A career in photography may seem exciting. You need to have passion and determination along with photography,
communication, marketing, and interpersonal skills to survive in the industry.
Once you possess all that it takes to be a photographer, you take a step further in gaining on-field experience. However, hunting for clients may seem daunting as getting people to choose you is harder than it seems.
There is no such thing as an overnight success. And just like every other profession, finding photography clients also requires time and most importantly – The Correct Approach.
Tips for Finding Photography Clients more effectively Picking a Niche
When you know you have enough skills, it becomes necessary to identify what you are best at. There are several categories available to choose from – be it wildlife and nature, wedding and birthdays, product and models, news and crime, or a freelancer.
This tip is the first and most important because finding your niche helps you in identifying your target audience, i.e. your photography clients. There is no point in approaching a family if you are in love with wildlife photography.
Initially, you might think about trying all varieties of pies. There is nothing wrong with it, but this can confuse you and you might end up with a mix-and-match portfolio which is not good for your long term career.
When looking for a photographer, people are more likely to choose someone who specializes in their niche rather than a jack of all cards. It is the same as choosing a specialist doctor for the treatment over someone who does all kinds of treatment.
Creating a Strong Portfolio
Your portfolio speaks for you. Whatever you’ve learned and whatever you know is reflected through your portfolio. Having some amazing photos clicked from different angles, different lighting, different locations, different props, and different editing styles can attract people and help in convincing them to be your photography clients.
Your portfolio makes you look like a professional and not just a newbie experimenting with careers. This is a great move to create an impression in the industry and flatter your skills to become a tough competitor.
Understanding Your Client
When you meet your photography clients, put yourself in their shoes. Listening and understanding your client can make them feel valued. They have come to you because they have a plan, or they have no plan but know what they want.
Understanding their needs and working according to them is another great skill a good photographer needs to possess. Many fail in mastering this tip and rather throw their statements about how much they know and how well they understand what should be done. This completely pushes aside the need of the clients making them uncomfortable to work with such photographers.
We recommend asking for inspiration photos to get the idea of what they are looking for and deciding the deadline beforehand to schedule the photoshoots.
