Commercial Photographer: Your Guide to Marketing, Creativity and Growth

In this weeks episode we welcome our first guest Charlott McAnsh from See No Bounds Charlott talks to us about how important it is to have brand photographs to promote your business. And how important it is get out from behind the camera and show your self!   Having recently had a branding photo shoot, and having been regularly photographed since her student days, when she was a model, Charlott knows what it is like to being in front of the lens. She loves receiving directions and natural posing tips. But she also realises that, this is her preference. And so listening and adapting tot he client is a key skill for photographers. The importance of a “discovery call” is discussed to make sure branding is on point and a relationship is established.   Charlott and See No Bounds recommend setting up a subscription service - it offers so many advantages to both client and photographer and you can listen more about this in our episode "Offering Subscriptions Services to your clients". It gives you the chance to get to know the client better and you can offer seasonal photo shoots. Offering a make up artist and stylist can really add value to your shoots, it’s all about the experience!   We go on to discuss the importance of story telling and research into the person you are photographing. It’s so important to listen to the client and adapt to their needs.   Of course we discuss the importance of networking and Charlott gave us some great tips on that too! And having a portfolio that is suited towards the job you are pitching for. Stories are so important when networking as they are more memorable than just a standard pitch. Charlott McAnsh is the founder of See No Bounds, a network and business community that focus on connecting business owners, give exposure and a place where you will find support. Charlott has over 30 years of experience in events, hospitality, and customer service with a corporate background.   Having travelled all over the world she is a master connector, and her goal is to see businesses succeed. She has an understanding for business development and business growth and has created a platform that provides resources and support to the next generation of entrepreneurs. Charlott is an experienced mentor, having helped many young people develop their skills and launch their own businesses.    Her work has enabled many to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen field and years later she keeps connected with the teams she has worked with over the years.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlott-mcansh-see-no-bounds/ See No Bounds is a Business Network and Community where all the necessary principles of advertisement, education, promotion, and interaction has come together in one place. With an interactive platform you can find more connections and engage with the network.   You can advertise your blogs, vlogs and podcast and get more exposure for you and your business.  https://seenobounds.co.uk/ Newsletter Sign up to the See No Bounds Newsletter to get the latest podcast, transcription, news, updates, photos and more, sent direct to your inbox every week.        

Marcus guides us through the world of social media. It’s critical for photographers to have some sort of presence on one or more social media platform.   We talk about which platform is best for you and we discuss in depth which ones are best for commercial photographers -Linkedin, Twitter and Google My Business. These are primarily focuses on business to business.   As long term posters on Linkedin both of us are keen advocates of the platform, there are no restrictions on the type and size of media you post - unlike others.   There is a link for Google business below and it’s definitely something worth investigating.   As far as what to post it pays to be interesting and avoid being “salesy” at all costs. Set out to be seen as the authority and be consistent in your posting.   As a photographer we have lots of visual material to share but a few words to go with the photograph such as a short story will make the post even more popular. Don’t expect instant results it takes time to build a following but certainly, initially at least, focus on one or two platforms.   Of course it’s not a one way streak, comment on other peoples post and build up connections.   In summary:   Be consistent Comment on other peoples posts Find the platform that works for you    https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/business/ https://www.linkedin.com/feed/ https://twitter.com/home   News of the day   https://petapixel.com/2023/04/25/amazing-collection-of-photos-that-chart-american-history-up-for-auction/

This episode is sponsored by Website for photographers. Website 4 photographers help photographers get more leads from their websites. You can get in touch here ⁠info@website4photographers.co.uk⁠ ⁠01482 765871⁠ Marcus and Sam talk about what to do with a mailing list, once you have some people on it.

This week we are talking about Email Marketing, specifically how to grow your mailing list. Next week we will look at what to do with your mailing list. Sam thinks Email marketing is a no-brainer and explains why. There is no doubt about it you need a mailing list, it’s as simple as that!   Some of the many advantages that a mailing list will give you are numerous. It gives you direct contact with all your subscribers. Your followers want to hear from you, they already have expressed an interest as so are won't think of your emails as spam, but welcome information from a trusted source. When setting up your Email Marketing, signing up to a reputable provider will help overcome GDPR issues, they are trusted sources and are set up to make sure your emails are being delivered. Some of the trusted providers we metioned in the show include Mailchimp Studio Ninja Hubspot  Keap MooSend Mailerlite We discuss the legal basis for adding people to yuor mailing list including what “legitimate interest” really means and how you can and can't use it to add subscribers to your mailing list. Sam guides us through the values of having something for people to download - a lead magnet. And a few trips and tricks to increase the number of subscribers, such as running companions, building communities and more.   In this episode Marcus refers to Net walking - and you can find out more about this here:   ⁠https://naturalnetwalking.co.uk/⁠

