Teach Your Clients to Refer You, and Reward Them for Doing it!

We all use some sort of referral program in our business to get new clients. However, are you educating your client on how the referral program works, or are you just stuffing a certificate in their bag with the hopes they'll actually read it? It's a shame to have invested your time, effort and money into printing beautiful referral cards if they're not even getting noticed.

It's a bit like the grocery store receipt. There are coupons on the back, but unless you actually look at them, you probably can't name more than 1 advertiser. Why not? You know what you bought, so why look at the junk in the bottom of the bag? It's probably just advertising . . .

In order for our clients to be good referral sources, we first need to ask them for the referrals and let them know the WIFM factor (What's in it For Me?)
 
"Mary, when you show your portraits to your friends, they're going to ask you where you had them created. Now, I know you always tell people that I'm your photographer and I hope you know I appreciate your referrals, but I want to do something more than that for you. So . . . for every person you refer to me (and uses this referral card) they're going to get $50 in print credits when they reserve a session with me! AND . . . for each one of these that comes back to my studio, I'll reward you with a $50 studio gift card as well!

When you get home, please take a minute and think of 1 or 2 of your friends who might be in the market for beautiful portraits of their family . . . and then pass these cards along to them. It's a win-win-win for all of us!"

I'm simply using the print credit as an example, but you can substitute whatever offer works best in your own studio or scenario.

You're thinking "But I could never actually ask people for more business . . . I think it makes me sound desperate!"

First, asking for business doesn't sound desperate in a situation such as this. You're simply reminding them to let their friends know that you'd like to be their photographer as well, and dangling a little carrot as incentive.

However, if you're not comfortable with actually saying the words out loud, you can always drop the certificate in the mail a couple of days after they pick up their completed. It gives you one more opportunity to thank the client, and your thank-you note can ask / explain the referral program.

It doesn't matter how you do it . . . just THAT you remember to ask! 

- David

You Earned Your CPP Credential, Now Market It!

It looks as if the latest round of Certified Professional Photographer applicants have been notified that they have been awarded the Credential. 

Ok, now you're officially a CPP. Congrats.

Guess what. Your clients aren't going to care one bit - UNLESS you let them know why they should care.

Certification is the most marketable credential you will ever carry, so now is the perfect time to do something with it.

1 - Send out a press release to the business section of your local newspaper. There should be one in your CPP welcome packet; if not, call CPP headquarters and request one.

2 - Post it on your blog or website. Once you receive the Certified logos, start using them on all of your marketing. Print, email signature, website, even on your business portrait on FB and Linked-in; all are great places to market your CPP credential.

3 - Include it in your bio. Rewrite it to include a short paragraph stating that you're one of a very select few Certified Professional Photographers.

4 - Head over to the CertifiedPhotographer.com website. Do a search on photographers in your state who are Certified and count them. Use the line "YOUR NAME is one of less than X number of Certified Professional Photographers in YOUR STATE."

You earned it.

Now use it to your advantage.

- David Grupa, CPP

I Borrowed This Idea to Help Make a Point About Shoot-and-Burn Photographers

Every year, my local community center puts on a pretty impressive Bridal Expo, targeting area brides and inviting vendors from the wedding industry to participate. Even though I don't do a lot of these shows, I like this one because it keeps me visible in my community and the cost of the actual booth is very reasonable.

As with many Bridal Expos, there are couples who are are there to "kick the tires", as well as other couples who are pretty serious about planning an event. There are also maids-of-honor, sisters, friends, parents and of course, a few reluctant grooms. (I still think bridal fairs should have an open bar and a big screen TV just to give these poor guys something to do!)

My displays consist of finished albums and large canvas prints, with a few smaller books and some non-wedding couple and family images sprinkled in for a wider base of appeal (just in case you're the MOH or girlfriend who has a family or just wants to update their image with their "significant other".) It's always good to let prospective clients know you do more than just weddings.

There are drawing forms on the table for a series of prizes; in additional to the basic information (name, date, address, email and phone) I also add a few important check-boxes:

    - I have immediate need for your service; please call to schedule a studio visit!

    - I am still in need of a wedding photographer and would like more information.

    - I'm not interested in your services, but please let me know if I'm a winner.

    - If I'm a winner, I would prefer the cash value of the item instead.

My best prospects are going to come from #1, with some potential for those who checked #2. Obviously, I'm not going to waste time and money marketing to those who check the #3 or #4 boxes.

