Hanging Branch Photography Articles

How to Go the Extra Mile For Your Clients Without Picking Up Your Camera

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If you’re in the photography business, you know that it’s not all about what you do with your camera that gets people in the door and coming back over and over again.

But, if you’re just starting out in this business, this is an important lesson to learn: There are plenty of ways you can demonstrate your value to your clients, even without picking up your camera.

We’re talking about creating the whole package…

Great photos, making communication a priority, awesome resources that are helpful to your clients, and being understanding of your client’s circumstances.

Let’s explore each of these in more detail, so you can get a firmer grasp on how you can go the extra mile for your clients.

Stay in Touch for the Long-Term

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Communication is a fundamental aspect of the success of any business. But that’s especially true for a service industry like photography.

No doubt, if you’re a photographer, you need to be able to communicate well with your clients before, during, and after you work together.

Before you’re hired, it’s necessary to inform your potential clients about your personal vision, your prices and packages, and other nuts and bolts type of information. It’s also important to ask your clients questions so that you are on the same page and that you deliver products that they most want.

During your photo shoot, having an ability to clearly direct your clients is certainly an asset. Whether you’re photographing a large wedding party or a couple that’s announcing their upcoming pregnancy, your verbal communication skills will help you compose images that really speak to your clients because they will know just what they need to do.

Your communication doesn’t stop there!

After your work is done, seal the deal by demonstrating that you’re in it for the long haul.

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There are a number of ways you can do this, but one of our favorite is to deliver some of your client’s images in a linen-wrapped photo box from Hanging Branch.

These boxes are the height of form and function. The cream linen looks stately and expensive, with satin ribbons to hold the prints in place. The box can accommodate around 100 4x6” or 5x7” images so that you can deliver a wide variety of prints. The cover can be engraved with your choice of text or logos, so you can personalize the gift with your client’s last name or business name, or you can add your own logo or company name if you so desire. The built-in USB compartment can house either a crystal glass or wood flash drive, which you can pre-load with your client’s photos as well.

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When you think about it, what better way to wrap up a session with a client than by delivering their images with a thoughtful, handmade gift like a photo box? It’s certainly much more impressive than a thank you email, and, even better, it’s something that your clients can use over and over again.

In fact, a photo box is a great way to keep yourself in the minds of your clients. Each time they see their customized box or use their engraved wood or glass USB, they’ll think about you fondly. That’s a great asset for your business because it allows you to communicate your commitment to your clients over and over again, each time they use their photo box or USB from Hanging Branch.

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Be Helpful

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Ok ok...so that’s a cliche heading, but trust me, being helpful is becoming more and more rare!

You’re an expert, and so your clients are coming to you with a specific need that they’d like you to fill.

That’s a lot of power to have!

But where some photographers go awry is thinking that they know better than anyone else, particularly clients that aren’t trained photographers.

What that means is that you need to balance the qualities of being an expert and being a service provider that helps their clients through the process.

That means answering any questions they have - even if they might seem silly or something that your clients should already know. If you’re photographing a family for a portrait, offer some tips on wardrobe selection. If you’re photographing a wedding, give your clients a sample list of photos they might like to include on their shot list.

The point is that rather than coming off as a know-it-all, be educational and informative. Have resources at the ready so you can point out some things that have worked for you in the past or answer questions that your clients are struggling with at that moment. In that regard, consider yourself like their photography guide, helping them along from start to finish.

If you can do that and work collaboratively with your client, they will surely be impressed with your willingness to go the extra mile!

Be Understanding

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Along the same lines as being helpful, being understanding and empathic will get you a long way in the photography business.

There will always be hiccups. Sometimes they’ll be your fault; other times it will be your client’s fault.

The single dad that’s 10 minutes late to your session because he’s got a sick kid doesn’t need your judging glare. Instead, he needs you to help him get his kids ready to go for their photos.

Likewise, if a client hates how you processed their images, they don’t need to hear your speech about how everyone else likes what you do. What they need is to hear some options for how you will rectify the situation.

In short, just be nice! Being a photographer is a great occupation and one that can be incredibly rewarding. If you focus on maintaining communication with your clients for the long term, being helpful, and putting yourself in your clients’ shoes, you’re sure to reap even more benefits from this most rewarding job.



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Photography Business Decisions You Won't Regret

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According to Forbes, 80 percent of businesses fail.

Yikes.

There's plenty of reasons why businesses fail - the timing, the location, the owner, and so forth.

But rather than worrying about what makes businesses fail, why not concentrate on what the 20 percent of successful businesses do?

As a photographer, you have a lot on your plate.

You're a photographer, a receptionist, a website designer, a marketing guru, and so on...

With so much to worry about, the question is, what business decisions can you make - should you make - that you won't regret?

