Wow, what a phenomenal Boudie Call last week! I had so much fun,
and we’ve received tons of positive feedback – thank you!
In case you missed all the action, you can listen to the recording here.
“How to Earn More & Be Happier
as a Boudoir Photographer in 2013!”
+The biggest mistakes to avoid when getting started, that even experienced pro’s make
+How to be in love with what you do as a pro boudoir photographer
+How to triple your sales at each stage of the process
+The one powerful exercise I do every year to take my biz to the next level!
The call went overtime, and since there were so many boudie business Q’s,
I answered them here in the comments below…
Thank you for making the call a wonderful start to the new year!
xoxo, Christa
I want to “serve” athletic, fit women. How can I word this without sounding like I am discriminating against other body types?
Hey Melissa!
I don’t think serving athletic fit women is offensive to anyone… I think it’s great! Your brand could be about strength, health, feeling and looking good. That’s aspirational and positive. Don’t be afraid to go after what interests you and moves you. Trying to please everyone is not attainable or desirable :)
Good luck!
xoxo Christa
Hey Christa, how are you? My question is, how would you incorporate Hotel Cost into your pricing?
Hi Will,
You could do it a few different ways…
1. Have the client book/stay at the hotel. The cost is her’s and can vary depending on your client’s budget level…
2. You could simply add it to the session fee…
3. You could pay for it yourself and book multiple clients on the day you have it…
I do option 1 and 3. Hope that helps!
x C
Regarding samples, doesn’t that range of products live in what and how you want these images to be shown, displayed, used? I personally believe in specific imagery displays– Books and intimate prints per client request. Effective idea?
Chris,
Yup, I totally agree!
Thanks for joining the call and leaving a q!
x Christa
Thanks for all the knowledge you always offer! Its SOOO Helpful! I have been shooting for a while, but I had my first in person sales session and the the client only ended up getting 2 photo viewers and the 8×10 print I include in the sitting fee. I know she loved a bunch of the images, but she didn’t order. Do you have any suggestions on what to do here with out seeming pushy?
Tali,
Great Q! Listen to the call recording, and at the end where I talk about tripling your sales at every stage of the process, takes notes… It’s vital to begin discussing what she’d like to walk away from the shoot having in her hands. “after this investment of your time, energy and money – what do you want to hold in your hands?” and then share your enthusiasm for your most popular products. Bring the samples with you during the session – so she can oooh and ahhh at them in the hair and make -up chair. Sales happen waaaaaay before the ordering session. Also shoot to sell, as I mentioned, have a no brainer price list, and a targeted package.
Hope that helps!
xoxo Christa
What kinds of client “thank you” gifts would you recommend?
Cre,
Small gifts that are in line with your brand… garters or fishnets, a bottle of champagne or wine, chocolates or something decadent, a gorgeous frame, a StickyAlbum…
have fun with it and be creative!
xo C
Pricing. How to decide what to charge when you’re starting. How not go too low or too high.
Carolina,
The answer is specific to dozens of variables unique to YOU.
You must consider the tangibles: your market, your target client, your time, cost of goods, your financial goals, your experience, demand for your services, how frequently you want to shoot, etc. Then there are the intangibles: your talent, the perceived value of what you offer, what you are happy earning, etc. All of this goes into a lovely witch’s brew called your Price List. Make sure to do all this work, because you don’t want to pull prices out of you a** – you’ll have no confidence in what you charge, rendering your price list useless.
My top 10 tips for developing a solid price list that will keep you booked and happy, in a nutshell: 1. Know that your pricing is dynamic and will evolve over the course of your career, 2. Do your research on all the variables, 3. NEVER compete on price, 4. Be confident in what you charge, 5. Keep it simple (make it easy for your clients to say yes) 6. Start from the top down (from your biggest product offering/packing to the lowest), 7. Ask what would THRILL you – too often photographers develop their pricing based on the least they would accept, which leads to resentment, 8. 100% commitment to your prices, 9. Adjust every 6 months if necessary based on what you’ve learned, 10. Give bonus product or service, never discount.