One of the other things you can do after you've had your drawing is send out "Second Prizes". I will often send out a $100 studio gift card to every attendee who fit into the #1 and #2 category. This gives them a little added incentive to call the studio and schedule an appointment; people hate to walk away from a gift card with any kind of substantial value.

Even though my business model is selling completed albums and printed images, I also get my share of people who say "we just want the images on a disk." Earlier this week, I saw a post come across on Facebook that was too good to pass up. It showed an old floppy disk with a CD label that said "What if this was the only way you could view your grandparents' wedding photographs?" Brilliant! How many hours have I spent extolling the virtues of professionally printed images to couples and telling them that any type of media - CDs, DVDs, thumb drives, even hard drives - is fragile and permanent storage and long-term accessibility can be questionable.

So . . . off to eBay I went to find someone selling old 5 1/4" floppy disks (I don't even have a computer that takes these, so I tossed all of my old ones). I also ordered some business-card sized stickers from my lab to put on each disk. I will hand these out to brides who request info this weekend, as well as displaying one on my table.

I think it gets the point across quite well.

- David

When Was YOUR Last Time?

As if I don't already have enough on my plate, I was flipping though Facebook friends today and looking at their profile images and it got me thinking . . . 


We invest a lot of effort and energy (not to mention $$) into convincing our clients why they should use a professional photographer, but what about us?


How recent is your last family portrait? Do you actually have a large print displayed in your own home, or is that just something we show off on our studio walls to help convince clients it's something they* need?


Better yet, when was the last time you updated your own professional headshot? What's the image displayed on your Facebook profile? Are your clients viewing a quality photograph of yourself, or are they seeing something that doesn't accurately reflect your professional reputation?


Everyone knows another photographer that you can pick up the phone and call. Maybe it's time you plan a "play date" with that person and update each other's images. It not only improves your appearance, but puts you in the client's position and gives you an opportunity to see how someone else works!

Is Your Studio Website Helping or Hurting Your Business?

We all know that one of our key marketing components in the computer age is a website. It has become our portfolio that can be viewed from anywhere with internet access (this includes your phone!)

Navigation should be simple and information easy to access. Clients don't want to play hide-and-seek looking for your contact info; email address and phone number should be readily visible. (Pet peeve: websites with "contact us" forms that do not show an email address. If it's so secret that you can't share it with me, what makes me want to do business with you?)

Anyway, I was reviewing a website last week for a newer photographer who had applied for Certification. This was a follow-up call in which we were discussing why she didn't pass. I asked her why she didn't have the images she submitted on her website, as the ones on her site were weak at best and showed minimal evidence of her knowledge of the craft and use of lighting techniques. The ones she sent for judging were far better! Her reply? "I like to keep my old images on my website as well as my new ones so I can see how far I've come."

While it's always nice to have a visual reminder of "Before and After", your clients don't care about how bad you were at the beginning. All they want to know is that when they invest money in portraiture from you; the resulting images will ROCK. Keep your reminders on your personal computer.

Take the time to clean the old stuff off your website often and replace it with fresh images; we're all guilty of letting it slide. Think of it this way - how much business are you losing because even a few of your images are less-than-stunning? If this is the case, then less is more. Show a few great images instead of lots of average ones.

- David

Q & A: More Simple Marketing Tips For Emerging Professionals

From time to time, readers send in questions or ask for help. In the coming weeks, I'll try to answer a few of them here.

- Do you have any other marketing suggestions to give to those who are in their first year (or so) in the photography business?

RAISE YOUR PRICES! Seriously . . . there is nothing more difficult than starting at a low price point and experiencing difficulty raising prices at a later date because clients balk. Start them out expecting to pay for what you are worth.

UNDERPROMISE AND OVER-DELIVER - There is nothing worse than getting a client's expectations up and then disappointing them with low-quality or late delivery. Just because your lab turns things around in 3 days is not a good reason to tell them that their images will be ready in a week. Take into account the fact that you have to prepare the images along with all of the other things that go into running your daily business. It's much better to tell them to expect 3-4 week turnaround and actually deliver in 2 weeks . . . that makes you a hero rather than a goat.

WORD OF MOUTH CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOU - The biggest problem is, you never hear the bad things until it's too late. Set your expectations up-front and then stick to your deadlines. After delivery, make sure to thank your clients with a card and give them an opportunity to refer their friends.

- David Grupa 

Do you have a question you like a member of the Camp David team to answer? Send your questions to info@CampDavidPhoto.com !

Q & A: Simple Marketing Tips For Emerging Professionals

From time to time, readers send in questions or ask for help. In the coming weeks, I'll try to answer a few of them here.

