We recently connected with Cole Untiedt and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cole, thanks for joining us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

When I initially started my business in 2016 I was focused on taking landscape images and became immersed in shooting different beach scenes. Quickly realizing that I wanted to branch off and shoot more commercial shots, I began cold-emailing local San Diego businesses. It was definitely a challenge due to the fact I had a very limited portfolio, however a local business, Pure Indoor Cycling, responded to my email and asked for a meeting. That initial meeting, when I was around 15 years old, led to a 4 year working relationship with the studio. While it was my first client and commercial shoot, I am very proud of some of the work I did for my first client!

Cole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a San Diego local, and I became interested in photography and marketing services after being gifted a digital camera when I was in middle school. I have been building up my client base over the past 8 or so years, and I continue to keep finding new passions in projects I have had the opportunity to be immersed in within the community. I have been lucky enough to have planned marketing shoots with Lululemon, Soulcycle, and NBC News over the years – and I am excited about what the future holds. I am passionate about all things marketing, and the favorite part of my shoots is getting to strategize and deep dive with my clients about how to showcase their brand in the most positive light.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has been word of mouth. While I do have a website and social media, I try to let me work speak for itself and many of my past clients have recommended me to future clients.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Building genuine relationships with your clients is so important and will drive you business growth over time. While I have some clients I only speak with before a shoot, I also have clients who contact me monthly and I will often DM them with creative ideas I see and how we could incorporate different creative visions into there brand messaging. Overall, each client will want a different relationship with you, and it is important to be genuinely interested if you are going to contact your clients.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shotbycole/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleuntiedt/

Image Credits
Cole Untiedt