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Are you currently using Snapchat for your personal life? If so, have you ever thought about using it for your wedding photography business? And, if you haven’t downloaded the app yet, have you been thinking about what it can do for your business?

Snapchat is a mobile app that allows you to take videos and photos and share them with your followers. What started out as something for people to quickly send videos and images has turned into a huge social phenomenon, and business owners are starting to use it to reach more clients and build their brand. So, is Snapchat something you should use in your photography business? Read on to make the decision whether you should use Snapchat to connect with your clients.

Create Videos and Images Quickly

Your time is important and you often have very little of it. Snapchat is perfect for the busy wedding photographer, because it won’t take up too much of your time. The reason for this is because it doesn’t require you to schedule anything out in advance or create a content calendar. Unlike Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Snapchat can be used at your convenience. All you need is your phone and something interesting to talk about or take photos of!

You can send individual messages to your followers, but you can also build stories with your videos and images. When you build a story, your videos and images are available for view for at least a day, meaning many of your followers can view it. Because it is so quick to use, you can share videos and images with your clients throughout the day and spend a minimal amount of your time.

Related: Is your Instagram strategy helping you book more clients?

Tip: After you receive your images back from a photography editing company, you likely share them to your website, blog, and other social media platforms. Use Snapchat to take a shot of some of those photos as a sneak peek for your followers!

Have Fun with Followers

Because Snapchat is meant to be an “in the moment” platform, it can lead to sharing a lot of fun moments that happen during the day! If you are getting ready for a wedding, you can take a photo of your gear as you pack it away. To inform your audience of what gear you are using, you can use the option to type or draw on the photo. When you arrive at the wedding shoot, you can take videos and photos to showcase what the venue looks like, as well as some details and shots of anyone who is already there getting ready. While waiting for the shoot to begin, you can take a few photos (selfies!) of yourself using some of Snapchat’s fun filters. This is a great way to connect with your clients and let them get to know you a bit better.

Related: How can you maximize your Facebook business page?

Share Exclusive Details

As with any social media platform, your followers will love it when you share exclusive details or resources with them. When your followers view your Snaps, they feel as if you are talking or sharing something directly with them and will look forward to your next post.

Things you can share that are exclusive are behind-the-scenes videos and photos of your engagement and wedding shoots. If you work with associate photographers or a second shooter, let your audience get to know them as well. When you are working on your website or creating a social media schedule, post photos and give details of what you are working on. If you share these types of videos and photos, your followers will feel included in what you are doing and you will build more connections.

As you might do on other social platforms, Snapchat is a great place for you to share about your upcoming events, products, or photography related education. Not only will ideal clients be following you, but also photographers who want to know about what techniques you use.

Build More Connections

As a photographer who works closely with clients, connections are crucial! Snapchat is a great way to showcase your personality with your followers. When you’re not sharing behind the scenes details, you can talk to your audience, ask them questions, and encourage them to reply to you through messages, videos, or photo responses. This brings you and your followers closer together. Also, if you view your followers’ videos or images, you let them know! This helps to show that you are invested in the relationship you are building.

So, what do you think? Is Snapchat right for you and your business? As with any social platform, it can take some time to acclimate to it, but used correctly, it could help expand your reach, and allow clients (and fellow photographers) get to know you better! For additional social media platforms you can use for your photography business, download our Comprehensive Guide to Social Media for Wedding Photographers to expand your reach on other social platforms!