hunster

I am just starting out in a military community full of small photographers.
I have been volunteering my services at all types of events, But have gotten few Paying customers. What are ways to get paying customers without using a lot of money. Like I said I am just starting out and funds are low..

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

Word of mouth, keep volunteering (just to get your name out there), have a portfolio that best's everyone elses, and get a website (at least a fb page that shows your work). If your work is good, price yourself competitively. In a saturated market such as yours,,,,your work needs to stand out.

I will say that without a business plan, you'll wind up just plugging along for quite a while. Starting a photography business requires far more than being able to take a good photograph. Use the search function here and search for things like starting a photography business. You'll find a ton of info. Good luck.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Website

Best way to show off your VOLUNTARY work

Check mine

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Doing free photos is a GREAT way to get more business doing free photos. If you have a decent portfolio, and you really are ready to charge, then stop giving it away. Everyone wants something for nothing.

Are you doing portrait work, weddings, events? It is all different. Getting business takes a lot of work, connections, often times money (advertising, bridal or "baby" shows) It takes quite a while to become profitable. If it is just a hobby, then that's OK, do the sittings for free and charge for prints. The main thing is, if nobody has heard of you, you have to change that somehow. Secondly, if you are known as that guy who takes really good free portraits, that's all you'll be known as, and that is a hard thing to change.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Couldn't agree more.

I only really started (became serious) last summer, did much free work as I needed a site and decent portfolio, now I work mainly from word of mouth