Do you remember the last time you were in your clients’ shoes? When you hired a photographer for your wedding, or a portrait session? I do! Today I’m going to share my latest experience shopping for and working with a professional photographer, in the hope that it will get your ideas flowing regarding your own clients’ experience.
My husband and I only recently relocated to Florida, where my mom’s side of the family lives, and I needed some head shots for this website. I haven’t lived in the Jacksonville area since I was a baby so I didn’t have much frame of reference for hiring a local photographer.
I turned to Google, typing in “Jacksonville head shot photographers.” Then I started clicking. If the first image or two on a photographer’s site didn’t grab me, I was on to the next. In 10-15 seconds, I summed up each photographer and decided if s/he was for me. If their site was slow to load, I was gone.
If a photographer’s site appealed, I looked for pricing. If they didn’t mention it, next! I added a few folks without pricing info to my short list but, as you’ll see in a minute, they were later tossed aside for someone who better matched my personal shopping preferences. Give me the info up front, people!
It’s worth noting here that, when I was a professional photographer, industry experts repeatedly advised me to leave pricing off my website. Given my shopping preferences, however, that just doesn’t work for me. If it works for you, great! If not, do what does instead. It’s the best way to be comfortable and authentic with your clients.
Anyway, I searched Google and even checked Craig’s List, but I didn’t find what I wanted, so I turned to family. I knew my cousin had a few photographer friends, so I emailed her and then returned to my search. Around that time I stumbled across Agnes Lopez’s Pose Well Studios. She specialized in head shots, and her work was good. Her site was easy to navigate, her pricing was clear and she was within my budget.
Right after I added Agnes to my short list, my cousin emailed to say that the best local photographer she knew was…Agnes. Don’t you love it when everything comes together? Perfection!
As I was already on her site, I submitted the contact form to request an appointment. I didn’t ask questions because everything I needed to make a decision was right there on her site. Agnes replied to me in just 30 minutes and we scheduled a session for the following week. She got me committed quickly. Love that!
When I arrived on the day of the shoot, I was surprised to see wedding images and albums displayed in Agnes’ meeting room. I didn’t know that she shoots weddings because she markets them separately from her commercial and head-shot work. Smart! I wanted a head-shot specialist, and I hired one. Had I seen wedding images on her site, too, I may have kept looking…
One of the things I liked about Agnes was that she included makeup and hair styling in her session fee, making the process that much easier for this makeup-challenged gal. Her friend and contractor, Jackie, did an amazing job; although I was wearing more makeup than usual, it looked natural as requested. She and Agnes also offered me advice on which of my clothing options would work best, allowing me to relax and enjoy the experience.
The session went smoothly. Agnes was in control yet fun. As I was leaving, she advised me that she would post a gallery online in about 48 hours. Wow, I thought, that’s fast! Way faster than I had ever promised clients. I know the work required to make images client-ready. By the time I got home, though, I was chomping at the bit to see my photos. Imagine now how your clients feel! Capitalizing on that excitement by moving quickly is pure gold.
Another great shot from Agnes Lopez
My photo gallery was ready on schedule. When I went to see the images, though, I was surprised. I anticipated 30-50 images based on expectations set by Agnes’ website, but I received 72! She did exactly what I would recommend to all photographers who want to woo their clients — under-promise and over-deliver. But, she chose her compromises wisely, making decisions that are true to herself and in the interest of her clients. Very cool!
Overall, I had a wonderful session with Agnes and am very pleased with the results. Here are a few take-away questions for you to consider:
What is visiting your website like from a prospective client’s perspective? What do they learn about you in the first 10-15 seconds?
Are your business policies consistent with your beliefs? Or are you adhering to policies because they’re “industry best practices,” even though they don’t really serve you?
How responsive are you to inquiries? Are your prospective clients at risk for being snatched away by someone else who’s more timely?
Are you consistently delivering more than your clients expect? And, are you keeping their interests in mind when you create policies? Your ideal clients want to love you, and exceeding their expectations helps make that happen.
A client’s perspective-[…] and visual artists, it was a pleasant surprise to get feedback from her experience with me in a long-form review. Definitely check it out. I am so glad to know I got high […]
Kate Watson -Thanks for sharing the love, Rebecca! This experience was also just referenced in an article called “21 Customer Service Tips from Real Life Examples” by Dr. Shannon Reece – http://wp.me/pKJr1-Jr.
I just forwarded this link to my friend that is a photographer.
Warmly,
Rebecca
Kate Watson -Aw, thank you, Jody! I’m happy that you’re still loving your head shots. Miss you, too, and wish I could say we’d visit soon, but life is taking many interesting turns these days. *hugs*
Jody -Hi Kate!
