Capturing Forever: A Short Guide to Boosting Your Wedding Photography Business Through Advertising
It all begins with an idea.
In the forever growing world of wedding photography, advertising plays a pivotal role in showcasing your talents and getting your name out there. Everyone always asks, how do you get those first few bookings if you’ve got no experience? How do you build your experience and portfolio?
Heres a breakdown of some effective strategies, and my experience with them all:
1. Social Media:
Embrace the visual allure of platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Use this as your online gallery, posting your best work to start with. Youll soon get an idea as to what gets the most like/comments, then run with it! Instagram is perfect for monitoring engagement, especially how many people are viewing your profile from a post. Typically instagrm is all for the reels, but again its playing with the algorithm to see what works best for you, and frustratingly this may not be the content you were hoping to post. But i do think its extremely useful for getting your name out there in the beginning. Play with putting writing on your reels, with engaging titles that will grab someone in the first few seconds of watching.
Leverage the power of hashtags to increase your visibility within the wedding community, again this is something to play with. Also, do your research! See what the popular hashtags are amogst the suppliers you follow.
Instagram is also great for connecting with other suppliers. Taking the time to comment, like and share peoples work you enjoy means hopefully theyll return the favour!
2. Marketing Platforms like Hitched:
Joining reputable wedding planning websites such as Hitched can definitely have its pros and cons, however overall i think if its something you can afford to do at the start of your venture its definitely a way of getting a few bookings going. Hitched gives you the option of choosing which regions youd like your business to be visible in also. So you may decide that just one region is budget friendly to start with and build from there if you find its bringing in business. Personally i find responding promptly and backing this up with a phone call can be successfull.
Pros being:
Your name gets seen by a wider audience
A potential for more couples
A supportive platform.
The Cons being:
it can be quite pricey
You get a lot of empty enquiries - Couples will send an automated enquiry through, and i have personally found that these dont always end up replying. I would say only 15% of enquires reply.
3. Facebook Groups:
Become an active member of local wedding-related Facebook groups. There are absolutley loads of them to choose from, or just join all of them! Share your expertise, showcase your portfolio, and participate in discussions. Word of mouth is a powerful tool within these communities, so cultivating positive interactions can lead to valuable referrals.
It can be quite demanding of your time as you really want to sell yourself when couples are asking for photographers. It can also seem pointless when you see theres already 90 comments, but if you dont ask you dont get, right?! For me its always worth popping a comment in there…
Facebook groups can be a great place to get some second shooter work too, lots of groups purely just for this. This is a perfect way to build some portfolio so potential couples have an idea of what you work looks like. Its also great experience for you, you really need to understand and be confident with what a wedding day involves and also a good way of figuring out wether youre going to need any extra kit to go solo.
4. Google:
Optimize your Google My Business profile to ensure your business appears in local searches. Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews, enhancing your credibility.
Investing in Google Ads can be a paid way of getting some further exposure, but this obviously comes at a cost. Personally i feel like i would rather try other options such as Instagram Ads before trying Google Ads.
However if youre going to go for it with the Google Ads, try to be really strategic, targeting keywords related to wedding photography in your area.
5. SEO's (Search Engine Optimization):
Enhance your online visibility through effective SEO strategies. Optimize your website with relevant keywords, create quality content, and ensure your site is mobile-friendly. Regularly update your blog with wedding stories, photography tips, and insights to attract organic traffic.
When adding any images to your website make sure to add your image descriptions in, this is a nice hidden way of getting some SEO strategies in. Also popping in some key words throughout your website such as ‘Leicestershire based Wedding Photographer’.
Remember, consistency is key across all platforms. Maintain a cohesive brand image, respond promptly to inquiries, and showcase your unique style. By strategically combining these advertising channels, you'll not only elevate your online presence but also ensure that your wedding photography business stands out in a crowded digital landscape. Happy capturing! 📸💍