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Feeling quiet? Here’s what to do when bookings slow down.

Let’s be real: most of us didn’t become photographers to become “content creators.” But here we are. Watching everyone else point at text bubbles, wondering if we really have to make a Reel to book clients, and secretly Googling “how to market yourself without selling your soul.”
If just the word “marketing” makes you want to retreat into a pile of Lightroom edits, then this post is for you. Here’s how to show up online without feeling fake, desperate, or like a walking ad for yourself.

1. Stop trying to be “good at marketing.” Start being good at connecting.

You don’t need a marketing degree to get more bookings. You just need to be findable and relatable.

Ask yourself:
→ Can people find you when they’re looking? (Website, socials, Google?)
→ Do you sound like a real human?
→ Do people know what you do, who you do it for, and how to work with you?

You don’t need more tricks. You just need more clarity and consistency.

2. Share what you want people to feel, not just what you want them to buy.

Marketing isn’t just “Hire me! Book now! Look at this!”
It’s storytelling. It’s trust-building. It’s giving people a reason to choose you over someone else with the same gear.

Instead of:
📸 “Here’s a sneak peek!”
Try:
✨ “Sarah told me she wanted photos that felt like home. So we shot this in her grandparents’ orchard at sunset. Here’s what we created.”

That’s not cringe. That’s connection.

3. Give before you ask.

If you’re nervous about selling, try this shift:
Don’t start with “What can I post to get bookings?”
Start with: “What can I share that’s actually helpful?”

Ideas:

  • What to wear to a session
  • How to prep for family photos with toddlers
  • Why printing your images matters
  • What you wish every client knew before a shoot
  • What to expect at a maternity or branding session

This builds trust way faster than another “now booking” graphic.

4. Create once. Reuse often.

You don’t have to be constantly online to show up consistently.

Post the same tip as:

  • A blog post
  • An Instagram caption
  • A Reel (just film yourself saying it!)
  • A newsletter
  • A story with a photo behind the scenes

If someone missed it the first time, it’s new to them.
(And if they’ve already seen it? Repetition builds trust.)

5. Set your own tone.

You don’t have to be bubbly if you’re not.
You don’t have to dance, lip sync, or write long captions if that’s not your style.
You do have to show up in a way that feels true to you, and consistent enough that people remember you.

If your brand is soft and thoughtful, lean into that.
If your vibe is loud, funny, and fast-talking, run with it.
There’s no one right way, there’s just the way that keeps you showing up.

6. When in doubt? Talk to one person.

Marketing gets weird when we try to impress everyone.
Try this: pick a dream client in your mind. A real one, or a made-up one.
Write to them.

→ What would help them right now?
→ What would reassure them?
→ What would make them smile or feel understood?

That’s your next post. Your next email. Your next story.

Marketing doesn’t have to feel gross. But it does have to feel honest.

And we promise, if you keep showing up with clarity, intention, and a little courage, it gets less scary (and less icky) every time.

Let your people see you.
They’re not judging you, they’re hoping someone like you exists.