Enhance Your Profits Give Your Customers More Products

By Author: David Drum
Total Articles: 4
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There are many ways to increase sales as a professional photographer, which can often be difficult or expensive to initiate and grow. One very simple way some professional photographers are taking their sales to the next level is by offering creative photography products in conjunction with prints and sessions. These products may range from DVD slide shows to photo embellished jewelry. Photographers can often make several sales from even a single photo by repurposing it for the customer in multiple ways. Sometimes, it can even lead to sales at different times of the year, if marketed effectively.

How do we take pictures that are useful for repurposing; and what products have been shown to be desirable by customers?

Follow A Baby's Story

Having a child can be one of the most significant events of a person's life. Currently, the trend in pregnancy photography is to capture photos of mommy and the family through the pregnancy and then entire family with the new addition after the birth. If the family has come back to you several times, you will be able to tell the pregnancy story in a themed photo book. You ...
... can provide several levels of product with captions and a personalized narrative story as additions your customers will love. Clients enjoy these books because they tell the story of such an important moment in the family history. You can leverage these books by offering yearly ‘photo yearbooks' to your customers that include photos from all sessions they have booked through you, and other photos that they provide.

Tell the Tale of Graduation Year

Graduation photography is one of the most valuable areas of photography for an individual or studio. Again, an optional photo book is an attractive option for students and particularly parents at this moment in their child's life. Photo books featuring edited shots from the grad sitting may be attractive to a few parents, but can become an essential purchase if you include photos from the client's entire senior year. Incorporating photos that span the time a year will also give a similar story effect as mentioned above. Be creative with these photo books, as young adults love unique products, and parents enjoy personalizing their content. Think of ways to make these photo books interactive, like by adding text boxes where friends and family can write comments into the final book about the actual photos.

Something Special For Mom

If there were ever a time of year where customers need original and beautiful products it is Mother's Day? Mothers love personalized gifts, particularly ones that feature their family and children. Promote Mother's day specials by advertising custom jewelry embellished with a favorite photo to your clients. Create example items and take beautiful photos of them to place on your blog, in emails, catalogues, or mailouts. Photographers can now use photos to customize necklaces, bracelets, and charms that are made from pewter and sterling silver. Advertise these gifts as gifts that are made with love to remind mothers how special they really are. Personalized gifts are also great for birthdays, Father's day and Anniversaries. If you have (or collect through initial interview forms) this information, you can send a carefully timed reminder to boost your sales!

Beautful, Shining Pictures; Images in Metal

One of the newest photo products available is printing photographs on metal, and it can be one of the most impressive products to woo your clients. Select professional photography companies can now offer customers custom products with photographs printed on metal pieces. These products can include metal plates, dog tags and license plates. License plates can be a great way to market graduation pictures, particularly if you align yourself with the school to produce a school branded plate. Those who are traveling will love the idea of carrying a dog tag with their family or friends on it, this product can also identify luggage, a backpack or hang from a rearview mirror.

Promote Everyday Necessities

Are you a wedding photographer? Introduce your clients to products like notepads and thank you notes personalized with the best of their wedding photos. This is a great way to up sell wedding packages without having to take new photos. Regardless of the wedding, thank you notes are going to need to be purchased so emphasize that, so include this as an optional add on for every wedding you work.

When the holidays come around, certain products can be used as stocking stuffers or those small gifts everyone needs to buy . Send a carefully timed newsletter out to previous clients displaying these products adorned with the pictures you have already taken of them.

Bottom Line

There are an endless ways to repurpose photos taken in the past and create unique photo products from them. These are just a few ideas to up sell your clients with personalized, custom-made photo products. Remember that it is always about adding value, and adding it at the right time. Find a photo company that can produce these products for you, market them right, and you may see your own increase in sales!

David Drum is head of Business Development at H&H Color Lab in Kansas City, Missouri. Starting his professional career as a process engineer at Xerox and Motorola, David moved to the professional imaging industry in 1993. David has worked as Technical Support Manager, Production Manager, Lean Manufacturing Manager, and IT Director before assuming his present role.