Hi Alison, I would echo Al's thoughts as an approach worth considering. And I would also endorse your idea of exhibitions. Raising funds for the local Mountain Rescue Team would go a long way to getting your name known. If you do that, ensure you have plenty of cards about the place, and you could also follow it up with a photo documentary about the team in the local press to help their fundraising efforts. I think that half the battle is to make your name as well known as possible. I also think that non-refundable deposits, taken with the booking would help. I like the photos you have posted so far but would like to see them larger.

Thanking you all for your helpful replies
 

Thanks to you all. Your comments are very interesting food for thought. It makes me think about my market segment. The majority of the town where I live covers the majority of working class people. However, there is also a smaller minority of more affluent people. I may need to target them.

I am thinking about promotions I can use to entice people through the door?

I certainly like the idea of having an exhibition to get your name known. I also like the idea of quadrupling my prices. I'm not sure however in the economic downturn even the most affluent will pay for such luxury items.

Thanks again to everyone.

Regards

Alison

P.S. I have posted up a few images on the gallery space of the forum.

Message for Yelvertoft
 

Sorry if I am not posting photos in the correct place. I am new to forums of any kind and I have been having difficulties navigating around the site. I will read the guidelines as instructed. I am sure it will not be long before I am fully clued up.

Alison

Duplicate threads merged.

Note to all: Cross posting duplicate threads is not advisable, it makes things very difficult to manage.

Hello Alison, yes, you're posting in the right place. But could you please observe the limit (stated in big text at the top of the gallery front page) to no more than 4 pictures in any single 24 hour period.

Don't worry, you'll soon get the hang of things. You've got an interesting discussion going on here, glad you joined.

Would be interested to see what lesleyr and Saphire have ot say on this subject. Lesley does this kind of work currently and Chrisitne (Saphire) used to in the past.

Duncan

Hi again Alison, another source - if you have a Higher Education Establishment near by then Graduation Photographs can be a good source,

How are you presenting your portfolio to prospective clients? Individual photos, in plastic wallets in ring binder, or in bound volume? Do you have a website that potential clients can browse? My experience (as a customer, not photographer) is that the higher the standard of presentation, the greater the chance of a sale.