Networking Tips for London-Based Photographers

Building your own community is essential as a photographer, especially if you’d like to grow your business. The benefit of being a photographer in London is that there are tons of networking opportunities to help you get started.

Are you currently working as a photographer in London? Whether you manage your own photography business or you’re scoping out what London’s landscape has to offer you, networking is a great practice for all business owners — but especially for those in the creative industry.

At the FUJIFILM House of Photography, we’re lucky to have plenty of photographers and photography hobbyists come through our doors in Covent Garden. As well as having an informative and educational environment for photographers in London to thrive, we’ve also gained a fair share of insight into how to network as a photographer in the city. Here are some of our top tips.

1. Use social media to your advantage

While many of you will already have a social media presence, we believe the real value lies in using social media….to be social! Instead of scrolling through your feed and liking a post here and there, you could try fostering more genuine connections. 

To do this, take the initiative and reach out to the other photographers on social media who you admire. Pop them a message to go for a coffee, or a casual meet-up with other photographers in the area. You could also do the same thing with your dream clients who you’d love to work with.

If you haven’t joined a few already, Facebook is a great place to join local photography groups. It’s a great way to connect with other photographers in the area, share your work, and practice your networking skills.

2. Check for photography and networking events near you

One of the best parts of photography is being able to get out into the bustling streets and practise your skills. In London, you’ll have plenty of photography networking opportunities just waiting on your doorstep — it’s just about looking in the right place for them.

We recommend having a search on business networking sites such as Meetup and Eventbrite. From inspirational industry talks to co-working days, there’s plenty for you to choose from.

Don’t forget, we also have our own newsletter that you can sign up to for all the latest news and events.

3. Collaborate with local businesses

As a photographer, it’s necessary to stand out from the crowd. According to Statista, approximately 93,100 photographers were working in the United Kingdom in 2023. We’d say that one of the best ways to do this is to practise reaching out to a few local businesses.

From cafes and art galleries to bespoke boutiques, it’s always a good idea to build a rapport with industry professionals in the area. Even if it is just to get your name out there and share a little bit with them about what you do!

4. Go to art and photography exhibitions

London is a hub of art, culture and creativity. With this in mind, it’s almost guaranteed that there will be an art or photography exhibition running at any point across the city. 

Nothing’s stopping you from popping over to the Tate Modern or the National Portrait Gallery — even better, see if they have any events running. You’ll be able to meet a range of photographers and keen hobbyists in a professional setting which will help you gain some insightful tips, inspiration and business connections.

We’re proud to have regular photography exhibitions running at the FUJIFILM House of Photography. Here’s a bit more information about our current exhibition:

FUJIFILM House of Photography Exhibition: ‘Life As You See It’

In fact, we currently have a photography exhibition running to celebrate ‘Life As You See It’. Open for entries until the 28th of July 2024, you can head over to our House of Photography and print one of your photos for free using one of our Easy Print Kiosks. Then you can display your image on our gallery wall and showcase it as part of the exhibition.

What’s the catch? Nothing! We want guests of the FUJIFILM House of Photography to celebrate any moment that was worthy enough for you to press the button. There’s no memory too small, too spectacular, too normal, or too weird. 

For more information, head over to our Life As You See It Photography Exhibition page.

5. Attend photography workshops and classes

Did you know that we run photography classes and workshops in Covent Garden through the FUJIFILM School? The FUJIFILM House of Photography is a multi-purpose hub of photography experience and one of the most important things we do is educate and teach upcoming photographers through a variety of immersive photography walks, holidays, and courses. As well as providing tips and guidance for photographers in London, these immersive experiences are also a great way for you to build a community and meet like-minded people.

Why not take a look at our photography events schedule and grab yourself a ticket?

6. Try your hand at a photography competition

Entering local photography competitions is an effective way to gain recognition as a photographer in your area, and it’s a wholesome way to meet other talented photographers in a competitive industry setting. You could even win some top-of-the-range photography equipment and prizes too.

You can usually find photography competitions advertised in local magazines, newspapers, galleries, or in-store at photography shops like our own. For instance, we hosted our very own ‘Life As You See It’ Photography Competition throughout May and June, with the first prize being a limited edition FUJIFILM X100VI digital camera.

7. Work from a creative co-working space

You may be lucky enough to have your own studio at home, but co-working spaces in London for creatives and makers are becoming increasingly popular and are definitely worth a try if you fancy a change of scenery.

We’d suggest trialling out a day or two at a coworking space when it suits you so you can immerse yourself in the space’s community. It would be a perfect working environment for a day of photography research or a day of post-production editing.

8. Keep up to date with industry news and trends

If you follow even one or two of these photography networking tips, then you’ll undoubtedly come across a variety of resources detailing industry news and tips to explore further. At the FUJIFILM House of Photography, we frequently post photography blogs, news, tips, and travel guides to inspire your next step forward as a photographer in London. 

Keep up to date with us, visit us in-store, and be a part of our fabulous community.