Are You Worried About What Your Clients Can Do With Your Images?

There are two ways of looking at social media.

From the old school perspective, social media is a nightmare. People can take all of your content and use it for whatever they want, whenever they want.

Copyrights? What are those? People are so used to using images they see nothing wrong with grabbing your photos, and using them to create whatever they choose. Ever have a client come in and proudly show you their calendars/greeting cards/images they produced using your files? Yes it can be frustrating.

And if you look at some of the major companies in existence online, they not only believe in sharing, they promote it. Just look at snapfish.com latest promotion

 

1. Login to your Snapfish account.

2. From Snapfish’s website, click on Facebook and login to your Facebook account.

3. Select any photo from your Facebook albums, or those of your family and friends, and start ordering.

Sure it might be a great idea if you post cute photos of your small child, and grandma wants a copy for her brag book. But what if you are a professional? What if your client happens to be your friend, and he or she takes the image and prints it up for her family and friends?

 

What can you do?

Here are three options.

1. Forget everything you ever learned about being online. Stop everything. Shut it all down. It’s just too much anymore, and it’s costing you a ton of business. So why be in business at all? Maybe its time to call it all quits, and go into another field.

2. Charge a small fee and hand over everything. Your client will use everything you take in any way he or she chooses. So why fight it? Just snap a few pictures, burn it to a CD, and hand over the rights.  As long as you realize this is just a side income anyway, and you never hope to grow rich as a photographer. It’s impossible today, right?

3. Okay, now that we have the polar opposites up there, hopefully you’re asking yourself about a third option. I run across a ton of photographers that could be characterized by 1 or 2. Yet I still am very optimistic about the future of photography.

It all comes down to how you value your services, and what you present your clients. You have the right to charge what you’re worth. If you have the expertise as a top notch photographer, its okay to charge thousands for your work. Yes, you may not be able to get $150 for an 8×10. Instead, bump up your creation fee, and charge less for your 8×10s.

The true value isn’t in the paper it’s printed on; it’s in the creativity of the artist.

Think like an artist. Market like a businessperson. And you’ll quickly find success.

Helping your photography business, how to start a digital wedding photography business and wedding photography business visit virtualphotographystudio.com and keep up-to-date with all of the photography happenings via our free newsletter.

Photographers – Increase Your Sales With Multiple Poses

Photographers like to take close up images. And for very good reason: People love to buy close up images.

But will a customer really buy a 20×30 of an image if it shows just a face?

Probably not. So instead of snapping a few close ups from different viewpoints, why not take environmental images as well?

One of the reasons we’ve always enjoyed on-location portrait sessions (as opposed to in-studio) is the ability to capture a part of the environment in the image as well. And if the subject is very small in the image, it’s almost required that a larger print is made for displaying.

1. Start by taking the more traditional poses. Take your standard images close up, capturing great smiles and angles.

2. Back it up. Now take a look around you, and find a way to make your client a part of the surroundings, not just the main focus of the image.

image by Crystal Touch Photography

3. Talk to your client ahead of time to find out what she loves. Maybe she has season tickets to the theater – why not incorporate your local theater into the background. Or maybe she loves hiking in the great outdoors. Add trees, flowers, mountains – whatever you have in your local area into the background.

4. Sell via projection. You can’t sell a large wall portrait by looking at a tiny proof online. You have to showcase the look and feel of the portrait up on the wall. Show them how it would look in the size they are contemplating.

5. People buy what they see. If you have a studio, showcase your environmental images as large wall portraits. Set close up 8×10’s on the tables, reserving your wall space for your artistic images.

If you sell online, meeting people in their homes or over the phone, make sure you have a ton of samples on your website. Showcase your work, and take pictures of the large wall portraits hanging in your clients’ homes.

6. Be creative. Don’t be discouraged when your first client doesn’t purchase any of your new ideas – they weren’t sold on the idea to begin with. Once you have samples in place, your clients will be sold on the concept even before you take the images.

Photography Business – Increasing Your Awareness In Slow Times

What are you doing to stay in touch with your customers?

Every business is seeing a change this year. What you sold last year may not be selling this year. Your sales and profits are probably a bit different too. 

But its not that there isn’t business to be found out there. There are a ton of photography studios making money – good money – even as you read this.

In the words of Jeffrey Gitomer:
“Business is not down, it’s different.”

So what are you doing to “be different” as well?

One of the greatest assets of my business was my quarterly newsletter. I filled it with a ton of information and dozens of photographed. My clients cherished these newsletters – they really were almost like a mini magazine.

Keeping in touch with your customers is vitally important. When they are talking with a friend or acquaintance, and the conversation turns to photography, you want them instantly to think of you. And to refer and recommend you.

But its expensive to create a mailing today. There’s the hours of designing the perfect mailer. The weeks involved in getting it printed and mailed. The cost of the piece itself. Plus the cost of shipping each piece (and postage is going up in May.)

While I still use snail mail for occasional promotions, my full attention has turned to email. Where else can you communicate with clients whenever you wish for such a reasonable price?

