Photographers and Videographers, Did You Get Your First Customer Online or in Person?​

Ive been a commercial photographer and video producer for 20 years and now run a marketing agency. (Photographed 1000+ weddings around the world during the good old days!)

If you take your marketing seriously - plan on getting the RIGHT highly targeted leads online through social media. You can target based on behaviors and belief. Put some budget behind telling YOUR story (video marketing) and drive traffic to landing pages (learn to pixel and retarget!!) and you'll have much more success in getting the right clients.

Don't start out cheap (virtually everyone is cheap!) but know your numbers - ALL of your numbers - if you want to make a full time go of it.

Marketing has everything to do with your success - regardless of your skill level.

Have an online presence! Social media & a good blog is the key along with consistency , but this can be VERY time consuming. Pre-schedule posts as often as you can, educate your clients...give them reasons why professional photography is a better choice. Designate one day a week to online planning. Educational tips/write ups offer great value to clients while subtly advertising to potential clients. Basically give people a reason to follow you online. What makes you stand out from everyone else?

Hello Jenell, I have been doing video professionally for 36 years, and started my business back in 1988, so I may have got my first customer via Pony Express, lol. Just kidding. My first customer was through a personal introduction and an in-person meeting. I have gotten many customers through referrals, so those are the best, but nowadays, the advent of social media makes customer acquisition more diverse. The best is still meeting people face to face, but I have gotten customers through social media posts, email responses, and from online job boards like Thumbtack.com Marketing your business when you are new is the most important thing you can do, so allocate a good portion of your time to marketing, using both online and offline methods.

My first jobs and clients were from in person meetings, and most of mine now come from referrals. I looked for people who were looking for videographers, on craigslist or wherever, and responded to those. But I got the job when I showed up and talked to them, not just through responding to the ads.

It's much easier if they're already looking for your services.

It depends on the services you're offering and the type of video you're doing. If you're doing weddings, that might not work. I am a freelancer doing corporate, commercials, film and TV.

You'll need a professional website.
Show your stuff, put clips on YouTube, share them on Twitter, FB, and more.
Offer information and insight. Make your posts compelling so people will come back for more. Make your own video ads. You can be on cam, or hire a spokesperson, do voice over, and mainly show what you do. If you or your spokesperson are on cam, just do the intro and closing, let the middle showcase your work with voiceover, or a music bed, you can have words on screen... The main thing is to show off your work. Let the work speak for itself.

First client was in person because I knew them. After that, it was online- craigslist, google ads, facebook, thumbtack and instagram. I never met them in person. We communicated via email and phone. Craigslist doesn't really work anymore. I guess because difderent horror stories of hiring or buying stuff and craiglist. You can probably try it and see if its works for you

I met my first client at an art event, where my nature photos were on exhibit. She asked if I did portraits, and I said I could...

In person, word of mouth from friends I'd photographed.

Clientele starts with people you know, building great connections, and showing off your work ethic and attention to detail. The online presence is a huge factor for people who are referred and can see your work. It's usually word of mouth of that gets you a long way. Online marketing only works when people hear about you and check out your site.

80% of mine as well comes from friends and referrals. people who like my work tell their friends. Hang in there, you are just starting out. I have been doing this for 12 years and it started part time and moved now to full time. I had to begin doing things cheap and free for friends and they then told their friends, who would then pay. It takes some time. I also get drive by's now going past the studio since I moved the business out of my home. That helps. p.s. Advertising has not really worked for me after spending lots on it in the past.

I would say 80% of business comes from friends and personal referrals.