Love the blog and your pix. I had to comment too to say how much I still love (and proudly display) the headshots you took of me a couple years ago. You made me feel so pretty that day. Miss you, but so happy for all your new success! Hugs! Jody
Confession: Concerts aren’t my thing. I’m always excited when I buy my tickets but as traffic slows down near the venue and I find myself waiting in a line of cars to park, it all comes back to me: Being herded around like cattle, sitting in the nosebleed section where I can’t see anything and drinking $12 wine from cheap, plastic cups. As a visual person, I get bored in those circumstances. I entertain myself studying the crowd, and I find myself wondering why I’m not at home on my comfy leather loveseat, watching the event on the plasma.
A few weeks ago, I discovered I’ve been doing it wrong all these years. My mom had procured two tickets to one of her favorite musical acts and asked me to accompany her. Imagine my surprise when the usher led us past everyone in the theater to the second row! In fact, we were sitting in the orchestra pit on folding chairs. For the first time in my life, I could see the expressions of every musician on stage — there were 14 of them — and I was mesmerized.
It wasn’t the front man who drew my attention. My eyes were glued to the orchestra, the crazy drummer surrounded by plexiglass to protect his compatriots from flying drumstick shards or cymbals; the serious cellist who kept exchanging grimaces with his violinist neighbor; the harpist who hefted his instrument into the air in enthusiasm; and the other cellist’s coy smile as she completed her solo.
I studied the relationships between the artists and concocted intrigues in my head. I got caught up in the atmosphere and even considered taking up music as a hobby. I mentally moved from one instrument to the next, trying to choose the one that most appealed. One of the strings! But what about on the high end of the scale when they get screechy? That would hurt my ears. Well, what about the drums?…That’s a lot to carry around. Definitely no to the brass section. Guitar?…Nope, not really feeling it.
And then I realized: It wasn’t the music per se, it was the artists’ passion that enthralled me. It was their dedication and commitment, year after year, to honing their craft, toiling thanklessly until they were the best in a fiercely competitive industry, and doing so not to be the front man — the name, if you will — but to be one member of the orchestra. Just thinking about that gives me chills. In order to succeed as they have, they must be driven by love, and that is magnetic!
My take-away:
When we’re true to ourselves and working from a place of both passion and dedication, we are magnetic.
If you allow yourself to believe that, does anything change for you? I’d love to hear what you think!
Happy Friday,
P.S. If the curiosity is killing you, here is a little hint on who we saw:
Kate Watson -Totally, Rebecca! My goal is for all photographers and visual artists to realize how playing to their strengths and acknowledging their motivations and vision helps to create a differentiated style and brand that attracts their ideal customers.
Rebecca Stees-I think love and style and closely related, too.
Periodically, I’ll be featuring inspired artists. They are chosen both for their beautiful work and as an example of the ideals of Art Aligned — they align their art with their individuality and have established a unique niche in the marketplace.
On one of the busiest shopping streets in the expat district of Chiang Mai, Thailand, is a little confection of a shop called Garden of Love.
Fairies with wands and wings, dressed as goddesses and witches, hitching rides on balloons, and perched on rose-covered swings, swirl and dance above your head in perpetual motion.
Every day, you’ll find artist A. Osa here, bringing life to the tiny papier-mache fairies made of saa paper (mulberry) and colored fabric. She conceptualizes and creates each by hand, a process lasting more than 8 days per fairy.
Even if fairies aren’t your thing — but really, how can you resist these adorable creations? — you have to admire A.’s passion and dedication to her art.
Garden of Love, Nimmanhaemin Rd., Soi 4, Chiang Mai City
Ms Goi, Manager
t +66 (0) 53 101 018, +66 (0) 81 882 5712
This post is the fifth and final in a series sharing my thoughts about the state of the wedding and portrait photography industry and how we can all work together to make it better.
Courtesy of MommyandMePhotography.com
If you’ve been reading my series this week, you already know the Art Aligned platform: Successful artists and photographers differentiate themselves authentically. That authenticity comes from playing to their strengths and honoring their motivations, vision and style.
The idea of infusing yourself in your business can sound like an anything-goes, “I’ll just do what feels good” kind of platform. It isn’t. It begins with the understanding that you must make choices.
I know that money can be a powerful motivator and that there is significant temptation to try to be everything to everyone. The truth is, though, that you can’t be everything to everyone. Trying to be creates a muddy image that appeals to no one, and it leads to burnout for you. (I’ve been there, I know!)
Art Aligned is about differentiating authentically and consciously. It is about making choices that allow your art and your business to stand out by acknowledging what makes you stand out.