- What is the best low-cost marketing idea a beginning photographer could implement?

Partner with people you do business with to take advantage of their client base as well as your own. How cool is it for them to be able to offer a free portrait session as a thank-you gift to their clients? It puts your name in front of an entirely new group of people for a minimal cost on your part. Get involved with business groups and get your name in front of other business professionals.

Discount your sessions, not your print prices. I made up business cards that I gave to just about everyone that offered them a no-charge basic studio session. I still ask my clients for referrals and offer them a referral credit for each person they send to my studio.

Rather than discounting print prices, offer rewards or incentives for reaching a certain order level or placing the order within a specified time-frame. Cutting your print prices only encourages clients to ask for print discounts in the future and ultimately, brings you more people who are looking for a "deal" or "cheap photography".

- David Grupa

Do you have a question you like a member of the Camp David team to answer? Send your questions to info@CampDavidPhoto.com !

Stay Legal and Hip with Your Website and Slideshow Music

It's part of a dilemma photographers face all the time. First, do I use music or not on my website? Second, I want cool music by recognizable artists on my slideshows and my sites. Let's take a look at both of these issues.

There are arguments for and against music on websites. Those in favor feel that it sets a mood and helps draw the viewer into the images. Like a slideshow, many feel that the right music on a website is essential to creating a brand. It can engage the viewer and cause them to linger on the site while the tune plays out. If the viewer connects with the song, the possibility exists that they will feel a connection to you as well.

Opponents of website music (I fall into this category) feel that it's distracting, even annoying. While the tune on your site may be your personal favorite, it may be exactly the opposite for someone else. Many people browse at work; a sudden blast of music from their otherwise quiet speakers can cause a viewer to hastily close the window without even a second glance at your contact info. They move on to other sites with no noise and you're long-forgotten.

I'm often asked to visit the websites of other photographers just to "let them know what I think of their work." One of the biggest problems I encounter is the amount of "popular" music being used. Having jumped through the licensing hoops previously when assembling a slideshow using music from a mainstream artist, I know what a hassle (and expense) it is to acquire rights to use such music, so I'm relatively safe in assuming these steps were skipped. Yet, here it is playing on a website; the same song and artist that was just on the radio a few minutes ago.

We are mortified and angry when we discover our clients have copied our work in order to save a few bucks. On discussion groups I visit regularly there is usually someone explaining why they sell a disk of images for nearly nothing because "people are going to scan my photos anyway." (And I'm not even going to open the Pandora's Box of those photographers who constantly are complaining about how "my competitor is copying my style!")

Yet, these same people have no issue using copyrighted music on websites and slideshows. They'll even justify it and say something as silly as "I paid for the CD." ("I paid for this 5x7, why can't I get copies at Wal-Mart?") Hmmmmmmm . . .

SongFreedom is a company that is helping professional photographers and videographers operate legally and ethically by offering affordable licensing option on popular tracks. Now you can use artists such as Jason Mraz or tracks like Train's "Hey Soul Sister" on your website, slideshows and video without fear of legal repercussion.

Here's a great deal; sign up at www.SongFreedom.com by May 1, 2011 and use the code Camp David. You'll receive the bronze package for your first year for FREE. If you wish to upgrade to a different package, the code is good for 25% off. How can you lose?

When you choose to add music to your website and slideshows, respect the same copyright laws that we expect our clients to honor.
 

If you're still thinking "yeah, but who's actually going to turn me in for that?" odds are it won't be a representative of the artist, but rather, your clients who've been told they can't copy your work. Maybe it's a competitor who's unhappy that you're not playing by the rules. If that happens, do you really want the front page of your website to be replaced with this?

- David Grupa

Anatomy of a Business Card 101

You probably never even give it a second thought. Someone asks for your card, so you smile and hand over a 2x3.5 inch piece of paper that gives them the very first impression of you and your business. Stop and think for a minute; what's on your card?

Generally, a business card contains these 5 very basic pieces of information:           

1. Your business name
2. Your name
3. Your phone number
4. Your website
5. Your email address

Simple, right? Apparently not.

At a recent gathering of photography professionals, the speaker collected business cards from those in attendance to use in a drawing for door prizes to be given away that evening. After the meeting ended, the bag of business cards was left on a table. Curious to see what other photographers are using for cardstock, layout and design, I grabbed a handful of these cards. What I found surprised me.

While all of the cards contained the business name, most of them also contained the name of a specific individual. Here's where the surprises came:

Nearly 20% of the cards in the bag were only printed on one side.

