Tonight I relearned the importance of service (& nice people). As a boutique photography studio, service to my brides & grooms is extremely important to me. I try to reply to emails so quick that it almost makes my brides wonder if I live online (I dont. I live in a normal house like the rest of you folks *wink*) , after a wedding I try to have a sneak peek online within 3 days…this because I think that if I was the bride, I would be dying to see some pictures, any pictures! Also, being an avid facebooker (I feel geeky even typing that, but alas it is the truth),
if I were a new bride I would want my profile picture changed pronto! When I am getting my clients
beautiful image DVD to them, I try, nay, I insist that my lovely couples have them in their hands within 3 weeks.
If my album designer is a day late with her design proofs for me, I am finding out why its late.
Its important to me that things are done in a timely manner for my amazing couples. As such, I feel that I
have 3 advantages in this business, a field that is often referred to as “saturated” and “over run with photographers”
and that is the following:
1) Excellent service. I treat my clients as Gold because I genuinely care. Them having the perfect experience
with amazing portraiture is extremely important to me. When I picture my artwork, portraying their love
hanging in their home ( a post on our lovely Gallery wraps coming soon),I seriously get goosebumps.
(the big ugly kind if you must know. Im not a pretty goosebumper)
2) Unique & Artistic Images. That tell YOUR story, not one that ive made up for you with cheesy poses.
3) A (somewhat *wink*) vibrant personality that puts couples at ease & makes for a fun time
& natural looking photos.
I think as professionals, it is crucial to know what our strengths are. What differs us from the competition.
One of the best things photographers can do this upcoming year is sitting down and writing what
their top 3 strengths are. Are your photos very very abstract & like nothing else out there?
Perhaps this will only appeal to a small portion of brides, however if you aknowledge your
uniqueness as a strength and something that makes you different & sets you apart, you will
do amazingly. However, if you as the professional photographer do not know what your
strengths are, how will your clients? It is not vain to learn what you rock at….it is crucial!
You must know what you have to offer & rock it out!
Tonight we had a consultation with a window supplier (we are building our dream home this upcoming year).
First of all, it must be said that I loved their website. I know, I know, how interesting can a window website be?
Well honestly, not that interesting…however it spoke alot about THEM as a company & what they were all about.
It honestly did not say a ton about what makes their windows unique, but rather what makes THEM unique.
I loved them instantly.
It was clear that they were extremely nice people, with excellent values. In fact they had their values
written on their website. When our consultant came out, I was blown away by how genuine he was.
He knew his product inside& out (and it is an excellent & superior product) and was very confidant in it.
He knew that it would make us happy & suit our needs. He seemed to really listen & care about what was
important to us. I felt that he genuinely cared about making sure that they windows would suit our needs.
I tell photographers in consultations that if you honestly do not feel that you can provide what that couple
is after, do not take the booking. It is not fair to you or them. I had a client ask me once if I can do a very abstract, edgy,
highly textured style like Jesh de Rox (who I totally adore) and I said “no”. Sure, I could attempt it & probably do a good job,
but im NOT Jesh and if that is the style they were really wanting, they really really needed him. Its his brand. He is what
makes that “look” so spectacular. Anyways, ive gone off on a tangent. The other thing that impressed me greatly
about this “window guy” is how quickly he returned my emails. If I had a thought pop into my head or a question,
I could fire it off…check back a couple of hours later (sometimes even faster) and he had a detailed and caring
response sent back to me.
I guess in summary, as someone who provides a service to people, the teacher was the student tonight.
I was blown away & like I said “relearned” how important it is to stand apart from the sea of competition
by having amazing wedding photography service. This is not something you can fake. You cannot fake to care.
You have to really care & really love what you do & when you do; your service level will be amazing & make
your precious clients have the experience they deserve.
Those are my 2 cents for Friday.
