PHOTOGRAPHY MINI-SESSION CHECKLIST www.joyofmarketing.com
Choose a fun theme! Create a Theme & Beautiful Design Like a party, your invitation, promotional materials and event branding should set the tone to attract the type of client you want. From your price list to your special mini-session product mix, your mini-session branding should follow a theme and be consistent. If it s hokey or looks low budget, it will attract the client you don t want, likely someone just looking for a cheap session. Choose a theme you don t offer for a regular session, if you want (Santa theme, mistletoe, milk and cookies, jammies, etc.). Create Your Theme Select a Name Create a Dynamic Logo Create Design Elements www.joyofmarketing.com 02
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS Be sure to pick partners who share your ideal target audience. Partners can be another local business, a charity or both. For example, if your target audience is parents of newborns, a charity whose mission is to help elderly may not be the best fit. What you say when you approach a promotional partner is key in getting the right partner on board and attracting the right client for these special sessions. Select a Promotional Partner Set Sales Goals FOLLOW A PROMOTIONAL PLAN It s easy to skip a step along the way or get your timing off. You ll want to carefully map out your event from start to finish, giving yourself and your partners enough time to promote in advance to book the sessions. Set the Date Create Promotional Plan Promote (Pitch the Media, Email, Mail, Promote on Facebook, Make Calls, Have Your Partner Promote) www.joyofmarketing.com 03
OFFER MINI-SESSION ONLY PRICING & PRODUCTS A mini-session does not mean you offer the same products for a cheaper price. They don t get a full-blown session with outfit changes and prop/background changes. This is one outfit, one location, one look. Instead, carefully choose your product mix to showcase products you don t typically offer so you don t devalue your full session. Be sure to print special price lists for the mini session event that have a consistent look and feel with your event theme and include your mini-session event only packages with incentives for them to order more. Create Mini-Session Products Determine Session & Product Pricing 04
CREATE AN IRRESISTIBLE OFFER Create an offer that is available during one day or a specific small timeframe where they can get this irresistible mini-session offering. Consider making it available to only a certain number of clients. Create Your Offer BOOK MINI-SESSIONS IN ADVANCE Don t just set up shop in a partner s location and expect people to come in for photos while they are shopping or attending an event. For this type of session to work best, book clients in advance and require a credit card deposit to hold their spot. Book Sessions Collect Payment Conduct Mini-Consultation Over the Phone www.joyofmarketing.com 05
ROCK THE EVENT It s a mini-session so work fast using the information you got from the consultation/needs analysis you did with the client prior to their session via phone or skype. This session shouldn t take more than 15 20 minutes. Sure it s tempting when you love what you do to go long. But you re only devaluing your regular sessions that these clients will hopefully invest in the future. ROCK THE EVENT! Oh, yea! OFFER MINI-SESSION ONLY PRICING & PRODUCTS Sure your client may have committed to a specific mini package before the session. But you still want to give them the full reveal of their images by projecting their images large to music (I use ProSelect for my sales presentations. You can get a free trial here www.timeexposure.com/joy). The appointment may be a little shorter than your usual IPS appointment because you ll show fewer images. Carry Out Your Sales Plan www.joyofmarketing.com 06
PLAN FOR WHAT S NEXT Delivering an incredible client mini-session is the goal, but it s just the first step. For mini-sessions to pay off in your photography business, you want to have a next step for these new clients you just photographed. Deliver the Products Write Notes Add Clients to Your Database Connect with New Clients on Social Media Put Future Opportunities on Your Calendar Stay connected! www.joyofmarketing.com 07
SARAH PETTY There s never a quick trip to the grocery store for Sarah Petty. You see, she s in heaven in a place with so many products. She ll pick up a box of cereal to examine the packaging and dissect the store window displays all while strategizing what works and what doesn t. For Sarah, marketing really is a joy. She simply can t get enough. Even though she has won plenty of awards for her photography, it s not photography technique that has made her business successful. Sarah believes it takes more than technical expertise to win in business. And old school marketing? Forgeddaboutit! The knowledge Sarah shares through Joy of Marketing and to audiences worldwide has helped thousands of boutique business owners grow their small businesses beyond their wildest dreams. Sarah is a New York Times best-selling author, highly-acclaimed speaker, author, MBA and coach who has inspired thousands of boutique business owners to use beautiful marketing to take their business to the next level. Her expertise is based on over 20 years helping build the Coca-Cola brand, meeting the marketing goals of a top regional advertising agency s clients and building her own successful boutique photography studio. This studio was named one of the most profitable in the country within just five years in business. Sarah has mastered the science of marketing and the art of making it simple, actionable, and, yes, fun! www.joyofmarketing.com 08