            With business cards available inexpensively, why would you not use both sides? Put info about you or your business on the flip side. Use a photograph in conjunction with the contact info. (If it's not a client image, use a headshot of yourself!) Use association logos to let your clients know you're a member. Flaunt the fact you're a Certified Professional Photographer.

Choose a readable font and use it in a size that can be easily read.

            I was amazed at the number of cards where the font was so small, I had a difficult time reading it. Other cards had fonts where the numbers were difficult to discern because of the font style. Be sure to choose a font that reproduces well in different sizes without disappearing, running together or blocking up.

Almost 50% of the cards had a website and phone as the only contact information.

            Electronic media is a staple of our daily lives; include an email contact address so your clients can reach you via this method. Even though you have a contact form on your website, there are a percentage of prospective clients who won't work that hard to find you. Make it easy; include your email address on the business card.

Less is more.

            The cards with the most impact were the ones with fewer, larger images. Some attempted to cram so many tiny images onto the card that they were barely visible. Rather than try to showcase everything you do on a single business card, make up a card for weddings, for seniors, for children, for families . . . whatever you photograph! Labs who press print cards usually allow quantities as few as 50, so you can afford to have the right look for the right prospect. 

Take a peek at your card; is it making a powerful impression?

- David Grupa

Make Senior Reps a Part of Your Marketing Plan!

As consumers, we like to know what we are getting into before doing business with a company with which we are not familiar. For example, if you need to buy or sell your home you will probably ask someone you know which realtor they worked with and if they liked them. Or you may look for reviews online.

The senior portrait market is no different. First-time senior parents ask other parents who have been through it before. The seniors themselves look to their friends to see where they went and if they liked their images.

A senior rep promotes your business to their friends and classmates. Typically, the rep is provided with an incentive that they hand out or offer to friends and classmates. The business benefits to you include word-of-mouth advertising and additional bookings. The senior rep is rewarded based on the number of referrals who book a session.

If you’ve never worked with senior reps before, there are a few basic things you need to have in place. First, you need to know what you are offering to the rep in the form of sessions and rewards. Next, you’ll need to find the reps you want to work with. Finally, you need to get your ducks in a row. It is important to photograph the reps’ sessions early enough so you can get information into their hands before school is out for the summer. Why? Senior portrait sessions can be scheduled as early as June and even May. If you don’t have information out there until June you are losing out on potential bookings.

Let’s begin by looking at what to offer the rep. For starters, you will need to do a model session. Length of time, clothing changes, locations, etc. can be entirely up to you. I do a studio session with a few different clothing changes to show variety in backgrounds and outfits. Don’t go overboard on the number of images from this session.

After editing, I meet with the reps to determine which images are their favorites. I use these in my marketing pieces, as well as on the business/gift cards the student reps will hand out to their friends. Each rep gets 20-30 double sided business cards with an offer; this can include a gift card ($20, $50 or $75 off a session fee) or another product. The offer is totally up to you!

Get the business cards in the hands of your reps and keep them informed of any sales or special promotions you have going on throughout the senior season. Typically, I send them a quick note on Facebook to let them know of upcoming promotions. I also take this time to ask if they need anything from me that could help them gain more referrals.

Make sure to track the referrals you get from each rep. I have reward levels set up for each 5 referrals a rep sends to the studio. These reward levels are in addition to a $20 studio credit the rep receives for each referral that booked a session.

It can be tricky to find the reps, especially if you have not photographed seniors before. Here are a couple of ideas:

1)       If you have photographed seniors, ask them who they think a good rep would be from the junior class. Contact the people who are suggested by saying you received their name from this person. That will give you credibility (and not make you look like you are a creeper on Facebook.)

2)       Send out an email to your existing client base. Let them know you are looking for energetic students who want to represent your studio in their school.

3)       Use Facebook ads targeted to 16-17 yr olds in your area to generate online interest.

4)       Advertise on other social media outlets (website, Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc.)

A good rep is outgoing and involved in school activities or just has a lot of friends. Your senior rep program can have a lot of little nuances that makes the reps work really hard for your business. Not all reps are created equal. Some will do a great job getting you referrals, while others just think it is fun to be a rep and don't treat it like a "job". Be realistic in your expectations. If you are new to the senior market (or even just new to a school) it might take a couple of years to really get a good senior base going.

While senior reps are a great source of marketing, they shouldn’t be your only source. As discussed in previous posts here, direct mail, email marketing campaigns, referrals from regular sessions, Facebook ads and good old word-of-mouth are all needed to really spread the news that you are in the business of photographing high school seniors.

