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A Website - Why Should I Bother? Part 1 - part 1 of 1 2

by Tom Lee Published

Why...?

How many photographers have asked themselves that question?

The answer is of course you don't have to bother, but then why advertise your services at all! Like all technologies, photographers seem to be the last people to embrace new concepts, usually because it ends up costing them money. Earning a living in photography can be hard work, and giving up hard earned cash for new equipment or promotions can be like getting blood from a stone.

One of the biggest misconceptions about the internet is that you only have to be on it to generate thousands of 'hits' and the enquiries will flood in. When the reality sets in, you may be lucky to get hits in the tens or hundreds and maybe no enquiries at all. This is probably the main reason that there are so few of us doing it.

This aside, just think for a minute about the potential and not the technical. If you could place an advertisement in the Telegraph or Observer, maybe even the Times, all year round - for free. Would you do it! There is no guarantee that anyone buying the newspaper will read your advertisement, but you would still do it. The internet is just the same, only millions more people have access to it than are included in the circulation of the three papers mentioned above and in many instances you don't have to pay a bean. Some companies are offering to let you have space on specialised sites and will even design your pages for a small annual fee, so you don't even need to own a computer.

A Professional Showcase

How much would it cost to put on an exhibition of your work in a local gallery? Placing your work on show on the internet allows a massive audience into your private gallery free of charge (except for the phone call). This is the biggest showcase your work can ever get.

You may not be able to see a client due to busy schedules or geographical difficulties. Anyone with access to the internet can view your work and place orders without the need for appointments. A recent wedding commission involved clients travelling from Southern England to North Cheshire for their wedding, due to both families living in my area. The previews were posted on the website (on a secure page) for them to see without having to make another long journey north. The quality of the images were good enough to view and make their album and reprint selection, but in a low enough resolution so that illegal copying was not worth it. Friends could also select reprints similar

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last update 09/12/2022 15:00:13

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