Systems to Make Your Life Easier

Have you ever wondered if a system existed to make tasks in your business less time-consuming?

Running a business is hard enough already, so today, we've compiled a comprehensive list of all the systems you could ever need to make your business run smoother and your life easier. You'll want to bookmark this one, friend!

Business:

No matter where you are in your business, a CRM program (client relationship management) is 100% essential in our digital age. You can send proposals, contracts, and invoices, automate emails, track scheduling, and more with programs made for photographers and creatives. Each program offers a free trial, so test out which one is the right fit for you.

• Honeybook

• Dubsado

• Tave

• SproutStudio

• Studio Ninja

• 17 Hats

Quickbooks is great for accounting and integrates with some CRM programs to make bookkeeping a breeze. Quickbooks can also track your miles, or you can use a separate app like Everlance or Mile IQ.

Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive are fantastic resources as well.

Social Media:

Posting regularly to social media is a must. Save time and plan a week or month of content at once. Batch schedule in advance and automatically post, so you don't have to think about it again.

• Planoly

• Later

• UNUM

• Unfold

• Creator Studio

Ultize Tailwind for Pinterest to schedule and automatically pin your photos and get more eyes on your work.

Design:

Do you need to create a client guide or perfectly arrange photos for a stunning post? Effortlessly design on-brand content from your phone and leave everyone wondering where you got your professional quality graphic design skills.

• Canva

• Unfold

• WordSwag

• SCRL

We also love Creative Market for fonts, templates, and graphics. They have a vast selection for every aesthetic!

Photography:

As every photographer knows, the job is far from done when you set down the camera! Besides backing up your photos on multiple external hard drives, use cloud storage services like Backblaze for additional security.

Deliver galleries and increase your passive income by selling prints through online gallery services.

• Pic-Time

• Pixieset

• Instaproofs

• Shootproof

• Pass

Quickly design and share album proofs with clients through
AlbumStomp and SmartAlbums. They simplify the design and ordering process so you can focus on selling more.

Create beautiful collages for blogging and Facebook sharing with Blogstomp. Everyone will be asking what templates you use!

We hope you implement these tools to run your business more efficiently and save time so you can enjoy your favorite things in life!

The Booking Process

Getting new inquiries is exhilarating but can also be nerve-wracking for some. What to say? How to proceed? Am I missing anything?

A streamlined booking process saves time and makes the whole experience better for you and your client. When you have good workflows in place, you can focus more fully on the creative aspects of the job. Let's dive in and study a detailed look into the booking process!

There are some ingredients to the booking formula relevant to everyone, but you can find ways to personalize the process to provide a branded experience. Put yourself in your client's shoes, and think about how you would feel in your client's place.

The first impression:

The inquiry/contact form on your website should be easy to read and user-friendly. If it's not easy to navigate, visitors may exit before completing your contact form. Besides having the required fields of name, email, date, etc., you can add some fun and more detailed questions:

• Instagram handle
• How did you hear about me?
• Event location
• Guest count
• What are you looking forward to most about your session/wedding?

Reply quickly:

On your contact page, list the timeframe they can expect to hear back from you. If they emailed a lot of photographers at once, think about how appreciative they'd be if you're the one who always replies the fastest. It certainly makes them feel like a priority!

Create or purchase email templates to send for your initial response. They'll save time and enable you to reply as soon as you see the inquiry. Be sure to personalize it if they provided specific details or mentioned something you can address by sharing your expertise.

Call to action:

End your email with a call to action so they'll feel more compelled to respond. Provide a reason to reply. Ask to schedule a Zoom meeting or call. "Do you have a location in mind for your session? I'd love to hear about it and can send some additional ideas."

On the call:

You don't have to jump straight into talking photography. Ask a couple of establishing questions about themselves. Pinpoint their needs and what they're looking to hear from you that convinces them you're the right person to hire. Share your expertise and how you can make their day easier while beautifully capturing their memories. Ask what photos are important to them and create a connection.

Pro tip: Create a list of talking points or questions you don't want to forget to ask. It eliminates wondering what to say next!

Send proposal:

Some photographers send their pricing information with their first reply, while others wait until after/on the phone call. If you wait until after the call, send it promptly and readdress any concerns or questions they might've brought up. Find ways to add extra value to what you said on the call.

