Business | Unsolicited Advice

Last night we were lucky enough to be invited to a photographers get-together where we could celebrate surviving another year, another year of growing and learning.

It’s always interesting to chat with others, talk about pricing, how to grow, logos, bookkeeping, and all those other headaches we share. I thought I’d share a few of the things I’ve learned over the last few years that have helped me in my business… We’ll call it “unsolicited advice”.  Some are physical and some are mental. Ready… here we go with the first 2!

1. Provide the best customer service humanly possible.

This is number one for a reason. I HATE it when I email a “professional” and don’t get a response. If I don’t hear from you within 24 hours, I’ll always assume you don’t want or need my business. I firmly believe others feel this way too, especially brides who are over the moon excited and just want to learn as much as they can to plan for their big day. At the end of your experience with us, I want you to feel like we coached you through your wedding experience, and left you in the dark about nothing. I want you to feel like you’ve been pampered in every way possible from us.

*Here’s an example. Just the other day a bride was ordering several prints from us, she ordered a particular image in an 8×10…. however, in that image the people were close to the edge of the frame. An 8×10 is NOT the same ratio as our cameras (they’re 4×6)…. do I expect her to know this? Nope. I surely didn’t know it until I became a photographer. So what did I do? I took a screen shot & emailed it to her so she could see how ordering an 8×10 would effect the image, and offered to order her an 8×12 for the same price so the image wouldn’t be compromised.

A LOT of photographers just won’t do this. They don’t like dealing with print orders so they farm it out to print fulfillment companies who’ll print & ship out exactly what you say you want without looking over the order. Nothing wrong with this, it just isn’t what I like to offer. I need my clients to understand what they are buying and offer them the best option for what they want.

…. here’s that image, if you’re interested in seeing how the crop works. (remember this is a screen shot) You loose a bridesmaids arm & the back of a groomsmen. Now think… if this is to be matted and framed, so the mat will cover even more…. making that 8×10 not the best choice.

… that got long… #2 will be shorter 🙂

2. Get yourself a custom URL and email.

Or in the words of Lara Casey “Own your internet real estate.” There’s nothing more that screams “unprofessional” to me than when I go to a blog that is….. www.blahblahblah.blogspot.com or www.blahblahblah.wordpress.com …… seriously, it only cost $10 a YEAR to not have it say blogspot or wordpress… it’s a wise investment, I promise!

On the same note, if you get a custom URL you can then have custom email FOR FREE. Take the time, do some research on it. Google apps will become your best friend!

Disclaimer: I am 100% guilty of having an @gmail.com email for the first 10 months or so of this business… [[runs ducks hides]] I have Lara Casey to thank for this change….

“@LaraCaseyReps #GetBrandedLC Own your internet real estate.Love getting emails from “pros” at @hotmail.com @gmail.com or highendweddingphotographer@aol.com”

Take yourself seriously, if you don’t, how can you expect anyone else?