Now, first off, I’m not the best photographer nor probably never will be BUT there are a couple of things that I DO know and want to share with others. I am very opinionated and say it like it is. That being said, I think I know everything but don’t. I try to find as much info as I can from good folks like Ken Rockwell, DPS and more. I don’t care about stepping on toes, I don’t care about “oh now your competition knows…” whatever. The only thing that matters is how I treat my clients (like the royalty that they are) and if they like my photos and my style.
So, some of these things are a DOH!, some are “band wagon” policies and other tips are just plain DUH YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS!!! Therefore, I will be labeling each one: DOH, BW or DYSKT
BW- “All photos on a CD come with the copyright”
This is heard, seen and used by wannabe photogs that just start using the term “copyright“. DO NOT tell clients your CD comes with a copyright!!! Are you kidding?? You are giving away your right to those photos that YOU took and giving them all of the rights to copy, edit, sell, enter in contests and more! Instead, change the wording to “CD comes with a personal license to print” and make sure to state the terms and limitations of that right!
DYSKT- “I provide 500-1000 final photos for weddings”
No, no and no. Think of yourself as the client. If you had to look through 500-1000 photos of yourself at the wedding, you might like it BUT, you might also get bored, lose interest and have a hard time choosing finals for prints. Keep the client engaged. Show them your best 50-100 photographs. If it’s hard to work down to that number, make sure that you only have 1-2 of your BEST photographs from each moment of the wedding (the kiss, the bouquet toss, the cake cutting). Narrow your choices down to THE BEST. Too many photos may mean indecision from the clients regarding prints. “But all they want is a CD”. Ok, in that case, do you really want to color correct or, eek…dare I say EDIT all 500-1000 photos to put them on a CD? Give ‘um your BEST on the CD and make sure you don’t give them the copyright.
DOH!- “I have the lowest prices around!”
Good for you. Give yourself a cookie then go shove it. If you are a photographer and are pushing the “lowest price around” ploy…then some clients will look elsewhere. Cheap=cheap. I’ve been there, done that, never going there again. Charging $500 for a wedding no matter what the wedding entails is pretty low. Charging anything less then that is just plain dumb. If you are pursuing photography as a full-time career, make it that way!!! Think about it, if you worked for 6-8 hours lugging around your boss’ gear dressed up fancy, lifting and holding up something that weighs 2 or more lbs….would you want only $500? And what about gas money to get there, what about your artistic know-how and fantastic eye for details? Don’t you have a family? How much money is being spent for your outfit or for those shoes?? Did you offer the bride a free gift or session with purchase? How much will that take out of your $500? VALUE YOUR TIME, VALUE YOUR SKILL, VALUE YOURSELF. Undercutting the competiton isn’t always the best thing to do. Offering “free” or “special discounts” can hurt too. Smart clients know that “you get what you pay for”.
DYSKT- Presentation is EVERYTHING!
From your marketing ad (from CraigsList to a $400 ad in the daily newspaper) make it OUTSTANDING! Websites? EVEN BETTER!!! If you can’t afford the newspaper or a website, there are free ways to advertise out there! CraigsList can be sketchy at times so…ad poster beware…but it can also be a free and easy way to market your business. Can’t pay for a web designer? Make a free website! I highly reccomend Webs.com! Blogs work great too! Do you have a logo? A motto? does someone already have that logo or motto? What makes YOU different? Your colors, your style, your attention to detail? Forget the photos, they speak for themselves…there’s no helping you in that category. Websites should draw the client in, make it fun and enjoyable. But also don’t forget that too much detail or distractions (like patterns or music) can take away from your photos. STILL don’t have a website? Download Picasa from Google (free), then upload your BEST photos (not all) to the Picasa Web Albums. It takes two minutes to upload and another minute and a half to post the link to that album on Craigslist. THERE, now that client that liked your ad, but didnt see any photos cause you don’t have a website, can now see some of your work! ALSO, do yourself a favor and learn some HTML or at least cheat. W3 schools offers free and easy tips on how to use HTML. They even provide a place to practice it before you post it to your ad! HTML will allow you to post photos, links and more into your online ad to make it look MUCH better!!! Why write 1,000 words in your ad when a photo can take care of that?
Here are a couple of OUTSTANDING websites that I would be honored to peruse as a potential client! (Or, even as a client going back to look at my gallery)…
DOH! “My baby is turning 2!!”
I don’t care. Take your personal posts/photos off of your blog or ANYTHING related to your photography. Don’t get me wrong, you want your clients to know something about you…just not EVERYTHING!!
DYSKT “Please view my 2 min silce show”
Proofread/spell-check before posting.
more later, I’m tired. Feel free to comment, gripe or rave about this post! But keep in mind, comments have to be approved. Oh, and don’t use fake names and act like someone else…you know who you are! haha
I am also available to “peruse” your website/portfolio from a client’s viewpoint and let you know what I think honestly. I give constructive critisism but I also tell you like it is…you may need to wear your big girl/boy undies.
