In the competitive world of photography, staying ahead in marketing is crucial for photographers looking to thrive in 2024. Between technology, trends, and consumer behavior continuously changing, you need to be extremely strategic in your marketing strategy. We know what you’re probably thinking–where do you even begin? We’re going to guess that you’re already doing everything you can to stand out amongst your competition. But there are always things you can do to step up your game. That’s why we’re breaking down nine photography marketing tips to make this next year one of your best yet.
Photography Marketing Tips for 2024
1. Leverage the Power of Social Media
Social media remains a powerhouse for marketing as we enter the new year. Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok offer visually-driven content, making them perfect for photographers. Engage with your audience by consistently sharing your work, behind-the-scenes content, and client testimonials. Utilize Instagram Stories, Reels, and TikTok to showcase your personality and creative process, establishing trust and connection with potential clients.
2. Work with Waldo Photos
Whether you’re a wedding photographer or you focus solely on commencements, Waldo can help make your marketing easier. Not only can we help deliver your photos to clients with little to no effort on your part, thanks to our AI technology, but we also make remarketing to non-buyers by leveraging the power of SMS and email communication. That means with a click of a button, you can reach out to people who have yet to purchase photos from you to spark interest again–all without having to reach out to people individually.
Are you a wedding photographer? We also offer QR codes that you can offer your couples that allow their guests to upload photos in real-time on their big day. We also offer live slideshows and video guestbooks.
3. Create a Stunning Website
Your website is your digital storefront, and in 2024, it’s crucial to make it visually appealing and user-friendly. Invest in a responsive design that works seamlessly across devices. You can easily find WordPress and Squarespace templates online or outsource the responsibility and hire a designer. Whichever route you decide to go down, it’s important that you make the site easy to navigate. Make it as simple as possible to find your pricing/packages, testimonials, FAQs, and “about me” section. This will clear up any confusion a user may have, making them more inclined to reach out to work together.
It’s also essential to showcase a diverse portfolio, including various genres and styles, to demonstrate your versatility. The more work you have to show off, the more likely you’ll book new clients. It’s the same rule of thumb for social media.
4. Embrace Video Marketing
Video content is gaining prominence across platforms, especially with the introduction of TikTok (which now allows for content up to 10 minutes long) and Instagram Reels. Create engaging videos that showcase your photography or editing processes, highlight your expertise, or share client success stories. While it may seem like platforms like YouTube are outdated, they’re still wildly popular. In fact, YouTube averages 2.70 billion monthly users. That provides plenty of opportunities for photographers to share their knowledge, build a community, and attract potential clients.
5. Optimize for Search Engines (SEO)
You’re probably familiar with SEO, but unless you specialize in the field, it can be an overwhelming topic, to say the least. While this is a topic that we could write an entire blog about, there are a few key steps you can take to ensure that you show up on the first page of Google and other search engines.
Use relevant keywords in your website content (and search for these within your niche using tools like Ahrefs or Semrush), image descriptions, and meta tags. While it may be tempting to stuff as many keywords as possible into a blog, Google will penalize you for this, so finding a healthy balance is crucial. The higher the keyword difficulty, the harder it will be to rank for. Aim for ones with a lower difficulty yet a strong search volume (aka, how many people are searching for this keyword monthly).
It’s also crucial to regularly update your blog with informative and relevant content to improve your website’s search engine ranking. If you already have a post for a strong keyword, but it’s a few years old, don’t be afraid to go in and change it as much as needed to keep it relevant. Google and whoever ends up on your site will appreciate this.
6. Email Marketing for Client Retention
Building a solid client base that trusts you is just as important as attracting new clients. Implement an email marketing strategy to keep your clients informed about your latest work, promotions, and upcoming events. Personalize your emails and offer exclusive discounts to encourage repeat business. You may also want to consider offering some kind of incentive for referrals. Word of mouth is one of the best marketing tools, after all. Your newsletter can provide valuable content related to photography tips, trends, and industry news.
7. Collaborate with Other Photographers
If you’re a wedding photographer, you may be familiar with styled shoots. These faux weddings are an easy way to partner with other wedding professionals to create content that you can use in your portfolio to attract new clients. But they’re also great marketing tools. Collaborative joint events like this can help you tap into a wider network and gain credibility in the industry, especially if you’re the one hosting the styled shoots or workshops. They’ll likely share it on their social media platforms and site, expanding your reach to a new audience you may not have received before working together.
8. Offer Limited-Time Promotions
We want you to make as much money as possible, but you can create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time promotions or discounts. This is an especially useful tool around the holidays. If you’re not in a position to offer discounted photoshoots or services, offer discounted albums, prints, etc. This can encourage potential clients to take action quickly. Use social media and email marketing to promote these time-sensitive offers, driving engagement and conversions.
9. Invest in Paid Advertising
If you’re in the financial position to do so, consider allocating a portion of your marketing budget to paid advertising. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer targeted advertising options that allow you to reach specific demographics (i.e., location, age, gender, and more). Experiment with different ad formats, such as carousel ads or sponsored posts, to find what resonates best with your audience. It’s an easy way to get extra eyes on your work without spending hours online.
Final Thoughts
Photography is a saturated market, which is why mastering marketing is key to success. By leveraging these tips, you can position yourself as a sought-after photographer in 2024. Keep adapting to emerging trends, stay authentic in your approach, and watch your photography business flourish.
