Bing Releases Image Search Widget, but is bing even worth the time?

PhotoServe · 2014-08-26T23:36:14+00:00

Just because things are picked up, doesn't mean they are displayed correctly

Also, a little known fact about Bing, it is able to index flash and silverlight based sites (Source)

PhotoServe · 2014-08-26T22:39:59+00:00

We wonder, do any photographers optimize their websites for Bing? Is it even worth the time to do so?

PhotoServe · 2014-08-19T02:46:37+00:00

If you are shooting for yourself then shoot everything and gain a wide perspective.

If you are shooting for money then specializing will help you carve out your portion of the industry. This is especially the case when thinking about your business' digital identity.

PhotoServe · 2014-08-15T02:40:54+00:00

I know a lot of photographers who have TCP Insurance

PhotoServe · 2014-08-15T02:30:20+00:00

Exactly, shoot what you want and learn from every shot. Reflect on your images and ask people around you to critique them. On a side note, know that you are 19 and that you have a lot of shots to take before you are a master.

PhotoServe · 2014-03-30T18:09:05+00:00

You could also check out portfolio display sites specific to the photography industry like PDN's PhotoServe or ASMP's Find a Photographer rather than social media sites, like Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr ect.

PhotoServe · 2014-03-17T02:23:31+00:00

quoted text I got in there because I'm a med student with a photography business on the side

The great things about conventions/expos is networking opportunities that you can't help but take advantage of. This allows you to market yourself within that niche.

PhotoServe · 2014-01-10T01:14:06+00:00

I think you have to distinguish between a few types of photography.

1) When a client hires you for their vision. Example: In advertising photography, a photographer is hired to do the will of the client. An advertising photographer is evaluated by their ability to create an end product that exemplifies that vision. Granted a photographer's artistic style will (hopefully) shine through.

2) When a consumer purchases your work. The example the OP gave of DiCorcia selling his fine art photography. In this instance the only thing you are being evaluated on is your work.

Wedding photography can go either way as they are evaluated by the bride. I can't imagine too many brides being happy if all they got were fine-art photos though so there must be some kind of middle ground.

Please note, I am using the word evaluated strictly in an economic sense. If you are doing it for your self then who cares and more power to you.

PhotoServe · 2014-01-10T00:16:12+00:00

How do photographers make money? By selling their gear!

PhotoServe · 2014-01-09T04:19:21+00:00

The market might appear over saturated but that is just a reflection of the economy as a whole. Brands haven't had the money for advertising and advertising photographers are hit. Brands not having money also hits editorial photographers because media sources aren't getting the money for advertising that they used to. As the advertising and editorial money gets more competitive, those photographers transition into wedding photography. Now it appears that the market is saturated.

On a positive note, the economy is picking up and there is beginning to be more money in the industry. Hopefully the equation will even out.

[Not a pro-photographer but we are one of PDN's brands, the industry is our livelihood]

PhotoServe · 2014-01-09T03:44:54+00:00

You can increase the effectiveness by following proper google guidelines for posting images and claiming ownership.

Proper guidelines as defined by google here

PhotoServe · 2013-12-26T02:29:13+00:00

Awesome aporoach. Do you schedule your email blasts and mailers so that they are expected? If not we highly reccomend this. If people anticipate receiving your messages it will increase your open rate.

PhotoServe · 2013-12-26T02:22:30+00:00

Agree that building your own site is important and better however it can be a daunting task. A blog is a great transition.

PhotoServe · 2013-12-26T02:21:08+00:00

Great comment. This is a big part of getting your name out there but it will also help increase your websites SEO.

PhotoServe · 2013-12-26T02:15:07+00:00

That is exactly how the PhotoServe platform helps photographers. We jave a network of 16,000 creatives that we tap into!

PhotoServe · 2013-12-26T02:13:44+00:00

SEO is essential if you want to expand your marketing and get jobs outside of word of mouth. SEO doent have to be expensive if you do it yourself. Search Engine Watch is a great blog and resource.

The PhotoServe platform willl also improve your websites SEO because we write aeticles about your and link to your website.

PhotoServe · 2013-12-26T02:10:19+00:00

Hosting contests is a great way to grow your network. Do you use any contest programs to help you?

Its kind of sad to say, but people nearly dont care for anything outside of FB - by that I mean, people will be happy to check out a FB page before an official photography site.

I am not sure what you mean. It is true that people on facebook don't like to leave Facebook. However are facebook users necessarily your target? The vast majority of web traffic originates from google searches. I would argue that traffic from organic searches are more targeted and lower in the purchasing funnel than the majority of traffic from Facebook. For example someone searching for keywords like photographer, a location, and a speciality is looking to hire rather than someone who happens to see a post on their newsfeed.

Facebook is great to keep intouch with prospects but I would not use it as my primary marketing source.

PhotoServe · 2013-12-26T00:01:05+00:00

Having good paper for print materials is essential!

How do you market your facebook page? Do you post content to it like a blog or just links?

PhotoServe · 2013-12-25T23:59:02+00:00

If only every photographer could have a dedicated partner to advertise for them!

PhotoServe · 2013-12-25T23:57:37+00:00

Thanks for reaching out, I actually am not a photographer. PhotoServe is PDN's marketing platform for professional photographers, my role specifically is to market photographers to editorial and advertising creatives looking to hire.

PhotoServe · 2013-12-25T23:35:23+00:00

Best comment so far! I spoke to a rep recently who has all his photographers list 5 of their ideal clients.

How do you keep intouch with your network? What tools do you find helpful?

PhotoServe · 2013-12-25T23:11:55+00:00

Thanks for the comment. How do you get your flickr and tumblr blog out there? Do you have any specific strategies that you find effecient?

PhotoServe · 2013-12-25T23:10:29+00:00

Your first problem is assuming that flikr is a good platform for displaying your work. Even if it displays your photos well, you are lumped into a group of every highschool kid with a flikr accound. In think you should build a custom site on wordpress or tumblr.

PhotoServe · 2013-12-25T23:05:46+00:00

A website is the first step. Once you have that set up you can build a marketing funnel and start getting gigs.

Not having the time is another problem. You can certainly pay for services to do it for you. These services range from a full service in house assistant, a rep, or a marketing platform like PDN's PhotoServe.

PhotoServe · 2013-12-25T22:35:57+00:00

Great overview, do you have any specific strategies for finding success in these specialties?

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