Don't Post for Your Peers

It's always exciting when another photographer starts following you, especially if it's someone you admire. Often, many of a photographer's social media followers are also photographers. Because of this, it's easy to start posting for your peers without even realizing it. Why is this something to avoid?

You can get so in your head and think, "So and so follows me, and I want them to be impressed by this photo." When you post with your peers in mind, you inadvertently play the comparison game and lose focus of the goal behind your account. Although it could be subtle, potential clients may still be able to feel that you're not speaking directly to them.

If you're posting with your peers in mind instead of your dream clients, the traits that set you apart can easily be lost. Your photographer followers are not your target audience, so don't let them dictate what you think you should post. Stay in your lane, and don't be distracted by others.

The purpose of every post is to grow your brand awareness and attract new clients. Validation from fellow photographers is terrific, but it doesn't necessarily translate to clients. Share what's authentic to your artist's heart, and don't think about if your photographer following will "approve."

Posting with your peers in mind is also limiting to you. Every photographer has some images they love that may not be technically perfect, but they deeply resonate with them. Avoiding sharing them because you worry your photography community will think less of you as a photographer is a disservice to yourself.

It's 100% ok to repost the same photo. Shocking, right? During engagement season, it's crucial to post frequently and share your best and favorite work. If that means reposting a photo from last year that may even be far down your feed, don't hesitate to do so! Strategically use those hero shots to book new clients. Who cares if your friends have already seen the image if it brings in leads?

Leave behind the self-doubts and worries about what other photographers may think about you when posting. Don't be afraid to be yourself through your posts! Show up as the best authentic version of yourself and see the deeper and more genuine connections you'll be able to make.

Have you ever caught yourself posting for your peers?

Building a Social Media Presence

Love it or hate it, social media is an essential part of a business in this digital day and age. Having an active presence reinforces your brand and encourages engagement with your audience. Think about your ideal clients when creating content, and remember the goal behind every post: converting followers to clients. A high number of followers doesn't mean anything if you're not reaching potential clients.

When someone scrolls through your feed, they're trying to get a sense of who you are while determining if they like your work and can imagine working with you. Put yourself in a potential follower's shoes and see what you can discern about your profile in a minute or less. Can they clearly see what your photography niche is? Would they find your captions valuable and engaging? Are they compelled to watch your story because you left them wanting more?

We know social media plays a vital role in a business, though it's an area where many photographers struggle, so here's our best advice for building your social media presence!

Post often. You don't necessarily have to post every day, but if you haven't posted in months, someone who comes across your account is likely to wonder if you're still in business. Even if you posted on your story yesterday, it could've expired by the time someone checks out your profile.

Pro tip: Your stories are for your faithful followers, and posts are for growing your audience.

Choose what you want to be associated with your account. In addition to photography, what else do you want to be known for sharing? Travel, food, fashion, personal life, etc.? Let your followers know the type of content to expect by selecting a few primary themes.

Study your favorite accounts. Ask yourself what you love about them and what makes you a faithful follower. Even if it has nothing to do with photography, examine what aspects you can incorporate into your account model and content calendar.

Remember quality over quantity. Avoid posting for the sake of posting. Sharing work that isn't your best or off-brand could end up hurting you in the long run. Always ask yourself these questions before clicking "Post."

• Does this photo attract my ideal client?

• Does this post create a connection or encourage engagement?

• Does this post serve my audience?

Share your heart and who you are. You may find it difficult to share personal things, but your followers want to connect with you. Determine how much or little you're comfortable with sharing and decide how you can go from there. Your audience wants to know the person behind the business. Share beyond what you do to establish the know, like, trust factor.

We hope this advice helps you create a new social media strategy and builds your online presence!