Why Photographers need to Share more than Sneak Peeks

The Problem With Sneak Peeks

You’ve just come home from a session, it went well, your adrenaline is high (been there!). You don’t have time to sit down and cull and edit the entire session (the kids are hungry!), so you upload the card, pick a fave (or three), edit, so good, LOVE it!

The dopamine hit is real, and you want more of that (no judgement!).

So you grab one, pop it on insta, and caption it “Absolutely loved this session!” or maybe just a heart emoji coz that says it all. Tag your client, they love it too, more happy feels.

Then you do it for the next client.

And the next.

And the next.

Before you know it your grid is a wall of client images with real short captions that could belong to any photographer in your town.

It looks good, but it’s not marketing.

Here’s why sneak peeks alone don’t convert

1. They don’t share enough information

Sneak peeks only show the end result, not the rest of the experience. 

A great image can make someone message you, if it really resonates with them.

But a sneak peek doesn’t tell enough of the story your future clients need to hear, like:

• What the session felt like

• How you work with kids

• What they can expect

• Why they’d feel comfortable with you

• What sets you apart from all the other photographers posting sneak peeks today

• How to book you

• Etc, etc, etc

  
  

So yes sneak peeks are powerful, because they show your style and talent.

They’re just not the whole marketing story.

2. Everyone else is doing the same thing

If every photographer posts sneak peeks with a heart emoji, everyone’s content starts to blend in the minds of prospective clients.

Your work might be beautiful, but lots of people are taking and sharing beautiful photos. So it can get scrolled past if you don't grab them with your caption.

3. Sneak peeks attract your current clients, not new ones

Most of the people who love and comment on those posts are usually the people already in the photos, people who are already on board (ie. past or repeat clients), or your photographer mates.

They can be great for engagement - a mindblowing hero image can stop people in their tracks and compel them to react and comment, even with nothing but a heart emoji as your caption - and that's gold for your account's general reach. But not so great for enquiries, so you need to mix those posts up with more substance across the board.

What to post instead (that takes the same amount of time)

1. Tell a story behind the image

• Why this location?

• Why that light?

• Why did this moment matter to the family?

• How did it feel?

Stories that your target client can relate to and connect with stop the scroll.

Remember this - things don’t sell, emotion does (how the thing makes you feel).

2. Share tiny bits of expertise

Things like:

• “Why I always shoot at golden hour.”

• “How I help shy kids warm up.”

• “Why you'll have fun at my sessions.”

  
  

These posts position you as an expert, not just another photographer in a sea of photographers.

3. Show the face behind the camera

Literally and figuratively! When your followers get to know you, they’ll connect, you’ll feel familiar to them, you’ll build trust. When people trust you, they’re that much more likely to direct their hard earned dollars to you than an unknown.

They don’t want to know your camera settings or your gear, save that for your photographer mates (and me, I'm totally into it!)

Just the human stuff:

• A behind-the-scenes moment

• Your editing playlist

• Your messy desk on delivery week

• What you did on your day off

• Photos of you with your family doing something you love

This is what makes people feel connected before they’ve even met you.

4. Give them value

Marketing doesn't have to be all sell sell sell.

Share some of your skills and knowledge so they can take better photos themselves. I promise, you're not giving away the farm. You'll be giving them tips to take better snapshots, they're not going to suddenly become a professional photographer overnight with a few handy tips.

And who do you think will be top of mind when it comes to booking? The photographer who helped them for nothing in return (except maybe their email address, but that's a story for another day).

5. Talk to the client you want

Not the clients you already have.

Swap “Loved this session!” for: 

 “If you’ve been meaning to update your family photos but worry your kids are a bit wild, this session is proof it’s totally doable.”

That’s a caption that actually sells.

So what happens when you mix your content up?

You stand out and become more memorable. You put a personality to the business, and you'll attract clients because they will feel like they know you, before they ever land in your inbox or slide into your DMs.

When your content has variety, your marketing gains momentum.

Need help with the words?

If you’re tired of wondering what to say (or there’s just not enough hours in the day), that’s literally what I’m here for.

I write the words and I can plan out your marketing so you can get back behind the camera.

👉 Check out Ink & Lens for simple, done-for-you marketing that sounds like you.