Breaking Into a Very Saturated Market

[Ren79]

Hi all,

It's been so long since I've been on here. So much so that I couldn't remember my old login, or if it even exists, since it seems this board went through an overhaul.

Anyway, as a background, since I'm sure no one here knows me, but I started photography 5 years ago in upstate NY. Lifelong fan, but never shot a photo until my wife and family bought me my first DSLR...then I grew exponentially from there, since I obssessed about it. My true love is Nature Photography and I'm starting to dabble in Social Documentary/Photjournalism. The end goal is always a publication job (daydream is National Geographic), but I've always done portrait work/events to help fund the purchase of new equipment, etc.

In Central NY it was easy. There were lots of photographers, but there were very few really good ones. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, I'm really not, just gathered I was good from other professionals in the area who told me so, my client base that grew really fast, and other factors. I had a really solid foundation of loyal, repeat customers, who gave me free word of mouth advertising and brought new people in. It was nice.

Fast forward some time, my mom's dying of cancer, we choose to move away from NY back to Ca to spend her last days with her, help my dad back on his feet, and now we're in the Pacific NW (because we've never liked LA and don't want to raise our kids there, just our choice, nothing personal).

So after the over a year hiatus I took, due to depression over the loss of my mother, and establishing ourselves up here after the move, I'm ready to start shooting again. The problem is, Portland Oregon is one of the most thriving artistic type communities in the US. Literally everyone here is a photographer or artist of some kind. Photographers are truly a dime a dozen, and a lot of them are VERY good.

My question after this very long winded intro is this: How the hell do I break into this market? Does anyone have ideas on how to start landing work in this really saturated market? I used to offer people free shoots, on the arrangement that they upload their work to Facebook, and push all interest to me, but we don't know anyone out here. I really want to start shooting again, so I can get some creative release again, but NY spoiled me in how quickly I developed a fan base, with very little work...so I don't even know where to begin.

Thanks in advance for any help or ideas you guys may have to offer.

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[TBradley]

I've been right there with you, photography in general is becoming a heavily saturated market! I'm not so sure about Oregon, but here in Tennessee, wedding photography is what most photographers "specialize" in. By pursuing a different target market, family shoots for example, you differentiate yourself from all the others. A real solid market analysis needs to be conducted to find where the majority of your customers are located and how you can effectively reach them. If you don't have a website now is definitely the time to look into getting one! Free shoots are a great way to breakout in a new location, but only if those clients you're offering free shoots are going to recommend you! Let me know where you currently are and I feel I might be able to help you out a bit more!

Cheers

[Cameron]

Build your own niche market where you will have less competition such as small business advertising, public relations, political events, company newsletter, producing business presentations, productions for trade shows, etc.

Cameron

[Alan-Chapman]

Hi Ren79 Good marketing will always win, a web site is essential but it has to be the right type of web site not just some pretty pictures it must collect names for you to market to. Think about your unique sales point (USP) why are you different? and what can you guarantee? write your copy for benefits not facts and loads of other marketing things that most photographer just don't do. check out my blog for more photography marketing ideas Alan Chapman Photography Marketing -
Cheers