How to grow your photography business using TikTok

TikTok’s popularity isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, with users in the UK expected to keep increasing, growing from 15.9 million users at the end of 2023 to 16.8 million users by the end of 2024.

The short-form video app is fantastic for videographers as they can get super creative with video editing. The question is, is there a place for photographers on TikTok too? 

Contents

1. Is TikTok for photographers?
2. TikTok content ideas for photographers 
   • Photo slideshows
   • Behind the scenes
   • Location sharing
   • Tutorials
   • Editing workflow
3. Tips for starting your photography TikTok account
   • Follow other photographers
   • Search photography hashtags for inspiration
   • Play with sounds
   • Share to other platforms
4. FAQs
5. Final Thoughts

Is TikTok for photographers?

The short answer is, yes! If you are looking to grow your photography business through organic reach online, TikTok is much easier than Instagram and Facebook for doing that, because everyone has the chance to get on the “For You” page, the equivalent of Instagram’s “Explore Page”. 

Reaching new audiences on Instagram and Facebook has becoming frustratingly difficult as the ever changing algorithm and heavily saturated ads and sponsored posts means your posts won’t be shown to many people unless you pay for it.

TikTok is a great way to grow a following for your work, especially among younger people. 24% of internet users in the UK aged 15 to 25 years old use TikTok. See our ideas below for ways you can transform your work into highly watchable video content. 

You don’t need a huge content strategy to get started on TikTok, but becoming familiar with the ins and outs of the app is a great way to get comfortable with the types of content  that exist before you create anything. 

TikTok content ideas for photographers 

Feel free to get as creative as you want on TikTok, but if you’re new to the platform here are some content types that work very well for photography and don’t involve lip syncing or showing off your dance skills. 

Photo slideshows

This is a great place to start, especially if you’re not experienced with video editing or don’t feel comfortable filming yourself. Choose your favourite images from a recent photoshoot or pick a theme and put them together as a slideshow. 

To create a slideshow, tap “upload from the open page and on the following screen select “photos “ at the top and select the images you’d like to add to your slideshow by tapping the circle icon on the top-right corner of each photo. Note TikTok will order your slideshow in the same order you select your photos. When you’ve finished making your selection, tap next and your photos will turn into a swipe slideshow. To add music to your slideshow tap the music icon and select one of the long list of tracks. Adding music to your post is a powerful way to create a certain mood around your slideshow and you have the choice of thousands of music clips to add. 

Behind the scenes

Instagram is about posting the final polished image, whereas TikTok is known for pulling back the curtain on the creative process and showing what goes into getting that end result. 

Sharing behind the scenes content is about sharing fun content about the shooting process. Check out the hashtag #ForthePhoto which is built around this: viewers get to see how a photographer achieves a look and helps the photographer build trust and credibility. 

Location sharing

Another kind of behind the scenes content, but this one focuses on the cool photoshoot locations you’ve discovered for shooting. Photographers often break down how and where to find and access these locations. 

For this type of TikTok, share a video of your favourite location, whether that's a swimming pool, food photography studio, or fashion shoot location, and then follow it with images you’ve taken from that location. 

Tutorials

TikTok is hugely popular for sharing small snippets of photography knowledge, similar to video blogs (videos you create on TikTok can be up to 60 seconds long and videos you upload can now be up to 3 minutes long).

You can teach people one small piece of information per video, or break a concept down into several videos.

Editing workflow

Every photographer has their own tricks when it comes to photo editing, including which photo editing software they decide to use. And people on TikTok love to see the variety in editing styles and techniques from toning to colour correction, photoshop altering and manipulation.

You can inspire others by showing your awesome before and after transformations, or even record your screen to show how you executed a certain editing technique. 

Tips for starting your photography TikTok account

Follow other photographers

You don’t need to copy what everyone else is doing, but there are some fun and creative photographers on TikTok creating inspiring content that we think will get your imagination going.

Among them are Alex Stemplewski who has a-lot of fun with his Fit Swap series, Brandon Woelfel who not only shows off his work but mixes in photography tips and behind the scenes content, Natascha Lindemann who uses her popular retouching advise to advertise her new skin retouching course, and Kyle Meshna who focuses on educational content for other photographers.

Search photography hashtags for inspiration

If you add hashtags to your TikTok video it makes the video searchable by other users and therefore increases its chances of being discovered by new audiences. So searching photography hashtags will also help you understand what tags you should use for your own content as well. 

In general, hashtags that you’ve used on Instagram will also be popular on TikTok as well. You could try hashtags like #TravelPhotography, #PhotographyTips and #Photoshop.

Play with sounds

It’s very easy to add cool sounds to your TikTok videos because you can add music right in the app. TikTok has a massive library of music for your videos, just remember to choose a sound that is appropriate to your video and will help communicate the meaning of your content.

Using popular sounds will attract a larger audience because users often search content with their favourite sounds. But if you have something unique to give, you can also make your own sound. Just make sure it is clear and audible.

Share to other platforms

One of our favourite features on TikTok is that once you create your videos on the app, you have the option to share them on any other social media platform. So if you already have a following on other apps like Instagram they don’t have to miss out on your entertaining and informative TikTok content.  

Once you’ve published a video on TikTok, simply tap and hold to save it to your gallery and then you’re free to upload it anywhere. TikTok videos transfer well on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, for example.

Sharing TikTok content on other apps is also a great way to encourage your followers on different social media platforms to start following your work on TikTok.

FAQs

Why should I use TikTok to grow my photography business?
TikTok has a massive and highly engaged audience, making it a great platform to showcase your photography skills, attract new clients, and build brand awareness. Its algorithm can help your content reach a wider audience, even if you’re just starting out (which has become increasingly more difficult on other platforms).

What type of content should I post on TikTok as a photographer?
Consider posting behind-the-scenes videos of your photoshoots, tutorials on photography techniques or editing, creative challenges, tips for aspiring photographers, or time-lapse videos of your editing process. Sharing client stories or showcasing your portfolio can also engage potential clients. Using TikTok's built in analytics to track which types of content perform best can help you refine your strategy and create more of what resonates with your audience.

How can I convert TikTok viewers into paying photography clients?
Include clear calls-to-action (CTAs) in your videos, such as directing viewers to your photography website, portfolio, or Instagram page. Engage with potential clients in the comments, and make sure your TikTok bio includes a link to your business page where they can contact you or book a session.

What hashtags should I use to attract clients on TikTok?
Use popular photography-related hashtags like #Photography, #Photographer, #Photoshoot, and more specific tags like #WeddingPhotography or #PortraitPhotography. Also, mix in trending hashtags to increase the chances of your content appearing on more users’ feeds.

How can I collaborate with other TikTok creators to grow my photography business?
Collaborate with influencers, models, or other creatives to expand your reach. For example, you could partner with fashion influencers for styled shoots, or work with local businesses to create promotional content. Collaborative videos can introduce your work to new audiences.

How can I engage with my audience on TikTok?
Engage with your audience by responding to comments, answering questions, and creating content based on their feedback. You can also use TikTok’s "Duet" and "Stitch" features to collaborate with your followers or react to their content, which helps build a community around your brand.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be an expert video editor or be coming up with hilarious memes to become a popular photographer on TikTok.

Use the app to grow your audience and show off your best work, educate amateur and professional photographers alike, or share your unique setup and editing processes.

Plus your followers on other social accounts don’t have to miss out because you can share your TikToks across all social media platforms.