In this blog, we are going to focus on the different photography business automation you can use and how to cut down on boring but oh so necessary tasks in your photography business. So you can focus on the job you love the most while keeping your clients super happy!
If you are new to having a workflow, download the workflow guide today. This way you can start with your current set of tasks and add any new tips from this blog that you think will fit your style in your photography business.
Automated Follow-Up
After you get an inquiry from a potential client, you follow up either by phone or email. But what happens after that? Most people just wait.
But you can actually help your clients by sending them a couple of follow up emails that provide value.
If you are a wedding photographer, for example, you can explain them in a few follow-up emails why you are the best person to work with. You want to take possible objections that they might have out of the conversation.
For example, there are a couple of fears that brides and grooms have (see the blog). Write a few emails where you explain how you work so they don’t have to worry about that.
Automate those emails into your workflow, and voila! You will have a higher booking rate from now on!
Check out the blog with the fears and think of your clients and their objections.
Photography Business Automation for Upsells
As you may know, it is always easier to sell to someone who already bought from you, who already said yes to you once.
Why?
They trust you. You already have a relationship with them.
So instead of just trying to get more clients for your business, also invest some time in strategizing how you can earn more money from your existing clients. When you are a wedding photographer and you like doing boudoir as well, send the bride an automated email message offering a boudoir shoot a few weeks before the wedding! Great gift for her husband on the wedding day.
Other examples:
- The couple gets an email with the final invoice and he asks a question if they want to increase their hours.
- The couple gets an email that the images are ready, and maybe they want to increase their album.
You may think that sounds really annoying, but we can do it in a non-obtrusive way. Not pushy, not sales-y, but definitely service minded and there is always some additional benefit to be had for the client.
And making it a part of your workflow takes a big part of the emotion out of it. You don’t have to think twice about doing it, you have already crafted your perfect message. All you have to do is send it out.
Automated ‘Thank you for booking’ gift
It is a nice gesture to send your clients a little thank you after they have booked you. It can be as simple as a personalized e-card, but you can also make it more elaborate with a real physical gift.
Think of the different elements and make it an easy step in your workflow. Do you have the address to send it to? If not, make sure to include asking the address in your workflow.
Do you have the gifts in stock? Prepare a bunch of them in one sitting so you don’t have to get wrapping paper and scissors out every week.
Add the step ‘Send thank you gift’ in your workflow and every week or month you can send a bunch of them in one go.
Saves you time in overhead right there!
Ready Email
Make sure everyone is on the same pace and in the same exact location for your shoot. Send them an automated message one day before the shoot.
Add exact address, map picture or link to Google maps, navigation software, and parking instructions. Do they have to pay for parking? Will that take extra time?
For outdoor locations, what happens if it rains?
What happens when they are stuck in traffic? Will the shoot be extended without consequences or will they have a shorter shoot?
Make sure it is a no-brainer for them to arrive on time (and with all the knowledge on why they should arrive on time) so you will have all the time available to make them feel comfortable and create your best work without feeling stressed if they run late.
Create that email once and add it to your workflow. Now that you have created clear boundaries, you are looking more professional with every client and they will do their best to be on time since they know what is expected of them.
Hurray! More time saved and stress reduced with one email.
Automated “what to wear” email
A few days after people have booked you for a portrait session, they usually start to wonder what they should wear during the shoot.
Anticipate on this with an email that explains the different options. Send it to them as an extra service. You can even sell it in your package as ‘clothing advice so you look your best on the photos taken.’ One email, written once, added to your workflow. Will work for you over and over again. Reducing questions in your inbox. Will have stress reduced with your clients and will make you look super professional.
Automated “What to expect” email
When you do portrait or family shoots, it is a great practice to make people more at ease before going to the shoot. It is usually something they haven’t done before so a lot of people can be nervous when they have their images taken.
Make it easy for them and write them an email on what to expect. Include things that they might be uncomfortable about like:
– should I pose, should I offer posing suggestions? I don’t really like posing.
– should I wear makeup?
– how long will the session be?
– what if we don’t have the perfect image yet?
– will I see the images that are shot during the session? – what about my double chin? – I have a good side, will you recognize that?
– what about my double chin? – I have a good side, will you recognize that?
– I have a good side, will you recognize that?
Take all those fears out by comforting them in their choice for you. You are the expert and they can trust you. This is also a great email to set your boundaries. What are the things you never want to do?
Create this email with all the love and strength you have and put it in your workflow. This will be a great email for your business.
Automate ‘asking for testimonials’
How many times do you forget to ask for a testimonial? Before I automated it, many times.
To never forget it again, create a sweet & short email that you add to your workflow to send after the client has received their images.
Include a few public links where they can leave their testimonial as well.
In a year’s time, you will have a great database of testimonials, yes!
Automate social media previews
After your shoot, you want to show a few images on social media. Let’s face it, everyone does it and it generates likes and new potential clients can find you through it.
When you post on Facebook, your images get so much more attention when you tag your client in it. In order to do so, add a few steps to your workflow:
– Get your clients Facebook handle and friend them
– Get their approval to post previews on Facebook and tag them (your contract is a good place for that)
Now after the shoot, select the top images and go to Facebook. But instead of posting them all at once, you spread it over a few hours and days.
In order for you to be able to do that you have to:
– Communicate with your client that they will get a few previews in the week following the shoot (contract) – Schedule the images in Facebook at different days and times. Use different text in each update. Always tag your client.
So now if you want to post 5 preview images, you have 5 times the exposure instead of 1 with just a tiny bit more time spend (writing 5 captions). Don’t worry about spamming people. The updates from your Facebook page are only seen by a fraction of your followers. Spreading out your previews at different times of the day will give you a bigger reach without spending money on boosting your posts.
Automate “what’s next” questions
You know that clients are always wondering, ‘what’s next?’ when they book you or have booked you. They want to know when to expect the next thing from you or when they have to do something.
So make sure, in your workflow emails, to always include a ‘what’s next’ section.
For example:
– After sending them the first album proofs: What’s next: Like we discussed you get 14 days to give me feedback, and after that, I’ll send you the updated proof within 7 days.
– After booking their wedding: What’s next: As soon as I have received your first installment, I will send you the calendar link to schedule the engagement session.
Just a few examples. This will keep you & your clients at peace and your email inbox empty ;-)
Automate ‘everything you want to know’ questionnaire
Pretty quickly in my photography career, I discovered that there were loose ends everywhere! Like, what will their address be after the wedding? Or their last names? When will I be able to photograph the rings during the wedding? Who will help me get all the group shots organized? Are they going on honeymoon? When and where? Is there a dress code? Who is the minister of that church? Will I be allowed to fire my flash there?
These and many other questions were just too much hassle to discuss live with the couple or worse, over the phone.
So I drafted a survey with my initial questions, and over the year that followed, it expanded and expanded.
During my sales conversations, I would make my couples feel comfortable by saying that I would contact them later for all the tiny details and when the time came that all details were almost finalized, they would get access to my questionnaire.
So much knowledge at my fingertips, it was awesome! I was never in doubt at a wedding again. And my couples loved being in charge too! Win-Win people.
[update] I recently added all my knowledge on how to set this up and every one of my collected questions (46!) in an ebook, you can get it here.
The ultimate pre-wedding questionnaire ebook
Want to know what else to automate in your photography business?
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These tips were shared on ShootZilla’s Instagram account in the month of July. Follow us on Instagram for daily tips for photographers!