marketing 7 - Behind the Shutter

Social Influencers: The New Commercial

Post author:Nino Batista
Post category:Commercial Photography Shutter Magazine
Reading time:11 mins read

Once upon a time, a photographer in any genre would try to get the attention of magazines, newspapers, clothing designers, automakers, restaurants, hospitals, sports teams and music venues in hopes of landing a gig. Whether it was a one-off campaign or steady work on a retainer, the holy grail of good-paying commercial work has always come from big companies. And while the dollar amounts of these major-client jobs is still highly desirable and worth the effort to land, there is a new type of commercial role that has emerged in the last few years, and it’s exploding by the hour: social influencer.

Your Work Is Great But Your Website Sucks (At Getting You Business)

Post author:Gary Hughes
Post category:Business Shutter Magazine
Reading time:8 mins read

No matter how many people tell you they love your site, if it isn’t bringing in sales, it needs some work. Making changes to it isn’t going to hurt you. Photographers from the commercial and business worlds often understand something that portrait and wedding photographers don’t: Your website needs to be more than a portfolio. Here are five things your website needs to be relevant.

Where Did All My Clients Go?

Post author:Sal Cincotta
Post category:Business Shutter Magazine
Reading time:10 mins read

Are you sitting there wondering why your business is struggling? Why your phone is not ringing? Why your email leads are nonexistent? Are you convinced that it’s not your fault? That it’s somehow the Russians? Or even worse, all those dastardly shoot-and-burners? In this article, I show you some ways to change your “luck” and take control of your destiny. The sooner you realize there is plenty of business out there for all of us, the sooner you will start taking a healthy and realistic look at your business—because then and only then will you accept that you control your business.

14 Easy Fixes for Creating a Stronger Photography Business

Post author:Skip Cohen
Post category:Business Shutter Magazine
Reading time:10 mins read

Since the first issue of Shutter Magazine, I’ve shared one article after another with ideas to help you build a stronger business. I’ve shared ideas about virtually every aspect of your business today—from your website to your blog, marketing, direct mail, education and partnerships. This month I wanted to have some fun with a series of my pet peeves and easy ways to fix them. This list is not all-inclusive. I’m doing a brain dump, and this month’s article is meant to be a free-form collection of ideas all of you can start working on immediately.

Your Dream Studio: Creating An Annual Plan

Post author:Jeff & Lori Poole
Post category:Business Shutter Magazine
Reading time:8 mins read

In last month’s Business Corner, we asked you to daydream about your ideal studio and lifestyle. This month, we’re going to take these dreams and turn them into an actionable plan. In order to do so, your vision for your dream studio must be clear. We’re going to start with your end goal, and then build a plan to get you there.

8 Overlooked Photography Marketing Ideas

Post author:Skip Cohen
Post category:Marketing Shutter Magazine
Reading time:9 mins read

What goes around comes around: it’s an expression we’ve all heard numerous times, but this month it’s so appropriate for eight great promotional products/concepts everyone seems to have forgotten about. Over the last five years, I’ve written about half of them, but it’s time to create a little more awareness to help you make 2018 the biggest and best year you’ve ever had. None of the ideas are new, but most of you will find them unique and loaded with potential for growing your business.

Standing Out From the Crowd with Sal Cincotta

Post author:Sal Cincotta
Post category:Shutter Magazine Uncategorized
Reading time:9 mins read

Shutter and ShutterFest do something really well: They stand out from the crowd. They are different. They are in your face. They make you stand up and take notice. The question you should be asking is: How do I apply some of these guiding principles to my own business?

Marketing for Maternity Portraits

Post author:Karen Bagley
Post category:Maternity Shutter Magazine
Reading time:9 mins read

You have heard me say it once, and you will hear me say it at least a million more times. Maternity portraits are huge. The mindset that women will not invest in maternity portraits because they want to put their real investment in newborn portraits is hogwash. How do I know? Because I am living proof that these soon-to-be mommas will spend big bucks on their maternity portraits. So now comes the huge question: How do we find those expecting mommas who want to drop some serious bills for their maternity portraits? It’s that million-dollar word: marketing.

3 Hidden Benefits of Mastering Maternity Photography

Post author:Casey Dittmer
Post category:Maternity Shutter Magazine
Reading time:8 mins read

Many photographers seem to think that maternity work is too niche, too cliché, too Pinteresty. Why would you want to add it to your portrait business? Sure, the maternity portrait industry is pretty much one note—same poses, same outfits, same editing style—but your images don’t have to be. Creating a signature style, an outstanding client experience and showstopping imagery can produce higher sales and also bring you three hidden benefits.

Make Them Want It: 7 Steps to Selling With Emotion

Post author:Christine Yodsukar
Post category:In-Person Sales Shutter Magazine
Reading time:9 mins read

People want to buy things that make their life better. They aren’t interested in how epic your photography is or how many awards you have. Those are amazing bonuses, but the real reason they are looking for a photographer is because something or someone in their life is incredibly important to them and they want to celebrate them. So why do we focus all our efforts on taking a cooler photo than Joe Shmoe down the street when we should be focusing equal amounts of energy (if not more) on finding out what our clients want and how we can give it to them?