How do I get more clients to stand in front of my camera?

I've been using my camera to capture images of people now for many, many years. I went to University, I obtained a Masters Degree in Visual Art and Design; and I've pretty much written my life story surrounding Art on HIVE throughout the course of dozens of posts.

The Problem

The one thing I've never really been able to do, however; is make an actual living from my creative skillset. My very first job out of High School was with a Youth Art project, where I was paid for a month's work of contributing to public art installations.

Since then however, any money gained from the sale of artwork or my photographic services has been pretty much immediately reinvested into obtaining more equipment to continue developing my technical prowess.

I've sat down and down budgets. I've got a registered "business". I've got a business website. I've got all the gear and know-how to do business in the photographic field; but there's one thing that I'm missing: customers.

For a few years, I relentlessly shot for "Free" to build my portfolio, grow a following; and work on some time for Print projects. A few paid projects eventuated out of this work, but they were done for passion, at unsustainably low rates; and out of love for creating.

Since the start of 2023; I've photographed four weddings. One, for a client that was recommended to me by a friend, and the others have been as a second shooter for a well known wedding photographer in the Adelaide region where I reside.

The Solution

I considered a budget of between $250-500 for some Instagram advertising; as that has been; traditionally in the past from where I've gotten my "best" clients. I spoke to a friend who has actual ability in marketing, and she suggested that such a budget wasn't enough to secure any serious work, the likes of which would challenge me to have enough clients to make me uncomfortably busy.

That was after I made these images, celebrating some colour harmonies in line with the dominant tones in the image. All these images are examples of my work from weddings that I've photographed.

The Images

While weddings can be very lucrative, they're also very stressful, and likely to invoke the wrath of hundreds of people, as opposed to just a single client, so you have to balance your reputation against your skill, the client's expectations, and the delivered results.

Sometimes, that's really easy.

But I find my true passions in delivering portraits. I tell my clients that weddings are just a series of portraits, but my "portraiture" feels like it is on a totally different level to the work I produce at Weddings.

The Portraits

Portraits such as those above are the ones that I am the most passionate about producing. I am inspired by Pre-Raphaelite painting, low key lighting, and producing images that border on the theatrical and dramatic.

The issue is, the work that I often see from "others" who are "successful" is something that is very different from my personal style.

This post is sort of a bit o a rant at not knowing my place in the market, and simultaneously not having the courage to step out and ask for people to hire me to capture their likeness.

So, photographers of HIVE - how does attracting clients work for you?

Are you purely word of mouth? Do you list on local directories? Do you pay for ads?

Keen to hear from people that are in the business.

Even keener to hear if you would hire me.

Lastly, if you're in Adelaide; South Australia, and you know of anyone who wants a photographer to create some portraits, capture a wedding, or a special event; please get them in touch with me via my website. I'd love to create some more magic, and garner a sense of validity and perhaps a few meals from my photographic skills.

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Want more content from me?

Witness my futile efforts to play my Steam Game collection in alphabetical order.

Are you aware that I love photography? Check out my work in a collection.

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If you haven't started playing Splinterlands, you should do that immediately. It's very good fun.

If you want to see my Splinterlands antics and rants live, Find me on Twitch

If you prefer sleeping in your designated time zone, go watch replays on YouTube.

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Thanks as always for your time!