I recently listened to an interview with a California-based portrait photographer. I was excited to see her website afterward because she had a clearly defined vision — she believes that all women are beautiful and deserve images showcasing their unique beauty. When I went to her site, however, I was confused. Side-by-side with beautiful boudoir portraits were photos of newborns, engaged couples, families and more. If I was a prospective client, she’d have just lost me. Her vision doesn’t match her deliverables. I give her props for having a vision, though. All she needs to do is clean up her site so everything is in alignment.
I have encountered many photographers who either don’t have a clear vision for their work or choose to keep it a secret. If you don’t explain to people what your unique offering is, they’re not going to figure it out. Either you’ll lose them immediately or they’ll think you do one thing when you really do something entirely different. Save yourself and prospective clients the stress and confusion: Take a stand for something and share that message in everything you say and do. And remember, the better aligned your deliverables are with your message and with you, the more likely you are to attract clients who’ll love what you do for them.
If you have questions or need help, drop me a line. I love hearing from you!
Cheers,
This post is the fifth in a series about the wedding and portrait photography industry. You may also be interested in:
And now, a big thank you to Denise Olson of Mommy and Me Photography, who graciously allowed me to use her “Jack the Camera Man” session to accompany this blog series. Thank you, Denise!
This post is the fourth in a series sharing my thoughts about the state of the wedding and portrait photography industry and how we can all work together to make it better.
The wedding and portrait photography industry is in crisis. Commoditization is threatening our ability to make a living wage, and many once-successful photographers are struggling or closing their doors. The old ways of distinguishing ourselves — experience, technical skills and client service — are no longer enough. The latest buzz on differentiating yourself via your brand is too little, too late. So, what now?
If you want to create a business with staying power — one that serves you as well as it serves your community — you must infuse yourself into every element of your business.
The graphic below presents my simple, but powerful framework to capture and distill key elements of you into a unique and meaningful brand and public image. Each component is discrete and considered independently, but works together as an integral part of the whole:
From the complex, nuanced essence of you, your brand and public image are distilled by:
First, identifying and acknowledging your personal motivations. Because your lifetime experiences are utterly unique from every other person on this planet, your reasons for choosing your art form, business structure, and subject matter will be like no other.
Next, you develop and articulate your vision so that prospective clients will understand what you stand for.
From a solid understanding of your vision, you explore and choose appropriate stylistic elements to reflect it. Style includes your artistic medium and approach, your use of light, and other technical considerations.
And last, you craft a clear, consistent brand based on your personal motivations, vision, and style.
Each step of the discovery process has an associated question-word to help guide your thinking. For example:
Why did you choose photography as an artistic medium? (Motivation)
What do you want people to think and feel when they see your work? (Vision)
How do you bring your vision to life, through choices of equipment, lighting, composition, and post-processing? (Style)
And finally, who are you, as an artist and business owner? (Brand)
Although the Art Aligned framework is a simple concept, implementation can be challenging. It requires soul searching and often some external input from a trusted friend or advisor. We are so close to our own strengths and motivations that we may not even recognize them for what they are: one-of-a-kind gifts that no one else on earth possesses. Yet your individuality is your greatest advantage in a crowded marketplace; it is what you must hone and utilize to your best ability in order to stand out and to get your ideal clients to notice you.
Understanding the outline for the Art Aligned framework is a solid first step to uniquely differentiating your art or photography business. Distilling your motivations and strengths into a one-of-a-kind brand can be done alone if you’re committed to the process, but if you find you need help, drop me a line. I love helping small business owners create their own brand of success.
Cheers,
This post is the fourth in a series about the wedding and portrait photography industry. You may also be interested in:
A client’s perspective - […] and visual artists, it was a pleasant surprise to get feedback from her experience with me in a long-form review. Definitely check it out. I am so glad to know I got high […]
Kate Watson - Thanks for sharing the love, Rebecca! This experience was also just referenced in an article called “21 Customer Service Tips from Real Life Examples” by Dr. Shannon Reece – http://wp.me/pKJr1-Jr.
Rebecca Stees - Kate,
I love how you keep it real!
I like the client perspective story angle.
I just forwarded this link to my friend that is a photographer.
Warmly,
Rebecca
Kate Watson - Aw, thank you, Jody! I’m happy that you’re still loving your head shots. Miss you, too, and wish I could say we’d visit soon, but life is taking many interesting turns these days. *hugs*
Jody - Hi Kate!
Love the blog and your pix. I had to comment too to say how much I still love (and proudly display) the headshots you took of me a couple years ago. You made me feel so pretty that day. Miss you, but so happy for all your new success! Hugs! Jody