Digital Photography Business Tips | Helpful Techniques, Methods And Strategies For Starting A Photography Business

Here’s a video I created to show some Photography Business Pricing Tips that we’ve learned over the years.There’s so much more than just throwing a price list up and having your clients pay you money.

There’s certain elements that I cover in this video that can help you maximize both your profits and your client base. You can always modify and tweak these guidelines, but it’s a good starting point.

Enjoy!

Scott

I received this email from Debbie and I wanted to share it with everyone. I think it’s very important to realize that most people have some kind of fears and struggles in life, but the ones that constantly Take Action…will succeed.

I’m not sharing this to brag, just to allow you to see that you’re not alone and everyone experiences some kind of challenges through their journey.

I want you to read this and be inspired for this upcoming year and make the decision Today, that you can do this.

Here’s what Debbie wrote to us on  Christmas day.

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Hi Scott

Luv & hugs to you all!
Debbie

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I hope you feel inspired after reading that and see that it takes, passion, desire and a commitment to yourself and your dreams.

Keep focused!

Scott

One of the biggest things that will differentiate your photography business from the big box stores is your level of customer service. Here’s 5 Tips For Creating A Successful Photography Business to help you not only set yourself apart from other studios but also help you build strong client relationships.

Tip #1 Go the Extra Mile.

If you find their child or pet is a little difficult to work with, spend more time with them. Show them you care about taking whatever time is needed to get that special shot. Many people get embarrassed if their child or pet is not cooperating. Reassure them, make them comfortable and extend every courtesy in helping them. People love to feel special and important. This one point alone will keep your clients coming back and encourages them to tell others about you and your studio in glowing terms.

Tip #2 Be Prompt in Having Their Proofs Ready.

Other companies may be slower in getting their proofs and prints back to their clients. Be diligent on your follow-ups. Getting the proofs into your client’s their hands quickly can help maintain a high degree of interest and earns you more professional respect.

Tip #3 Traditional Viewing vs. Online Proofing.

This is probably the most important concept you need to learn. The traditional one-on-one viewing of  hard copy prints will do more to build your business than the impersonal presentation of on-line images. First, when they come to your studio, they can see the large prints you have up on the wall so you can show them what their print will look like. Because they can see the difference between smaller prints and larger prints, you will have the opportunity of up-selling to a larger size. When you hand them a 4×6 proof, they take possession of the actual physical copy of their image it becomes more real and personal to them than seeing them on the web.

Tip # 4 Using Customers for Marketing.

Putting your contact information and website on the back of each proof makes a great marketing tool. When they show the proofs to friends and relatives, many of them will take the time to go to your website to see your work. Once you have them there, have a special coupon available for download by simply filling out their contact information and email address. In all likelihood, the more proofs you have in circulation the more business you will see coming your way.

Tip #5 Offering the Extras.

As a general rule, whatever size print you first show people, that will be the size they most likely will buy. Always show them larger sizes. Usually they are so taken by the impact of larger prints that up-selling to a larger size is not a problem. Most people would like to be able to pick up their photograph all ready to hang on the wall. Perhaps adding a framing option would give you the opportunity to create a little more revenue plus provide your customers with a complete “Click and Hang” service.

It can’t be emphasized enough that great customer service is what will bring your clients back to you year after year. Developing that special one-on-one relationship with your clients and prospective clients is vital to establishing a strong foundation for your business. It is a very worthwhile investment of your time and resources.

I hope you enjoyed these tips.

Happy Shooting

Scott

One of the most common question I get asked a lot is…”How much will it cost to start a photography business?” or “How can I get started with the least upfront expense?”.

The truth is that it could cost you $1,000’s if you were to create a complete studio. You would have to invest in a large studio space, special canvas and muslin backgrounds, custom sets, unique props and the list goes on and on.

But…I have some good news that most photographers won’t talk about. It’s something called Digital Props and Backgrounds. Let me explain!

Digital Props and Backgrounds are becoming increasingly popular in many photography markets. This has helped beginners start a photography business with very little start up cost. Now you can look like you have a full size studio without spending $1,000’s of dollars on equipment. I’ve put together a step by step guide of what you will need to use this concept and get professional results every time.

1. White seamless background — You can find white vinyl in 60″ widths at most craft stores very inexpensively. I would recommend 5ft wide by 10 ft long to start.

2. External Flash or Soft Box — You will need an external flash that attaches to your camera’s hot shoe that can be bounced off a side wall or ceiling. This will give you a softer light and eliminate shadows. This is critical to getting a clean line around your subject when cutting out and selecting in Photoshop. (I’ll talk about this in a minute) If you want to get fancy, use a Soft Box on a stand. Position your Soft Box on the right side facing your subject at a 45 degree angle. This is the set up most professional studios use for their portraits.

3. Bounce Card (Reflector) — Use a 2×4 ft piece of poster board as a bounce card on the opposite side of your flash or Soft Box. This will help fill in any shadows you may have on the opposite side. You can also cover this with aluminum foil to give it more of a reflective finish.

Note: This will be a harsher light.

4. (Important) Distance From Background – It’s always best to have your subject as far from the background as possible. The minimum should be 4 to 6 ft. This will give you a shallow depth of field and no shadows casting on the background.

5. Photoshop (Selection) — You will need a version of Photoshop to use digital backgrounds and props properly. Photoshop Elements will work just as well as the expensive full versions. There are many ways to cut out your subjects using Photoshop, but the easiest way is the Magic Wand tool. (As long as you did the steps above) Select the tool and set the tolerance to 50. The higher the number the more aggressive the selection will be. Click anywhere on the white background. Photoshop will find the lines and set the selection. Play with the tolerance until you get a clean selection. Once you see the marching ants, go to (Select) and choose (Feather) and set this at 1 or 2 pixels. This will soften your edge making it look more realistic.

6. Digital Backgrounds and Props — Now open your Digital Prop or Background. Click on your image with your subject and drag the cut out layer into your Digital Background or Prop. Position it so it looks proportioned and when your happy with the results, click on (Layer – Flatten Image).

Now Save your image as a new file, not overwriting your original. After you complete these steps over and over again, you will develop a workflow that can be done in just a few minutes. There you have it. Following these suggestions I have given you will greatly improve your digital background and prop portraiture. Your portraits will look like they were created in a full-sized studio allowing you to charge studio prices.

As always leave your comments below. I’d love to hear from you

Scott

In this video I answer a question that comes in a lot from our subscribers. What do I price my packages and prints for the Holidays?

Watch the video…I’ll give you some tips!

As always..leave your comments below. We would love to hear from you

Scott