What GREAT ideas, Andrea!  Thank you for such AWESOME information!!!

[quote=&quot;AndreaHalsey&quot;:1xnesjdv]I think if anyone is telling you that there is one thing you can &quot;do&quot; to go out there and get clients is selling something! LOL, Sorry but I just haven't found that there is any other way to build a business other than doing something slowly and professionally. 

The key thing to understand is that everything is interconnected. You can't build a client base without great referrals, you can't have great referrals unless you have great customer service, you can't have great customer service without having great services and products to offer and satisfy your clients. 

Here is the process in a nutshell of what has been successful for me:

1) Have a great, unique website only showing the best of your work.
2) If you have a blog (which I'm finding isn't necessary), post only one or two photos regularly from a session. Do not worry about being content or image heavy. Yes, more postings will get your website more recognized but also will clutter up your information and the visuals for your potential clients.
3) Make great connections with local businesses so you can draw on them for support and also offer your own skills in return.
4) Have a well thought-out list of products and services you want to offer to clients.
5) Present them professionally packaged with simple, classy packaging and branding.
6) Excellent customer service (this does NOT mean never say no, this means be on top of everything and use the *phone* as often as possible).
7) Meet with clients before a session.
8) Order with clients personally after a session.

The end result is happy clients who are thrilled with the services and products you offered and are happy to tell others about you.

Now, there ARE some ways to draw in clients and get attention - I don't see them as essential as building a client base but is definitely worth the effort to get your name out there to a new group of people and if you're lucky, you will find a great new set of clients!

Some ideas are:
Portrait Parties - Having a mom sponsor a set of mini-sessions where she will get her session spot and/or product for free by inviting some of her friends along who are paying for spots.

Silent Auctions - Donating a specific dollar amount to local charities or organizations.

Networking - Finding an artist or business in a related field to co-host a mutual event, thus mixing your clients with theirs and theirs with yours.

Fun Offers/Giveaways - Hosting a giveaway game on your blog or somewhere local that offers a fun way for people to get involved and invested in your brand.

Model Contests - Getting attention by asking potential clients to submit photos for a specific purpose, this could be to keep on record for future modeling needs, to offer as small mini sessions, to combine with a fun offer/giveaway. This could also be done fashion-show style and mixed in with a good networking idea.

Sponsoring Events - You can sponsor related events which will often get you a special spot at the event to display your work and information.

Display Trade - Offering and approaching local businesses to trade family/kids sessions for a chance to display those images in the place of business. For example, OBGYN/Midwife/Dr displaying their own client's newborn images by offering sessions to their favorite clients or latest newborns. 

-- If there are any more I can think of I will come back here and post em! Also, if there are any cool ideas or tidbits you would like to add, please share![/quote:1xnesjdv]