Have fun photographing!

- Kirsten Holscher

Kirsten Holscher, CPP, Cr. Photog. owns Fieldstone Portraits in Cottage Grove, MN. She also helps studio owners through her business coaching endeavor, First Things First. 

If you’d like more in-depth information about senior rep programs, visit http://www.facebook.com/FirstThingsFirstCoach. She offers an in-depth information guide on creating a senior rep program which is on sale now!

iTextPhoto Keeps You in Front of Seniors With Mobile Marketing Options

Let's touch on something that's really exploded in the past few years; mobile marketing. Although there are a number of components to mobile marketing, today we're going to focus on 2 specific parts.

Text Messaging

Anyone who's had a mobile phone for any length of time is already aware of the popularity of text messaging. Most teens would rather text than talk, so what better way to reach them than in a text message?
Companies such as iTextPhoto specialize in getting the message across for professional photographers. They collect and maintain a database of people who text a "mobile keyword" to a specific number. When people text your keyword it automatically opts their mobile number into your itextphoto database. From there, you're free to send text messages that include special offers or links to mobile websites. You can also send out a favorite image, share a new video slideshow with all your portrait clients, or surprise a client with a favorite preview image they can forward to friends and family or set as their phone background image.

Since not all websites are optimized for viewing on smartphones and mobile devices, one of the cool features if iTextPhoto is their special "mobile website". You can create you own gallery specifically compatible for viewing on a smartphone. How cool is that?

I've added text messaging and to my marketing plan for 2011. If you'd like to check it out for yourself, visit iTextPhoto for more information on their mobilemarketing plans.

QR codes

One of the hottest new pieces of technology to make its way into the market is the QR (Quick Response) code. These small, square barcodes can be scanned with Android, Blackberry and iPhones utilizing a barcode reader software (available free in the Android Market or iTunes store under the download "Barcode Scanner"). The result can be anything from a contact info card, to a phone number, to a link to a website showing photographs.

QR Codes are slowly but steadily being adopted by the public. Marketers have begun to notice the incredibly low cost of QR codes and their amazingly effective ROI.

The codes are easily generated online at sites such as ZXing. Simply type in the type of info you'd like displayed and a QR code will be generated for your use. You can print it in your marketing materials, on a tshirt, on stickers or post it on your Facebook page.

The uses are many; what uses will you think of for QR codes?

If you're thinking "Great, but I don't know about text messaging and scanning barcodes with my phone," you're in a growing minority. Remember, we're marketing to high school seniors . . . and they DO "get it" when it comes to technology.

Stay ahead of the game!

- David Grupa

Should You Use Traditional Mailing Pieces in Your Senior Marketing?

With the popularity of electronic media increasing, many photographers often ask "is it even necessary to do a mailing? Can't I just use Facebook and my student reps?"

Any marketing campaign (and that's what we're building - a package) should contain enough elements to cover your target market in as many ways as possible. In my market (a large metro area) advertising in the newspaper, or on radio or television is not only cost prohibitive, it's fleeting and ineffective. Ads on broadcast media are literally "gone in 60 seconds", while newspapers get recycled at the end of the day, often without your target market having seen or heard your spot.

Remember, we are marketing to both the high school senior and his/her parents (or the checkbook holder who gets the final say), so I still use 3-4 USPS mailings per season. This literally puts my name in the hands of both student and parent in a format that is more permanent than radio / TV / Facebook / newspaper. Since there is a coming need, the card is bound to be put in a prominent place (such as the refrigerator door) and kept for reference.

Here are 6 important things to consider when doing a senior mailing:

1)     Use images to grab attention, use simple text to hold it. Design the front side of the card with eye-catching images and graphics, then use a short headline to entice them to read the other side.

2)    The offer portion of your card should be simple and easy to read. Don't try to cram every little detail onto the piece; state your offer quickly and concisely.

3)    Include a Call-to-Action statement. A generic offer with no call-to-action doesn't push the reader to make a decision and act on it. Something like "One Day Sale" or "Hurry, Offer Expires April 1st" will cause the reader to respond.

4)     Include your contact information! While this seems simple, too many beautiful cards get designed with the studio phone number and website as an afterthought. Don't make it the reader have to hunt for your contact info.

5)     Address the card "To The Parents Of" the high school senior. Once the piece is brought in from the mailbox, it often gets sorted by addressee. You want mom to see the your piece as well as the senior.