Let's have a look at a few tried-and-true decisions that will help you help your business grow and prosper.

Give Clients an Experience

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Is it easier to shuffle your clients through your studio in a machine-like fashion?

Probably.

Will you be able to cram more people into your schedule if you work precisely and efficiently?

Perhaps.

But is building a client experience that's focused on "let's hurry and get this done" going to win over the hearts and minds of consumers?

Definitely not!

Photography, as you no doubt already know, isn't just about creating a beautiful photo.

It's also about creating an experience that your clients enjoy, that they appreciate, and that they tell their friends and family about when it's all said and done.

When thinking about creating a good experience for your clients, how you deliver their photos should come immediately to mind.

There's something to be said for the way Apple packages their products. It's really like a personal unveiling, with the theme song from 2001: A Space Odyssey the only thing missing as you open the box to your new iPhone or MacBook.

That's the sort of experience customers like - and one of the reasons why Apple products are so popular.

It's something so small, yet something that your clients will appreciate. The packaging counts!

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That's why a smart business decision is to partner with a company like Hanging Branch that helps you deliver those WOW moments to your clients.

Instead of emailing them a link to an online gallery, send them a few prints inside one of Hanging Branch's beautiful, hand-made wooden photo boxes.

You'll give your customers a real unveiling as they feel the craftsmanship of their custom photo box. 

You can have your client's name engraved on the box too, making it a gift for generations to enjoy. 

What's more, you can add a wood USB to the mix, pre-loaded with your client's images. You can even engrave the USB too! 

Think about it - you finish a job, put a few prints into a finely-made wood box with your client's name on it, and add an engraved USB inside with a few hundred photos on it for your clients to enjoy. 

They get the box with the goodies inside and are blown away by such a thoughtful gift.

Now that's an experience, right?

Don't leave your clients unimpressed. Wrap up each gig with a tasteful, beautifully made wooden photo box from Hanging Branch.

Separate Your Personal and Business Bank Accounts

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I hate to say it, but if you mix your personal and business money in a single bank account, you're doing it wrong.

Sure, it might seem easiest at this point to have a single bank account. It might even seem like it makes sense - perhaps you aren't making much money, and you feel like a separate account isn't needed.

Even if you're in the red and not making any money at all, you still need to separate your personal and business finances. But why?

For starters, it's a way to protect your personal assets. If something goes awry with your business - which, as I mentioned in the introduction - is a common occurrence, you don't want your personal money to be taken to settle your business debts.

Secondly, once your business is going strong, just think of the nightmare it would be to try and separate your personal and business transactions from a single account - something that you'd have to do come tax time each year.

Separating your accounts would resolve that issue. Get more great advice on your business finances (and other success tips) in the video below from Kristy Dickerson:

Also speaking of taxes, by mixing your personal and business interests into a single bank account, you run the risk of not being able to make certain deductions.

That is, only a business can deduct business expenses. That means that if you use your personal bank account for your business transactions, you might have a tough time convincing the IRS that you run a legitimate business that's eligible for all the business-related deductions you think you should get.

Again, separating your accounts takes care of that problem.

Lastly, having your personal bank account serve as your business bank account just looks a little on the unprofessional side, don't you think?

I mean, imagine a vendor pays you with a personal check. Might that leave you wondering if they run a legitimate business?

People will wonder the same thing about you if you're paying bills with personal checks.

So, to protect your assets, to make your tax situation more clear, and to save a little face while you're at it, separate those bank accounts!

Be Wary of Whose Advice You Seek

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Both the photography and business worlds have changed a lot in recent years.

In fact, I'd say that the advice photographers got when they started a business ten years ago is probably a lot different than what a photographer starting a business today would hear from their advisors.

In the business world, things like demand for products and services is constantly changing. A decade ago, perhaps wedding photography was the best genre to dive into due to demand.

But now, that might not be the case since people are waiting longer and longer to get married - if they get married at all.

Ten years ago, there wasn't Twitter or Instagram. Social media marketing wasn't nearly as big a thing as it is today.

What's more, though photographers certainly had websites a decade ago, today, the way websites are built and maintained is a completely different game. See how to tackle social media marketing in today's world in the video below from B&H:

Because of the roller coaster-like ride that photography and business are often on, it's important to be careful whose advice you seek.

Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't seek the advice of established photographers...

I'm just saying that some will have better insights than others.

For example, I probably wouldn't recommend pinning your hopes on the advice of someone that had a successful career in the 1980s but retired in the mid-90s before the digital photography revolution.

Not only might that person have a distinctly different take on photography itself, but they are bound to have a completely different opinion of how to run a successful business or tackle marketing.

Instead, I'd recommend talking to other photographers that have been in the game for 5-7 years.

At that point, they've done something right to still be in business, but they haven't been in business so long that they no longer have their finger on the pulse of what photography customers are looking for and what it takes to build and sustain a business in the modern world.

