Beginner’s Guide to Attending Vender Events as a Photographer

A frequent question photographers want an answer to is how you can make the most out of vendor events and what you should have at your booth.

Shows, Expos, Festivals, Fundraisers, Open Houses and other local events are a fantastic way to market your photography business and get yourself in front of clients. Whether you are still researching events you would like to attend or you are already on the vendor list, I thought it would be helpful to put together a quick beginner’s guide to attending vendor events as a photographer.

Let’s set you up for success and make a lasting impression at your next event!

#1) Giveaway Jar

You may have heard me say this once or twice…or a million times but here it comes again. Set up a giveaway jar! Yes, QR codes are lovely, but the act of physically writing your name on a piece of paper and putting it in a jar is irresistible.

Placing a big fish bowl with a sign that explains what someone can enter to win is a great way to draw foot traffic towards your booth and spark conversations with potential clients. It doesn’t have to be anything intricate either which is the best part. You can create your entry forms and print them yourself or you can also order online through places like Vistaprint and capture information like their name, where they are located, an email and what kind of session they are interested in.

At the end of your event you will have new additions for your email list, or if you haven’t started one yet, this is a great place to start. You will also have a better idea of what types of sessions potential clients feel most interested in and you have an easy conversation starter throughout the entirety of your event!

#2) Display Your Art

As you begin packing the car for move in day, make sure you remember the most important piece, your art! We all know the saying “you sell what you show” and vendor events are no different. You can try to get someone’s attention and describe your products until you are blue in the face, but there is a much simpler method.

Bring your art with you and treat your vendor booth like it is your own personal gallery, the bigger the better! Keeping your booth location and what is visible to foot traffic in mind, you can display your wall art on temporary walls or tall easels if walls are not an option. Your wall art, especially the large statement pieces are guarantied to stop someone in their tracks and start a conversation. You can also display your albums or folio boxes in artistic ways that visitors can look through as you introduce yourself and what you do.

If you don’t currently have an inventory of wall art and other print samples that is totally fine. Even if you don’t have the nicest and fanciest print products on hand for your event, you can order a few large prints from a high volume lab for now just to make sure your work is represented in a large format!

#3) Business Branding

The most important piece of any marketing method, especially vendor events is ensuring that you have properly branded your entire booth. That means if someone walks past your setup, they can easily see the name of your business, have an idea of what you offer, and have the ability to take a business card or brochure with your business name and contact information with them.

Take a lap around other vendors at your event and take note of which booths draw your attention first. Are they the simple ones that have a table with free pens and a few papers or is it the fully decorated booth with their business name in big letters and unique products on display?

This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank for your first few events, but asking yourself if your booth is standing out in the crowd and making adjustments will go a long way. The best part about attending events as a photography vendor means you will have endless opportunities at future events and can take things up a notch the next time.

#4) Make Connections!

Having a well displayed booth with clear business branding and goodies to catch someone’s attention is a great first step, but don’t forget the entire reason you signed up as a vendor.

You have to make connections with everyone visiting your booth.

Does this idea terrify you? That is exactly why your setup for events can do all the hard work for you and you can stroll in the day of and own the show. When visitors stop and are filling out their information for your giveaway or you notice someone lingering near your booth, just throw out a compliment their way to get started. Don’t put all of this work into creating a beautiful vendor booth and sit behind your table the entire time.

Whether you start the conversation or someone asks a question about the products on display, it’s all about getting your name out there and having a conversation. Showing genuine interest in what someone is saying will make a lasting impression on potential business relations down the road and don’t forget to ask if they have worked with a professional photographer in the past and how their experience was. Keeping conversations all about them will help you get to know how you can best serve them rather than trying to sell something they may not be the right fit for in the first place!

There really is no right or wrong when it comes to attending vendor events, but there are a few ways you can step up your game and feel confident going into the day. The first step is signing on as a vendor and making those connections, getting your name out there and continuously showing value in what your portrait business offers!

Did you enjoy reading our blog today and want to learn more about where you can find events and how to make the best out of your vendor booth? I have a variety of educational resources available for photographers from our free Facebook Community, a weekly educational podcast and my coaching program dedicated to helping photographers build profitable and successful portrait brands.

Make sure you check out our amazing resources and feel free to let us know your favorite part about reading our blog today!