Where should I promote myself?

Hi guys,
i'm the new guy from arround the corner : )
i would like to set up an online profile and would like to ask you for your advise and expert point of view about online marketing.
i found a few wedding & event websites who are happy to promote me and get me enquiries on a daily basis. i just can't pay them all.
could you have a look at these websites and tell me what you think? should i adertise there on somewhere else?
1) www.google.com
2) http://www.partypop.co.uk/search.cfm...ographers&loc=
3) www.freeindex.co.uk
4) www.partyoffers.co.uk

thank you and i hope to hear from you soon.

Hi and welcome to Yo

First of all may i comment on this quote by yourself
Ok being a "pro photographer" takes many years of build up skill and style - it wont happen over night by the skin of your teeth Weddings and events is a tough area to break into especially if you have no experience behind you. Ok you may get some "Mickey Mouse" jobs which are good for experience, but if you want to be taken seriously in this area - you need experience.

Before you even think of advertising, you need something to advertise - you need a brand, a style, a portfolio - something to offer

Building a portfolio should take time - Only technically correct and quality work can go here. Start by building up your experience - Contact wedding photographers in your area, offer to shadow them (ie assist) in return for their insight and knowledge. Once you have gained the skills in this area, you will see your style coming through - this is where you market yourself - what can you provide that others cannot? Candids?, formals? ect ect..

Build on a brand too - this will get you recognized. I have spent a long long time building up my brand - stylizing it to suit my work and what im about - it takes a while but is worth it in the end.

Buying a "really good camera" is the least of the problems- the camera is the least important part of your equipment base - the most important?... The lens... It is these that produce the quality images, the camera mearly process's them (for which you will need 2 BTW incase the first fails)

You will need flashes, at least 2 memory cards, for a wedding, i would suggest the 20-70mm (IRO 1k) and a 70-200mm (IRO 1k) Just to start out with.. eventually lighting, for indoor shots, a tripod, a trunk....

Any TD or H can buy a camera and take pics, but it takes time, skill and know how, to go into business and make a profit..

hey there Sam,
thanks so much for that.
i will now need to make a to-do list and start ''the business' going.
i promiss to keep you updated since you are the first and nicest pro who replied to me (on my registration day).
ps
i like your photoes.
cheers, Pete

Excellent post by DC

The most important thing for a photographer (apart from having the necessary skills) is a portfolio

No worries - TBH im still finding my feet, but it takes alot of hard work and effort. Concentrate on building up your portfolio and work from there

Good Luck x

thank mate.
thanks to Sam i am on it.

You have already had some great advice there.
I have no idea of your experience / abilities but my initial thoughts are that if you are a novice you should really be getting lots and lots of wedding practice before taking that job on yourself.
As someone who had their wedding photos messed up I know exacty how painful that is. Its not fair to risk a couples special memories unless you are 200% capable of doing it.
As suggested, you need to be seconding weddings for a lot of practice before even thinking of doing solo.

Welcome to YoP by the way. I'm looking forward to seeing some of your photos.

What's already been said is fab advice, so good luck!

Sam, that post should be stickied!

xx

Please please please don't do someone's wedding for money until you have ample experience and a really good piece of equipment to do it with! Go along to friend's weddings, weddings of friend's friends, even shadow a working pro in the area at weddings before you even dream of attempting one yourself. It could be a disaster, the first time you do a wedding alone, you will be soooo nervous and if your kit isn't up for the task then it could ruin someones big day! Apart from that, take your time, build yourself up slowly and experiment at every opportunity!

Start here, show us some of what you have done and I'm sure that people will be able to advise where, if anywhere you need to improve on your photography.