While here in Mexico City, some thoughts:
What is the best life or lifestyle?
A mobile one. Where you are not tied down to your home or even fatherland.
Also, a semi-nomadic one. Frequent travel.
A lot of walking, visiting local coffee shops and cafes. A combination of eating at fancy restaurants, and also eating street food.
One of the things I love most in my current Airbnb apartment in Mexico City is the massive floor to ceiling windows. Which allow in a massive amount of natural light.
I’m so surprised just how much it improves my mood, my energy, and my overall gratitude to life. Now I understand why so many ancient religions consider the sun as God.
I think I’m like a plant, that is when I am exposed to light and natural light, I get more energy and power. I even remember what my mom told me as a kid, that my mom loved and preferred homes and apartments with natural light. If anything, the most important thing to optimize for a home is natural light.
The same thing goes with coffee shops: I prefer coffee shops with lots of natural light. Huge windows, and pointed to the sun.
It’s hard to *not* be inspired to make photos while here!
Good weather, so you can be out and walk outside all day without getting cold.
Also, street life and outdoor cafe culture. Tons of people out and about, great design in neighborhoods like Roma Norte. Also a good mix of bohemian and artistic folks in Roma Norte.
You can afford to go to all the fancy restaurants and places you desire. The purchasing power parity here for Americans is very good. I’d say the US dollar goes at least 3-5x further than it does back in the states.
Learn how to get more wedding photography clients with 4 easy, actionable tips on SEO, marketing, networking, and more!
Booking season is thrilling if your inbox is bursting with inquiries. But what do you do when you feel like you’re fighting tooth and nail for every lead?
How do you get more bookings and fewer refusals?
I identified FOUR photography marketing methods used by thriving photographers everywhere.
These methods are easy, fun, and (best of all) they WORK!
If the very idea of Search Engine Optimization makes your brain hurt, take heart: you don’t have to be a data-nerd or tech-wizard to strengthen your website’s SEO!
Think of SEO as word-of-mouth marketing. If you want people talking about you, you have to give them something to talk about, right? The same is true with SEO.
If you want your website to rank in the upper echelons of Google, you need to give the Google gods a reason to “talk.”
Megapixels Media
Keep your website updated with a “love list” of wedding vendors. (This list can live on your blog for easy updating!)
> Create lists of wedding planners, venues, florists, DJs, bakers, caterers… If you enjoyed working with them at a wedding, they belong on your list!
> Organize your list in alphabetical order, with each vendor name linking to a blog post created just for them.
To maximize your results, each vendor blog post should include:
Last but not least, share your vendor list and vendor blog posts with the vendors themselves. Invite them to share the posts on their own platforms for even more SEO goodwill!
Megapixels Media
Megapixels Media
Regular blogging is a brilliant way to keep fresh content on your website and keep the internet abuzz about YOU!
“But I hate blogging!” you say. It’s okay; there are ways around your writing woes! First, take a look at our 28 blog post ideas for wedding photographers. If this doesn’t inspire you, well, your inspiration bone may be broken.
Megapixels Media
While other photographers are certainly your competition, they’re also your community! The better your relationships with other pros, the better your referral base will be—and the less likely others will be to badmouth you. Here’s how it works:
Join an existing photographer meetup if you need to do some initial networking. But to really benefit from your photo community, you should host your own gathering! Do some research and find local photographers whose work complements your own, then invite them for a monthly coffee meetup. Soon you’ll be enjoying a creative collective who can share tips and offer support.
Megapixels Media
Every time you get an inquiry for an unavailable date, refer those clients to a member of your photography community. You’ll build goodwill among your fellow photographers, and those potential clients will be thrilled by your help.
Have a short list of preferred photographers on-hand at all times, and you’ll never have to tell a potential client “no.”
When another photographer refers a client to you, reward them! Get creative, and incentivize the photographer to refer you again and again.
Surprise past clients with the same level of reward when they refer you, as well. These prompt, heartfelt signs of gratitude can result in more quality leads than paid advertising.
Megapixels Media
Most clients begin their photographer search on the internet or through friends or family. Don’t let them lose track of you in a sea of websites! Put a tangible representation of your work in front of every potential client—something that will remind them that you’re awesome and deserving of their business.
Whether or not they book your wedding photography business, every pre-client experience should include a sincere thank you for their interest and time.
