Saturday, August 29th, 2009...3:51 pm
Jump Start Your Word of Mouth: Sterling Wedding Photography Service
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In the era of the internet and boundless choices society has devolved to depend on primitive forms of communications (Brafman & Brafman, Ori & Rom 2008).
It is thus essential to get wedding photographers who want to survive this recession as well as expand your wedding photography business to provide the utmost sterling service. With this goal in mind; prices are no longer arguable or negotiable; your reputation for sterling service and excellent quality photographs will give you greater chances of justifying higher prices for less effort.
Here are some easy ideas to provide buzz and give the impression of branding your company as the company of high end quality service.
- Communicate through Branding - This is usually the first step of any photographer. They create a brand in mind. Make sure it’s true to you and conveys what you intend to do. This will be your foundation of communication to your clients. Your brand must clearly represent yourself in 3 seconds why you’re worth spending all that money for. Make sure your brand conveys the 3 C’s: Cohesiveness, Clarity, Comprehensiveness.
- Packaging - Good packaging and attention to the small details are key to creating buzz. Find packaging that is unique from other companies or regions. This may hire a good graphic/packaging designer. It will pay off in the long run.
- Personality - Be personal and intimate. If this is not your style; that’s quite alright. Give your work a personal flair. Put your soul, empathy, and emotion into your work. Go over your portfolio and pick out those pieces of work that really convey that emotional impact. That’s what will more often than not sell. Just make sure you make it a point to try to find interest in your clients life or interest. It doesn’t mean that you should go out and hang out with them; but just keep in touch with them. Almost be their professional friend.
- Be generous and kind if it comes up; send them small gifts if the occasion comes up. Say a birthday, graduation, anniversary, etc. You worry about costs? You’re a photographer; photos don’t really cost so much. Offer a quick couple shot and print them out a couple 8×10’s or 4×6’s. They’re cheap but can go a long way. Sometimes if you’ve already shot them why not send them a quick post card with their photo. Canon has a printer that allows you to print on postcard paper. Write a personal message. If you do decide to purchase a gift ask your accountant what the gift limits are (as i don’t really know. I’m not an accountant). You may be able to deduct the full cost of the gift.
- Show up in person when you can I don’t recommend meeting clients in person all that much if you don’t have an agenda. This may cause a lot of lost time. However, make it an effort to show up or meet with them to deliver their final photos for their wedding when you can. This can make a big difference.
- Underpromise / Overdeliver When you can push the bar lower; but crash those expectations. You may be able to deliver an album in 10 weeks but you actually were able to deliver it in half that time. This will provide you the buzz you need.
- Details - Make sure you record notes and store them in a good place. If you can remember the details of your conversations and recall them your authority and position make a lasting impact on your clients
- Be Consistent Make sure you are consistent and follow through with your actions.
1 Comment
September 19th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Thanks for sharing. Great tips, especially the idea of finding unique packaging and remembering details are important.
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