Summarize:

When you’re starting a freelance photography business, you need a website to showcase your work so prospective clients can see what they can expect. You can also use your site to allow potential customers to get in touch with you, schedule your services, and deliver your finished photos. Make sure the site is easy to navigate, and contains only your best photos.  If you don’t know much about building a website, WordPress is a good place to start because they have templates and themes designed specifically for photography. It’s a good idea to incorporate a blog into your website. Post a new photo with entry, so clients can see what you’ve been up to recently. In addition to a website, social media is an ideal way to market your services online. Photography is a visual medium, so a great photo can quickly go viral and familiarize potential clients with your work. Create Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts, so you can show off your work in a setting where it’s much easier for people to share it. Include links to all of your social media accounts on your website, so potential clients can easily find them. Word of mouth can be an effective way for freelance photographers to get new clients, so it helps to have business cards that you can give to family, friends, and existing clients. They can pass the cards onto people they know who might be interested in your services.  Create a distinct look for your business cards by including one of your photos on it. It can be a self-portrait so clients remember you specifically or a photo that you're particularly proud of and showcases your skills. Make sure that your cards contain all of your contact information, including your web address. You want potential clients to be able to find your online portfolio. Hopefully, word of mouth will spread about your photography skills, but you don’t want to wait around for jobs to come to you. By making connections with related businesses, you may be able to find new clients. For example, if you want to work as an event photographer, you might contact wedding or party planners, catering halls, and other event-related businesses to introduce yourself and your work. That way, if a person planning an event asks for a recommendation for a photographer, your contact can pass your name along. If you’re interested in working as a commercial or product photograph, you might try to find a contact at a marketing or public relations firm. When you’re just starting out as a freelance photographer, building word of mouth is key. That’s why it often helps to do some jobs for free -- you can gain experience and generate a buzz with potential clients. If you’re specializing in special event or portrait photography, ask family and friends if they need any photographs taken. If you hope to break into commercial or product photography, see if there are any small businesses in your area that might allow you to shoot photos for their marketing materials.  You may also want to consider holding sessions where you don't charge for the session itself. Instead, the clients only pay if they decide to purchase prints from you. That can be an effective way to lure new customers in and still make some money. Make sure to ask all of your free clients for testimonials after you take the photos. If they’re positive, you can use them in your promotional materials or as references for potential clients. If your free clients have any criticisms of your work, use them to improve your skills and services.
Create a website. Establish social media accounts. Print up business cards. Network to generate leads. Do some free assignments.