If you sent your information before the call, let them know how much you enjoyed chatting with them and that you're available to answer any additional questions.

Follow up:

If they mentioned deciding in X amount of days and that time has passed, politely send a follow-up email to ensure they have all the information they need and ask if they have further questions.

Seal the deal:

Yay, you booked the client! Send the contract and invoice, then hold the date. You may also want to send a booking gift or welcome guide.

We hope this helps you streamline your booking process, so you can continue doing what you love!

Cheers,
Your Ginger Team

Creating Mood Boards and Bringing Your Vision to Life

A mood board can be much more than the color palette and design elements. It can represent your vision and provide a reference point for inspiration.

Mood boards are not solely for styled shoots. Envision the photos you want to create at every session and establish a clear vision. A mood board should give you clarity and stir all the feels within you to help you flawlessly capture it. Keep your mood board in mind during your shoot, and it will provide direction not only for the photos you take but how you capture them.

Pro tip: Are you a music lover? Is there a song that gives you all the feels? Can you imagine the perfect imagery that embodies the lyrics? Channel that originality into your mood board!

To create a mood board, think of a few words you want to translate into your photos (e.g., romantic, modern, dreamy, etc.). Gather some images that inspire your vision and put them together in Canva or Unfold. We recommend including one photo of the actual location or similar environment to help you envision how everything will come together.

Focus on finding images you aren't necessarily trying to replicate but represent aspects you want to capture. Do you want to remember to take some creative close crops? Do you want to concentrate on hand movements? Do you want to incorporate motion? Is using a particular type of light paramount to your overall vision?

Pro tip: Make the mood board your lock screen wallpaper, so you can easily reference it during your session if needed.

With your final images, make a mood board using your photos to see how you did in bringing your vision to life. Did having a visual point of reference impact your results? Can you see the mood board's influence in your gallery?

Vision is different than your photography style, as it goes beyond editing and lens preferences. It's having a mental picture of the results you want to capture and approaching the session knowing what you need to do to accomplish it. Artistic vision and storytelling transform photographs into works of art and brings further fulfillment to your craft.

There are dozens of photographers in every niche, so bring your original vision to the table to show clients they're hiring more than a photographer — they're also hiring an artist, producer, director, and visionary!

"An artist is not paid for their labor but for their vision."

Cheers,
Your Ginger Team

How to Be Intentional Behind the Camera

Are you intentional behind the camera? Do you know why or what is inspiring you to press the shutter? Many people love shooting film because it makes them more intentional with every shot, but the same principle applies to digital photography.

Intentionality will make you a better photographer no matter the medium you shoot. You'll be more present when you're behind the camera, your photo keep rate will increase, and you'll save time when culling. Knowing the purpose of every photo you deliver when telling a story adds a deeper meaning that will resonate with your clients and audience.

Intentionality has many layers. It's composing the shot and waiting for the magic moment that makes you feel something, knowing that the moment or emotion expressed deserves to be captured to last forever. It's also being aware of everything going on in the frame.

Have a reason for every artistic decision you make when shooting. Understand how your style of direction translates to your clients and how subtle nuances speak in the final image. Know why you're using specific camera settings, lighting choices, or locations.

Intentionality should start before even picking up your camera.
Be proactive in your client interactions by providing outfit inspiration and location recommendations with the ideal times to shoot at each place. You're the expert, and they trust your knowledge to guide them with the best advice for a spectacular session.

Photographers create their art in the moment, so slow down and take your time to craft your masterpiece. Be fully present and let your subjects and surroundings inspire you. Ensure any elements in the frame lend themselves to the story and your vision. Even if you've photographed the same location multiple times, approach it with fresh eyes and keep your mind open.

Build trust with your clients so they'll feel comfortable with your direction yet free to be themselves. Direct and compose, but allow space for authentic moments to happen. For portrait photographers, it's a skilled balance between creating moments and capturing them as they unfold.

It's your job as a photographer to create art that embodies your clients. Develop an understanding of what would be a genuine reflection of their personalities and work to capture it. Strive to provide prompts or poses that would come naturally to them.

Pay attention to the smallest of details. Be conscious of hand placements, horizon lines, facial expressions, and distracting objects in the background. Do whatever you can to capture the photo as close to perfect as possible to save you time in editing.