From a simple handwritten thank-you note to an adorable Greetabl gift, even the smallest gestures can make a lasting impression. And if the couple does book you, they’ll be even more convinced that they’ve made the right decision!
Photos by Megapixels Media
Design Aglow’s marketing templates for wedding photographers turn basic info into beautiful booklets, brochures, magazines, and more. These hands-on materials will keep your packages and products front-and-center as your clients decide who to book.
Customized marketing copy can also help keep you on-track when describing your services to a prospect.
You can never deliver too much evidence of your photographic talent. Make sure your clients know exactly what to expect from you by including incredible examples of your work (and work ethic) at every turn.
Megapixels Media
Blog posts and sample albums are an unbeatable first step if you want to attract your ideal client.
To take this a step further, share a full ShootProof wedding gallery with your prospective clients. Why is this so important?
Build toward having up to five demo galleries, each showcasing a client’s wedding day. (Just be sure you have a model release!)
It’s one thing to see a photograph. It’s another thing to be photographed. Delight prospective clients with an “impromptu” mini session when you meet them for a consultation. Or for non-local weddings, do a fun, quick FaceTime session.
You’ll only need a few minutes to snap a handful of sweet photos. Edit two or three images, apply your watermark, and send them to the couple to enjoy. They’ll be thrilled to see your skill in action!
Photos by Megapixels Media
What works? What doesn’t? Tell us in the comments!
Written by ANNE SIMONE | Photographs by MEGAPIXELS MEDIA
Additional Vendors: Nelson Coleman Jewelers, Jess Albins Events, The Rogue Petal Co., Shaw’s Covenant, Elite Secrets Bridal, Plan Accordingly Events, Coffee & Calligraphy, G’Demae, J’Adore Designs, Habitat at Seya
The post How to Get More Wedding Photography Clients—Guaranteed! appeared first on ShootProof Blog.
Stop letting clients (and exes!) break your heart. Teach people how to treat you! (We’ll show you how.)
Back in my late twenties, I dated a guy that I really liked. He was nice, fun, funny, and we had a great time on dates. Then all of a sudden: he ghosted me. It was baffling!
A few weeks later, he resurfaced, with major apologies. What did I do? I said it was okay, and I let him back into my life. We repeated this unhealthy, infuriating cycle three or four times.
I hate admitting this now, but he was treating me like a doormat because I was acting like a doormat. And I was the only one who could stop it.
Like jerky ex-boyfriends, we also teach our clients how to treat us every time we interact with them.
Do you want clients to treat you with respect, value your time, and honor your talent? Then keep reading!
Ashlee Crowden
Even if you have the best clients in the world, you will eventually have one that pushes your buttons. She may try to negotiate a lower price, fit two sessions into one to save money, push you to do additional edits, arrive late then complain they felt rushed.
You teach clients how to treat you by:
Ashlee Crowden
Situation: You’re hosting 15-minute Easter mini-sessions for up to three children. A client calls and wants to book a mini-session. She also asks if you could take a few quick pictures of her family at the very end of the session.
Typical response: “My background doesn’t really fit families.”
Teaching response: “These are child-only sessions. I will not be photographing any families during my mini-sessions. I will send you my family welcome guide if you’d like to book a family portrait session another day.”
Ashlee Crowden
Situation: Your client shows up 5 minutes late to the 15-minute session.
Typical response: “It’s okay, we can make it work. You’re the last client of the day. I can stay a little later.”
Teaching response: “I understand that things happen! We have 10 minutes left in our session, so let’s make the most of the time remaining.”
Ashlee Crowden
Situation: After the session, your client asks if she really has to wait two weeks for her images because she’s just so excited.
Typical response: You laugh and say “I’ll see what I can do.”
Teaching response: “I know it’s hard to wait! That’s why I provide sneak peeks in 24 hours. Your full gallery will be ready within two weeks, so look for my e-mail with viewing instructions on March 31.”
Ashlee Crowden
Situation: The day following your session, the client calls. “We can’t wait to see the pictures. I know you said two weeks, but we’re headed to my mom’s for the holidays. Can you please give me two real quick so I can gift them to her for her birthday?”
Typical response: “Sure.” Then you grumble, edit two favorites, and send them to her because you want to be accommodating.
Teaching response: “I can provide rush services for you. It will be an additional $50 per image for me to edit those today. Would you like me to invoice you for the $100?”
Ashlee Crowden
Situation: Your client is unhappy with the images you’ve delivered and wants to see them all and/or make edits.
