Destination Photography: Booking Clients in Other Cities

Ever wonder how photographers are able to book mountaintop elopements in the Dolomites or proposals in Central Park even if they’re based in a completely different city?

Imagine not only getting paid to do what you love but getting paid to TRAVEL and do what you love. Many people disregard photography as a career that allows for travel opportunities, but I’m here to tell you that’s just not true.

You have the power to travel for your photography work. 

And yes, people will pay you for it. 

You just gotta learn how.

And that’s where I come in.

If clicking your camera to the sound of New York taxi cab drivers or the rush of a waterfall excites you, keep reading. Get your passport or good road trip playlist ready, because I’m sharing five tips on how you can start traveling for photo shoots.

1. Start small.

I have a motto that goes like this: You have to start small to be able to grow right. This perfectly applies to destination photography. You can start small with destination photography in two different ways.

First, start trying to book destination photoshoots in the closest major city to the one you’re in. For example, I live in Seattle, Washington and the next city over from me is Portland, Oregon, which is about three hours south. 

Second, start booking in cities you already frequent. A lot of my photography clients are in New York City because not only did I used to live there, but it’s a place I often return to. Both my history with and affection for New York City allows me to market to clients while currently living in Seattle. I am now able to brand myself as a Seattle photographer and a New York City photographer. 

By starting small and closer to home or with cities you used to live in or frequent often, you can begin to create a strategy to grow in the city you want to be booking in, whether that's the next city over, a city you already frequent, or somewhere that you don't have clients at all.

2. Use other cities’ hashtags.

This one is super simple but super important (and it also works like a charm). If you live in Atlanta, Georgia but want to start booking clients in New York City, for example, start using #NewYorkCityPhotorapher and  #NYCPhotographer on your Instagram posts. You can get even more specific by using #NYCWeddingPhotographer, #BrooklynPhotographer or #ManhattanPhotographer.

One of my most recent engagement sessions in New York City happened because of a hashtag!

Along with using hashtags, you can also temporarily or permanently change the title in your Instagram bio to include the name of the city you’re trying to book.  An example, “Seattle Photographer,” “New York City Photographer, “Seattle and London Photographer,” etc. 

To do this, simply head to your profile and then click “edit profile.” Then, find the “your name” text box and edit the title. Keep in mind that you can only change your name twice within 14 days!

3. Always have your next booking dates available.

Once you’ve started booking photoshoots in another city, always have your next trip planned ahead of time because here’s the thing: people will be excited after their photoshoot (especially after the beautiful client experience you provide for them) and will be more likely to re-book when they already know when you’ll be returning to the city. 

Learn more: How to Under-Promise and Over-Deliver in Your Photography Business

In addition, you need to be actively posting about these booking dates on your social media for any new people who may be interested. You are more likely to book potential clients when you already have set travel dates versus them DMing and asking you about the next time you’ll be in the city. 

Instead, it’s “I would love to book with you,” and then you can go, “Great! Here are my dates and booking link.” Having these dates available allows you to extend that client experience by giving current or recent clients priority.

I love emailing this special group of clients before I share the dates with my email list and on social media. Current clients should always have priority, period!

4. Build out the backend of your business.

I know what you’re thinking. UGH— this one is boring. It's tedious. But guess what? It’s also key. You need to have the backend of your business completely nailed down before you take on destination photography, from your website to your workflow to everything in between. 

One reason why this is important is that if you're getting momentum on Instagram for destination photography bookings in other cities but your website isn’t properly optimized, the chance of them following through with that booking is very slim.

If your photography business is not registered as a legal entity if you're not accurately tracking your income and expenses, and if you’re lost when it comes to opening a business bank account, my Business Basics class is for you. I’m walking you through my eight essential steps to making your photography business legal and legit. You’ll leave the class feeling empowered to take action and get it done. 

5. Edit the photos on your journey home.

Have some spare time in the passenger car seat or on the plane ride home from your destination photoshoot? Go ahead and cull through your images!

I recommend using a free tool like Narrative Select because it doesn’t require any internet access and allows you to cull your images from anywhere— no matter if it’s a plane, train, car, or invisible jet. It will literally cut down hours of your editing time so that your workflow is seamless and speedy and you can get back to doing what you love (being behind the camera instead of on your laptop).

Narrative Select utilizes something called “Smart Tech” which alerts you when images are out of focus, slightly fuzzy, your clients’ eyes are closed or half-closed, etc. You still have full creative control over your selections, but Narrative Select helps inform you of which are objectively good and objectively bad.

That way, you can deliver those sneak peeks to your clients even faster.

Burning with even more questions on how to travel as a photographer? Head on over to my free build + bloom photography community to get them answered! 

Resources:

• If you want to check out this blog in video format, click here, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel where I share weekly videos full of guidance and advice for photographers.

• If you’re looking to receive even more daily tips, tools, and resources? Follow along on my Instagram.

• If you're ready to join a kind, encouraging, and inclusive photography community, check out the Build + Bloom Facebook group.

• If you like what I teach on YouTube and in blog posts, chances are you'll love my Photography Business Basics course where I share the 8 essential steps to build your photography business and make it bloom. Start your business off on the right foot in a way that is *actually* clear, concise, and easy to understand. Learn more here!