Are you using Pinterest to boost your photography business? What are you waiting for! As a photographer, Pinterest is a treasure trove and possibly the best return on investment of any social media platform for your business/website. You will need to put in a little legwork at first, but then I promise things will flow. The great thing about Pinterest is that compared to Facebook and Instagram, the pins are long lived and can reap the benefits for years. However, you won’t necessarily see results right away and it may take a few months of using the platform consistently to see the rewards of all the work you’ve put in. So don’t get discouraged, a pin can go viral years after you first posted it!

Here are a few statistics to get you pumped: did you know that most Pinterest users spend on average 15 minutes browsing once they login? That is is just 5 minutes less than on Facebook. Also, Pinterest is the second highest traffic generator on the web after Facebook. Crazy right? One image pinned on Pinterest usually generates on average 6 visits/clicks to your website. These clicks might take a while and won’t happen overnight but that is still amazing. You have all these wonderful images already, what do you loose by adding them to a board and getting traffic from them?  Also, contrary to other social media platforms Pinterest is the only one that gets referenced on Google. This means that when people search for things on Google or Google images, pins will show up in the Google search results. Also, the more pins are being shared from your website, the better it is for your SEO and the better they will perform on Pinterest too. Just keep in mind that as with any other social media platforms, the more time you spend on it the better the results you will get. So how do you optimize your pins and your account for the best results possible? Let’s see…

The first thing you will want to do is set up a business account. This will give you access to analytics and rich pins. The analytics give a wealth of information such as who your pins reach, what their demographics and their interests are, which are your best-performing pins, what brands your audience engages with, etc. Which will, in turn, give you a good idea of the types of pins to create and post.

Another advantage of having a business account is access to Rich Pins. Rich pins generally perform better since they provided added search words and descriptions to your pins. You can read more about how to install them and what they are here. Why is this important? Simply because not only is Pinterest a platform to share images but it is also a search engine of its own with over 2 billion searches being made every month. If you have rich pins, Pinterest will automatically add the metadata that you have already included on your website to your pins. Then you can use even more descriptive words to your caption that are different from those you’ve included in your metadata furthering, the possibilities of being found through a search. Now just like for your metadata you don’t want to be putting keywords one after another, but instead, you want to formulate a cohesive sentence that includes your keywords. To help you, think about what someone would type to find a photographer and include that in your caption. Having Rich Pins also means your pins look more professional, your logo and a call to action button appears with your pins automatically.

Since Pinterest’s algorithm relies so heavily on keywords for their search engine, not only is having good images key but proper wording too. This means that when setting up your account, you will want to make sure your bio has key search words and describes who and what you do clearly. You will want to make sure that all your boards have a title that says exactly what the board is about, again think in terms of search words. Make sure you give your boards a good description and don’t forget to put in a specific category provided by Pinterest. Lastly, you will want to make sure that the captions that go with your pins are descriptive and packed with keywords yet again.

Now, let’s ask a few questions. What do you want from Pinterest? Who is our target market? Good chances are that you want to generate some traffic to your website and eventually get a few sessions booked, sell prints or seats to a workshop or perhaps grow your Instagram following. If you are reading this, then you are probably a documentary family photographer; so your target market is most likely moms with kids. This mom is maybe also a photographer or someone who is into the arts, probably a creative and someone who appreciates good photography. She values connections over aesthetics but still likes pretty things. Write all of these things down and do a proper analysis of who your clientele is. So why is she using Pinterest? Most probably to get inspired, but also to inform and educate herself. So now you need to think about what inspires your client, what type of information are they looking for on Pinterest and take more notes. A great way to find this out is to search for your clientele (type in former clients names in the search tool or maybe some of your Facebook or Instagram followers) and check out their profiles on Pinterest. See who they are following, who is following them back and get a feel for who they are. What are their interests and their hobbies? So now that you know all this, creating an account that appeals to them will be that much easier. Also, keep in mind that if they like you as a photographer, they are going to want to follow you to see what it is that inspires you and what your likes and aesthetics are too.

