Work hard to rethink and reshape your approach to your photography business in order to incorporate the values required for the task of weeding out the clients you don’t want.
6 major areas that I believe have the greatest impact on this weeding-out process:
Personality and Professionalism
You’re a professional photographer, not an amateur wanting to make a few extra bucks on the weekends (nothing wrong with that, by the way), but someone who has invested time, hard work, and money into the creation of a real business.
You can’t expect your prospects to take you seriously when you’re sending them messages that you are not a serious photography BUSINESS.
They may not consciously notice, but it registers with them nonetheless, in your general demeanor, the way that you dress, and the way that you act, and the level of professional enthusiasm you have for your business.
For example, it’s very easy to get frustrated when things are not going well, but are you allowing your customer to see any hint of that?
Mood and emotion come across very clearly in person, of course, but they can also be felt on the telephone, and even by email.
Even when you write your emails, write them as you would a physical letter in a friendly business tone, and a professional sign-off.
The Look And Personality Of Your Website And Blog
You must have a premium website, but the way it’s presented makes all the difference in the world.
Make sure you are using conversational marketing copy in an effort to build a relationship with the prospect or are you being “fluffy” and relying on just your photographs no calls to action?
Make a stand and show your difference.
You can’t afford to be the photographer who is willing to do anything and everything, as that comes across as appearing to be desperate.
Focus on one major thing, and aim to be the absolute best you can be at it.
Your Social Footprint
Social media has ingrained itself in our society, and we can’t believe that there was a time when we didn’t have it.
And that has made us lose sight of what social media really means for business.
First, if you’re using your Facebook personal profile for business, stop it and set up a business page before Facebook finds out and terminates your account.
Next, as business owners we can’t always use social media in the same way others do.
That means keeping religious and political views to ourselves, not bad-mouthing other people, eliminating profanity, and not engaging in those viral “games” that seem so popular at the moment.
As professional photographers, we are our own personal business ambassadors, and it’s important to make sure we put our best social footprint forward, as it were, at all times.