Where should I promote myself?

[Peteroads]

just joined this website and wanted to know what you pros think of wedding photography promotional tactics. i don't have a site yet and heard it is VERY expensive to get one (plus it will take some time for it to go online).
should i get myself on a directory? which once do you offer?
prices? terms? who's good and who ripps you off?

i'll try to figure out how to get a few pix on my profile so you can give me feedback on that too.

cheers, Pete

[tom123]

I think these days getting a website is pretty much a must if you want to promote yourself. Everything else is less effective and takes more effort. The sites are not expensive or tricky to set up. You can buy your own domain and download a photo template from the internet and set up your site this way, or you could rent a subdomain from a provider such as pbase. Most photographers go for pbase. I'd recommend your very own website, however, especially if you know your way with computers and the internet. But even if you are not a computer person, you can get instructions and templates from the internet free of charge. Good luck!

[jamieZ740]

ebay listing!

[Peteroads]

thank you lads. no i'm not a real computer guy and it takes me abit of time to get along with it. i have to get my share of really learning to co-op with it.
cheers

[tom123]

In that case I really recommend pbase.com. Check it out, it has nice options and many pros use its services, too. Good luck!

[John Hallas]

Ebay listing!!!!! You cannot be serious (said in my best John McEnroe voice).

Who would look for a wedding photographer on Ebay. I would use personal recommendation only. I would expect to see a sample of their work, probably on a web-site but maybe in wedding album form.

actually I got the same question, where should I promote my company which supply geotagging devices for photographers. Since the forums are the places we raise questions and share experiences, if I just ads there, the posts sure will be deleted, so is there a better way to promote the website and products?

[Susan Green]

It is always difficult with "personal recommendation" at the beginning, if you are new in business. I used to go to the wedding fairs (also expensive fun) where you meet more serious couples who decide when they see your work (must be different and good!!!), not only "how much do you charge"-people. Then MPA site was also good way to promote yourself, but you have to qualify first. Both ways: the web site is a "must". Five years ago when I was leaving UK it was going down the hill with wedding photography. No idea how it is now under the world economical crisis and very good digital cameras easy availble for reasonable prices.

Now in Italy i have very similar problem.... to find customers for OLIVE OIL!!! So if you know someone who.....

Good luck. Susan