Not to be cheeky, but my best tip on creating your price list is this: CREATE one. Don’t let your hesitation and doubt hold you back from having pricing for all your products and services. We’ve all been there and suffer agony every time someone asks what you charge. Not having a price list (or constantly changing it with every inquiry) leads to no bookings and not being paid.
Good luck Carolina! Hope that helps :)
x Christa
Do you supply some outfits like the men’s shirt for all women? Or do you ask them to bring them?
Hi Megan,
I do have a collection of items that I bring, like heels, robes, sheer fabric, jewelry… fun items such as that. And yes, the men’s shirt would be a fine one to supply. I also have some expensive garters etc. But I have these just in case, or to add on, not to substitue for her bringing her own outfits.
Cheers and thanks for the Q!
xoxo Christa
How do you overcome the issue with boudoir being very much gender powered , ie I’m a male photographer, i live in the south , even if the female client wants to do the shoot, her husband or boyfriend is not so willing. i have female photographer friends that are able to garner much more boudoir business then i can ever hope simply because there female HELP PLEASE !!
Hey Vince,
I discussed this briefly on the call… some women will not pose for you simply because you are male. You’re not going to change that, so don’t try. There are plenty more who will. Saying that you have female friends who “garner much more boudoir business then you can ever hope” simply because they are female leaves out the most important reason you can control for which you will be hired—> the quality of your work.
Keep focused on what matters.
xo Christa
How do you feel about shooting a free session but charging for the prints. I often do that for my portfolio.
Jill,
All for it.
good luck!
xo Christa
What if I do not have a studio to do boudoir? Is it safe to go to the client’s house to do it?
Bee,
Sure, but make sure to bring an assistant and/or make-up artist. I’ve shot in clients’ homes before – you just want to be safe. I’d also suggest renting a studio by the hour and/or using hotel rooms. Same rules for safety apply :)
Thanks for the Q!
xoxo C
I cannot afford your online workshop. Do you offer any discounts or sponsorship’s? Thanks!
Hey Gabrielle,
The lowest price enrollment period just passed, but there will be opportunities for a scholarship!
Stay tuned to your inbox.
Good luck,
Christa
What’s a good site for getting nice picture cards made up for promoting my biz
Kiersten,
Try asking this in some photography forums- they’ll likely have great resources for you! I used to do my printing locally in LA.
Thanks for joining the call!
xo Christa
How did you market yourself in the beginning so that you could build such an awesome business? Marketing is what I’m struggling with the most…
Hey Meg,
Thanks for the great Q!
In the beginning when I started my family portrait biz, I had a website and promo cards. The promo cards I put up at a store for new moms in my target market in LA. After that, it was all word of mouth, and consistently putting my cards up every month at that store for about the first two years. Then wom took over and I was booked solid.
When starting boudoir, I already had my client base – the moms! So it was easy just to have my sample albums on the table when doing their family portrait viewing sessions. I was also blogging regularly at this point so people could see my boudoir and family work – both targeting the same client.
When I moved out of that market, my blog had become pretty popular so I haven’t done any marketing besides wom since because I’m as booked as I’d like to be right now.
Hope that helps!
xoxo C
How do you keep your schedule full with so many families struggling to get by? I have a bunch of potential clients who say they want to do a boudoir session but simply can’t afford it.
Suzanne,
It seems you need to either target a new client, create more value in what you offer, and/or differentiate yourself more.
My guess is all three.
It’s hard work but dig deep and you’ll get there!
xoxo Christa
How to use social network to attract real clients?
Suzanne,
I’m not the queen of social media, but I think you can attract clients by sharing what you do, why you love it, posting pictures, and being yourself. All that and being genuinely interested in your ideal client and what they’re up to :)
Hope that helps!
xo Christa
I have not started my business and do not have any exiting clients from any non-boudoir sessions but I do have a boudoir portfolio, how do I have my very first boudoir client?
