Since I started my business a little over 3 years ago,I’ve grown to learn what works for me and what hasn’t. There were times when I first started really growing into myself as a photographer that I was literally working for nothing. I was away from my kids for sessions & work related to them (prepping, shooting, editing, uploading, packaging) that when I calculated the time spent vs. the income, I was actually spending more than I was taking in. Once I realized that, I knew something had to be done to make my time away from my family worth it.
There are things in the business that have been total game changers. One of these is the view+order consult.. it makes SUCH a difference in my business! There’s something about your clients SEEING the product, feeling it in their hands, and getting to choose (with your help!) what they want on their walls, and for their families. Incorporating GOOD customer service, and putting it at such a high priority is integral to *my* business practices. Is it time consuming? OF COURSE. But I’m priced at a point where that time is so worth it, and in turn I also have happy customers who are pleased with their prints and products.
When Kate of Kaymore Photography messaged me a few months back, asking if I’d ever considered mentoring, I was blown away! I was considering it, but wasn’t sure how to go about it all. We settled on a price and we started chatting via email, cover topics from workflow, to website, to facebook, to pricing, etc. Kate’s mentorship has been so unique because in the middle of it all she moved to the other side of the country! This excites me though because she gets to start fresh there, with her new pricing and in person consults.
We had our first 1on1 skype session last week, and I had a complete blast laughing, chatting it up with her, and showing her exactly what I do and use in my view+order consults. We went over her pricing that she had come up with since all of our emails discussing it, we tweaked it a bit, and then came up with packages that will be more appealing to the client in comparison to a la carte pricing.
(stop being so pretty, Kate! It was like 10 p.m. your time already!!) 😉
I have changed my packages in my pricing over this past year at least 2 times, to reflect what my clients seem to like more, and taken out what they haven’t really been drawn to. This has definitely increased my sales! Since I’ve started the view+order consults nearly two years ago, my orders have doubled and tripled!
Kate emailed me a few days ago with a testimonial from the mentorship with me, and I swear I got a bit choked up! She is SO sweet and I’ve so enjoyed getting to know her better!
“My mentoring experience with Erin was a life changer. Not only did she have incredible patience, but she also worked with me on everything I asked! She kept me with homework and checked in with me to make sure I was doing well. She really cared about me and my photography business. She took things serious and gave me the confidence I needed to build packages and make the transition from simple disks to print packages and in-person ordering. When everything goes into effect in January, the change will be out of this world. I am so thankful for Erin’s encouraging words, laughter, friendship, and most importantly her way of mentoring. I am now where I want to be in the photography realm.”
What a sweetie, right? I am sooooo completely stoked to see how these changes affect and enhance her business. I cannot wait! When you can, be sure to check her work out on her facebook fan page.
Since mentoring Kate, I have decided to introduce the 1on1 mentorship program. It is a 5 week course for photographers who have a consistent portfolio, but are wanting to ditch the online galleries, move in to in-person sales, and finally charge what they are worth.
The 1on1 mentorship program is designed to help you:
*set your niche
*solidify your pricing
*create your packaging
*learn & master the view+order consult
*be a better customer-service business person
The 5 week 1on1 mentorship program also includes unlimited emails back & forth throughout the 5 weeks, portfolio analyzation by me, workflow discussion, a look at MY pricing guide, a wall display guide for you to use at your view+order consults, (made by the fantabulous Shannon Lankford Photography) a list of vendors that I use for my packaging, blogging, print ordering, legal forms, etc., TWO one hour skype consults, and FINALLY being able to say, YES, I DO charge what I’m worth. 🙂
I am taking on three mentees for the 1on1 mentorship starting January 14, 2013. I have two of my three mentors chosen, and I am so excited about this! If you’d like to apply for the last mentor spot for January, email me at contact@erinphillipsphotography.com and I will send you all of the info you need! The cost for the first three mentees is $350, but only $100 is needed to secure your spot. The rest may be paid upon starting the mentorship.
I am beyond excited to share with others and watch the transformations take place! It is hard work but it is so worth it! I just love setting goals and achieving them.
What are some of your goals for 2013?
