How to get Commercial Photography Clients

Getting your first commercial photography client is exciting. However, what if you do not know how to get that first client? Below we will cover how we managed to capture the attention of brands like Snap Inc., Cintas, and other large companies. To gain larger clients you need to do TWO main things: ask more questions and gain more feedback.

Ask More Questions.
Gain more Feedback.

The only way to grow your clientele is by asking your current clients more questions about your current service. The challenging part is knowing which questions to ask your current clients and capitalizing on their responses rather than getting frustrated. Create a list of questions to send clientele following your projects and continuously adapt it to better understand where you can grow.

Asking questions goes beyond gaining feedback. The best way you can build a solid reputation is by being a solid human being. Ask questions to every client. This not only allows you an opportunity to learn something from someone else but also conveys that you care about them. This alone increases the chances that that client will refer your services to someone else.

There is no easy route to gaining commercial clients. You must work long enough with small businesses and individual clients asking questions and gaining feedback along the way before you can consistently bring in commercial clients. Here are a few other focuses that help gain commercial clients:

Narrow Down

In 2020, we fell in love with headshot photography. Headshots offered an opportunity to talk to more people in a controlled environment, create consistency, and develop a style. We began catching the attention of those in our immediate network who later would go on to recommend us to their employers any time headshots got brought up. Narrowing our focus on headshots allowed us to better capture the attention of those in our city.

Update

Since 2016, we have been updating our portfolio. As a visual service, it is extremely important that you consistently update your portfolio as new work comes in. If you are not actively increasing the value of your portfolio, how can one expect to increase the scale of incoming jobs?

Leverage Social Media

As a small business, social media is your best friend. Social media is the easiest way to build a network where you can consistently display work for free. Build social media into your business routine (not just scrolling, but posting about your brand). The key here is to not hyper-focus on likes and comments. Instead, be patient and consistent. You will eventually attract the eye of those even just swiping past.

In Conclusion

Building a thriving commercial photography business requires a combination of technical skills, artistic talent, and effective marketing strategies. By defining your niche, creating a compelling portfolio, leveraging social media, networking, developing a strong online presence, providing exceptional customer service, and implementing targeted marketing campaigns, you can attract and retain valuable commercial photography clients. Remember that success in this field takes time, persistence, and continuous learning, so be patient and adaptable to the evolving demands of the industry.