My preferred method is with Aweber. For $20 a month, you can email up to 500 people as often as you choose. You can create a monthly newsletter, or ezine (if you get mine every month, you’ve seen the system in action), send out special announcements, and even create follow up autoresponders. I’ve used this system for years, and couldn’t be more pleased with the results.

So why is staying in touch more important now then ever? Because your competition is slowly pulling away from marketing – and is quickly going out of business.

The true winners in today’s economy are the business owners that see opportunity. They know people still have money to spend. It’s a matter of finding those people, and showing them your value. That’s easy to do with newsletters.

• Show them your latest portrait.
• Link them to your latest blog post.
• Showcase your latest wedding.

It will put ideas into your clients’ minds. And make them have a strong desire to choose you.

25 Ways To Generate Leads For Your Photography Business Today

25 Ways To Generate Leads For Your Photography Business Today

1. Submit your stock images to one of the many online stock agencies such as IStockPhoto. Stock companies allow you to build a bio page, and list links to other sites and information. Use this to selectively promote yourself to people that enjoy your work.

2. Send a press release to your local paper submitting a story idea. Newspapers, television, and radio shows are always on the lookout for a good storyline. Provide them with a story that’s relevant to the season, and makes for good news.

3. Visit a local networking group and offer to photograph the group for the website. Many of today’s networking groups have a website to promote their services. Adding photographs provide a personal touch, and will allow you to capture attention as a photographer.

4. Send out letters to your past clients with a new promotion. Your best client is a past client. Make them an offer they can’t refuse.

5. Visit a local chamber of commerce and sign up for the next networking group. Your chamber of commerce offers a variety of groups for you to network with. Choose a few groups and visit them to make a handful of new connections.

6. Find a complementary business willing to hang samples in their offices. Provide them several framed images at no cost. Because these images will potentially hand in the office for many months, make sure you use your best work, and provide top quality in both mounting and framing.

7. Post a comment on an online message board. Make sure you provide a link back to your website, yet don’t blatantly sell your services. Provide good quality content, and show you know your industry well.

8. Call three prospects and promote your business. Think back over the past couple of weeks to the connections you’ve made. Choose the three that have the best possibility of becoming a client, and connect with them over the phone.

9. Create flyers and hand them out at a networking event. Make your flyer short and to the point. The purpose should be to make them connect with you, either by brining in a coupon, or visiting your website for more information.

10. Write an article for one of your association newsletters. Most trade publications have a shortage of quality material. Offer an article to use, and use it to educate your association members.

Click here for the additional 15 Ways To Generate Leads For Your Photography Business Today

Helping your photography business, how to start a photography business and wedding photography business visit virtualphotographystudio.com

Destination Photographer – Does It Have To Be Weddings?

“I love the idea of traveling with my photography. I’ve done a few weddings, but I’m not excited about making them my specialty. Do I have to do weddings to be a destination photographer?”

The great thing about being in business for yourself is you create the rules. Anything is possible as long as you build to make it possible. 

What is your idea of photography? How can you turn it into a business that allows you to travel?

Maybe you enjoy shooting in warm places in the heart of the winter. Why not become a fashion or product photographer? Catalogs are developed months in advance. They need someone to be shooting catalog spreads in places that show off their newest product line. So a company in Wisconsin may need swimsuit and spring fashion shoots on the beach in the Caribbean in January or February.

What about portraits? Thanks to the Internet, you can build up your client base anywhere in the world. Maybe your goal is to live three months on a warm, tropical beach. Plan for it months ahead, put together a website, and start selling photographs on the beach. Promote it to your existing clients, and they may just change their vacation plans to meet you on the beach.

Destination can be anything you want it to be. But it usually starts with an idea or two. Destination can mean anywhere in the world. So it’s up to you to decide where in the world that means.

Once you have your destination in mind, then you can put the business to work.

Learn how to increase your business and become a more profitable photographer – Six Figure Photographer

photo source whoALSE

Photography – Putting Your Eggs Into One Basket

So you have a photography business. And you decide to do weddings.

So you find one reception site and work there a time or two. You start building relationships with the planner, and they begin referring you again and again.

So you begin relying on them to fill up your summers. They send 15 clients over your way every year. Your goal is 20 weddings per year, so you’re happy with the 15 from a strong referral.

Now let me ask you a question.

What happens the day that reception site goes out of business?

If you have a strong relationship with the on site planner, its easy to get the 15 wedding clients with very little selling. The event planner has already talked you up, and has possibly let the prospect see some of your work. Why wouldn’t they book you?

But by relying on them for a huge part of your bottom line, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

If each client brings in $2,000, and your total profit is $40,000, what will it do to your business if you suddenly lose $30,000, with no quick way of replacement?

Instead, make it a goal to have multiple sources for bringing in your income.

• 5 reception sites each sending over 2 clients per year, plus
• 2 bridal shows bringing in 4 new clients per year, plus
• 1 ad in a local bridal magazine bringing in 3 new clients per year, plus
• 3 referrals from clients you’ve photographed in the past

Now you have a bunch of sources bringing in clients from different places. If you lose one source, it will be easier to replace. The dire necessity won’t be there, and you’ll have the time to expand another source, or look for a new one all together.

image source truemitra

Set goals to grow your photography studio’s sales

Set your goals to grow your photography business.

