Portrait Photography - Targeting Tourists As a Customer Base

Are you an existing photographer looking forshoot from just 1 in every 100,000 people going to
additional customers or a new photographer lookingthat location you will generate 250 shoots per year.
to start a photography business? In either case youNow Compare the Destination Photography Business
may want to take a look at targeting the tourismModel (tapping into tourism customers) to a Standard
industry which accounted for $772.9 billion dollars ofBusiness Model:
the US economy in 2008.Let's also say you live in New York City and are
Why Target Tourists?advertising to the local community within a ½
Tourists travel or vacation in every state in droveshour commute of where you live for standard
each year spending their money on activities, foodportrait photography. The total population of New
and lodging, but to what extent?York City is 8.3 million, already 16.7 million less than
Did you know that Idaho brings in 20 million visitorsyour potential target of Central Park tourists of 25
annually and that in 2008, in the midst of one of themillion. Now how many potential customers live within
largest recessions in United States history Californiaa ½ hour commute of where you live in New
had 338 million visitors generating $97.6 billion; evenYork City, let's estimate 2 million. Even at 2 million
Delaware had 8.1 million visitors in 2008. Tourism ispotential photography customers that is still a pool
one of the largest bread winners for every state in12.5 times smaller than that of Central Park tourists.
the union and a therefore a great industry to drawNow here is the important factor that makes the
photography customers from.destination photography business model so appealing.
Why Tourists are a Profitable Customer BaseThese potential 25 million customers for Central Park
Tourists have the Magic Formula: Time + Money =Photography are also partially qualified in that they
Bookingshave the magic formula for deciding to book a
What are the most obvious reasons for people notphotography session: Time + Money = Bookings.
booking a portrait photography shoot while at home?In most instances you will not have a tourism draw
The infamous objections, "I don't have enough time"as flooded as Central Park for your target. Every
or "I don't have enough money", stop people fromstate has at least one attraction that is a viable draw
getting portraits while at home. The great thingfor tourism based portrait photography.
about people on vacation is that they have time, andHere are just a few potential examples:
they plan on having fun, so they have money toGrand Canyon Family Photography
spend on activities.California Wine Country Portraits
Now, if you use popular tourist locations asBryce Canyon National Park Family Photography
backdrops for getting family, couples or seniorFrench Quarter Portrait Photography - New Orleans
portraits taken you have a customer base for yourMiami Beach Family Photography
photography business and the perfect backdrop.Yellowstone National Park Family Photography
What Tourist Attraction Do I have Near Me?(Use your areas beautiful natural or man made
Look at your states website, and find out how manybackdrops as your photography studio)
people go to each tourist attraction near you eachPhotographers need to understand that families and
year and run the numbers of how many customerscouples spend the year, sometimes a lifetime,
you could generate.planning a vacation and people want professional
Here is an example of targeting tourism using Newphotographs to commemorate the event (if
York's Central Park as a customer base:someone was offering them) or to have photos with
Let's say you live in New York City a ½ hourbackdrop they have been dreaming about during their
commute to Central Park. Central Park commands 25special trip.
million visitors annually. If you can generate 1 photo