Photography Marketing Tips: How to make an extra $1,000 as a High School Senior Photographer

make extra income in your senior photography business

High School Senior Photography Marketing 

Are you a high school senior photographer looking for some photography marketing tips?  Here is one tip that has the potential to help you make an extra $1,000 for each of your senior photography sessions.  Consider this, most High School Seniors love the idea of a professional photo shoot just for them. It's almost like a rite of passage. They are looking forward to showing off their individuality and determined not to be the girl or guy that has their eyes closed in the yearbook. Senior photos are a lasting reminder of all the memories they made in cheerleading, marching band, or sports. As a photographer, that is a lot to live up to. How are you going to create a unique experience for every senior while still turning a profit (and keeping your sanity?) Here are some senior photography marketing ideas to help you get started. 

1) Create a Custom High School Senior Photography Magazine

There is one tool that will showcase a senior’s individuality, and increase your revenue potential.  It's a Custom student magazineand it costs just $5 each to print. The cost is so low that even when you add in a profit margin the retail price is affordable. To maximize revenue, package the magazines as a bundle deal add-on to encourage buying in bulk. If you price a pack of 15 with a retail price of $150, you’ve just made a profit of $75 on one student. Let's say for example that you have an average of 25 senior photo sessions, you now have the potential to make an additional revenue stream of $1,875.  And, bonus... that is in addition to what you're already making in your senior photography sessions. Think of the possibilities!

 

And I've made it super easy for you by creating a senior photography client magazine template.  I've even included the forms for your senior to fill out his/her information.  All you have to do is upload your photos and their text and you've got yourself a new product add-on.  

The magazine template for a custom magazine is easy to use and will save you time. No fussy layouts, no lengthy font choices. Each template is ready for you to just drop your senior photos into and send off to the printer. The clean layout makes the magazine perfect for every student, with any photo prop, or choice of attire. However, the magazine is not just a booklet of pretty pictures. A custom magazine features the student in their environment.

Not only will the student be able to showcase senior photos but it will portray their personality and individuality via the custom content. Each magazine contains articles with the students own words in print. Pages include articles like the “Top 5 Facts No-One Knows about You” list and questions like “What are your goals and dreams today” and “Where do you see yourself in five years?” For clients, this is an opportunity to freeze time and remember it for the rest of their lives.

By offering a bulk pack, the student can keep one in her memory box, and give a couple to her closest friends. Her mom, on the other hand, can proudly show-off her gorgeous daughter (or son) to co-workers, the ladies at the gym, her no longer needed pediatrician, and even the owner of the pizza place where they’ve celebrated every milestone in their students life. Not to mention the addition of it into the family newsletter. The end result is a picture perfect view of what the student was like and what they hoped for the future. It’s a time capsule of the student's High School career.

2) Think About Your Target Audience

When it comes to marketing a senior photography business, it's important to think about who your target audience is. You want to create a social media campaign that targets seniors and their families specifically. This means using visually appealing images that showcase what you have to offer. It's also important to include information on pricing, packages, and the services you provide. You might want to offer incentives for sessions booked in advance!

3) Advertise to High Schools and Surrounding Communities

Advertise directly at high schools and surrounding communities. Have a strong online presence with an updated website and social media pages - make sure your content is relevant and interesting to young people. Use photography samples that are likely to catch the attention of your ideal high school client. And finally, make it easy for potential clients get in touch with you by providing clear pricing information and multiple means of communication (phone number, email address, etc.).

4) Have a Strong Online Presence and Blog

Make sure your website and social media pages are up-to-date and that your blog is full of relevant, engaging content 

As a high school senior photographer, blogging can be a powerful tool for showcasing your work, engaging with potential clients, and building your brand. Here are the top 10 blogging tips for high school senior photographers:

  • Choose a Niche.

High school senior photography is a crowded field, so it's important to choose a niche that sets you apart from other photographers. This might involve specializing in a specific type of photography, such as natural light or urban senior photography.

  • Create a Blog Plan.

Before you start blogging, it's important to create a plan that outlines what you want to accomplish with your blog and how you will achieve it. This might involve setting goals, such as increasing website traffic or generating leads, and identifying the topics and types of content that you will create to support those goals. 

  • Optimize Your Blog for Search Engines.

It's important to optimize it for search engines. This might involve using keywords in your blog titles, headings, and content, and adding meta descriptions and tags to your blog posts. By optimizing your blog for search engines, you can increase the chances that it will appear in search results and attract more traffic.

  • Promote Your Blog.

To get the most out of your blog, you need to promote it to your target audience. This might involve sharing your blog posts on social media, emailing your blog to potential clients, or promoting it on your website and other channels. 

  • Update your blog regularly.

Finally, it's important to update your blog regularly to keep your readers engaged and interested in your content. Post new blog posts at least once a week, or share updates and behind-the-scenes photos. By updating your blog regularly, you can keep your content fresh and engaging.

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5) Make Sure You Are Marketing Your High School Senior Photography Business on Instagram

As a high school senior photographer, using Instagram to market your business is a must. With over 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram provides a vast audience for share your work and attract new clients. Here are some tips for using Instagram to effectively market your high school senior photography business:

  • Use hashtags and location tags to reach a targeted audience

Instagram's hashtags and location tags can help you reach a targeted audience of potential clients. For example, if you're a high school senior photographer based in Dallas, you can use hashtags like #dallasseniorphotographer or #seniorphotographerindallas to make it easier for local clients to find your work. You can also use location tags to make it even easier for potential clients in your area to discover your work.

  • Engage with other users

By commenting on and liking other users' posts, you can build relationships and get your work seen by a wider audience. You can also use Instagram's "Story" feature to share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your high school senior photography sessions, giving potential clients a unique look at what it's like to work with you.

  • Use Instagram's "Explore" feature

The Explore feature on Instagram showcases popular content based on a user's interests, making it a great way to get your work in front of potential clients who may not be following you yet. To maximize the power of the Explore feature, make sure to use relevant hashtags and post visually appealing images.

Instagram is a powerful tool for high school senior photographers looking to market their services and reach new clients. 


3 Responses

Alisha McGee
Alisha McGee

April 25, 2019

Such a fun idea! Where do you print the magazines at the $4 cost you mentioned?

Jessica
Jessica

October 30, 2016

Hi! I love this idea! Can I ask how much you would charge for this magazine? Thank you!!

Erin
Erin

June 26, 2016

Cindy this is genius!!!

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