Moving your photography business to a new city can feel like starting from zero, but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, TMA Community Manager Ali Payne shares her go-to photography business marketing strategies, drawn straight from her own experience relocating from Montgomery to Dothan, and most recently to Mobile, Alabama.
Five Marketing Tactics After a Move
Before diving into tactics, Ali stresses the importance of SEO and making sure your website is set up with the right keywords so you can be found by clients searching for a photographer in your new area. She points to Melissa Arlena’s Picture Perfect Rankings course as a helpful starting point for members who want to strengthen that foundation. From there, her five strategies lean more toward word of mouth and in person connection.
The first is getting connected as soon as possible. Since your photography brand centers around who you are as a person, the more you’re plugged into your new community (through volunteering at church, at your kids’ school, or by joining a local club or league) the more people will see and trust your brand. The goal isn’t to pitch anyone on the spot. Simply mentioning that you’re a motherhood or family photographer in casual conversation plants a seed that often leads to someone looking you up later.
Second, Ali recommends hosting a giveaway to get eyes on your Instagram, ideally boosted on social media and clearly labeled so there’s no confusion about what people are looking at. Before launching one, she suggests making sure your feed is client ready, with a pinned about me post, a pinned favorites post, and then the giveaway itself, so a potential client’s first impression of your work is a strong one.
Third is offering strategic model calls. If your former clients know people in your new city, that’s a natural place to start. If you’ve moved further away, Ali encourages using your new followers, gained from your giveaway, to identify people who genuinely fit your ideal clientele and connection to the area, rather than choosing based on appearance alone.
Fourth, create a space where your new clientele can reach you easily, whether that’s a client Facebook group or an email list. Having a warm audience who already knows and trusts you means you’re never starting from a cold post when you have something new to share.
Finally, Ali’s fifth tip is simple: serve, serve, serve, and then sell. Sharing helpful tips, local recommendations, and glimpses of your personality builds trust long before you ever open your calendar for bookings.
Ali’s Own Move, From Montgomery to Dothan to Mobile
Ali isn’t just sharing theory. She’s lived this exact process twice. Her first move, from Montgomery to Dothan, Alabama, taught her how powerful genuine, in person connection could be for a photography business. Her most recent move, from Dothan to Mobile, gave her the chance to apply those same lessons with even more intention.
One story stands out. When Ali announced her move from Dothan, four of her top clients reached out on their own to connect her with families they knew in Mobile who fit her ideal clientele. That kind of warm referral didn’t happen by accident. It came from years of building real relationships with clients who trusted her enough to make an introduction.
Why Community and Education Make Every Move Easier
A move can feel like you’re starting from scratch, but Ali reframes it as an opportunity. You get a clean slate to restructure your pricing or step into a new town as the luxury photography business you’ve always wanted to be, without having to undo old habits or old pricing first.
This is exactly the kind of question that comes up often inside the Motherhood Anthology community, and it’s one of the reasons having a group of mentors and fellow photographers to turn to matters so much. Whether you’re relocating, rebuilding your marketing, or just looking for a sounding board, having people who’ve been through it already makes the road ahead a little less daunting.
Listen and Learn More
Starting off small or slow after a move isn’t a setback. It simply means you have nowhere to go but up. Ali’s episode is full of tangible, doable steps for anyone rebuilding their client base in a new place, and it’s worth a listen if you’re navigating that season right now.
Ready to build a business that reflects your own creative voice? The Motherhood Anthology membership gives you access to expert mentors, live coaching, monthly marketing suites, and a private community of photographers who are invested in your success. Learn more and join at themotherhoodanthology.com.
If you’re also looking to strengthen your email marketing as part of your move, Flodesk is a simple, beautifully designed tool many photographers use to build client relationships through email. You can try it here: https://app.flodesk.com/sign-up?ref=N12FH6
The Motherhood Anthology is a community and educational resource for photographers who want a profitable and sustainable business they love. With 15+ expert mentors and 7+ years of proven content, TMA helps portrait photographers build confident, thriving businesses through monthly education, mentorship, and a supportive community of 700+ members.
