Becoming a successful photographer is only partially about practicing your craft non-stop and sticking with it no matter what. The rest is all about getting your work noticed. At the end of the day, you could be the most talented photographer since Ansel Adams or Annie Leibovitz. It still won’t matter if no one knows you’re out there or is aware of what you can do.
Even so, knowing you’re ready to put your work out there and get noticed is one thing. Understanding how to go about it is another. Make sure you keep the following tips in mind. You’ll be turning all the right heads before you know it.
- Think outside the box.
Being good at photography isn’t enough on its own to make you successful. The world is filled with photographs that are “good” from a technical standpoint. They’re everywhere from your favorite stock photo site, to that billboard across town, to the junk mail ads that arrive in your mailbox every day. How many of those photos truly make you sit up and take notice?
Truly successful photographers aren’t just producing work that’s good. They’re also thinking outside the box and creating images that are unique. Work on coming up with an idea, an approach, or a technique that will set you apart from the rest of the pack.
- Establish a photography blog.
If you’re serious about getting noticed as a photographer, you’ll definitely need to build an online presence for your work at some point. That said, if you don’t already have a dedicated website for showcasing your photos, it’s time to set one up. If you do have one, it’s time to add a blog to the mix.
Make sure you update your blog consistently and according to a regular schedule. Not only does this help existing or potential readers know when they can expect new content from you, but it raises your site’s relevancy to the search engines as well. Alternate new posts showcasing your work or advertising services with other useful content of value (i.e. photography tutorials and pro tips).
- Seek out publishing opportunities for your work.
Although a strong Internet presence is without a doubt one of the best ways to tell people you’re out there, it’s not enough all on its own. Successful photographers and true pros also seek out additional publishing opportunities for their work.
Get in touch with your local newspapers, as well as magazine offices in your area. Contacting local promotors isn’t a bad idea either. Entities like these all need a constant stream of photographs to draw from and if you’re good enough, yours could be part of the mix. This can be a great opportunity to start earning some extra cash and accumulating experience as well.
If you’re new to the game, consider requesting press passes for local events. It’s a lot easier than you think and it’s the best way to snag opportunities to shoot newsworthy goings-on. Shop the photos around to local periodicals and always make sure to charge them.
- Enter photography contests.
Photography contests can be a fantastic way to get your work out there in front of the right sets of eyes and there are plenty of them to choose from. Not only will you get noticed, but you may actually win cash, equipment, or other valuable prizes. Contests are a great way to guarantee your work gets seen by authorities in the industry as well.
Just be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before you enter a given contest. Follow any instructions or requirements to the letter. Otherwise, you could wind up disqualified before you’re even out of the gate.
- Become an active presence on image hosting platforms.
If you’re a photographer, a presence on platforms dedicated specifically to photo hosting is an absolute must. (Think options like 500px and Flickr to name just a couple of examples!) Not only are they terrific ways to get your images out there in front of people, but they can double as inexpensive (or even free) photography portfolios.
Also, make sure you’re covering all your bases as far as your uploads. Thoroughly tag all of your images with comprehensive meta data. This will help your images show up on Google, Bing, and so forth if someone performs a related search. You never know when someone will like what they see so much that they decide to check out your entire profile or even click through to your website.
- Become a social media dynamo.
These days, it really doesn’t matter what industry you’re in. People that will potentially be interested in what you’re doing will expect to be able to find and follow you on social media. Play your cards right and your followers will also potentially give you a lot of free advertising.
Not sure which network to start with? Pick one that most of your existing friends, family members, and associates already use. They’re the most likely to share your images with their own social networks, especially if you’re just getting started.
As with your photography blog, post often and consistently. Post content that users can’t help but want to share – images of your own, the work of other photographers, photo-related articles, and so forth. Engage your audience and take care to respond to those that ask questions or take the time to comment on your posts.
- See about having your work displayed locally.
It’s also important to get out from behind your computer screen and find local connections for your work, especially if your ultimate goal is to do shoots for paying clients. Look into getting your work hung in small, local galleries. It’s a lot easier than you think!
You can also look into selling your photos on consignment through other local businesses. Not only is this a great way to let people know you’re out there, but you can make some excellent cash – exactly what you want if you’re ultimately looking to go professional. Try it today and see for yourself!