Selling A Service Differs To Selling Goods?

[Timo]

Hello all,

Since a year I have been active in starting my own photography business. Needless to say, my marketings skills aren't what they should be and I have trouble getting assignments.

There are however not only bad things that are going on. The experience I got was worthwhile, if there is one thing I learned, then it's " It's not as easy as it looks"

I'm really full of idea's and willing to implement them, I've written a business plan for guidance. But since I have so many idea's I tend to lose sight which idea's I should execute.


The thing that's the most difficult for me is how to sell my service? I don't want to be underprized and I certainly believe that I am capable of delivering a fine price/quality comparison. Customers have to invest time to book me, it's not really easy like a toystore where someone clicks te buy button.

I recently started with an global advertisement on Google Adwords, and recreated my website(CEP Studios - Cutting Edge Photography studios).

I have my fair share of portfolio online, but I don't think that's enough to be booked. Or is it? I'm really having a hard time understanding the dynamics needed to get work. And I absolutely love doing it, so it makes me sad if I'm not able to do it.

The financial costs aren't that high, but I would really like to earn something and doing what I love. And I was recently diagnosed with a RSI injury. And thefore will not be able to do what I was educated for (I have a degree in ICT). I already signed up for 2 new educations:
1.Photography as a main education
2.Make-up artist study to enhance my pictures in the long and short-run

But I don't have any clue about how I'll be getting a modest paycheck every month with photograpy yet. I'd be more than satisfied with minimum-wage (each month).

Anyone got some pointers for me maybe?

[jawillie]

I have two friends who are making it in photography and they hold no degrees. They started just taking pictures of friends and families and moving from there.

You are in a fun field for marketing! The things you can do are endless.

What is your passion in photography? For my friends it was kids (since they are both moms). One just signed a contract with the school her kids attend to be "the" photographer for all sports in the school. She goes the extra mile by attending games and taking pictures for "free" but selling them for a profit. (Parents LOVE to pay to have professional pics of their stars in action!)

That's just one teeny example. Follow your passions and you will make it!!

Have fun!! It will show in your work.

[Timo]

I absolutely love doing senior portraits, mostly outdoors too. It makes me comfortable, I know how to handle those situations, and I get my best shots that way. And I have this thing with weddings, I love the dynamics; everyone looks their best. That allows me to capture lasting pictures.

But I am dreaming of being hired to do fashion-like photography, although that's a difficult market to enter.

Thanks for the heads-up! Maybe I just have to be patient too, the photography education will also help my images so I can provide even better quality in the future.

[Marth]

Global google ads, I wouldn't go on with this at all, it sounds like a more local service.

Senior Pictures-Have an advertisement booth maybe during the school's lunch, & do this at as many local highschools as possible. Have a handout with your number, it doesn't have to be a business card, that would probably be too professional, cut printed handout would be fine. Senior photography will probably be 95% of your income minimum.

Natural&scenery-Quality and Quantity

Personal Skill-I don't know what level you are at right now, I'd say definitely know Photoshop front to back. Also I'd recommend looking into Deviantart it has a generally young population, submit your stuff & get some feedback to see where you stand up to current photographers & artists in the world. It is a very supportive & helpful community

There are tens & tens of billions of online images, there are so many CG artists as well. I can definitely see how you're having trouble. Follow your passion, find how to make yours worthwhile to the viewer & unique. You'll do great man peace.

[silicon toad2000]

They key is to diversify and while everyone else in related fields is looking to diversify too, you can help each other. Help other businesses to increase the range of services they can offer their clients.
Get to know some wedding planners in the area and drop in to see some function centres and see if you can maybe organise a deal with them, like offer them a commission or something for work they throw your way.
learn a bit of graphic design and get to know some printers in the area, there's money in organising product brochures for firms that sell goods, you could prepare product guides for them with the photos of their goods. Look at some product guides out in the market place and see if thats something you could do.
Maybe partner up with some web designers, company's websites need good photos of the products as the websites limit the resolution of the pictures so the pictures need to be pretty spot on to look good on a website.
maybe for something on the side you get a teaching qualification and run some photography classes after hours for hobbyists or speak to the local community college.

[1000feet]

Why do clients have to invest a lot of time to book you? You definitely need to understand the situation and make sure their expectations aren't missing the point, but other than that it should be very easy to work with you...