10 Marketing Experiments for Photographers to Try This Week
Jun 23, 2026Most photographers think their marketing should work the first time they try it. Post on Instagram, send an email, show up at a networking event. If it doesn't produce a booking right away, the conclusion is always the same: "That didn't work."
But what if marketing isn't supposed to work every time? What if the whole point is to experiment, gather data, and let each attempt make the next one better?
That's exactly what Heather Lahtinen breaks down in this week's episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast. She shares 10 marketing experiments photographers can try this week, plus a reframe on failure that will take a ton of pressure off your marketing efforts.
Why You Should Think Like a Scientist
The most successful business owners treat marketing like a series of experiments, not a pass/fail test.
Here's how the scientific method works in your photography business: you have a challenge, you make a guess, you try it out, you gather data, and you ask yourself whether it worked. If it did, great. Do more of that. If it didn't, go back to step one and try again.
The critical piece most photographers miss? The point of the experiment isn't the result. It's the information you gather for the next experiment. Every attempt teaches you something that makes your next guess smarter and closer to what actually works.
Nine Out of Ten Experiments Fail (And That's Fine)
Heather is blunt about this: nine out of ten of her marketing experiments fail. She expects them to fail. And because she expects it, she doesn't feel crushed when something doesn't produce results.
Compare that to how most photographers approach marketing. You try one thing, it doesn't work, you try another, it doesn't work, and pretty soon you're saying "nothing works" and "I've tried everything."
You haven't tried everything. You've just run a few experiments that didn't produce the result you wanted. That's not a dead end. That's data.
Heather's reminder is simple: there is no experiment shortage. There's always something else to try. Always a next step.
You're Not Playing to Win Every Time
Here's a mindset shift that changes the whole game. You're not playing to win every experiment. You're playing to become a better player.
Think about athletes. The best players don't win every practice. They show up, they drill the fundamentals, they get better over time. That's what you're doing with your marketing. Every experiment is practice. Every "failure" is a rep.
If everything worked on the first try, you'd never build the skill set that actually gets you to a six-figure business. The struggle is the training.
10 Marketing Experiments to Try This Week
Here's where it gets practical. Heather shares 10 real experiments that don't require a marketing degree, a big budget, or a perfectly polished brand. Pick one or two and try them this week.
1. Attend one local networking event and talk to 10 people. That's it. Show up, introduce yourself as a photographer, have some conversations. You're not selling. You're being a human who happens to do cool work.
2. Text 10 past clients to check in. Not a sales pitch. Just a genuine "hey, how's your pup doing?" or "hope your family is doing well." People remember when you reach out without asking for anything.
3. Ask your last five clients for a referral directly. Most photographers never ask. Just a simple "Hey, if you know anyone who might be looking for a photographer, I'd love the introduction" goes a long way.
4. Show up at a local farmer's market or community event with your camera. Take some photos, talk to people, tell them what you do. Low pressure, high visibility.
5. Partner with one complementary vendor and offer to photograph something for them. A dog groomer, a pet boutique, an equine barn. You photograph something they can use, and you both get exposure to each other's audience.
6. Reach out to a local real estate agent and offer a free session. This one doesn't work for everyone, but some photographers have made it a real client pipeline. Worth a try.
7. Introduce yourself to three local vendors in person this week. Not email. Not DM. Walk into their actual place of business, say hello, and start a relationship.
8. Email your past clients an exclusive early access offer. Give your existing list first dibs on your next session type before you post it publicly. People love feeling like they're on the inside.
9. Ask every inquiry how they heard about you and track the answers. This is one of the most valuable things you can do for your business long-term. Once you see the patterns, you'll know exactly where to focus your energy.
10. Create one piece of content that answers your clients' number one question before booking. What do people always ask you? Price? What to wear? What to expect? Make a post, reel, or blog about it and put it out there.
Why This Approach Works Better Than a "Strategy"
The word "strategy" makes most photographers freeze. It sounds big, complicated, and like something you need to figure out before you can start.
Experiments are the opposite. They're small. They're low stakes. And they give you real information about what actually works in your specific market, with your specific audience.
You don't need a perfect marketing plan. You just need to be willing to try things, track what happens, and adjust. That's the whole game.
Your Brain Will Try to Talk You Out of It
Heather calls this out directly: as she lists these experiments, your brain is going to say "nope, that won't work for me" before you've even tried it.
That's normal. Your brain's job is to keep you safe, and safe means staying in your comfort zone. But your comfort zone isn't where bookings come from.
Watch for the resistance. Notice it. And then try the experiment anyway. You don't need it to work. You just need to see what happens.
What to Do Right Now
Pick one experiment from the list. Just one. Try it this week. Don't overthink it, don't attach your self-worth to the outcome, and don't decide it "didn't work" after a single attempt.
You're a scientist now. And scientists run experiments over and over again until they find something that works.
Listen to the full episode for Heather's complete breakdown of the scientist mindset plus all 10 experiments in detail.
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And if you want even more marketing experiments to try, check out Heather's Visibility Workshop with a full 90-day done-for-you marketing calendar.
