The Pro Photo Business Forum

Each day we clean the studio. All the lights are put up, and the cords wound and put in their places. The cameras are placed in the safe. Our presentation room is cleaned.

This way, when our first session of the day comes in, we start fresh. The selected background is rolled out for just that client. The lights are put out for just that client. The camera is assembled for just that client.

It may not be the most efficient way of doing things, but for that customer, we are providing custom customer service.

Lucky you. You’ve received an inquiry about your wedding photography services. Nice!

You immediately reply back via email… only to be greeted by the sound of crickets. A day later you reply again, and still nothing. One more time? Sure. Why not.

At some point though, you’re going to draw the line and give up on that lead. You walk away scratching your head wondering where you went wrong.

But wait! Don’t through that lead away. Why not refer the lead to your friends? You do have friends in your area that shoot wedding also don’t you? Why not refer that lead to your friends? They may have better luck, and refer you back in turn.

Each week the PPBF gives its readers a new challenge designed to help their studios grow. Sometimes the assignment involves shooting, and sometimes the assignment calls for a particular action to be taken. Whatever the assignment, you can be sure we will do our best to help you grow as a professional photographer, and not just as a photographer.

Congratulations to Last Weeks Challenge Winner, Michael Bromley Photography!

This Week’s Challenge:

Create An Executive Portrait!

When I went to college, I already knew I was put on this planet to be a photographer. My goal was simple. When I graduated, I wanted to be so prepared that I could take on any kind of photographic assignment. Food, architecture, family, landscape.

Well, this is what I want this month’s challenge to do for you. This is the PRO Photo Business Forum. If you are an amateur photographer, then this is going to bring you one step closer to becoming a professional, and unless you are an extremely successful professional photographer, you are going to need to take whatever kind of job comes your way. So lets get you prepared.

This week, I want you to photograph an Executive Portrait. Your finished portrait does not have to be created in a studio. It can be done in someone’s office, or wherever you like for that matter. It should be sellable.

Approach this assignment like a real shoot. Not that it is part of the contest, but I want you to also think about how you will be delivering this image to your client. Will it be on a DVD, or will you send them a link allowing them to download their image directly from their computer? How long a turnaround time will you promise your finished product in?

First Place Prize:  Three Months of Free Access to the PPBF.

If you are already a member, then your current subscription will be extended by an additional three months. Access will also be granted to all the goodies in The Swag Bag!

Our first place winner will also receive a $50 lab credit to BWC Photo Imaging! This can of course be used to produce prints for your client from your Executive Portrait session.

How To Enter:

1) Complete the assignment and place the results on your own blog, linking back to the challenge post.

2) Post a comment on this blog entry that you have completed the assignment with a link back to your blog entry. A link will be posted at the bottom of this assignment pointing back to your blog entry, thus creating a reciprocal link and helping with your SEO.

3) The winner of the assignment will be posted in the following weeks assignment.

We would love it if you can place the Weekly Challenge Icon at the beginning of this post in your blog post to show your readers your participation in the weekly challenge.

Here are the entries for this week’s Weekly Challenge!

Houston Photographer Jonathan Golden has completed the challenge!

You photograph a portrait session.  You sit down to review your work so they can make their selections.  The couple selects their favorite image, and leaves the rest.

“We really like all of them.  Can we just order this one for now and come back to you to order more?  How long will you hold our images for?”

Sound familiar?  Of course you make the sale of the one image, and you try to sell additional images, but there are times when it just doesn’t happen.

“I understand.  You would like to come back and order the other images you marked as your favorite at a later date.  Please understand, our policy is to only archive the images our clients order from.  There is no need for us to store images that no one wants.

Each week we continue to photograph more and more clients, and as we do we must make room on our server for those newly created images.  Out with the old, in with the new.  More than likely, at our current rate of production, we will have to remove your images in about xyz weeks time.  Would you like us to contact you a day or two before we have to remove your images from our server?”

“Yes.  Please please contact me.”

“Not a problem.  I would be happy to do so.  In fact, why don’t I go ahead and program an email to go out about four days before we anticipate having to remove your un-purchased portraits.  Would that be OK?”

On a bit of a different note.  Would you like a free eBook?

By Aric C. Hoek, owner and creator of Ten Houston Wedding Photographers

Honeymoon photography. The last frontier for wedding photographers. Listen to this teleseminar an learn how to get started as I disclose the language and tactics I used to get started with this new product. By the end of the teleseminar, you’ll be able to add language to your blog and web ads to offer this product line to your clients tomorrow.

Follow this link to see some Honeymoon Photography examples.

Would you like to listen to this and other episodes as a Podcast on your iPhone, iPod or on iTunes?

[display_podcast]

Many fledgling photographers out there often ask if they really need to have a blog, so I can only imagine what they would say to having a monthly newsletter. But the fact is, if you want to convert your past clients into repeat clients, then a newsletter is your first step.

Start your photography business out on the right foot. Add every client you have to your mailing list.

Here are some ideas of things you can put in your newslettert.

1. Offer a free family portrait session to the first ten people who contact you.
2. Show examples of an executive portrait you just completed.
3. Make a special on wedding album sales for people who did not purchase a wedding album.  Do you think you can sell a wedding album with a single email?  If you have a large mailing list, you may be able to sell more than one if you use the right language in your newsletter.
4. Create three annual family portrait specials, each in a different quarter.  Portraits in the park, beach, Mother’s Day.
5. Announce efforts you have done with a local charity.
6. Post an image from your last bridal, engagement, or family portrait session.  Talk about them in detail and educate people as to why it is a good image.
7. Create a photographic tour of your studio.
8. Have you acquired any new photographic equipment?

