One of the biggest struggles for new photography businesses is growing a client base. Real estate and landscape photographer Serge Ramelli draws from his own personal journey to success in sharing some great tips for marketing your photography business and gaining new clients in a hurry.
Ramelli conveys his business advice through detailed anecdotes from his beginnings as a photographer in Paris. Though he specializes in real estate and landscape photography, his strategies can be applied to any genre of photography. One of his key tips is the dreaded, yet effective, practice of cold calling. Though he admits that his success rate in cold calls might seem low (one sale per 40 calls), he argues that setting aside time each week for cold calls is a sure way to quickly promote the growth of your photography business.
Another one of his tips highlights the importance of showing printed photos when selling your services to others. We are so accustomed to seeing photos displayed digitally on screens that offering a sample of your work through tangible, printed photos is a simple but effective way to make your photography stand out.
Ramelli’s message is very clear, and his passion for photography and desire to help others grow their own photography business shines through in this video. For just 15 minutes, watching his video could be one of the best investments of your time you make all year.
yeah! but what to say on this "cold calls" to get a client?
There are lots of books on the subject, but the basic version goes something like this: "Hello Mr./Mrs. So and so, my name is [your name here], I am a professional photographer who does [Editorial, Fashion, Sports, etc.] photography. Would you be interested in setting up a meeting where I can explain how my services can help to [increase your sales, get your rooms booked, etc]?"
While this is a very abbreviated version (you want to ask open-ended questions) hopefully it gives you a basis on where to start.
I think for some business to business situations, cold calling is not going to be an effective way to gain business. However, for other situations, stopping by a business might work.Either way, you don't know until you try, and never, never ever take someone hanging up on you personally, and don't get discouraged. Cold calling is a game of numbers, the majority of which will be rejections. So, stiff upper lip, and go talk to some potential clients!
As I always say to my kids, "What's the worst that could happen?". At the very least you can earn their respect by showing an intelligent interest in their business goals.
It also helps that I have been doing this for 35+ years now and just cannot get nervous when meeting someone who I know is trying to get the best out of life just like everyone else and has the same problems as everyone else and wants a sympathetic ear like everyone else.
Worst possible outcome? I got out of the studio and got to schmooze with someone new.