Most photographers didn’t get into the industry because they particularly wanted to deal with all the little annoyances that come with running a business, like keeping meticulous track of their expenses, or answering email 20 times a day, or yes, marketing their services.
In fact, if I’m being honest, photography marketing kind of sucks. It’s time-consuming. It’s boring, and more often than not, it takes months and months to see the fruits of your labor. So, it can feel sort of like you’re just spinning your wheels in the meantime.
If you’ve been where I’m talking about, then it’s no wonder that you’re looking for photography marketing ideas. But, I’ll do you one better. Here are some proven marketing ideas that are easy to implement and that will almost immediately improve your business prospects (even if some of them are still a little boring).
Table of Contents
- Marketing Ideas for Photography Businesses: Fix Your Portfolio
- Marketing Ideas for Photography Businesses: Co-Market Your Business
- Marketing Ideas for Photography Businesses: Offer Beautiful Prints
- Marketing Ideas for Photography Businesses: Leverage Email Marketing to Build Client Relationships
Marketing Ideas for Photography Businesses: Fix Your Portfolio
Photo by Artie Medvedev via Shutterstock
One of my favorite proven marketing ideas is to fix your portfolio. Regardless of how good you think your portfolio is, if you haven’t taken a serious look at it within the last couple of months, then it is high time for you to do so again.
You probably already know that your portfolio should only showcase the best images you’ve taken. So this means that you shouldn’t have any images in your portfolio that closely resemble other images. Get rid of doubles and even get rid of photos with similar poses.
You also probably know that you need a digital portfolio. Make sure that your portfolio is easy to manage, or you’re risking going months without editing it again.
But, there are a few proven marketing ideas for your portfolio that you likely haven’t heard of. For example, you should make your portfolio interactive. Make sure that it is easy for your viewers to use. Change the format or layout of each option a couple of times until you recognize the pros and cons of each option.
Make sure that all of the photos in your portfolio are either vertical or horizontal. Don’t include a few of both. Make sure your portfolio is also designed with different categories in mind, especially if you do different types of photography. Finally, give your images captions with good keywords so that more people may stumble across it.
Marketing Ideas for Photography Businesses: Co-Market Your Business
Photo by Rawpixel.com via Shutterstock
A lot of proven marketing ideas, like this one, seem counterintuitive. But, you can actually market your business alongside similar businesses in your area.
Before you start co-marketing, though, you’ll need to know what types of people are already interested in your business. This is where your SEO comes in handy. Figure out what local businesses are already directing clients to your business online. If a lot of traffic is coming from a particular website, it’s probably a good idea for you to start working with that business.
You can also co-market with direct competitors. If there are other photographers in your area who offer similar packages as you do, then you can team up with them and do mini-sessions so that you both can network with the other’s clients. Unlike a lot of the proven marketing ideas on this list, this one is a little more creative, so have fun with it.
Marketing Ideas for Photography Businesses: Offer Beautiful Prints
One of my favorite proven marketing ideas is to offer your clients a wider array of products, including high-quality canvas prints. High-quality products not only bring in passive revenue to your business, but they also each serve as marketing for your business.
Think about it. If someone goes to your client’s house and they see a canvas print of their family hanging on their wall, they’re likely going to ask about the photoshoot. In this way, your clients are doing marketing for you without even realizing it and the best marketing tips for photographers are the ones that leverage the networks of your existing clients.
I recommend that you use Artbeat Studios to buy your canvas prints because they create beautiful prints at a lower price point than many of their competitors. As I discuss in my review above, you can make the most money off these canvases while ensuring your clients love whatever they receive. Believe me – your clients will love getting one of Artbeat’s canvases in the mail!
Artbeat’s canvas prints are absolutely gorgeous and evoke a sense of high-end quality. This means you won’t ever have to deal with problems like ink cracks or frame warps. Plus, Artbeat Studios offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on their canvas prints because they’re so confident in them. What’s not to like about that?!
Marketing Ideas for Photography Businesses: Leverage Email Marketing to Build Client Relationships
Photo by GaudiLab via Shutterstock
One of the most effective yet often overlooked photography marketing strategies is email marketing. While social media platforms fluctuate in reach and algorithm changes, an email list is something you own and control.
Start by offering a free resource—such as a mini guide on posing tips, a discount on a session, or exclusive behind-the-scenes content—in exchange for email sign-ups. This helps you build a targeted audience of potential clients who are genuinely interested in your work.
Once you have a list, nurture those subscribers with regular, valuable content. Send personalized updates about your latest projects, upcoming availability, or seasonal promotions. Share success stories from past clients, along with high-quality images, to showcase your expertise and build trust. By staying in touch through email, you remain top-of-mind when they—or someone they know—need a photographer.
With these tips, you have a great place to begin improving your photography business. It’ll take time, but with persistence, you can turn these tips into cold, hard cash!
Just so you know, some of the cool stuff we mention comes with affiliate links, meaning we earn a commission if you buy (no extra charge to you!). Plus, we occasionally feature sponsored content, but rest assured, we only shout out products we genuinely stand behind.
Learn More:
- Cinematic Photography: How to Create Still Images That Tell a Story
- Smart Investments for Your Photography Business
Hero photo by Odua Images via Shutterstock
