How to market your wedding photography services on the web...eight tips for photographers
TRAVERSE CITY, MI, January 7, 2010: With over two million weddings in the U.S. each year – each averaging between $21,000 and $24,000 in total expenditures – it’s no wonder that the wedding photography industry is as competitive as it is.
So how do you get an ample slice of this multi-billion dollar market? According to the Bridal Association of America, 77% of brides use the Internet when planning their wedding. “An obvious first step in getting your talent and skills noticed is ensuring your website is as good as it can be,” says Zachary Wessels of MorePhotos, a leader in photographer website design and online photo proofing and sales software. “Even more so, make sure it is easy to find.”
It’s easier than it sounds, maintains Wessels, who provides the following tips:
- 1. First and foremost, be on the web. And not with a poorly designed website. You need a site that reflects your creative vision and mirrors the quality of your work. Not too keen on spending hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on a custom website? No problem. Professional “photo storefront website templates” give you the capability to create an attractive website without enrolling in any HTML classes. And, they’re designed specifically for the needs of photographers. What’s more, you can tweak the design, color palette, patterns/textures and even music to your style. And if you mess it up, simply call tech support!
- 2. Display your work. Your online portfolio is the biggest tool you have in showcasing your work. Each image you display should be compelling and something
a potential client can relate to emotionally.
TIP: Update, update, update. Never let your portfolio get stale. At least every other month – more often if possible – add new images. - 3. Get found. A great looking website will do you no good if your site cannot be found by the major search engines. No need to break out “Search Engine
Optimization for Dummies.” Rather, as you search around for a website template company, be sure to look for one that has incorporated some SEO friendly features.
This will ensure that Google, Yahoo and Bing can find you and rank you.
TIP: Insert search words or specific phrases that you know brides will be using when researching photographers online into the text on your site to aid search engines in finding you. For example, “wedding photographers in Las Vegas,” or “beach wedding photographer.” - 4. Allow them to get to know you. Create an “About Me/Us” page that boasts of your credentials but also gives insight to your personality and style.
Make it personal. If you have an affinity for Black Labradors, don’t be afraid to mention it on this page. Brides want to feel as if they know the person with whom they are
entrusting capturing the images of their big day.
TIP: While you do want pat yourself on the back, don’t make this page a resume. This is about getting the bride, groom and their mothers comfortable with you. - 5. Let others do the talking for you. Create a dedicated testimonial page and post thank you notes and images of corresponding weddings (with permission, of course). Testimonials are as powerful as word of mouth referrals and carry more weight than your bio page. Let the bride know what others think and say.
- 6. Blog. Have a tip for a bride or thoughts on local photo locations? Put it on your site. Not only does it give the bride more insight into your personality, but
it adds to your site’s “stickiness” – the length of time a person spends on your site. “You don’t have to update your blog every day or even every week,” says Wessels.
“But it is important to keep the content fresh.”
TIP: Don’t have time to write something this week? Simply include a link to one of your favorite websites as your entry, with a little explanation of why you’re recommending it. Could be wedding related or completely unrelated! - 7. Make getting in touch with you easy. Include a Contact Us page that is inviting. Encourage the bride to stop by, email with questions or call. Email submit
forms with a “comments” field are a great way for brides to ask questions or inquire about a particular date.
TIP: Include the physical address or even a map to your location. This gives the bride a feeling that you are stable and will not be pulling up stakes.
- 8. After the wedding… Word-of-mouth referrals also play an enormous role in getting potential clients to your door. Your job in marketing yourself does not
stop at the wedding. Keep your name and display your work by creating a miniature online wedding album for the bride within a week or two of the wedding as a
value-added bonus. Not only will you be viewed as a hero, but rest assured, she will be passing this album onto her 526 Facebook friends and emailing it to her family.
With over 2 million weddings in the U.S. each year, one of her friend will inevitably be looking for a wedding photographer in the not too distant future. And the cost to you?
A wee bit of your time.
For more information on MorePhotos’ line of website templates, go to www.morephotos.com or call (888) 968.5565.
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