Advice is great, and so is the guidance of a more experienced photographer - just be sure you get your pointers from someone that knows what it's like doing business in today's world! 



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Tips for Making Your Photography Packages Hot Sellers

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It’s one thing to offer a variety of photography packages...

It’s another thing entirely to have photography packages that people actually buy!

As a photographer, your photos speak for themselves, and hopefully serve to convince people that you’re the right person for the job.

But even if you have incredible skills that allow you to create stunning photos, without the right packages to offer to clients, you might find yourself up a creek without a paddle.

Of course, understanding how to create hot selling photography packages might not be all that straightforward.

Part of it is having the business savvy to understand what your clients need. Those kind of skills generally build with time.

However, another part is simply taking measures that make your photography packages more attractive to your customers.

Here’s a few tips on how to do just that.

Solicit Feedback

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Remember when you were just starting out in photography and everyone told you to share your photos with others so you could get feedback on your work?

That strategy worked to help you improve, didn’t it?

The same strategy can be highly valuable when creating packages for your clients to choose from.

That means soliciting feedback from your clients to determine what they want and what they don’t want. After all, if your packages include things that aren’t on your client's’ wish list, your packages aren’t going to sell.

So, how does one go about getting feedback?

It’s simple! Just ask!

This is especially important when you’re just starting out because you likely won’t have a whole lot of information on which to base your photography packages.

That means consulting with each client and asking them what they would like to see in the packages you offer. That includes the type of photos, the sizes, and the pricing.

It can be a little daunting to ask for that kind of feedback, but you’ll likely find that your clients are willing to help you develop a better line of products. If need be, offer a simple gift for giving you that feedback, like a large print or several smaller ones.

Besides, you’ll need to get into the habit of soliciting feedback anyway, as getting testimonials and referrals will be key to expanding the footprint of your business.

Don’t Try to Offer Everything to Everyone

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When devising your photography packages, there’s no way that you can please every single client, every single time.

You can, however, develop your packages such that you hit all the major bases, while also allowing your customers to add other items to their selections as a la carte items. That’s how to create a great customer service experience!

Here’s what I mean.

If you offer complex pricing plans with dozens of different options, your clients will be so overwhelmed by it all that they won’t know what to choose. If they don’t know what to choose, they might choose nothing, and there goes your ability to make money.

Instead, opt for package plans and pricing strategies that are clear and simple. This means using the feedback you’ve gotten from past clients to develop three or four plans, each with clearly defined options and a clearly defined price.

When writing up your packages, keep your words clear and simple too. There’s no need for fluff here - just get to the point so your clients can quickly see what you offer. Think about it like writing a menu at a restaurant - tell them what it is, what’s in it, and how much it costs. That’s it!

Then, as noted above, you can offer a la carte items that might not be as popular. Not everyone will want a giant canvas print of their kid’s 5th birthday party, but having that option available as an add-on will help you capitalize on the times when clients do want something of the sort.

Make Upgrading Too Irresistible to Pass Up

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The fact of the matter is that if you have three or four packages, most people will ignore the cheapest and the most expensive ones and opt for the ones in the middle.

What you need to do, then, is make it too hard for your customers to pass up the higher priced packages.

But how do you do that?

If you have four packages, your least expensive package should be basic, but offer enough that makes it worth your time to book the session.

Your next package should offer a sizable increase in perceived value, but without jumping the price up too far, thus making it far more desirable than the first, but without pricing people out.

The third package should be the one you try to sell the most often, because again, most people won’t want to pay top dollar. This one will have yet more value than the second package, and will represent a modest price increase.

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At this point, you might even throw in free extras to help motivate your clients to opt for this higher priced plan. Something as simple as a free 5x7 print might do the trick for some people.

But if you really want to impress, add in unique options for storing and displaying their photos, like a handmade photo box from Hanging Branch.

These boxes - which can be made of wood, linen, or leather - are true statement pieces that add a touch of elegance and class to your photography packages.

Aside from being gorgeous and well made, these photo boxes can be engraved. Add your own logo or business name or have the name of your client engraved on the box for a personal touch.

Either way, Hanging Branch photo boxes, which can include a wood engraved USB as well, will demonstrate to your clients a commitment to beauty and quality that they just won’t be able to pass up. That means more people choosing your higher priced packages and more money for your bottom line.

What’s not to like about that?

Get more ideas on pricing your packages and the psychology behind pricing by checking out the video below by Preveal:



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Unique Photography Products That Will Help You Grow Your Business

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Whether you're already in business for yourself or you dream of one day having your own photography studio, there are plenty of things you can do to set yourself up for success.

One of those things is to devise a solid business plan that outlines each step of the process, from coming up with a business name all the way through implementing your plan and executing your goals.