Hey Bee,
I did a whole guest post on that Q here:
http://christameola.com/blog/boudoir/tips-for-getting-started-in-boudoir
Good luck!
Christa
I am going to do wedding and boudoir, do I have to have two separate websites? Two separate Facebook business page and other social networks? Two separate blogs?
Bee,
I encourage photogs to keep it under one roof as much as possible but this depends on your preferences as well as your client’s.
I kept family and boudoir together because my family client isn’t the type of woman who’d be put off by that.
Keeping it all together has helped me have crossover clients and family clients who buy my fine art, etc. because they are exposed to all that I do. Also, it’s simpler and easier for me to manage, and it’s all my brand and style.
But if you are targeting two different types of client, then you may need two. Does that make sense?
Hope that helps!
xo Christa
Hi Christa, I have my first Boudoir Marathon booked for the 26th & 27th January and I have yet to receive any interest. I have been wanting to jump in and Just do it! But I am worried I will not book the places. I currently work full time and are finding promoting this and myself a hard task, so far I have blogged and face-booked the event,ordered leaflets to promote and designed a newsletter to start sending out this week. Not sure if I have allowed enough time for everything or jumped too soon. Would love to know your thoughts x
Cat,
I say go for it, and keep hustling. You can always use that time/space to do creative shoots just for you – have friends or models pose, or charity work. You have to create the space and time for clients to book you, so you’re on the right track!
Keep it up!
xo Christa
In a small town, in a bad economy what suggestions do you have to help us make our phone ring? Can it be done here? Or do I have to look to the bigger cities 2 hours away?
Bradd,
I’d say go to the bigger cities 2 hrs away. I used to travel 45 min’s when I lived in LA to the more affluent neighborhoods.
That’s just my 2 cents because you asked :)
Good luck!
xo Christa
I just came in on the webinar and would like to know if there is a possibility to get the list as a hard copy?
Lorenzo,
The call is available as a recording to listen to anytime. Check the link in the blog post above.
Thanks!
C
I was curious though, you mentioned your favorite clients are the 40+ soccer moms. How do you reach them? Before everyone’s word of mouth referrals were flooding (I just KNOW that’s the case haha!), how did you reach out tO that market?
Cat,
I answered that Q above, see my answer to Meg.
Here it is again:
Hey Meg,
Thanks for the great Q!
In the beginning when I started my family portrait biz, I had a website and promo cards. The promo cards I put up at a store for new moms in my target market in LA. After that, it was all word of mouth, and consistently putting my cards up every month at that store for about the first two years. Then wom took over and I was booked solid.
When starting boudoir, I already had my client base – the moms! So it was easy just to have my sample albums on the table when doing their family portrait viewing sessions. I was also blogging regularly at this point so people could see my boudoir and family work – both targeting the same client.
When I moved out of that market, my blog had become pretty popular so I haven’t done any marketing besides wom since because I’m as booked as I’d like to be right now.
Hope that helps!
xoxo C
Hi again Christa,
I’d like to comment regarding Cre’s question about “thank you” gifts. Personally, I travel to the middle east a lot and while there pick up these amazing scarves for about $5 each in many different designs and colors. Then I have them all laid out and tell my model to choose one as my way of saying “thank you for your time”. And the best part of it all, I do this BEFORE the shoot and then we can incorporate her wearing the scarf in many different ways in the shoot itself. Kind of makes for a win win because she gets this beautiful accessory to add to her collection, but I get a lot more ammunition for my photographic arsenal!
Now I know not everyone has the opportunity to get to the places I do, but if you look around while you are out shopping you might find nice little reasonably priced accessories that can be incorporated into the shoot as well. And by giving THEM the choice for what they’d like its almost like they are “shopping” for themselves as well.
Clark