Question about marketing strategies

[CaitlinB]

Do you think it is more beneficial to have a physical portfolio or a CD? I need to figure out if marketing myself with a digital portfolio is worth it. I know that it will cut costs but do clients still like you to walk in and hand them your book? I feel like it may be a more personable experience.

[brucep]

Many will want to see both. My site has a lot of my work on it, but my current employer wanted to see the photos and other graphics products "in person" during both my first and 2nd interviews.

My web site got me my interview, but it was the physical samples that sold them on me.

[Sclark]

Many will want to see both. My site has a lot of my work on it, but my current employer wanted to see the photos and other graphics products "in person" during both my first and 2nd interviews.

My web site got me my interview, but it was the physical samples that sold them on me.

Agreed - if working commercially, the website will get you in the door and the physical prints will get you the job.

Hope this helps.

- Spencer Clark
Anna and Spencer Photography - Atlanta Wedding Photographers (http://www.annaandspencer.com/)

[W.Smith]

Hey you guys! Caitlin asked about a physical portfolio or a CD. Not about a website.

Caitlin, get both! Preferably an A3 physical portfolio to show your prospective clientele in grand style, and a CD with a slideshow* of that same portfolio to leave behind.

*Don't forget to add a title slide at the front, and a copyright claim and your contact details slide at the end. Tread very carefully with your soundtrack/music choice. Possibly muffled wedding and party sounds, like festive banter and laughter, background music (live band?) and ringing glasses.
Also mark the CD clearly (best make your own CD sleeve/insert... e.g. your title slide).

Have fun!

[MoboHaji]

Yep, show them the prints as large as you can and leave a CD behind for them to look at later. If you are mailing samples in, do the same thing. Give them 8x10 prints to look through on the spot and a CD for future reference.

[MIKEZILLA]

define: clients

because if you are doing weddings, you need a website.....you need a portfoio.......you need a sample album(s) or whatever books you offer.........and you need a cd to leave with your informational packet. the packet is a big deal because they will look at several photographers for their big day, and can get overwhelmed. so you need to make it easier for them to remember you.
if you don't do weddings, for the album substitute what product you do offer.

[MoboHaji]

Good point Mike. My comments were made from a magazine/commercial client stand point.

[MIKEZILLA]

Good point Mike. My comments were made from a magazine/commercial client stand point.

exactly. i'd be lost in magazine world.
your clients and mine are totally diffrent. you need to know and understand who your clients are, so marketing can be be specifically geared to them and their wants.

[MoboHaji]

Taking this theory a little further, since I shoot so many different subjects, I had 4 different business cards made up. The front of all 4 are exactly the same and have all of my contact info. The backs are a full color photos for the type of subject I'm giving the card out for. I have one for motorcycle racing, one for automotive shoots, one for models and finally one for wildlife.

[MIKEZILLA]

Taking this theory a little further, since I shoot so many different subjects, I had 4 different business cards made up. The front of all 4 are exactly the same and have all of my contact info. The backs are a full color photos for the type of subject I'm giving the card out for. I have one for motorcycle racing, one for automotive shoots, one for models and finally one for wildlife.

brilliant! that's pretty smart.

[MoboHaji]

Smart, but expensive!

[brucep]

Hey you guys! Caitlin asked about a physical portfolio or a CD. Not about a website.

I was speaking of images a client/employer could see on a computer... be it a CD or a web site, compared to a print portfolio. Sorry to wrankle anyone.

Keith, I'll bet you have to remember which pocket to pull a card from. My real business (winery) cards are in the front of my card case and my Photozo cards are in the back of the 'deck.'

[MoboHaji]

I keep mine in my wallet (for now, ordering a nice case when I get my travel money back from my company next week). It' has four small pockets for cards that work well. It'll be a little hard when I switch to the case, but I think it's worth it to match the card to the client.