If you want to see who and what is being pinned from your site you can check by entering the following Url: pinterest.com/source/YOURWEBSITE.com This way you can see who is liking and sharing your work. This is a great way to also engage by commenting on these pins and perhaps start following the pinners.

https://www.pinterest.com/celinab/storytelling/

So now that you have figured out what your target market is, it’s time to get some boards up keeping in mind all that not only inspires you but especially your potential clients too. As family documentary photographers, it is important to showcase photos that are aligned with our style. You could create a few boards that are in line with the type of sessions you offer, for example, one for in in-home sessions and one for maternity or baby sessions. Have a look at the different categories you offer on your website and create a board for each of them. Include other photographer’s work too, not only yours. This is a great way to showcase what your photography style is. Pinterest isn’t about only promoting our own products, it is important to mix it up. A good rule to follow is that for every 2 pins that come from your website, you should have about 8 that are inspirational or informative. These can be pins that you generate from websites yourself or even just repins. You can create a board with only your photos but also create some with the type of photography that inspires you. For example, create a board with your favorite storytelling images or more specifically of your favorite photographers.

https://www.pinterest.com/celinab/my-perspective/

I have all kinds of different boards with very specific themes like light, perspective, and movement, just to name a few. I want people to fall on my profile and be inspired by what they see and follow me. Chances are if they like what I am pinning, they will also like what I have to offer. One thing you want to avoid is pinning are images that aren’t in your style or that you don’t want to take. You need to keep true to your brand and image, just like when you are building your website. You can also share boards with things related to your photography business. For example, you could have a board with home decor and ideas on how to hang photos. You can also have one with your favorite gear or even tutorials on how to become a better photographer. Remember who your client is and cater to their likes all the while keeping it related to your business. Pinterest does really well during holidays, why not create a board with your favorite Christmas or Easter photos. You could even create mood boards to inspire your clients and add some great photos to the mix. Think outside the box and make your account exciting and fun.

https://www.pinterest.com/celinab/like-father-like-son/

Above is a mood board I did for father’s day. Now imagine one for a newborn or maybe a kids birthday; perhaps you offer Mother’s day mini sessions. The possibilities are endless.

Also, a great way to get good content to repin and pin is to create group boards with people who share the same style and aesthetics as you. Help each other out by pinning from each other’s websites or even just repinning images to some of your other boards. This is a great way to get more eyes on your work. Commenting helps too, just like on Facebook and Instagram. The more engagement the pins get, the more they will be seen.

Now let’s talk more specifically about the type of pins that work. Of course, beautiful imagery is a must, but don’t think it has to be all golden light and matching outfits. A lot of photos with genuine family life and real moments have gone viral. Photos with strong emotional cues, great colors or high contrast black whites that catch the eye are going to perform better. So when choosing which photos to share keep that in mind. Also,  you need to consider the size of your images. As documentary photographers, most of our images are 4X6, however, the optimal size to upload to Pinterest is 600px by 1200px. In general, even square photos do better than horizontal ones. So you have 3 options, keep the photos as is, crop the photo or make a collage. You could also try and get a few horizontal photo while shooting and keep them to share on your social media. Horizontal photos perform better on Instagram too and are great for sharing on Instagram stories too. Also, remember most people are using their phones to scroll through all of these platforms; so keep this in mind when deciding on which photos to share as they will be seen in a very small format. Don’t be afraid to tell people what to do and add a call to action in your captions on top of all your search words. You could also add your Url in the caption, as it is clickable and is a great reminder to go check it out.

Finally, don’t forget to let people know you are on Pinterest. Add the pin it button to your website and images. Create a post with inspiration boards like the one above; you can even add these boards to your newsletters. You can also share some of your favorite pins to Facebook or Twitter via the sharing option on Pinterest. Let your clients know you are on Pinterest and send them to see what it is that your style and vibe is all about.

