Finding Your Photography Path
It doesn’t matter whether you have a shop front photography or a studio on a main road, or you work out of your home, being a photography business coach I have discovered that there are 3 key points to making good money with your photography business.
Make Your Wall Art Shine
Selling only digital files will restrict your ability to maximise your sales and you will be unable to grow your business.
Understand that you will only sell what you show.
Having defined products also makes it easier for your customer to make their buying decisions.
When your client or potential client first walks into your studio their eyes should be drawn to beautiful large portraits on the walls.
This may seem obvious, but sometimes you may need to be reminded of this. You should regularly update your displays.
It’s important that you have on show larger wall décor in 24×30 size or above, rather than lots of smaller prints.
Don’t forget that your Wall Portraits should also have appropriate lighting on them to show off the quality, colour and textures, making them “jump off the walls.”
Track lighting in the ceiling, with the daylight balanced lights aimed at the wall portraits is a must have to achieve this. You want your portraits to be the brightest items in your studio.
Never have fluorescent lights around any area that you display your wall portraiture!
Avoid having 8×10’s or 5×7’s in frames sitting around, or even on your walls.
Smaller prints can be shown as Box Sets or Memory Boxes, with 10 or 20 matted images on archival art paper.
First Impressions Do Matter
Your potential client’s first impression is the lasting one, whether it is when they go to your website, speak to you on the phone, or go to your studio.
They are assessing whether they will spend any money with you and how much.
Creating a good first impression can sometimes take time, but always strive to be the best that you can be with your presentation and your knowledge of your products.
You could start by de-cluttering your studio. Is it messy? Framed prints sitting on the floor? Does the air smell a bit stale? Does the floor need a vacuuming? Are the windows clean? Do you dress appropriately? Do you have a deep knowledge of your products you can talk to your potential clients about?
Make Your Business Real
I have visited so many home businesses as my role as a photography business coach, and very few of them have had a sign outside their home to reassure me that I was at the right house.
Imagine your client arriving and wondering whether or not they are at the right house?
Their first impression isn’t one of trust, and certainty.
To make your business real, you must have signage. Can you imagine a book without a front cover? Well that’s your business if you do not have a sign with your logo on it, outside and inside your place of work.
How Much Should You Pay For A Photography Business Coach?
It is important that the coach that you select has been the owner of a successful photography business, and has “walked the walk.” This will give you the confidence to know that they know what it takes to be successful, and what it takes to create and grow your business.
Fees of a photography business coach will usually relate to the amount of experience that the coach has, not only in running a business, but how many years they have been coaching.
Like any form of expertise prices vary, and photography business coaching can cost from $250 for a single one hour consultation to the more intense twelve month photography business coaching priced up to over $12,000.
Some coaches charge a monthly fee, while others will come to your studio for a couple of days to provide you with the solutions to your problems.
Many photographers are part time coaches, and are offering coaching services on a more casual and unstructured basis.
A part time coach may charge for a short time program and you can expect fees of around $1,500-$3,000 for this type of short term guidance.
When selecting a coach, know what expectations and outcomes you are looking for.
Is your main problem Marketing, Workflow, Pricing, or do you simply need someone to motivate and drive you? Or a combination of all?
Remember that you don’t know what you don’t know, and a photography business coach should give you the knowledge that you lack to implement your business growth.
It is also important to find a photography business coach who you trust, who you can work with, and who is a good fit for you and your business.
Whatever coach you decide on, what you definitely should be looking for is a return on your investment.
The bottom line is that a good photography business coach will help, drive, and guide you to increase your turnover, maximise your profit, and give you the work/life balance that you are looking for.
And of course, don’t forget to get heaps of testimonials and referrals if possible.
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