Sometimes, there are so many photographers in your local area and not enough clients. In this episode, I will prove that your photography market isn’t oversaturated–you’re just marketing all wrong.
Most industries think they are oversaturated, too.
My studio’s building has at least two dental offices, multiple accountants, and several therapists.
And this is a good thing!
That means there’s a need for what you offer in the world. Your job, now, is to go be the best at what you’re offering.
In this episode, I explain three reasons your photography market is not oversaturated. I talk about what to do if your town is too small to support your business. Then, I finish up with exactly why I built my business in St. Louis (and then left it there) instead of moving it to the area I live in now.
1. Every photographer has a different ideal client, a different style, and a totally different business model.
If you have a different ideal client than every other photographer in your area, that means there’s no “competition,” right?
Many educators want you to think about the feelings you’re providing or what she’s after in general.
It’s great that you want her to feel beautiful and confident when she leaves the studio–but honestly, she will feel that regardless of if you do your job right.
Those feelings when she leaves the studio aren’t going to help you find her when you’re building your marketing strategy.
I want you to sit down and think about your favorite clients.
Nail down demographics first:
- Age
- Gender
- Relationship status
- Kids or no kids?
- Careers
- Even their likely income range
Then, think about:
- Fit or not into fitness?
- Shopping habits?
- What she brought to the studio?
I would also recommend listening to episode 4 of my podcast. This episode will tell you exactly how to use this information to find and book more clients.
Once you nail down who your ideal client is, you will stop thinking about how saturated your market is because you are just focusing on this one person. You’ll focus your marketing strategy on that person.
2. There are far more people in your area needing a photographer than how many photographers there actually are–I promise.
It seems like there are a ton of photographers, but in reality, there are probably 5-10 in a town with 5000 or 10-30 in an area with 50,000 people.
There’s more than enough work to go around.
Instead of worrying about how many photographers there are in your area, focus on your one specific ideal client.
When you’re focused on her instead of everyone else, you don’t even realize how many people are in your local area because you only care about that specific person.
You’re focused only on attracting her. You’re focused on where she’s doing business, who she’s interacting with on social media, and what she’s doing on the weekends for fun.
You’re thinking only about what you need to do to get in front of her as much and as soon as possible.
Are you following a bunch of local photographers in your area?
I want you to get on your Instagram and unfollow OR mute any local photographers you’re following.
If you do this, I bet you forget about your “competition” almost instantly. You’ll forget about this supposed oversaturated photography market problem.
3. You have to remember that you really don’t need that many clients.
If your area–not just your town–has 20,000 people. You only need 75 clients per year. You can easily book that with the right marketing strategy.
I want you to think about the reason you started your business.
Most likely, it was because you wanted out of your 9-5. You wanted more time in your day–maybe more time with your family or just more time for yourself.
Maybe you want to travel?
Maybe you wanted to be the mom who could be with her kids while they’re growing up and never miss a school activity?
You will only get that if you build a business and have fewer clients. Instead, you’ll end up right back in your 9-5 after you burn out from working hard on your business.
Don’t be that photographer.
What if your town doesn’t have a population to support your business–then what do you do?
- Market in surrounding cities, towns, and counties.
- Build your business in a nearby larger city and travel for your sessions once or twice a month.
The photography market isn’t really saturated.
If you get just one thing out of this episode, understand that it’s not that the market is oversaturated.
It’s that you need to focus your marketing on your ideal client.
Put on your blinders to every other photographer in your area. Stop worrying about what they’re doing, who they’re photographing, or how busy they look.
Focus on you, what you want from your business, and who you want to serve specifically.
Then, create a marketing strategy to attract that one specific person and start booking her.
Want help figuring out who your ideal client is?
My TLC Brand Board Canva Template is the first step to filling your schedule with amazing clients. 
With this template, you will have everything in one place–and know exactly who your ideal client is AND how to effortlessly attract her.
This template includes everything you need to attract the right person for your business. This is the first step to your super successful marketing foundation and the best way to stand out in your oversaturated market.
It also includes an 8-minute Instructional Video showing how to use this template and some strategic recommendations.
With this brand board, your marketing foundation will be set up and ready to attract your dream clients.
This is the foundation of the marketing strategy I’ve implemented in my boudoir business–where I work less than 30 hours a month and still bring in multiple six figures each year.
Get your hands on it today, so you can build a sustainable boudoir business and start living the life you’ve dreamed about.
Tracy Lynn is a boudoir photogapher for brides-to-be in the St. Louis area, and a mentor + coach for photographers looking to level up their businesses with better systems and processes.
