How to Build Your Reputation as a New Wedding Photographer or Videographer

Those first business steps are exciting and terrifying in equal measures.

That’s why business tips for wedding photographers and videographers can come in handy.

Some of the most valuable recommendations revolve around marketing and building one’s reputation.

Succeeding at these essentials can guarantee the longevity and stability of the business in the long run.

So, how do you establish yourself as a reliable and knowledgeable professional when nobody has ever heard about you?

Luckily, numerous opportunities exist. Some of those are even free of charge while still being capable of delivering excellent results.

 

Top Marketing Tips for Wedding Photographers and Videographers: Focus on Your Website

 

One of the most important things you’ll need to do is make yourself findable online. If people can’t discover information about you, it’s as if you don’t even exist.

Start by creating a website dedicated to your wedding photography or videography business.

It gives you the perfect platform to present your skills and services in any way deemed appropriate.

Plus, you have the freedom to upload your portfolio and provide clients with an easy opportunity to contact you.

 

 

A business website can be set up free of charge via a platform like WordPress. Still, it’s a good idea to learn a bit about search engine optimization (SEO).

Knowing how to get your content properly optimized will help you reach the top Google search positions for keywords of preference.

Even if you don’t have the time to learn SEO or you feel this isn’t your biggest strength, there are still opportunities.

Spending a bit of money on professional assistance will give you amazing return on investment (in the form of qualified leads that can easily turn to clients).

 

Work on Expanding Your Portfolio

 

Here’s another important tip for wedding photographers and videographers – put a lot of effort in expanding and curating your portfolio.

This is one of the biggest essentials that will help for the attraction of the right kind of client.

There are many ways to add more work to your portfolio.

You can offer a giveaway to potential clients or work as someone’s second photographer/videographer for a while.

It’s also a good idea to feature work that’s not related to weddings but that paints an accurate picture of your style and skills.

Portfolio building isn’t about including as much work as possible.

On the contrary – you have to create a focused representation of what you do. If you have niche skills and a style that you’d like to be known for, make sure these are the stars of the show.

You can always feature alternatives but these should play a supporting role.

Using models to create promotional work is one more opportunity worth exploring. This is another kind of investment worth making because it will repay itself fairly shortly.

 

Ask Your Clients for Honest Reviews

 

Client reviews and testimonials provide amazing opportunities to build your reputation, especially if these people have had an exceptional experience.

Getting those first clients to write reviews, however, isn’t such a simple task.

Very often, people forget about reviewing products and services, even if they’ve had a strong opinion about them at the time.

It’s your job to remind former clients of the interaction and ask them for some feedback. You can do so by sending a quick email or even providing some discounts for a review (a discount code can often do miracles when it comes to provoking the kind of response you’re looking for).

Whatever you do, make sure the reviews delivered are honest and unbiased.

One thing you should never ever do is write fake testimonials on your own. These are fairly easy to spot, especially by people who know what they’re looking for.

The approach may work for some time but it can seriously backfire in the long run.

You may feel a bit worried about getting negative reviews but they’re a normal part of being a professional service provider.

By giving clients exceptional solutions you reduce the risk of that happening. Even if you get a negative review, you can still turn the situation around by responding adequately.

Being respectful and offering a disgruntled client some kind of compensation can turn them into one of your biggest fans.

 

Work on B2B Networking

 

Wedding photographers and videographers often work alongside numerous other clients tasked with organizing the special day for the lucky couple.

Building and maintaining stellar relationships with wedding service providers is one of the keys to establishing your reputation and getting referrals.

If you’re a wedding photographer, work on relationships with wedding videographers and vice versa.

Other service providers worth networking with include wedding planners, makeup artists, venue owners, wedding dress boutique owners and catering service providers.

You can establish your brand by personally getting in touch with these vendors.

Attending wedding fairs is another great idea. Not only will you get to do some professional networking, you may also be approached by potential clients.

 

Reputation Establishment Tips for Wedding Photographers and Videographers: Stellar Service Provision

 

Here’s the thing – you will invest in your business longevity every single time you interact with a new client.

That’s why you have to make every single interaction meaningful.

Making sure that your first clients are super satisfied establishes your brand immediately. People who are fully satisfied will recommend your solutions when someone they know is looking for wedding photography o videography.

Focus on good communication and understanding the assignment well. If you need to, ask follow-up questions.

Be invested in the love story that the clients have entrusted in your hands.

Personalize your solutions to offer customers precisely what they’re looking for. These are just a few of the suggestions that are bound to deliver good results.

Every single client can turn into your marketing agent if you do your job the way you’re meant to.

So, don’t cut corners and don’t let circumstances affect the quality of the work that you do.

 

Use the Power of Social Media

 

Here’s another tip for wedding photographers and videographers that uses the power of digital media.

Social media marketing can be carried out free of charge.

At the same time, it provides numerous channels worth exploring. It has a massive viral potential and it also simplifies the process of reaching the right people.

Some of the must-try social media include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and even TikTok.

It’s a good idea to keep track of what’s going on in the world of social media. New channels become available all the time.

Trends change quickly. If you’re not hoping on the right bandwagon, you’re missing an amazing opportunity to reach more clients and get your work recognized.

 

Bonus Tip: Don’t Make a Compromise with Pricing

 

Some promotional experts recommend setting lower fees in the beginning of your career.

The logic here is that more affordable services will help you attract clients, which will build your brand and help you in the long run.

While lower fees may seem like a good idea when you’re a newbie, they’re a recipe for disaster.

Underpricing your services will attract the wrong kind of client. If you have a particular customer profile in mind, set prices that are adequate for that particular demographic.

Also, starting out with a certain price will make clients expect such packages in the long run. Increasing prices later on may be awkward and difficult. You may even lose some customers because of a decision like that.

So, the best thing to do is to create packages that are reflective of service quality and buyer persona.

Obviously, a beginner will charge less than a very experienced photographer or videographer. Still, set a threshold and don’t go lower.

This way, you will be attracting your ideal kind of client and not just any customer.

 

Reputation Establishment Is an Ongoing Endeavor

 

The above-mentioned tips for wedding photographers and videographers aren’t suitable just for beginners.

Reputation establishment isn’t a one-time project. In fact, you’ll need to continue working on your brand in the long run.

Attracting your first clients is great. You will, however, need to continue working on service quality, marketing and networking.

If you discontinue these efforts, you may find out that professional opportunities are starting to dwindle.

While branding takes time you may be dedicating to another aspect of your business, it’s as vital as acquiring new photography and videography skills. It keeps you relevant and popular.

It also reduces the cost of customer acquisition and helps for a more precise positioning as time goes by.

Investing in reputation establishment may feel cumbersome and challenging in the beginning of your career. In time, however, you’ll probably start enjoying the process.

Chances are that you’ll also come up with new, creative ideas to market yourself and increase your reach.

Don’t be afraid of trying something new, especially if you believe it will help you connect with the right customer. You have nothing to lose!