Coffee Date: Business

I placed a question box on Instagram asking what we would discuss over a coffee date. Here are a few of the questions + my responses to some of the more business-oriented questions that were asked! You can click here to read the personal Q+A.

Pricing, but also how to get your name out there?

Pricing is simple: it is a formula. Take what you need to make, how much you want to work, and what it costs you to produce, and you’ll get the price you need to charge per client. I have a pricing course here if you want detailed instruction with a spreadsheet for calculations! Marketing is what allows you to book clients at the price point that you need. Before you “get your name out there” I think it is first very important to understand the product and/or service that you offer and carefully craft the message. Once you know who you are, what you offer, and why it is the best thing in the market, then you are ready to get that message in front of your intended audience. I go into depth about this in my marketing course but it comes down to knowing who you are trying to reach so that you can know where they are to deliver your message.

How to market my business better and create a stable monthly income.

In terms of marketing your business better, make sure your message is very clear and cohesive. Every time you have an interaction with your desired audience you should have a seamless, simple, and consistent message you are delivering. If you have a clear message and you know your intended audience, then get creative! I love to notice how I’m being marketed to in order to figure out what is working and not working on myself. I follow all of my purchasing habits and try to pinpoint how and why I made that purchase. When was my first interaction with that brand? What were their advertisements like? What made me follow through with the purchase? I take experiences I like – and what I dislike – and try to apply that to my own marketing strategy. A stable monthly income in this line of work might take more creativity. I’m ok with busy seasons and slower seasons. I’ve also supplemented my business with multiple revenue streams. But if there are lulls in your calendar you might need to find a creative way to fill it. For example, if it is too cold to shoot outside in the winter months, could you do studio work?

How do you connect with high-end clients?

Focus on your relationships and the experience you are providing. To attract a high-end client, you need to know the level of service they are used to dealing with. It is white glove, completely done-for-you, with over the top packaging. Everything should feel luxurious and exclusive and personal. I cannot overstate that it needs to be simple. There can’t be a single unnecessary step. Shop at very high-end stores to get a feel for the level of attention and detail you should be providing.

How do I find more clients?

Have a service worth raving about. Chances are you need to focus on serving your past clients better than you need to focus on getting new clients. Your old clients bring you your new clients.

What’s the secret to getting clients?

The busier I am, the busier I get. I keep a full calendar and that helps me book more clients. If I have an open date I will fill it with unpaid/personal work.

When to get a business license/taxes

This is my personal belief, based on my experience. First, I practiced my craft. I set up shoots with my friends and family and simply learned my camera. Then I approached strangers to model for me to practice my client interaction and posing. Then I practiced in every single situation imaginable. Good weather, bad weather, inside, outside, morning/noon/evening, etc. As soon as I felt that I could deliver a consistent product then I built my portfolio by styling the type of shoots I wanted to book. Once I was ready to start charging for my services I registered my business as an LLC, obtained my EIN, and set up my state sales tax license.

I know and have the right gear but can’t figure out why my photos are grainy.

I need more context! Maybe your ISO is too high? Perhaps you are underexposing too much?

How did you start booking consistently?

The busier I am, the busier I get. I go into great detail about this in my Advanced Marketing course but I also discuss how I use unpaid work to get paying clients in this blog post.

Best place to start with client contracts?

I recommend The Contract Shop’s Equine Photography Contract! You can save 20% with my code!