Naturally, you need to have the artistic and technical chops to create gorgeous photos as well.

Another thing you can do to make your success more likely is to stay up-to-date with products and services that can make your life easier.

From adding unique products to your packages to handling the books to marketing your business, every facet of your business can be enhanced simply by keeping your finger to the pulse of what's new (and what works) in the world of professional photography.

With that in mind, allow me to introduce you to three unique products and services that will help you build a more successful photography business.

Hanging Branch Photo Boxes

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One of my favorite new companies isHanging Branch, an outfit that wants you to deliver more than just photos.

They help you do that by offering you impeccably crafted wooden boxes to serve as vehicles for presenting prints to clients and enticing them to spring for more products and services, which improves your bottom line.

I know that "wood photo box" doesn't necessarily sound all that great, but trust me, this is not just any old box.

Hanging Branch strives to build photo boxes that are worthy of presenting your work.

That means that as much time, energy, effort, and love as you put into your images, Hanging Branch does the same with their wooden photo boxes.

One look at the product images above and below demonstrates their commitment to craftsmanship.

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Just think about it...

You can meet with your clients and show them their images on a computer screen - a cold and unfeeling process that might leave your clients wanting.

You can also show up with a pile of prints, which although more of a tactile experience than viewing images on a screen, is lacking in the presentation department.

That's where a wooden photo box comes in handy.

Think of it like the gorgeous, gold-lined envelope that holds the card with the winner's name at the Oscars - it's all about presentation.

Your clients will see a gorgeous photo box constructed of walnut or maple (leather is available too) that sets a beautiful stage upon which you can reveal their images.

The boxes are sanded smooth and covered with a clear coat for a stunning, durable finish.

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Inside your clients will find up to 100 prints ready for viewing.

Even better, you can add engraving to both sides of the box lid. Have your business name or logo added to make each box a miniature marketing tool, or opt to have your client's name engraved on the box for a more personal touch.

Either way, it's hard to present your images to a client in a more personal and beautiful manner than a handmade, engraved photo box!

Sprout Studio

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Not everything you do as a photographer is done on the "front end," meaning, many of your daily duties will occur outside the realm of taking or editing photos or interacting with clients.

And, like a lot of creative professionals I know, doing bookkeeping and organizing a calendar and maintaining a sales gallery isn't my forte.

That's why I recommend Sprout Studio as an all-in-one "assistant" to help you make quick work of all those less-than-appealing activities.

The beauty of Sprout is that it's a platform that allows you to tackle a wide variety of important tasks.

It'll help you take control of your books so you can more easily track the health of your business.

You can also manage your studio more effectively by easily maintaining a calendar of events like photo shoots and organizing all your clients into an easy list.

What's more, Sprout helps you makes sales with their guided sales galleries that make clients more likely to purchase prints and other products. You can also create and maintain an online gallery of your work to get more eyes on the photos you work so hard to create.

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Remember when I said it was an all-in-one solution? Yeah...I wasn't kidding!

Even getting set up in Sprout is easy.

Use the Startup Wizard to get the ball rolling, then rely on the Startup Tracking feature to ensure you're ticking all the boxes. And, if you get confused along the way, just refer to the handy email tutorials Sprout sends your way so you can learn the ins and outs of the software more quickly.

When it comes down to it, Sprout Studio will make the daily operation of your business a relative breeze. With less time spent worrying about your books or messing around with your online galleries, you can spend more time taking photos, editing them, and interacting with clients. That's not a bad deal at all!

Animoto

So I've given you a great tool for impressing your clients with the manner in which you present their prints.

I've also showed you some great software for taking care of business.

When it comes to getting people in the door in the first place, what better way than to create stunning, professional-looking marketing videos all on your own?

It's no secret that video is where it's at these days.

The growth of YouTube and features like Facebook Live are proof positive of that.

Animoto makes it easier for you to capitalize on the value of using video in marketing by giving you an easy-to-use, intuitive platform flush with tools for making impactful videos. Watch the video below to see what I mean:

Create short videos that show off your images with a variety of collages and layouts that make your photos shine.

Add tidbits of information to your videos with easily incorporated text overlays.

You can even adjust the timing and pacing of each segment of your videos to maximize impact.

Better still, use Animoto to create your own videos, like a documentary of how you work to show your clients your process. You can even make videos of your sessions with your clients to give them an added behind-the-scenes look as you work with them to create lasting memories.

In that regard, Animoto isn't just a marketing tool, it's a means by which you can add more value to what you offer your clients.

In the end, being a successful photographer isn't just about your talent or your people skills; it's also dependent upon your ability to market yourself, presenting your work in eye-catching ways, and maintaining an organized system of managing your business. It's a tall task, for sure, but the tools outlined here will help you build a better photography business and reach your goals.



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