Great 1 on 1 with Busari, Client Growth & Marketing,Branding & Social Media, Editing & Retouching, ETC

🎯 My Focus:

Starting out as a photographer in Canada, trying to book more clients — especially for graduation and portrait shoots — and figuring out how to maximize my gear and marketing without being big on social media.

💬 Key Insights from the Call:

1. Start with What I Have

“It’s all about what you want to shoot and what you like to shoot.”

I’ve already got solid gear — Sony A7C Mark II, 85mm, 35mm, Godox lights, beauty dishes. I’m not lacking equipment. I’m lacking traction. The next step isn’t more gear — it’s groundwork.

2. Boots on the Ground Beats Likes on a Post

“You can’t really beat that groundwork.”

Forget trying to run social ads when I don’t have graduation work to show yet. Instead:

• Hit local college campuses (there are 5 nearby — huge advantage).

• Wait for grad season to get close.

• Offer 3–5 free grad shoots to build portfolio and start word-of-mouth.

• Physically hand out business cards where students hang out (cafeteria, common areas).

3. Word of Mouth > Instagram Algorithms

“A lot of people know me just from word of mouth… that’s how I started.”

Especially on campuses, referrals spread fast. Once I’ve shot a few students, their network will help me scale.

4. Do Recon on the Competition

“Just look up hashtags with the college name and ‘grad’ in it.”

See who’s already shooting grads near me. Analyze:

• What they’re posting

• How they edit

• What their rates are

Even if they’re ahead, my quality can stand out — especially if their work doesn’t match the kind of quality I’m building toward.

5. Be Present, Be Useful

“Go to campus events, snap photos, get their IGs, send them the pics.”

It’s not always about selling. Just being visible, shooting for free, and delivering quality shots to students can organically lead to bookings.

6. Segment My Brand (Don’t Be a Buffet)

“Stick to one or two things per Instagram page.”

Right now, I shoot corporate events, lifestyle, and I want to add grads. Don’t throw all that on one page. Instead:

• Grad & lifestyle portraits = one page

• Club/corporate events = separate pages
  That way, potential clients know exactly what they’re hiring me for.

7. On Editing: Keep the Texture. Learn the Flow.

Big tips that’ll level up my retouching:

• Always lift the pen when healing — don’t drag!

• Blend only the necessary highlight/shadow transitions (cheeks, forehead, nose).

• Low frequency = blending tones, high frequency = texture/detail.

• Use Generative AI or the Remove Tool for tricky blemishes or discoloration — huge time saver.

🧠 Mindset Check:

“Do you really want to be the person that goes out there and gets it done?”

This journey takes effort, not just watching tutorials or hopping on calls. The gear I’ve invested in — that’s money I could’ve spent on a car. I’ve bet on this, and I’ve got to see it through.

✅ Next Steps:

• ✅ Keep attending campus events, snapping, and sharing.

• ✅ Create separate IG pages for portraits vs. events.

• ⏳ Launch 3–5 free grad shoots to build a portfolio.

• 🔍 Scout competitors via hashtags.

• 📸 Keep editing practice up — especially with retouching and blending techniques.

• 🖨️ When my business cards arrive, send them for feedback.

• 🗓️ Book follow-up 1-on-1 to show progress.