Front porch & Facetime sessions are two hot topics in the world of photography. Since Covid-19 started, many businesses including photography are being listed as non essential so that forced to stop operating. As in-person sessions can not be conducted, many photographers in USA & Canada have started to offer porch sessions( considering physical distancing hopefully) and/or virtual photo session using Facetime. Personally, I am against porch sessions at this time as I think there is still a risk when you are leaving your house to go to your client's. As we all know more movement in the city will increase the risk of getting the Corona virus. On the other hand, I believe facetime sessions are creative way to document those milestone that can not wait until pandemic is over.
However, obviously not everyone owns iPhone. Then if you are like me, you may think how to keep your photography business alive during pandemic closure. Below are six ideas that I found and would like to share with my fellow photographers:
Stay connected
Although your website is your front door, I believe social media is so important in this period of time as it allows you to stay connected to your clients even more than before. Try to post on Instagram (IG story) and Facebook regularly. Depending on your ideal client, you may want to be active on one or both of these platforms.
Offer prints
We all want our clients have prints of their photos and these is the time to help them print those digital photos of their previous sessions with you.
Work on your website
Your website is the first impression so now that you may have more time staying at home, work on it. Updating your website will help you with Google SEO and over time it is a win. Also don't forget blogging.
Document your own family
Quarantine life is all about family, so use this time to document your own family and get creative. Don't forget to share them with your clients. They like to know more about your personal life.
Offer gift certificate
We are missing some important events such as Mother's Day , but everyone still celebrating virtually and our clients will be very happy to gift something authentic like a photo session to their loved one. Help them find the best gift.
Teach photography
So we are all told to stay home and there are lots of fun stuff happening in everyone's home. Baking, playing with kids, home schooling, home renovations... And who doesn't want to photograph the quarantine life?! Share your Photography experiences with your clients. It should'’t be complicated; if they can capture their family with their cellphone nicely, you have done your job.
Do you have any other ideas to keep the photography business active in this hard time? Feel free to comment after this blog.
*The below image is from my own family during quarantine period