Happy Pinning!

Are you in love with documentary family photography and looking to take your business in that direction?  Many of us documentary family lovers fell in love with this genre because it reminds us why we got into photography in the first place. Photographing the moments! Yet somehow, market demands steered many of us into more posed work (which we can also love). But now what? How can we make the change without sacrificing everything? It can be very intimidating to make a shift in your business, but these 5 tips should help you make changes gently and effortlessly.

1. Remember: Your existing client base is your target market.

Never forget this. Your clients have great taste and a passion for photography. And people who value photography and art will be the first to understand and agree with your passion for documenting the everyday. It is a common misperception your clients will only value one type. The real problem is just that many don’t even know about it or they do but feel they only have a budget for one type of session. If you can solve these problems for them, you don’t need to go in search of an entirely new client base. They are already right in front of you!

2. Share what you love about it and they will love it too.

There are so many things to love about documentary family photography; it will be easier than you think to get your clients on board. All you have to do is start talking about how it is important, and it will naturally create the need. Use your newsletter, your social media accounts, and your website. To portfolio build you can reach out to a few of your clients who you think would be great for your portfolio. You can also take some self-portraits of you in the frame and let them know why you are passionate about being in your documentary images. It won’t take long for many of your clients to fall in love with this genre of family documentary just like you did.

3. Meet Both Needs.

One way to encourage your clients to get their feet wet with documentary sessions is to include regular portraits with the purchase. You can offer a discounted mini session of traditional portraits with any docu session or even incorporate traditional portraits into your docu session. One of my first portfolio building DITL sessions started with a few hours of home life and ended with a quick portrait session. It was perfect and is still one of my favorites. Get there while everyone is waking up, document the morning, and the getting ready for the day and shoot the portraits then! It’s a great compromise.

4. Position yourself as a leader in documentary photography.

If you love documentary family photography, chances are you love other types of documentary photography. Another way to increase bookings is to show your mastery of the style. Doing some births, baptisms, events, and even personal photojournalistic projects will increase consumer confidence and position you as a leader in this style. Your photographer friends in the community will think of you for these type of referrals and projects.

5. Forget the labels.

It’s a very true statement that “the riches are in the niches” and specializing helps narrow your target market. However, it’s also important to not get overly caught up in this. You don’t only have to offer DITL or births or lifestyle portraits. You can specialize in “family” and still be niched enough. Some of us need and thrive off variety and you will find there are clients who will love purchasing many different types of “family photography” from you. Best of luck to you!

In the world of photography, how do we find our own unique voice that will stand out amidst the sea of sameness? I wrestled with this question in the early years of my journey as an artist. I had so much to learn as far as business skills go and certainly technical skills too. So, I soaked up everything I could by looking at other photographers, industry magazines, what was getting the most likes and affirmation. But it all felt empty to me.

I knew what I was looking at was mostly mediocre, and though it might have been pretty it didn’t speak to me in any meaningful way. It wasn’t interesting and full of life. I wanted more than pretty pictures. I knew that I was drawn to something different than what I was seeing in the photography community, but I didn’t quite know how to translate what mattered to me, much less offer it to the world. When I first photographed a baby, I put the baby in a basket. I thought that was what you had to do when you photographed a newborn. But it wasn’t authentically me (or the baby, I might add). Luckily I was able to find a path that was more true to who I am and how I see the world. And now I’m passionate about refining my own creative voice and helping others do the same.

WHO ARE YOU? Matching who you are as an artist with who you are as a person

IN A SENSE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ARE YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY- DOROTHEA LANGE

In order to understand yourself as an artist, you must first know yourself. This requires some digging deep into your story. These questions are useful tools in the process of self-examination. Grab a few blank pieces of paper and some of your favorite pens for these exercises. Set a timer for 3 minutes for each of these. GO!

