welcome to a new case study this one. We are wrapping up this section on getting your first paying client, getting your first client. So first let's just dive into with will see photo, Who was your first man with? Will see photo. It actually didn't happen till my second session. So the way everyone will see photo is that I block out a whole day and I try and get as much people in this one day. So the first day I went out and reached out to friends of friends, actors, of friends of friends of friends, I was like, hey, I'm starting a new headshot business. You want to come in for like an hour and a half and I can shoot your headshot for free. So the first day I had five people I shot headshots for for free. So right off the bat, I had five brand new headshots with three different looks on each head shots. So that's 15 photos that I acquired just for free because I put money into. So the next one, those people went out, posted those photos, you know, word of mouth and then I had three peo...

ple on that next session with our fully paying clients ready to go. So it only took like two sessions to do that. Now that's also again because I already have experience and I've been doing this for a while and you know, we'll take a look at my instagram later. But I started the instagram with older head shots that I've taken like eight years ago people and they still look and they hold up pretty professionally. But that's the best way I got my first new clients. So literally I want to break down. So the first ones that you're building up your portfolio with for free, like did you post on instagram? Did you email call text? How are you, How did I find the people? Yeah, I, I asked a few friends if they knew anyone that needed head shots. But again, that's my, that's my network. I know a lot of actors who know a lot of actors, a lot of actors. And then, so, okay, so you did those then for the next one again, Like how, what did you post on instagram and message people or? So this time, so this time I post on instagram with the new photos, like I think I posted like six and I put down, have another session looking for people. I think I got 11 person randomly hit me up. I gave them my prices. I said, okay, by the time the other two people, I had just sent emails or texts to my friends and they went ahead and said, hey, my buddies shooting headshots, caesars prices, are you interested? They just hit me up. That's so cool. And I mean that's really how to do it. I mean like you talked about in the lesson, your first plants coming from friends, family and acquaintances. It really, you gotta get out there and ask people, you got to tell people that you have a business and a lot of people or you are thinking, oh yeah, I'll do that. I'll talk to my family, but get out there and do that. Like put together an email. Send me an email blast to your friends, family and you just never know who's going to be wanting, wanting photos or whatever it is and they could be using them for anything. And for our wedding business that we had started, we shot my cousin's wedding for free. They were like, would you be down? They knew we were decent photographers. We were nervous as heck. But man, we got so much content from that one wedding that we should. I think that price list that we looked at earlier had two shots from it and it's like that. But it looks like multiple weddings because we shot in so many different ways. So, you know, you never know who needs them and you should just go for it, especially with your family. And I'll say my first paid photography gig, which again, I don't have a photography business. But if you know the skills, people are gonna end up asking you to do photography was a friend who were having a baby and they wanted a maternity session. And so I was like, yeah, sure. Actually before that, I took holiday photos. Yeah. A lot of christmas photos for people actually, that was probably my first paid Oh gosh, way back when Yeah, different. Yeah. We actually posted in the photography and friends community asking how some of our students got their first paying client, which is exciting because we've heard a lot from students who took our classes and not that it's all us, but part of it, they used our skills, We've taught them and they got their own first gig. So I just wanted to share a couple of these stories. Um, what I won't name names because I didn't ask for permission to use their name, but the ideas are great. So one posted on facebook marketplace didn't even think about just facebook has the marketplace section. You've probably seen people trying to sell shoes or cars on that. But just posted there says they, It was a wedding too with about 50 guests. I'm not sure actually how they did it. If someone was asking for a wedding photographer or if they, they were posted like an ax is still a good spot to look though. I mean facebook facebook marketplace, like a lot of people are going to see that and you never know who's willing to take a risk on a beginning photographer, especially if the price is right. So it does look like she actually posted an ad on facebook marketplace, which is pretty cool. Um, we got another story. He made a, a mug with a picture of a bird on it and that was just for his wife's birthday. But then client saw that and asked for a canvas of a bird photo. So he just made a canvas photo and sold it. Yeah, don't ask that. Another says there brother um got them a job. So again just telling people another says facebook neighborhood group. So there's a lot of groups on Facebook, especially in your community even next door.com. Hey, starting out photography. Anyone needs shots for $50. Yeah, I've seen that actually on next door in my local neighborhood. I'm just posted said, Yeah, they said they posted saying they're launching their website. Um, or someone posted, someone else posted asking saying they're starting a website and they needed candids of her working. So she responded and that's awesome. Um, let's see. One other person says they worked for a real state magazine and one of the realtors saw their work and wanted to do photography for all their listings, which hey, that's awesome. Um, and let's see, she is a project manager at one of our contractors. She loved the pictures I had of my son as my profile pictures and asked if I would take pictures of her grand baby. Dude. This is like, this is like the beauty of like modern technology social media. I feel like the consistency here is that there's no set path, but that in order to get more work, you need to get out there and get work, you get out there, get shooting post stuff, interact with people And even like, you know, you're sitting there, there are gonna be some people who are like, I don't have friends or family that are interested. I don't talk to my friends or family. Alright, Don't talk to my family, don't have friends. There are ways to get clients without that to posting to marketplaces. We didn't even mention like craigslist, but like posting to craigslist or any of these other photography boards, places like that. We'll talk a little bit more about this later on when we talk about expanding your online presence and using places like the knot or wedding wire. If you're a wedding photographer to post a profile, but just getting out there and putting your work out there, people are going to see it end up hiring. Sure, awesome. Thanks so much. I think we covered it well and we'll see you in the next

