A few months ago, we sent out a survey to the community and asked other photographers what they struggled with the most. The majority of photographers responded that they were struggling with getting bookings. Although we can't add hundreds on inquiries in your email, we can give you some tips that will help you increase your bookings. Understand, there are a ton of things that go into marketing your business properly and running a booming photography business. But today we'll talk about things you can do to add value to the experience you provide.
By incorporating these few things, your clients will see that you are willing to go above and beyond to create an enjoyable experience for them. This will increase positive reviews and word of mouth referrals. Photography truly is an industry where word of mouth can do a lot of good (or a lot of bad).
TIP ONE: Send Thank You Cards
Writing a hand written thank you card is not only super cheap and quick, but it means a lot to your clients. It shows them that you appreciate their business. Make sure to ask for your client's address somewhere in the booking process, this way don't have to ruin the surprise after the fact. For cheap thank you cards, check out Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Target for some inexpensive options. Your local post office should have the best in season stamps! (I personally have a bad habit of buying way too many, but can you blame me? They're so cute!)
TIP TWO: Educate your Clients
We don't mean sit down and give your clients a two hour presentation, but we do mean that you should be giving your clients guides to provide the best stress free photography experience. For wedding clients, this might look like a full welcome guide (blog post coming soon). For families and seniors, this might be a guide about the best photography locations in Kansas City along with a style guide about tips for planning outfits. By giving your clients answers before they even ask, you are adding value to your business. Before you know it, clients will be raving about how easy your process was and how enjoyable it was to work with you!
TIP THREE: Set Expectations and Go Above
One way to knock your clients socks off is to turnaround their gallery before the date they expect it! Sure, you and I may know it takes X amount of days to deliver a full gallery, but by giving yourself a comfortable window of time, allows you to:
Have some wiggle room if emergencies happen
Surprise your clients when their gallery early
For example, it might only take you 5 days to edit a gallery. That's great! But often times, most clients won't expect a gallery for a few weeks. If the set expectation is 2 weeks and you turn it around in 5 days, you are providing a 5 star experience.
TIP FOUR: Check the Details
When you're at your shoots, make sure you are always checking for small details! Although you may already do this, it's important to know that this is valuable. A photographer who checks for things like lipstick on teeth, hairbands on wrists, or keys in pockets not only prevents complaints after the fact, but your clients will 100% appreciate it during the session. Remind yourself before each session to run through a quick checklist of things with your clients when you arrive. This is also a great way to break the ice! Don't forget to continuously check for these things as the session goes on. Sometimes wind can knock hair out of place or keys find their way back into pockets while moving from one spot to the next.
TIP FIVE: Share the Love on Social Media
This next tip is HUGE! Not only are you showing appreciating for your clients, but it gives them a little reminder that you exist (and should just maybe book another session with you). Okay, here it is: Highlight past clients on your Instagram story. Most everyone likes seeing themself on social media. Here are some ways to highlight your previous clients:
Happy 1 Year Anniversary for Wedding clients
Happy Graduation Day for Seniors
Share your Favorite shots (and why) from a Family Session
Well, that's all for now! What do you think? Do you already do these things for your photography business?
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