know you’ve been holding back from increasing your prices in 2016 because of reasons like this now could be a perfect time to work on your money mindset and increase your income as a result.

(If you haven’t already read it, grab hold of a copy of Denise Duffield Thomas’ Get Rich Lucky Bitch as a starting point. It will be a wake up call to how you approach and treat your income).

8. Send More Newsletters

I think every client I have ever worked with struggles in this area! But the truth is this- when you send newsletters you deepen and strengthen your relationships with the clients who love you and your work. (You will also of course lose subscribers, which is totally normal, it just means right now they aren’t the perfect fit for you and your business).

And when you have good solid relationships, you can use newsletters to make sales not just every week, but EVERY DAY – and this is the key part – WITHOUT coming across as salesy or slimy.

If you know you use expressions like ‘I don’t want to bother people’ ‘nobody has time to read frequent emails’ and ‘I don’t know what to write about’ the chances are you are resisting sending them;

due to it either being one of those things you just don’t want to do (in which case you could outsource this and consider the expense an investment into your business when you can make direct sales as a result) or

(most often) because you haven’t yet spent the time invested into how to create and write newsletters, which leaves us feeling unconfident, so therefore we avoid it.

Creating great email newsletters are EASY when you know how. Start with a simple email newsletter program like mailchimp and make a commitment to sending them weekly to begin with.

Research it online to find out all you need to know- and if you want to become an awesome writer and know how to generate sales from your newsletter, check out the FCA Storyteller course here.

9. Hire Out Your Equipment

When I first started my hair accessory business I was desperate to get my hands on solid brass millinery tools from the Victorian era. I knew it could provide a real bespoke and unusual element to my work, and I couldn’t wait to experiment and play with them. The only problem was the only ones I could find for sale were in Australia and would take three MONTHS to arrive.

If someone had them for hire I would have snapped them up for a weekend play in a heartbeat!

What do you have lying around that you could rent out for a short (or long) period of time? It could be anything from unusual tools, a spare room or garage for storage or an office space, or your everyday equipment when it’s not in use.

10. Public Speaking

Yes- if you can speak authoritatively or knowledgeably about a particular subject – whether that’s raising ten kids or setting up a business in a recession or growing seeds- whatever it is, you can earn money from it.

You might have to start speaking for free to begin with, but Youtube and Facebook Live has made that very achievable. After a while when you have gained followers, or demonstrable experience speaking, you will be able to charge for your speaking gigs and earn from it. This also helps to boost your main income as you will be seen as a further authority in your niche / specialism.

So that’s it- ten unusual ways to make more income from your business in 2017. If it’s been useful to you, share it with others you think might need to hear it using the share buttons below!

To your successful (and creative) 2017. Oh, and before you go, don’t forget your free download- containing 57 MORE ways to earn extra income from your business in 2017.

Get your download here!

Of course there are also many further avenues to explore, from creating online courses to mentoring – check out this link to learn how to create a successful secondary income stream through mentoring and coaching others in your industry.

Learn Film Photography Guides Now Re-Released

October 22, 2016 by The FCA 2 Comments

You’ve been asking for these for a while now! I had to withdraw them from sale due to uncertainty around VAT rules in the UK, but now they are BACK! and here for you right now.

These are for the photographers who want to know how to learn film photography, how to make it profitable, and how to create and deepen your creative practice and signature style.

Want to know more? Check out the books here>

This is book ONE in the series, for those new (or newish) to shooting film, where you’ll learn the most common mistakes made when starting out with film (and how to overcome them) how to develop your OWN style (for you if you want your work to stand out in a sea of pastel-pretty) and how to start marketing it so that you get noticed.

As seen on Wedding Sparrow and SLR Lounge > click here to download your FREE chapters and find out more.

Intermediate / advanced film shooter but struggling with the marketing aspect? You’re going to want BOOK TWO. Film – The Luxury Advantage.

Covering all aspects of marketing your film photography from how to blog (the right way) how to convert clients into bookings from a single email using smart copywriting, email and social media techniques. This book is an investment into your business profits > check it out here.

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