Bringing In Sales To Your Photography Studio Even During The Slow Times
76What's the number one frustration for many photography studio owners?
The dreaded slow period.
It may last for a month or even several months. But as a business owner, turning this time period into as short of a period as possible will help you become a stronger business.
Technically speaking, there are two options for bringing in more sales. As a studio owner, you can either bring in new prospects and turn them into new clients, or you can sell to your existing client base and bring in repeat business.
What's the best option during slow times? Concentrate on getting repeat business from your existing client base. They know you. They love you. And its just easier bringing in clients that already have a relationship with you.
Let's take a look at a typical photography studio. Ann's Studio offers children, family and senior portraiture.
For the senior market, most of the portraits are booked and taken during the months of May through October. Schools hold fairs and begin giving their juniors information on graduation in the spring before their incoming senior year. These juniors spend the summer planning for their senior year, and getting everything in place for graduation. It's natural for a photographer to plan their own photography mailings around this same time frame.
If you're a studio specializing in portraits, particularly the senior market, you're busy time is predictably May through December. Come January, things start slowing down, and by the springtime, you may be wondering how to pay the bills.
It's time to get out of that slow track, and put your studio on the success track.
Instead of spending the early months of the year planning for the new senior market that will begin in May, concentrate on the seniors that are about to graduate, and on your other existing clients. Your current clients know you, have worked with you, and understand your business. Create special promotions just for them. Things like:
- Selling additional wallets for friends, family and graduation announcements
- Additional portrait packages
- Cap and gown images
- Family portrait before the senior goes off to college
- Family portraiture of past clients (if you've been doing seniors for a number of years, some of your clients may be getting married, or even having babies)
And because they are past clients, offer them specials.
Because you've photographed the senior, offer a free cap and gown sitting if they purchase a collage frame that holds several portraits, including the cap and gown image.
Or offer a free family portrait sitting to mark this special time for the family.
If you put your packages together effectively, you'll be guaranteeing yourself a much needed income during these slow periods.
Remember, these clients are sold on you. They know you and have worked with you before. They are a much easier sell - so sell to those that love what you do!
