How to Become a Photographer

3 Steps to Creating a Personal Series on Your Blog

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As a wedding photographer, there’s something great about finding your ideal clients that have similar interests and values as you. Not only do you create personal connections with them, but it can also help motivate you to push the boundaries on your photography because you love your clients! When couples reflect the same values or artistic interests as you, they are more likely to reach out to you when they are interested in finding a wedding photographer. Being a wedding photographer puts you in a great position to connect with all different kinds of people, and being a social media savvy wedding photographer gives you even more of an advantage. You also have plenty of content to share (your images) – so once you get them back from a post-production photography service, you can start implementing them into your blog!

With that in mind, when you sit down to work on your blogging, it is imperative that the experiences you write about and the stories you share create a bond between you and your clients. You can do this by developing a personal series that focuses on something you are passionate about and directly reflects your values as a photographer.

Knowing exactly how to create a personal series can be a challenge at first, especially because it causes you to think of all your other passions besides photography and engage them in a way you otherwise might not have. Here are 3 steps to help you connect with current and potential clients using the most authentic tool in your content marketing toolkit: You!

1. Determine the topic

Think about all the aspects that make up the unique individual that is you. Maybe you are an outdoor wedding photographer that loves camping and frequently camps in the mountains. Take advantage of these trips by documenting and sharing your experiences on the blog. Not only does this allow readers to get to know you on a personal level, but if they also love camping, this may be just the spark they need that gets them to reach out to you. [···]

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Top 5 Tips: Mastering In Person Wedding Photography Sales

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When it comes to running a wedding photography business, it’s no secret in-person sales photography can be a challenging skill to master. We have shared how outsourcing your images to photo editing companies can help to give yourself free time to focus on your marketing, blogging, and networking. That free time can also be used for mastering wedding photography in-person sales! Although it can be difficult, selling your products and services is key to increasing the profit for your photography business.

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6 Tips for Better Networking Connections

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In today’s technology driven society, we are glued to our devices. As you rush to meet with potential clients for a meeting, you strive to fit in as many texts in as possible before you need to shove your phone in your pocket and be personable for the next hour. Once you arrive at the meeting, you realize something – you are blanking on what to say, and without your email in front of you, you are drawing a blank on the names of the clients you’re meeting with. As a wedding photographer, the power of communication is a crucial and necessary tool you need to develop strong relationships with clients and vendors.

“Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success” – Paul J. Meyer

Here are six communication tips for better networking connections that will help you create lasting relationships with your clients and vendors.

1. Showcase Authenticity

When you are meeting with clients or vendors, one of the most important things you can do is to be yourself. Create a unique message that represents you and your brand, and let this shine through in every interaction you have with others! Say what you mean, not what you think clients want to hear – it is important to always be yourself. When communicating, be open and honest, ensuring that you are properly representing your brand at all times. As long as you are always being authentic, it is okay if you are not booking every client – remember, you want to focus on finding your ideal client each time! [···]

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Understanding a Client Referral: Creating True Believers

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As a wedding photographer, one of the best ways for you to get the word out about your business is through client referrals. We have spent some time sharing with you how to create a loyal following of Advocates and Evangelists, both of who will happily recommend you and your wedding photography business to friends, family, and colleagues. So how do you move clients to become True Believers, the third and highest tier of customer referrals? True Believers refer you to others because of YOU rather than what you do – they believe in you as a person. You want to make it a goal of yours to create a band of True Believers who will spread the word about you and your business!

Know Your Message

To convert clients into True Believers, you must develop a clearly defined message and live by it. Having a strong message is essential because True Believers want more than just a quality product and a sharable experience – they need a message that they can stand behind and share with their friends and family as they refer you! Taking the time to know who you are and what you and your brand stands for is the only way to develop a genuine message. Remember to make your message as specific as possible! [···]

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Selling Prints – Is it worth it?

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If you ask a wedding photographer in the digital age if selling prints are valuable to their business, you may hear an array of conflicting answers. Though giving prints to clients used to be standard for photographers, advancements in technology has made it more difficult to convince clients to purchase prints in addition to digital services.

Here at ShootDotEdit, we understand the importance of growing your business. We allow you to outsource photo editing to save you time for other parts of your business, such as sales! Understanding how to sell prints to your clients will not only increase the profit for your business, but it will also allow you to reach future clients. Think of the friends and family that will see your prints in the bride and groom’s home! They will admire your work and know that they can call you if they need photography services. To determine if selling prints is worth it for your wedding photography business, here are some ways to help clients see the value in purchasing prints!

Educate Your Clients

You must provide insight to the bride and groom about the benefits of purchasing prints. It is necessary for you to discuss prints the first time you meet with your clients, so they are continuously hearing about them throughout their relationship with you. Most of them have little knowledge about photography, nor will they understand the true benefits of purchasing prints from the wedding day. When you sit down for your first meeting, explain why prints, canvases, and wall art is a must-have! They are a physical representation of the most important day of their lives. [···]

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Top 5 Tips for Selling Albums

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Through the hustle and bustle of a wedding day, it can sometimes be hard for couples to truly enjoy all of the details surrounding them and the moments that occur. So how can you help preserve the memories of the wedding day for them? Create an album! Not only is this a piece that your couples will cherish, but it is an easy way for friends and family to reminisce about the details of that special day as well! Incorporating albums into your packages assists you in maximizing your profit. If you want to satisfy your current clients and book ideal future clients, album design is an important aspect to include.

In our Profitable Album Design and Sales Webinar, wedding photographer Melissa Jill shared effective ways for photographers to utilize wedding albums to increase sales within their photography businesses. Here are the top 5 tips to help you boost your album sales.

1. Show your passion for creating albums

Since digital images are usually high in demand, it is your job to educate your clients on the importance of also having an album. A wedding day is a sentimental part of your client’s lives, so explain why an album will create memories that will last a lifetime. While having the digital files are great, share with couples how wonderful it is to have a physical item that truly captures the highlights and most memorable moments of the day. [···]

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Top Secrets to Better Networking

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Networking with vendors and clients is one of the best ways for you to grow your business. Done correctly, and it can exponentially increase the numbers of clients you book for your photography business each year! We’ve given you tips to connect with vendors, as well as ways to win with client referrals. Whether it is busy season or the offseason, it is important for you to know how to create strong networking relationships. We connected with a few industry leader photographers and gained some insights on their top secrets to better networking that helps them grow their businesses!

Meet face-to-face

With the ease of doing everything online today, it is easy to revert to social media to do all of your networking. While social media is great for brand awareness and reaching out to vendors and clients that are not in your area, take a step away from the computer and venture out into your community to network! Take advantage of meet-ups with local photographers and vendors in your area to meet with new people and create a personal connection. Vendors will remember you more through a connection in person rather than a virtual “hello” shared over Facebook.

Pittsburgh wedding photographer, Leeann Marie, finds that many vendors are more willing (and excited!) to work with her when they have the opportunity to meet in person:

“Get out of the house! Go and meet new people in person. You must step outside any fear you may have, and meet with people face-to-face. And often!”

– Leeann Marie

View More: http://annlouisephotography.pass.us/golishfamily

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4 Tips to Price and Sell Your Prints

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In today’s digital and technology-driven world, everyone wants products and services that are available to them digitally and easily accessible online. When it comes to photography, clients are always looking to see if photographers offer digital files in their packages. With this being such a popular item to buy, how do you make other products, such as prints, seem valuable and worth buying? Here are 4 tips to help you price and sell your prints to your clients.

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