“Did you get any better ones with the family? Can you Photoshop a different background into the family ones so they look better? I don’t like the six you picked. Can I pick different images?”
Typical response: “WHAT?!? The nerve of this client! I already gave her family pictures, provided two full edits in 24 hours, and finished her gallery in three days. I can’t believe how rude and demanding she is.”
Teaching response: “I’ve picked the best photos from your session to deliver to fill your gallery. I’m happy to provide additional edits for you that exceed the scope of our original contract. Changing the background you selected is possible, but will be a fee of $25 per image. How many would you like edited? I’ll prepare an invoice for payment immediately.”
Ashlee Crowden
When you take control of client interactions, sessions, and communications, your response dictates future behavior.
Clients don’t know all the things you know about photography. They don’t understand lighting, posing, backgrounds, or how much time goes into editing. They don’t realize that a background that fits a three-year-old can’t accommodate a family of five.
You must educate and communicate the rules of engagement. Here are some tips for assertive and clear communication AND great customer service:
DO:
Ashlee Crowden
DON’T
#ShootProofPRO Tip:
Don’t start negotiating before the client does!
When you send pricing information, stick to it! Don’t include something like “if these don’t work for you, let me know and I can create a custom package.” That language immediately tells your clients your prices are negotiable and they’ll start trying to work them to their advantage. Send your pricing with confidence and let the client make the next move.
Ashlee Crowden
Demonstrate to your clients how you want to be treated by following your own rules. That means you should:
#ShootProofPRO Tip:
Ask clients to contact you in writing.
After three weeks straight of being stopped in the grocery store or while dining out with my family to discuss photo orders, I realized I needed a better system. I now carry a stack of business cards with me that I hand to the client.
I tell them “I forget things so easily these days. Please text or e-mail me at your convenience. That way, I have it written down and have your contact information. Then I can make sure I don’t overlook getting you what you need.”
It puts the ownership of their problem back in their hands. It gives me a paper trail. And it teaches them how I preferred to be contacted: in writing, not in line at the gas station.
Ashlee Crowden
There may be times where you are asked to provide a service above and beyond your normal session. Teach clients the value of that service by quoting them a price for it.
For example, if your client asks you to edit out the black bra strap in every photo in her gallery, tell her yes, then quote how much you would charge to do that per image.
“I’m happy to make those edits for you! It will require additional editing time above what is included in your gallery. The price per image will be $25.”
Ashlee Crowden
Or perhaps your client wants her full gallery delivered in three days instead of your normal three weeks. Place a value on that service and share that value with the client.
“I do offer a rush delivery service for galleries. There will be an additional $250 charge to deliver your gallery in that time frame.”
Again, clients aren’t photographers. They don’t understand how much work a seemingly simple request can be unless you educate them.
By placing a monetary value on services, you demonstrate to your client that you value your time and efforts. They can choose to pay for those services or they can live with the original terms of the session.
Ashlee Crowden
Sometimes the best way to teach people how to treat you is by simply walking away from the job entirely.
You DO NOT have to tolerate any form of harassment or slurs against your gender, sexual identity, age, race, or religious beliefs.
It’s also okay to walk away from people who don’t value your time and work, or from people you simply don’t click with. You don’t have to work for free or for pennies on the dollar for someone else’s cause!
You can say no to a job, refer a client to another photographer, or simply tell the client you aren’t a good fit for them.
Just be sure to act professionally and firmly decline the job.
Ashlee Crowden
Here are a few ideas on what to say to walk away gracefully:
Ashlee Crowden
Taking charge of the relationship and fear are two separate issues. Canceling on a client because you’ve let the situation get out of control isn’t taking charge of the situation, it’s avoidance. So is the silent treatment.
Remember, the key is to take command of the situation from the beginning.
Ashlee Crowden
Teaching clients how to treat us isn’t about controlling them. Rather, it’s about creating an environment where solid relationships can grow. Take ownership of your role in the photographer-client relationship and start setting boundaries.
When you begin to understand how what you say or do sets the stage for how a client responds, you’ll be able to start paving the way for great client relationships and be ready to live your best life, professionally speaking!
Written by TERESA MILNER | Photos by ASHLEE CROWDEN via Two Bright Lights
The post Photo Clients & Jerky Ex-Boyfriends: Teach People How to Treat You appeared first on ShootProof Blog.