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Philip Ebiner

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Will Carnahan

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Case Study - Getting Your First Clients

Case Study - Getting Your First Clients

Lesson Info

28. Case Study - Getting Your First Clients

Lessons

Welcome

Why Do You Want to Start a Photography Business

What Kind of Photography Business Do You Want to Start

Important Personal Note from Instructor Will

Case Study Starting a Photography Business

Quiz - Chapter 1

Introduction to Basics of Starting a Photography Business

Choose Your Business Name

Choose Your Business Structure

Register Your Business Name

Get Your Federal Tax ID

Get Your Business License

Get Your Business Bank Account

Register Your Online Accounts

Branding Your Business

Set Your Prices

The Photography Gear You Need to Start a Business

Case Study - Business Basics

Case Study - Equipment

Quiz - Chapter 2

Intro to Getting Your First Paying Clients

You Need to Prove Yourself

The Best Place to Find Your First Clients

What to Charge for Your First Clients

On Set - Partnering with Other Creatives

On Set - Getting Work in a Competitive Environment

Use Your First Shoot Wisely

Case Study - Getting Your First Clients

Quiz - Chapter 3

Introduction to Create Your Photography Business Website

Why You Need a Website and Platform Options

What Needs to Be On Your Website

Design the Perfect Portfolio

Case Study - Looking at Photography Websites

Quiz - Chapter 4

Introduction to Expanding Your Online Presence

Use Instagram to Grow Your Business

Use Facebook to Grow Your Business

Get Listed on Google

Get Listed on Yelp

Get Listed on Review Sites

Using Craigslist to Get Work

Case Study - Expanding Your Online Presence

Quiz - Chapter 5

Introduction to the Photography Business Workflow

Step 1 - Meeting Your Client

Step 2 - Booking Your Client

Step 3 - The Shoot

Step 4 - Editing Your Photos

Step 5 - Delivering Your Photos

Case Study - Business Workflow

On Set - the Shoot

On Set - Backdrop Placement

On Set - Paper Backdrop Rolls

On Set - The Back Light

On Set - Interacting with Clients

Quiz - Chapter 6

Intro to Business Infrastructure and Continued Growth

Productivity Tools to Make Your More Efficient

Get Business Insurance

Accounting Tools & Tips

Business Tax Tips

Scaling Your Prices Up

Use Conventions and Meet Ups to Grow Your Business

Case Study - Business Growth

Quiz - Chapter 7

Intro to the Selling Prints Section

Why Should You Sell Your Prints

Choose a Printer

How to Price Your Prints

Selling Your Prints Online

Selling Your Prints in Person

Wrapping up This Section

Quiz - Chapter 8