Show #36 – Rachel Brenke – Photographer Business Plan

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For Show #36, we are joined once again by the amazing Rachel Brenke.  Host Mike Howard & Tim Kemperle (Kathleen Bowie had the night off) interviewed Rachel with help from a ton a questions from chat and Facebook.  Rachel did an incredible job answering as many as possible and discussing her Photographer Business Plan.

Viewer Questions:

• How do you manage and find balance between family/business/school…and every thing else you do?
  • First I “Cloned” myself
  • Working on the go
  • Outsource, Accounting Etc to balance life
  • Keep to Office Hours
  • Work from phone
  • Automate
  • Calendar – Schedule, Edit, Post Process added into the calendar
  • Average 2 sessions per weekend…with a max of four
  • Researched editing companies…have not found a company I like – Goal is to send out the reception shots and continue to edit the formal shots
  • Used my phone to perform many updates
• This is not legal advice…just personal experience (what I learned)
  • Do you need to be registered?  No
  • 1. Automatically own the rights to your pictures
  • 2. If you offer digital files consider the phrase you give your clients…do not give the copyright, most clients are really looking for a Print Release…personal printing of any size to any object.
• Does having a client pay a retainer fee ensure they show up for a photo shoot?
  • Yes, since instituted I have not had a customer not show.  When setting up a photo shoot I set aside my time, get a babysitter, and pay for a location.  This all costs money and having the retainer paid in advance has helped prevent no-shows
• What would be the proper order to setting up your business
  • Depends on your technical skills
  • Become technically proficient you can then move on to the creative side
  • Know how to use your camera before you start charging
• Pricing – It is an animal
  • What are the costs of doing business?  Your business?
  • Processing time
  • Marketing
  • Equipment
  • Outsourcing fees?
• Best marketing tool that you have implemented into your biz
  • Social Media…price per reach is great.
  • Also looking for tangible marketing
  • Utilize Google Analytics to determine when people are on your page and how long they are there…it can help your site
• Strong following on Facebook
  • Helping people…feel that if I help others it has paid back in customers
  • Developed a following from other photographers who have referred clients
  • Ensure people know where you are from otherwise you will lose them quickly
• How do you have a great senior rep program
  • Identify the client you want
  • Get engaged with local schools
  • Have contracts in place
• How old were your kids when you started and your husband away
  • Joshua – 5
  • Olivia – under 1 (she was the reason I received my camera as a Christmas present)
  • Make time to do it…you can always make time
• Viewing sessions…in person or on line
  • Wedding is always in person
  • Individual sessions have been online but the goal is to do it in-person
• What print houses do you use?  Did you try several
  • Tried several and knew the price point I wanted
  • Balanced the price / turnaround and quality
  • Millers Printing – colors have always been true to my screen
• in the world of instant gratification do you email out a welcome kit or do you recommend mailing out a hard copy?  what should be in a welcome kit?
  • Depends on your style and what you want to do.
• Discounts – Family / Friends
  • No…if I give a discount to my friends it would be most people.  I am in a business.  I prefer to give gifts versus a discount
• Do you have a style? Does this prevent you from being creative
  • You develop a style as a creative photographer.
• Since you do online viewing, when it comes to selling products do you feel that hurts you?
  • Yes…financially and personally
  • With online viewing you lose sales versus having the client with you where you are more likely to get a sale.
• For how long do you save files from your clients? Do you always keep all of them or just pick out the best for your page/blog/advertisements/etc.?
  • Have files from way back when.  I have not deleted files and need to clean out my files.
• Managing client expectations?
  • So far really lucky.  If I had an unhappy client they have not told me or I have not heard about it.  I have had some unhappy people from workshops.
• What if a client doesn’t want to sign a contract?
  • They don’t go on the calendar, refund and don’t show
• Alter a contract after a shoot?
  • No…a contract is a contract
  • Refer back to a contract if there are issues.
• When should I register as a business?
  • My Personal View:  Don’t take a dime without being registered and collecting sales tax…it is a $500/day fine
• Any tips on building self confidence
  • Continue trying to put best foot forward and the confidence will follow
• Is giving “flyers” or something “physical” to neighbors or other people in public to advertise even for like mini sessions tacky? Is that a bad way to go about it?
  • No…just ensure you are not breaking any town ordinances

LINKS:

Rachel

• Website – http://www.rachelbrenke.com/
• Blog – http://rachelbrenke.blogspot.com/
• Workshops – http://rachelbrenke.blogspot.com/p/workshops.html
• Facebook Page – http://www.facebook.com/RachelBrenkePhotography
• Twitter – rachelbrenke
• E-mail – rachel@rachelbrenke.com

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