This week Marcus takes us through the benefits of using flash (strobe to Americans) for your photoshoots. Marcus is passionate about this subject and explains why it's an essential part of every photographer's toolkit. Plus we get an insight into a memorable Fosters advert from 'back in the day'. Marcus explains how flash helps you create a visual narrative. you can get more information about that here. https://www.wearecognitive.com/blog/what-are-the-key-components-of-visual-storytelling Marcus also explains that clients' availability can be limited so sometimes you need to turn day into night, or night into day using flash. There is some more information on this here. https://fstoppers.com/lighting/using-flash-change-your-photo-day-night-598896 We also discuss manufacturers, which to use and why it's best to choose wisely. When natural light is good it’s good use it, but, remember if you are in the UK, don't rely on it. Modifiers, speed lights, umbrellas and stands all come into the chat. And finally, how to find a good teacher and the workshops that are best avoided.   Marcus referred to these photographers in the podcast.   Martin Parr - https://www.martinparr.com/ Gregory Crewdson - https://gagosian.com/artists/gregory-crewdson/ Elaine Constantine -https://elaineconstantine.com/  

Next week Sam will guide us through the journey of setting up a subscription service. He'll talk about the why, the how, and the marketing. Marcus and Sam will explain how it has worked for them in their business and how it can work for you. Subscriptions are a great way of getting regular income.That means every month you know you have a certain amount that will land in your bank account, without fail, before you've lifted a finger. They ensure that you are constantly in your client’s mind, which is great for getting referrals. Subscription services are not that common in the photography industry, which means setting one up will make you stand out from the crowd. From a client's point of view, subscriptions are a great way to make ensure their images are seasonal or topical. As a photographer you get to know your clients well and what they need. We discuss the practicalities of running a subscription service. Go Cardless is a nice simple way to setup direct debits. ⁠https://gocardless.com/⁠ News of the day, the Gen Z Shake, it's a thing! ⁠https://petapixel.com/2023/03/23/the-gen-z-shake-is-the-telltale-way-young-people-film-videos/⁠

In this episode Sam is digging into “working the room” and how to successfully build your business network.   Some of the things we discuss in this weeks show •  Why go to a business network meeting. •  Don’t be “salesy”. •  Building a network in a new town - both Sam and Marcus talk from personal experience. • It’s not just about letting people know about you! •  Know, like and trust. •  Applying the 80/20 rule. •  Listening is a skill. •  How to use touchpoints to make sure you are remembered. •  Using Linkedin to help build your network. •  The importance of following up. •  How to create a winning elevator pitch. •  Extra benefits from networking. •  Applying a sales funnel approach to networking

Marcus and Sam are taking a look at the advantages and disadvantages of niching. How it looks to the client and how it helps in your own marketing.   We discuss the fear factor of possibly losing out on clients outside your niche, and how social media has opened up the market to a global one. However, being a generalist does have its advantages, especially when starting out  - it is a great way of broadening your skills. Learn product photography, location photography and studio photography. Sam and Marcus go on to discuss the equipment required and how specialists can buy specialised equipment. Niching doesn’t mean you have to turn down work - you may just not publicise it.

AI- Friend or Foe   On this weeks podcast Sam Hollis and Marcus Ahmad talk about AI. How long has it really been with us? How has it been utilised by photographers in the past and how much are you really using it already? Almost certainly since the onset of digital photography. Then we move onto the AI of today, ChatGPT and other tools. Are they a friend or foe and how could we make the best use of them to our advantage as photographers?   What surprises Marcus is the speed at which current AI technologies have improved so rapidly. And Sam is finding out how AI can help photographers transition from technicians to directors. Along the way we chat about The Yamaha DX7 keyboard What’s an art director? ChatGPT The James Web Space Telescope   And you can always find us at the Shoot to the Top website.

On this week's show Sam discusses the case for photography case studies. He tells us how they can attract more visitors to your website and help attract your ideal client. He also talks about how they are best showcased for maximising a website’s SEO. And then there are the regular features - News and Stat of the day!