Once you see your future, it’s easier to put it into place. Start out by writing your general goals on a piece of paper. For example, if one year from now you see yourself with 20 portrait or wedding clients, each spending $10,000 USD, write that goal down.

These are your large goals. But large goals are hard to achieve because they are so large. 20 portrait or wedding clients at $10,000 each sounds great, but if you are having trouble getting one client through our doors, these 20 can be a monumental goal.

Underneath this large goal, start breaking it down into more manageable tasks.

• Attend a networking function in and out of the photography field.
• Increase my prices.
• Offer bigger packages – Alway keep them want the largest.

Write down as many tasks as you can think of that will help you achieve your goal. Do this for every goal you have.Helping your photography business, how to start a digital wedding photography business and wedding photography business visit virtualphotographystudio.com and keep up-to-date with all of the photography happenings via our free newsletter.

Photography Marketing With A Purpose

Every month we receive a postcard from a photographer. It’s a simple card, with a new image on the back, his contact information and a quote on the front – and that’s about it.

How did we get on his list? I’m not sure.

What is he selling? I’m not sure.

His postcards are beautiful, and he is a great photographer. But in all the months I’ve received his information, not once has he told me what he’s selling.

Is he a commercial photographer? Is he looking for portrait work?

With any marketing campaign, there are a number of steps to ensure your success.

1. Create a ways of marketing and stick

Photography Mindset Your Way To Success

I’m a firm believer in using mentors to achieve success in your life. Why create the path yourself when you can follow in someone else’s footsteps?

So anytime you find me relaxing by the pool, driving to a meeting, or with spare minutes on the weekends, I’ll either have a book in hand or be listening to an audio file on my iPod. (And of course lots of training seminars!)

I was introduced to a man a few weeks ago, and decided to listen to his tape series. If you believe in laws of attraction, you may be interested as well.

So last night on my way home to and from my Mastermind group, I listened to part 4 in the series by David Neagle. I’ve learned a lot from the entire series, but one thing he said made me stop the program, and sit and think for awhile.

And of course restructure it for my photographers!

Think for a moment about what brings you satisfaction with your business (or your dreams of starting a photography business.) Chances are it’s the artwork itself. You love using your camera to take photographs. You love looking through the viewfinder, knowing you’re about to capture a perfect image. You love opening the digital file, enhancing it, printing it, and displaying it for your customer. Your pleasure comes from the entire process of creating a work of art. That’s where your passion lies.

Now let me ask you one question.

How do you feel about selling your photography?

Did you just tense up? Did you think of a used car salesman? Did you think high pressure? Did you think that’s the worst part about being in business for yourself?

In order to be in business – especially if you strive to be one of my Six Figure Photographers – you have to get just as much pleasure from selling your work as you do from creating your work.

I remember one wedding in particular that Andrew and I did. We flew several thousand miles to attend a weekend long event. We attended the rehearsal dinner, and a full day at the wedding itself. It was nothing short of phenomenal. The bride and groom were ecstatic to have us there – photographs meant the world to them.

We were the true professionals. And we knew each image we captured would be a treasure in their final album. We knew what to take, and how we would ultimately place it in each page layout. We let the bride and groom relax, and allowed them to enjoy the day without a lot of interruptions. We had guests tell us how beautiful the images were  – and they hadn’t even seen them yet! They just loved the entire process, and KNEW they would turn out perfectly.

Needless to say they did, and the bride and groom purchased a several volume set. Because selling was as important as the images themselves, and we sold constantly along the way with everything we did.

That’s being a Six Figure Photographer. Want to be one too?

Photography – Digital or Film for the Professional

Are you still based in film, or have you made the switch to digital?

I’m amazed almost daily at the number of photographers that are still film based. Digital has been such a big part of the consumer market for years, yet photographers still love their film.

We even have a niece who has taken a few courses in photography in college, and she’s still taught through film-based classes.

Yet the types of film that were once available are now quickly disappearing. Why? Because you can do so much more with digital. And it’s the way of the future.

If you are a professional, your whole goal should be to make money with your photography. (If not, there is no reason to start a business.) And one of the best ways to sell your photographs – at least from a portrait standpoint – is to sell immediately on the emotion.

If a client comes in, has their photograph taken, they are excited about their portraits. With digital, you can sell immediately with projection (find out how) and double – even triple your sales. With film, you have to spend days developing and putting together your sales presentation before the customer comes back in for viewing. That’s a lot of time for something else to happen in her life – making her portrait not the most exciting thing in her life.

When we used film, we knew every click of the shutter meant we were spending about $1. With digital, there’s no cost. It makes you a more liberal shooter – getting many more saleable images. When we decided to convert to digital, we decided to run parallel for the first year. After the first month, we had several issues with film (lost in mail, ruined by lab, etc) and converted 100 percent over to digital, and have never looked back. 

Because of technology, digital is here to stay. To run your business, you need to have a website and blog, and know about online marketing. And to continue competing with professionals you must learn the ins and outs of digital photography.

Agree … or disagree? I’d love to have your comments.