An intentional approach will bring your photography to the next level. Being conscious and deliberate with every decision will take you from being just a photographer to an artist.

Are you ready to change the way you approach a shoot? You can do it.

Cheers,
Your Ginger Team

Defining Your Style

An instantly recognizable style is the goal for many photographers. Imagine someone scrolling through social media and coming across a spectacular photo and thinking, "That must be (insert your name) work!" How cool would that be?

Remember, every photographer has a different audience and market, so your style doesn't have to be well known to everyone, just your faithful following, which grows over time.

Each photographer's style is a window into their view of the world, and everyone has a different perspective. Ten photographers could photograph the same thing, and they would all capture different results! A photographer's signature style consists of their original blend of composition, light, posing, colors, and overall emotions and feelings associated with their work.

Study your favorite photographers' work, and identify what draws you and what you love about it. What elements do you want to incorporate into your work and make your own? You're likely to find that your favorite photographers share some commonalities in their styles. The key is not to create carbon copies of their work but to let it inspire you and share your unique interpretation. Have a vision for the style you're working toward for clarity on the steps to take to achieve it.

Choose three words to describe your brand, and have at least one word be an emotion. When creating and curating work, make sure your photos reflect your brand words. Use your brand words as a filter for the work you share to ensure everything is consistent with your brand's message. If you struggle with deciding on three words, ask your audience and industry friends! It can be fun to see what word comes up the most.

Invent your own hero shots. Come up with a few signature photos to capture at every wedding or session, but push yourself to photograph them differently every time by adding some variation. The options for signature photos and their variations are unlimited! Capture the couple's hands, an almost kiss, or implement motion and movement. These will also come in clutch if your brain blanks out. And you know what? As your style evolves, so will your signature photos!

You don't have to put yourself in a box of a popular photography style. Create work you love that comes from the creativity and vision in your heart. As you continue to shoot and develop your skills, your aesthetic will emerge. Be patient and allow yourself to have fun while exploring the path to finding your look. The journey is every bit as important as the destination. Developing a style authentic to your view of the world is beyond rewarding and what you learn along the way is invaluable.

Success Looks Different for Everyone

Upon hearing the word 'Success,' what first comes to mind? Is it thinking about accomplishing that next goal or maybe thinking of success as a whole lifestyle? Having a particular figure in your bank account, a full calendar of jobs, exotic vacations, and a magazine-worthy home?

It can be easy to become lost in a single definition of success, that it can only look one way. You may beat yourself up if it doesn't seem like you fit that one definition. The truth is that success looks different for everyone, and no one's road to success is the same.

Sometimes, it's easy to forget that success is also a myriad of intangible things. For something so personal and influential to your mindset, you cannot allow others to tell you what success should be. You must realize and take to heart that nobody else can define success for you.

For one person, success is being a photographer full-time. For another, they love their full-time corporate job but equally lovhttps://julien-jeanne.fr/e photography, and they've figured out how to balance both. For some, it's thirty weddings a year. For others, it's one wedding a month because they want to spend more time with family. Success is not one size fits all, and that's a beautiful thing! There's room for everyone to be successful.

Think about what you want your life to look like and what success means to you. Is it a four-day workweek? Brunch every Sunday at your favorite restaurant after a wedding weekend? Is it traveling often? Knowing you're providing for your family through your business?

Success is not only big wins but little victories too. Don't discredit yourself because your success looks different than someone else's! When setting goals, make sure they align with your definition of success. Don't try to accomplish something just because everyone else is doing it if it doesn't serve your vision for your life. Know your why for your business and for every goal you set. Dig deep to discover what is truly important to you, and challenge yourself to view success through a new lens.

If you feel fulfillment, purpose, and happiness, you're succeeding! The road to success is not a straight shot but filled with twists and turns, ups and downs. The only map to follow is the one created by your definition of success on your terms. Enjoy the journey, and remember to stop and be grateful for what you've accomplished and what you know can be accomplished around the corner.

Curating Your Work

As photographers, we share our vision and artistry through our photos. A solid body of work resonates with your audience and effectively conveys your brand's keywords, message, and aesthetic.

Every image in a curated body of work should be strong enough to stand alone while also looking cohesive together. We know many photographers who struggle with curating their work, so let's dive in and discover the best ways to curate!

