How to Get Clients as a New Photographer

Photography is an interesting thing, it’s a super saturated market (everyone is a photographer) but at the same time there is a vast difference between the people at the top of the market and the people at the bottom. There are a lot of factors that separate them; style, knowledge, desire, jobs and talent. Everyone’s journey through that market, and where people stop has so many factors you can’t point to one. I have friends that loved photography and just lost interest, or got burnt out, or didn’t like the “business” side of things. A successful photographer often doesn’t just have one factor (such as a desire to take photos) but has multiple factors that contribute to their success,

Alex & Allison's Engagement at the Family Cabin

They met in class about five years ago. In both of their cases, neither one really stood out much - kind of. Allison was unique because she was a rare girl in a program filled with guys. Alex knew her from the semester before (because they had a class together) but Allison never even recognized him until they were put into a research group together. Alex told me he just figured she had a boyfriend (which was true) and so never really thought much of pursuing Allison.

Top 5 Wedding Venues in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene

My name is Brent Looyenga and I'm a Spokane wedding photographer. I've been photographing weddings for almost 15 years now. In the course of time, I've found some incredible wedding venues, and also some horrible ones. Some private property locations have been pretty awesome when done right, and others have left me, a Spokane wedding photographer, also the planner of the whole day. There are so many things that will contribute to a venue being one of my top 5 wedding venues in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, but we should talk about a few.

Dorian & Renee's Mountain Lake Engagement

They met at work. They both worked at a hamburger place down in California, and Dorian was the new guy. He told me he noticed Renee almost immediately. She was the beautiful girl that worked there. That said, he didn't talk to her right away, and it was probably three weeks into him working there that Renee said she first noticed him. In short, he didn't wipe the tables down right - so she informed him of the right way. I asked Dorian what he thought in that moment, and he said "I was like, dannngittt! I totally messed it up! Now she thinks I'm an idiot!" but he also said it didn't hold him back, that he was going to go for it.

Spokane Family - The Pavlin's

Sometimes I think I sound like a broken record, but the problem is it’s true every year. Every year someone who hired me last year, and hires me again to take photos of their family is something that truly honors me, something I see as one of the biggest compliments. You see, people’s families are a central part of who they are, and for many, it is the single more important thing to them in the world. So to. be told “I want you to photograph my family” is such an incredible honor.

Nathan and Allison's Spring Farragut Engagement

They met playing volleyball. Really you can thank their mutual friends who continued to invite Allison to volleyball even though she kept saying no. But they really wanted her to meet this mysterious man named Nathan. So one day, she came. Nathan told me that when he first saw her he said in his head "she's new" - but not a "oh, cool, a new person to play" but rather "woah, she's new, I definitely would like to get to know her…" if you know what I mean. That said, that first day they never talked. Or the second day.

The Blog

Brent Looyenga is a Spokane wedding photographer based IN SPOKANE WASHINGTON and Coeur d’Alene Idaho area. He loves people and specializes in wedding, engagement, family and senior photography. You can like Looyenga Photography on Facebook or follow them on Instagram.