How do you get clients!?

I really want to try belly painting, but I am at a loss for how to get clients! I don't know any women who are preggers and I can't imagine that this is a service that women are necessarily seeking out (because so few know about it). Has anyone figured out where to find models that you don't happen to know already?

I posted an ad on craigslist and offered it free so I could get some experience and pics...I had them come to my home but that wasn't a good idea. Try finding someone closeby and go to them.

After you you did your first painting did you just get photos and use that to help market to other moms? or was that just kind of where it ended? I just feel like I cant do anything without pictures..

Erica, I'm originally from St. Charles : )

I have only done 1 so far but yes I added the photo to my ad...this is the one I did.



St.Charles is very close to me, do you still visit? If you ever do we should meet up to paint!

yeah, occasionally...my parents are still there

I have never met a painting friend, it would be really cool to have a mini jam...

You could find pregnancy support/education groups, I offer it to a young parenting program.

It can be a hard sell on the belly painting. I did one belly for the Relay for Life - the model was a co-worker who was on the Relay's organizing committee. Another was also a co-worker.

I've approached other co-workers about it and they look at me like I asked to eat their baby.

I include is in my information - page on my website and in my body painting album on facebook.

Shannon Fennell wrote:
I've approached other co-workers about it and they look at me like I asked to eat their baby.

LOL!!! I laughed so hard when I read this because I know exactly what you mean! When I explain the concept to people, some of them are all "Awesome!" others sort of look slightly confused but interested and then there are those who act like you're insane. I've even had people say that it sounds 'tacky'!

I haven't done my first belly painting yet, but I'm hoping to have some lined up soon. I actually posted something about it on facebook and whilst I only had one pregnant friend say she was interested, I had others who said they might know someone who was interested, so there are possibilities there.

Same happened to me to me, pregnant women look at me like I am asking them to smoke pot, so I don't offer anymore, but I found there is 2 groups of moms to be more likely to get painted : young first moms and Latin women.

Can you put up flyers at maternity stores, OB/gyn, or other places prego moms hang out?

Ditto on flyers, and I have a hunch they'll be most successful among the "crunchy" crowd, so seek out birth centers in addition to mainstream OBGYN offices and those ultrasound studios that do the 3d sonograms, yoga studios that do a prenatal yoga class, maybe chiropractic and homeopathic practices. Also contact area photographers that do a lot of maternity shoots and see if it's something you can partner with them on - mom gets painted right before her shoot and gets the artwork professionally recorded.

Every mom I've painted so far has been the "all natural" type - seems to make them more comfortable about flaunting the belly. Contact midwives and doulas in the area and see if you can put together a package for their clients.

Shannon Fennell wrote:

I've approached other co-workers about it and they look at me like I asked to eat their baby

Lmbo!!!!! Shannon that is too true. Thank you ladies for the advice about the prenatal yoga and birthing class ideas. I teach nutrition at a hospital and have often used the pediatric clinic as a resource since many expectant moms are bringing their other kids for check ups.

I often advertise on the local buy, swap, sell pages on facebook, its very effective and free!

Another approach you can take is to contact a photographer in your area that does pregnancy shoots and ask if they would be interested in working with you. A lot of photographers often look for "new" things, new ideas to spice up traditional pregnany photoshoots. Explain to them what you have in mind and usually they already have a client base and can do a "casting call".
I actually got more responses when the photographer posted that she was looking for someone to have their belly painted for a mini photo session, than when I asked among my friends.
And I totally agree with artyfacesbyluz that young first moms are your best bet.

I am still laughing about Shannon's post about getting the "look" from some mom's that gestational body art is synonomous with eatting babies and smoking pot!!
OMG!! Too right!
I gave a young social worker one of my flyers and she looked liked she was going to call the security officer and have me arrested!!! And I have known her for years!
Thanks for the great ideas about where to promote as I was stumped too.
Will try to attach pic of first belly painted. Love this thread.

Here is my photo of first belly! The model was so happy - she was totally OK with me picking the design I wanted to try. I was inspired by a book of old Japanese wood block prints. Loving Lotus.

Shannon Fennell wrote:
I've approached other co-workers about it and they look at me like I asked to eat their baby.
 

Hahaha, this is what I am afraid of, there is one pregnant woman in my office and I keep trying to play out the conversation in my head and it always ends with her giving me the 'wth?' face... This is perfect! haha

I can't say I have any success in this department however I am VERY new in the business, I was approached by a local photographer about doing mini face painting/birthday party photo shoots and I suggested the belly art to her and she loved it! I have lined up a pregnant friend to use as a model and I have a photo shoot next Tuesday, we will then both be able to use the photograph to advertise. I am pretty excited and nervous