• What are words that people use to describe you? (go ahead, ask them! But I recommend only asking people who really know you, not throwing it out on your social media platforms to the masses. Take it from me) What are words that you use to describe yourself?
• What are areas of loss, sadness, crisis or tragedy in your life? Write down specific events or general themes that emerge.
• What are your areas of interest and curiosity? Passions? Write them all down.
• What are your goals and dreams?

Step back and take a look at these maps. What surprised you? What themes emerged? Where do these maps overlap? Circle the things that you want to explore more or that you feel strongly drawn to. Take some time to write about how these things influence you as an artist and what you might be motivated to do differently. Is there a personal project you might want to pursue based on themes that emerged?

Resources: I highly recommend the book Strengthsfinders. It is a detailed personality inventory that will determine the natural areas of strength in your personality. Focus on those strengths and let go of your weaknesses. You will grow fastest where you are naturally strong.

Another incredibly helpful tool is the book Start with Why. You can watch the TED talk here. This is such an important step for any artist or entrepreneur, or really for any endeavor. Things will become so much more clear if you have a strong sense of WHY you are doing it all in the first place, and then you can communicate that story through your art.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? What you see is what you get!

YOU DON’T MAKE A PHOTOGRAPH JUST WITH A CAMERA. YOU BRING TO THE ACT OF PHOTOGRAPHY ALL THE PICTURES YOU HAVE SEEN, THE BOOKS YOU HAVE READ, THE MUSIC YOU HAVE HEARD, THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE LOVED. – ANSEL ADAMS

I believe that if you focus on becoming a more interesting person, you can’t help but become a more interesting artist. Where are you looking for inspiration? Who are you looking at for comparison? If all your photography heroes are on Instagram, you need new heroes.

• Take a social media break for at least a week (you won’t die, I promise). You cannot make authentic work if you are copying what everyone else is doing and filling your creative tank with someone else’s vision. Stop looking at peers and following industry blogs. Notice how you feel without all that noise. You absorb what you see and can’t help but reflect that in your own work.

• Look to the masters of your craft and learn what makes a truly GREAT photograph, not just one that gets a lot of likes. Here’s some ideas of where to start: Magnum contact sheets, photojournalists, Sally Mann, Sam Abell, Annie Leibovitz, Cig Harvey, Jessica Todd Harper, Alan Laboile, Vivian Maeier, Craig Semetko, Robert Frank, LensCulture, Cartier-Bresson, Elliot Erwitt, Nat Geo photographers, Petapixel.com, openculture.com (free art book downloads)

• Look outside your genre to nourish your creative soul- some things that inspire me are Dutch masters, Caravaggio, Wes Anderson, Chef’s Table series on Netflix, Start with Why- Simon Sinek, Big Magic- Elizabeth Gilbert, The War of Art- Stephen Pressfield, The Artist’s Way- Julia Cameron, Fire Starter Sessions- Danielle LaPorte, Steal Like an Artist-Austin Kleon, The Untethered Soul, Brene Brown, documentaries, Norman Rockwell, erikkim.com, movies, music, nature, FOOD, TED Talks, cookbooks, poetry, podcasts

BE DARING, BE DIFFERENT, BE IMPRACTICAL, BE ANYTHING THAT WILL ASSERT INTEGRITY OF PURPOSE AND IMAGINATIVE VISION AGAINST THE PLAY-IT-SAFERS, THE CREATURES OF THE COMMONPLACE, THE SLAVES OF THE ORDINARY. – CECIL BACON

Finding your unique creative voice is a lifelong journey that will change as you change. You can cultivate and grow your own vision the more you invest in nourishing your soul through this process.

Just as nourishing your body with whole food takes more time and intention than eating convenience food without real nutrition in it, finding your voice takes time and intention, and sifting through a lot of noise. Most of all, remember  “A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER MUST LOVE LIFE MORE THAN HE DOES PHOTOGRAPHY.” – JOEL STRASSER