I’m sharing three strategies that I have learned from experience on how to grow your photography business through social media. Through Personal Marketing, Consistency and Relevancy, (and some work) you can successfully grow a profitable business working with your dream clients!

I can say FROM EXPERIENCE, yeah, low numbers suck. But you can’t dwell on your numbers. I have had lower numbers than most of the people that I follow or are within my little community of photographers but I still have a successful business. It’s not about the numbers — it’s about the quality of the people within those numbers. When it comes to growing your social media, if you’re focused on the numbers game, your head’s in the wrong place.

I can honestly say that yes, social media is a way for you to market your business but it’s not easy, by any means. It takes a lot of effort but with a strategic plan, you can market your business successfully on social media working with ideal clients.

#3 Personal Marketing

Instagram is my main source of bookings. And in all my years of shooting weddings, I’ve never had anyone who found me on Instagram that needed to schedule a call with me to get to know me before booking. By the time someone finds me online, they know who I am because I market myself personally (and show off a lot of my personality!). As a photographer, YOU are your brand. YOU are the one showing up to the session or wedding day. They are interacting with you, as a person, so people need to know, like and trust you in order ultimately hire you.

I’m absolutely not saying you need to share your super deep personal stuff. I’m not saying that at all. But when you think about your ideal client, what do you two have in common? Do you shop at the same stores? Do you both have a dog? Does she like to travel? Share about things in your personal life, unrelated to photography, that your ideal client would enjoy reading about. Share about a recent trip you took. Create a Reel about your favorite local restaurants that are pet-friendly!

Your ideal client doesn’t want to follow you just to be promoted to about your services. They want to know about you and who you are as a person because YOU are the person behind your business. YOU are the person they are hiring. So make sure they connect with you, not just your pictures.

#2 Stay Relevant

A lot of people are having a hard time transitioning into video content on Instagram. And as I was just messaging with a fellow educator: You either adapt and accept change now. Or you kick and scream about it and accept change later. But either way, you will have to accept the change if you want to grow. Digital marketing is constantly changing and if you want to grow your business, whether on social media of not, you have to stay relevant!

“You either adapt and accept change now. Or you kick and scream about it and accept change later. But either way, you will have to accept change if you want to grow.”

If you haven’t jumped on the Instagram Reels train, my best advice is to get on it. All of my advice here is more of a get-great-over-time plan. But video and especially Instagram Reels is the only advice I have that gives you an instant boost in exposure. I still have Reels that get a few hundred views. But then my most recent Reel is going viral. You can’t have the good without the bad! But you certainly can’t have the good at all if you don’t TRY.

In this Reel I shared, I’m literally TELLING YOU TO STEAL IT. You just need a few seconds of BTS video then show the final product — it’s so simple — you can do it with your next shoot!

#1 Consistency. Consistency! CONSISTENCY!

If you’re looking to grow your business, you obviously want to use social media. Social media platforms are a great free tool to market your business if you use them properly. You can’t just post when you have something, you have to post consistently.

It took me two years to reach 500 followers on Instagram. TWO YEARS. But in January of 2020, I started posting consistently, (4-5 times per week) it took me 10 months to reach 1,000. And 6 months later, another 500 more. Let me make it very clear, it’s not all about the numbers. Obviously, these aren’t “influencer numbers” I’m tooting my horn about but these are MY numbers. And if you’re focused on numbers, then only compare your current numbers to your own previous numbers. You’ll feel more successful when you start tracking YOUR OWN numbers and you’ll build momentum as you begin focusing on your own growth instead of watching others’.

Posting consistently on social media it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a get-great-over-time scheme. It takes time for the algorithm to pick up on your pattern of posting and start throwing you into the loop on a regular basis!

Your actions steps:

1. Decide how often you will post on social media. Doesn’t have to be 7 day a week, I chose 4-5 because I post on weekdays normally and take the weekends off. That’s my audience is online. But even if you decide on 3times a week, or even twice a week. Just make sure you’re STICKING TO IT.
2. Choose three personal topics that your ideal client connects with and post about them once or twice a week! Something like: travel, dogs, coffee. And share about it in a way to connect with audience and get them to engage. Like “here’s my starbucks order, it always makes me feel warm and fuzzy. What do you order?”
3. START MAKING REELS. Enough said.

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Have questions or thoughts on this post? Let’s connect!

Leave a comment. I read and reply to every single one! Or even better, follow me on Instagram! I LOVE to connect with fellow photographers on a more personal level on IG. Let’s be friends! I reply to every DM and comment!

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Courtney is an Indiana Wedding Photographer and Educator. Her specialty is fun, colorful & playfully romantic wedding photography for classic and timeless couples and branding photography for boss business owners looking to enhance their overall brand with compelling imagery that tells their story. Within Indiana, she serves Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Carmel, Noblesville, Zionsville, Lafayette, Bloomington and South Bend. Areas in surrounding states that she serves: Columbus, Dayton, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, Ohio; Ann Arbor, Battle Creek and Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is available for destination weddings, engagements, and branding sessions. Contact her for more detailed pricing.