A newsletter reminds past clients that you are still out there.  While you may be extremely passionate about your photography and craft, the truth is they have already forgotten about you.  Your past clients are just as passionate about their own craft and have little time for anything else.  More than likely, they are not thinking about you.

Start a newsletter today.  Right now! I use Mail Chimp, and it’s FREE.

By the end of the day today, create a newsletter and contact your old clients and let them know you are thriving.  Provide links for them to refer you to their friends.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised what you can accomplish with a well constructed news letter.

You might even want to start a separate newsletter just to communicate with the other wedding vendors in your area.  Tell them about the continuing education you are doing.  Share vendor shots that you have recently taken.  Share links to entries in your blog that feature a certain vendor.

A newsletter can be a powerful tool, or, you can just go about your business trying to generate all new clients each and every month and forget about your past happy clients.

Your call.

By Aric C. Hoek, owner and creator of Ten Houston Wedding Photographers

This post contains a link to be used in conjunction with the teleseminar held on 7/28/2010 discussing how to get started with Honeymoon Photography.

http://solarisstudios.com/category/image-blog/honeymoon/

Each week the PPBF gives its readers a new challenge designed to help their studios grow. Sometimes the assignment involves shooting, and sometimes the assignment calls for a particular action to be taken. Whatever the assignment, you can be sure we will do our best to help you grow as a professional photographer, and not just as a photographer.

Congratulations to Last Weeks Challenge Winner, Kristen Bourdon Photography!

Judging by PPBF Print Competition Chairman, John Tucker:
This week’s winner was submitted by Kristin Bourdon of Kristin Bourdon Photography.

The slightly out-of-focus, shirtless boy with sunburned cheeks, sunglasses, standing in the harsh sunlight against a blue sky while holding a sharply-focused crab with a wet hand, speaks boldly of summer fun at the beach. Without a doubt, I knew immediately this was a beach image. Nicely done, Kristin!

Runner-up, Leanne Wildermuth!

The sharply-focused bone with the dog staring intently and in anticipation makes me think this could be an ad for a particular dog treat. Well executed shot, Leanne!

Thanks to all who participated,
John Tucker
PPBF Image Competition Chairman
John Tucker Photography

This Week’s Assignment:

Create a portrait with two or more light sources!

I think it’s safe to assume that the participants in the PPBF Weekly Challenge are all professional photographers, or are striving hard to become one. This weeks challenge is gong to help push you on your way if you are striving to become a professional.

The truth is, if I worked as fast as I could, I could complete a very nice bridal portrait session in less than ten minutes, but this will leave my client feeling as if she has received no value from me. So, with each shot I take, I really examine how the light is striking my subject. Do you know the names of the different types of portrait lighting?

Broad lighting: The main light completely illuminates the side of the face turned toward the
camera.
Short lighting: The main light completelyilluminates the side of the face turned away from the camera.
Butterfly lighting: The main light is placeddirectly in front of the face and casts a shadow directly under the nose.
Rembrandt lighting: This is a combination ofshort and butterfly lighting. The main light is placed high and to the side of the face turned away from thecamera and produces a triangle of light on the side of the face in shadow.
Split lighting: The modeling light is placed tolight completely one side of the face while placing the other side of the face in shadow.
Rim lighting:The modeling light is placedbehind the subject and places the entire face in shadow.

Really think about lighting your subject as you are doing it. Let your client see you are thinking about the lighting, and you will instantly add value to your finished portrait before it is even created. Is the light bringing out the natural features in this subject’s face? Are you making sure to remove possible unflattering features by keeping them in the shadows?

I want you to use two or more light sources while taking a portrait. I want you to direct my eye using light. Don’t just make your portrait all about the expression of the subject as so many amateurs can only do. You know the portraits I am talking about? The ones where the entire frame is filled with the subject’s face, and the face is all smiles. Show yourself and your clients that you are a professional photographer, and that you know the secret to great professional portraiture is more than just expression…. it’s great light!

First Place Prize:  To Be Announced.

How To Enter:

1) Complete the assignment and place the results on your own blog, linking back to the challenge post.

2) Post a comment on this blog entry that you have completed the assignment with a link back to your blog entry. A link will be posted at the bottom of this assignment pointing back to your blog entry, thus creating a reciprocal link and helping with your SEO.

3) The winner of the assignment will be posted in the following weeks assignment.

We would love it if you can place the Weekly Challenge Icon at the beginning of this post in your blog post to show your readers your participation in the weekly challenge.

Here are the entries for this week’s Weekly Challenge!

Professional Photographer Michael Bromley has completed the challenge!

By Aric C. Hoek, owner and creator of Ten Houston Wedding Photographers

This is really more of a production tip than a photography tip.

I have so many ways for people to chat or contact me. I can do one simple thing to help make sure I get the things done that I need to get done.

A few days a week, turn the chat off on Facebook, or anywhere else for that matter, and relieve yourself of one more distraction. You’ll be amazed how much more post editing you can get done.

While this seems really simple, it was about a year ago that I read this tip out there somewhere on the web and I followed the tip, and I am so glad that I did.