When most people are anticipating the release of pumpkin spice everything, wedding photographers are getting ready for their busiest season of the year. 

Fall and winter are by far the most popular time for engagements, with a whopping 19% of people reportedly choosing December to pop the question. Of that number, 64% will use social media to announce their engagement, while 56% will only use vendors they find on their social media platforms. 

As the trend moves toward relying on socials as a primary marketing tool, Instagram has become one of the best places for wedding photographers to promote their business. If you’re ready to get the most out of this lucrative platform by standing out, attracting couples, and increasing bookings, here are tips you can use to make your Instagram ready for engagement season.

Prioritize Transparency

Two major mistakes that wedding photographers make are not being upfront about their pricing and not communicating in a timely manner. 

In their search for vendors, couples are inundated with options, which can quickly become overwhelming. The fastest way to turn them away is to make them jump through hoops to figure out how to contact you and find out your pricing. 

Simplicity is key, and the vast majority of potential clients will choose a wedding photographer who provides upfront information on their business (think: reviews and pricing) and promptly respond to their inquiries. You can use your Instagram to provide this information by putting links within your descriptions to a pricing page and answering all messages quickly.

Revitalize Your Profile

Your Instagram profile is a vital part of your business, drawing in potential clients and highlighting your work. Think of it as a living portfolio, allowing you to spotlight your skills and expertise as a wedding photographer, whilst also making sure to speak to your couple’s pain points, showing them that you are the right person to help them along this journey. 

Taking the time to revitalize and update your profile will ensure that it’s engagement season ready and help you convert followers into clients! Let’s take a look at a few of the areas you can focus on to make your Instagram stand out.

Your Profile Picture

How many times have you seen a wedding photographer using their logo or a photo from a past shoot as their profile picture? It makes sense that they would do this since they developed their logo to make themselves stand out and who wouldn’t want to highlight their work? 

The problem is by choosing these options, you’re inadvertently blocking potential clients from creating an emotional connection with you, which can make you more forgettable. Using a recent, welcoming photo of your face is the best way to instantly connect with couples, creating a bond and building a sense of trust. Clients want to feel comfortable and confident in the wedding photographer they choose, and seeing your smiling face has the power to do that!

Your Bio

Your Instagram bio is your chance to provide couples with all your business information in one place so they don’t have to go searching for it. Be sure to include your name, location, who you serve, and a clear call the action. Tell these potential couples what to do next. You could link to your portfolio (recommended), or to your website to get people onto your site and find out more about you. Make sure to also have updated contact information on your profile too with a contact button! 

Your goal is to make your bio as straightforward as possible to remove any confusion and roadblocks that would keep couples from choosing you as their wedding photographer.

SEO

SEO or search engine optimization isn’t just for Google; Instagram uses it to narrow down your search options as well. Think of the search bar as its own search engine that allows people to look for specific accounts and type phrases and keywords for more refined results. 

By integrating keywords into your name section on your bio, you can ensure your name pops up in potential clients’ searches. To promote your wedding photography business, including your location and “wedding photographer” in your name section will increase the chance that your profile will appear more often as more couples search for wedding photographers this engagement season.

Understand Your Target Client

In any business, understanding your target client is essential to ensuring you create impactful marketing that converts interested parties into clients, and the wedding photography niche is no different. Before you begin engaging, you need to have a clear understanding of who you’re targeting and the type of services they desire. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Where are they located?
• What is their relationship dynamic?
• What activities do they enjoy?
• What are their core values?
• Which wedding vendors do they prioritize most?
• What does their dream wedding look like?

Once you have a comprehensive understanding of the answers to these questions, you will be better equipped to create impactful content that will capture their attention and engage in meaningful dialogue that will encourage their trust and confidence in your abilities to capture their vision. 

Plan Ahead

When it comes to content, planning ahead is the best way to keep your Instagram at the top of its game. It’s best to plan out a month in advance, so you constantly have relevant, beneficial, and engaging content to provide for your followers. 

During engagement season, you should take extra care to connect with couples, showing them you are there to support and encourage them through this exciting time. Focus your topics on what your target client is looking for, asking yourself, “what content would I look for if I was just engaged?” Ideas include:

• Educational information on wedding planning
• Examples of your work, making sure to include the couple’s love story
• Important dates and details
• Information about other vendors and who you’d recommend 
• Share your story now and again to connect more deeply with your followers
• Showcase your personality throughout but remember, it’s about THEM, not YOU.

Prioritize Engagement

If you’re not actively engaging with your target couples, the tips above won’t give you the results you want. Active engagement is essential for reaching potential clients and growing your wedding photography business. Posting consistently, and keeping your profile updated, along with daily interactions with your followers, will help make this engagement season your best one yet!

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If you’re hoping to fill your books this engagement season but don’t have the time for constant engagement or tracking your leads, why not get in touch with us? We offer Lead Generation for Instagram specifically, finding, organizing, and engaging with potential leads for you so that maybe you can actually have a bit of time off this winter instead of sitting behind a desk or glued to your cell!