I've found that there are many great articles on how to transition from your full time job to owning a photography business, but there isn't much to offer in the realm of starting to establish yourself as a student photographer in a university setting. This post will look at a few ideas to get yourself established and known through marketing as a college student.
1. Facebook
This is probably the most obvious. Most of our generation is well versed in this sphere and to take advantage of this platform is the easiest and potentially the most powerful marketing tool for our demographic. Aim to make posts that are professional and concise with lots of visual information. Use your Facebook page to promote your Yelp, your website as well as any other social media accounts. Many businesses attempt to do contests on Facebook by sharing or liking photos, but be aware that the most recent privacy settings now make this difficult by not showing everyone who may be interacting with your page. Advertising to your surrounding community through Facebook promotions is an interesting way to get more likes as well, although it may not always be effective. The most important aspect of a successful and well trafficked page is its updated and meaningful content.
2. Business Cards
Business cards may not seem to be all that important, but if you are on the move often you may not always have time to spell out your email and website to every person interested in your work. Simple business cards can be ordered in bulk through services like Vistaprint and will be a nice resource for you to have on hand when needed. Additionally, if you're more of a do-it-yourself person you can experiment with laser cutting machines or screen printing which may be available to you at your college for free or for a fee.
3. Student Organizations and Events
If your school is anything like mine, there are plenty of student organized events happening every week. Such events are awesome opportunities for some quick networking. I often take my camera out unannounced to different rallies and happenings around campus and take pictures of students. Organizers and sometimes participants are usually very happy to exchange contact information and will remember you as a photographer for the future. You can also post the photos from the event to your Facebook page to get tags and likes. Check out an event at Cornell I shot, Holi at Cornell.