6)     Work from a reliable mailing list. While you can purchase lists from brokers, sometimes the actual school district will sell you a list of their upcoming seniors. Check to see if this is available in your area; it's far more accurate than a purchased list.

There are numerous places to get quantity postcards printed in full color. Depending on the quantity of cards needed, I have received great prices and service from these vendors:

Next Day Flyers - www.nextdayflyers.com
VistaPrint - www.vistaprint.com
Willy Walt Printing - www.willywalt.com
(Check out the VistaPrint link for special discounts!)

Of course, one of the keys to a successful mailing campaign is repetition. Sending out a single card often leaves photographers wondering why they received little or no response. Follow up with 2 or 3 smaller cards after your initial mailing to remind parents and seniors that "there's still time to schedule your appointment".

Start designing now so they'll be ready to mail in the coming months!

- David Grupa

9 Things To Do in Preparation for the HS Senior Season

As photographers, we just love to have people in front of our cameras. Being creative individuals causes us to "think outside the box" and come up with new ways to light, pose, photograph and sell to our clients.

However, as small business owners we often fall a bit short of that creative mark. So many photographer I speak with either hate the thought of marketing their business or just have no idea where to begin; many end up doing nothing at all. If this describes how you feel about marketing your studio, you'll want to watch this page as the next few articles will deal with marketing ideas for high school seniors.

There are many facets involved in creating a coordinated marketing campaign, so advance planning is vital. You can't just mail out a card that says "Class of This Year's Seniors Should All Be Photographed Here" and expect that to do the trick. Competition for the photography dollar has never been more challenging.

Here Are 9 Ideas of What To Do in Preparation for a New Year of HS Senior Clients:

1)      Look back at the previous year. You can't tell where you're going until you know where you've been.
- What sold well?
- What items are just taking up space on your price list?
- Is it time to refresh / replace / remove slow-moving or non-selling offerings?

2)      Review your senior portrait menu.
- Is the design still relevant?
- Do your clients understand it easily without explanation?
- Is your pricing still profitable? (Do you need an increase?)

3)      Manage your web presence.
- Change out images on your website from past years so you continually look current. HS seniors (and their parents, who make the buying decision) love to see faces of people they know!
- Make sure you are keeping current updates on your blog.
- Don't forget about Facebook; it's not just for games and socializing!

4)      Decide on your offers and strategy.
- Should you offer a discount on sessions or packages? (Hint: I always discount sessions because the client only purchases one of these. If I discount the portrait packages, I'm now beginning to take money out of my own pocket. And NEVER give away wallets! What do seniors always purchase?)
- Will you mail postcards, post offers on your website, use Facebook, or a combination of these?
- If mailing, have you ordered a mailing list yet?
- When will you make these offers? What dates are they valid?

5)      Schedule model sessions.
- Arrange for a few of next year's seniors to schedule a mini-session in your studio so you can get some fresh faces online. This also gives you the opportunity to try new ideas and perfect new techniques.

6)      Design your materials.
- Whether it will be electronic or printed, design your campaign with a coordinated look. There needs to be continuity in your marketing.

7)      Update your studio / look.
- Perhaps it's time to purchase new backgrounds (or maybe just trade with a colleague to save $$ and still get a fresh look.)
- Make sure your props have a fresh coat of paint and everything is clean and free of dust, cobwebs, etc. (Nothing makes a senior girl cringe like a spiderweb!)
- Walk into your studio as if you were the client. What would you change / clean / repair?
- Schedule an Open House, for clients, colleagues or both! (Nothing makes you take a critical look at yourself as when you've got company coming!)

8)      Challenge yourself to waste less time.
- Seriously, how many frames are you going to show a client? We all overshoot, but sometimes we make more work for ourselves. Remember, the images you capture today you'll still have to edit later.

9)      Unclog the post-production bottleneck by preparing yourself in advance.
- Sick of retouching? Try a service such as Retouchup.com. You'll still have to do your own "finishing" to the image, but the basic retouching is handled for $5 a file or less.
- How many times have you looked at an image and run 2, 3, 4 or more different actions on it just to see what they do?
- Look at what you've done in years past; retire any effects that are outdated or overused. Decide what look you'd like for the coming year and highlight 6-10 effects that you intend to use regularly. Move them to a prominent spot in your palette along with other often-used actions to save time searching.

The list will continue to grow as you dig deeper, but these tips should give you a head start on preparing for a busy and profitable high school senior season!


- David Grupa

Stay tuned:  More Creative Senior Marketing Ideas in Coming Articles!