The how:

To build a well-curated portfolio, before sharing an image with the world, ask yourself if that image is consistent with your brand and if it strengthens it. Have a purpose for every photo you share! That level of intentionality will establish your brand, elevate your portfolio, and attract your ideal clients. Examine your photos and ask if it's the type of work that would draw those ideal clients. If it's not, ask yourself what it is about it that doesn't attract them.

After paring down through curation, it's crucial to arrange the selected photos in a way that flows cohesively. Take your viewers through a journey that is so visually appealing they can't take their eyes away. When pairing images together, consider the tones of the photos, the way the subjects fill the frame and add atmospheric/detail photos to break up the order of face after face.

The why:

We must curate our work to ensure the very best stands out instead of being lost in a sea of mediocre images. When you don't curate your work well, a potential client may find one of your phenomenal photos, which leads them to look at more of your work; but if the rest of your portfolio isn't as strong, they may question your consistency or lose interest quickly.

When you curate with your ideal client in mind, they'll land on your page and instantly connect with you and your work. Across the board, everything associated with your brand should be visually stunning. It shows we have a deep understanding of aesthetics and a skilled eye.

The results:

When your work is expertly curated and arranged, your ideal client will land on your page and immediately know that you're the photographer they want. They'll be excited to work with you, and they'll be able to envision their photos taken by you. They'll regard you as a master in your field and value your brand. From your website's "Home" page, they'll realize you get them and can meet their photography needs.

We hope this article helps you curate your work and make the best impression possible! If you found it helpful, save it to refer to later. We'd love to hear your feedback if it changed your approach to curation!

How to Elevate Your Client Experience

Today we're talking about elevating your client experience because they mean the absolute world to us photographers. When you enhance your client's experience, you're not only adding value to your work; you're making the whole process of having photos taken by you memorable.

Providing a unique and unforgettable encounter with your brand leaves your clients with more than just pretty pictures. When something is truly an incredible experience, we, of course, want to return for more and share about it! We've all heard the phrase "Go above and beyond" countless times, but how exactly do we do this? Here are some actionable tips and advice!

1. Reply quickly

We know just about every human being is busy, and your clients realize this too. When you respond in a prompt and timely manner, you're showing a deeper level of care and that they're a priority. Everybody appreciates it when they hear back quickly from a business, especially when they're excited to be doing business with you.

2. Answer their questions before they even ask

Addressing concerns or questions before they have a chance to pop up lets your clients know you're proactively thinking about them and establishes you as a professional.

Does their session location have tricky parking? Give them advice beforehand so they'll know what to expect when they show up! Did the weather forecast suddenly change? Explain their options and lay out a game plan.

3. Check in and let them know you're thinking about them

Most wedding clients book way in advance, so say "Hello" periodically to see how wedding planning is going. They'll appreciate hearing from you! Ask if there are any ways you can be of further service, and let them know you cannot wait to celebrate their day with them. If you're following them on social media, be sure to comment on any milestones or achievements they've posted as well!

4. Provide a keepsake on the day of their session

Remember Polaroids? They are such fun cameras and give you a printed photo instantly. Bring one along and take a few pictures with it that your clients can take home that very day. They'll be obsessed and will be telling all their friends about it!

5. Send sneak peeks

Your clients are beyond excited to see their photos, so send a little preview within the next 48 hrs. after their session while the energy is still high. They'll be impressed with the fast turnaround, and chances are they'll post it with a shout out to you on Instagram 😉

6. Give a little gift

If your clients were just the sweetest and most easy-going, show how much you appreciate them by sending a present. It could be prints from their session or wedding along with a handwritten note, a basket of treats, or even a candle from a local shop. Get creative!

Tip: If you have a sunrise session, send your clients a Starbucks card the day before with a note saying, "I know our session tomorrow is super early, so here's coffee on me! I can't wait to capture some gorgeous photos with you!"

It really is the little things, and by being intentional and thoughtful with every interaction between you and your clients, they'll see how much you care about them and the experience you provide. Clients want a phenomenal experience in addition to receiving beautiful photos — it's what will keep them coming back! Providing both will help you stand out in your market and build your brand.

Ready to put these tips to use? We can't wait to hear how you apply them!