Wednesday, August 10, 2011

How to Get the Most from Your Customer Interviews Advice for Professional Photographers

By Clwyd Probert


Client meetups are so critical for your business and your reputation that plenty of thought and care should be put into them. Many a wedding photographer will feel that showing a straightforward album of their work is sufficiently good to close a deal. This is not true, the world of pro photography is strongly competitive and everything that you do towards increasing the quantity of clients that sign up is vital.

First you've got to decide where you are going to meet your bride. Sometimes there are 3 choices:

- At your work (or home) address
- At the clients home
- At a neutral location handy to you both.

Which you choose will depend upon where you reside and the type of business you run. If you've a studio in a city centre then everybody will come to you. However if you are found out in the country then you may have to go to your customer or meet at a local coffee bar.

If you've got to meet away from home, try to find a location which is quiet, so you can be heard with no interruption and that looks like a quality locale. Find a period of the day when the place is at it's least busy "it is worth phoning the locale previously to check on their quiet times.

If you've got to go to go to the client, try to make sure you take everything you need to sign the deal, including detailed price lists and contracts. If you guarantee to put something in the post, then there is always the possibility that they may change their mind.

When you prepare the meeting, try to ensure that all of the decision makers are present. This is often parents of the bride or groom who may be paying for the event.

If the customer comes to your home, make sure it is clean, tidy and smells fresh. There is nothing worse than working into someone's house and feeling that you wish to walk right back out again.

If possible run a display on a giant projector or big high definition display. Size does matter and folk will be impressed by the scale of the photographs which they're used to viewing on a little PC screen.

Put a lot of work into your display albums "ensure that they are actually impressive and show off the exact characteristics that you are making an attempt to emphasize.

Always talk in positive terms about the things which you'll be doing for them. Talk as if you are their chosen shutter-bug. Before they leave "ask for the business "never let them go with a straightforward many thanks. They could have made their call and are willing to sign now "explain that dates are going swiftly and you would love to cover their marriage.

In summary, treat folks with respect and kindness and treat them in the same way you want to be treated by a 5 start hotel. Remember, you are selling a 5 star service.




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