Lesson Info
41. Who is Your Ideal Partner?
Lessons
Class Introduction
07:01 2How To Price Your Products
05:01 3Which Products Will You Offer
13:14 4Methods For Pricing
10:38 5Mark Up Factors On Products
05:46 6What Is Your Per Hour Figure
04:45 7What Is The Feasibility Of A Product
11:28 8Target Sales Average
08:04Session Fees Pricing Strategy
09:48 10Minimum Purchase And Incentives Pricing Strategy
05:53 11Bundling Pricing Strategy
25:47 12Pre-Design Pricing Strategy
10:33 13Album Pricing Strategies
10:33 14Example Pricing List
17:33 15Business Basics Overview
07:07 16Tracking Product Lines In Your Business
14:01 17Track Your Session Counts
07:19 18Know Your Sales Average
06:41 19Importance Of Data Analysis
10:14 20Overview Of Costs
13:46 21Professional Photographers Of America Benchmark Survey
18:57 22Creating A Vision For Your Business
08:25 23What Do You Want To Accomplish
13:31 24Take A Leap Of Faith
20:19 25Refine Your Vision
12:44 26Products That Sell
07:48 27Identify Pricing Strategies
03:03 28Portrait Pricing Strategy Example
15:57 29Album Pricing Strategy Example
09:21 30Online Pricing Strategy Example
08:21 31Fine Art Prints Pricing Strategy Example
05:54 32Packages Pricing Strategy Example
12:39 33Sales Strategies Overview
05:45 34Portrait Sales Session Overview
05:34 35Sales Strategy for Portrait Sales
22:56 36How to Present Images to Client
23:03 37Sales Strategy for Wedding Sales
09:49 38Album Pre-Design
18:51 39Marketing: Define Yourself
12:55 40Who is Your Ideal Client?
05:12 41Who is Your Ideal Partner?
03:27 42How to Start a Partner Business Relationship
08:29 43Marketing Strategies that Work
17:10 44Product Lines: Business Plan Part One
09:07 45Workload: Business Plan Part Two
08:23 46Sessions: Business Plan Part Three
16:06 47Expenses: Business Plan Part Four
11:14 48Clients: Business Plan Part Five
05:29Lesson Info
Who is Your Ideal Partner?
In our business we have a very, very small marketing budget. There were years when we would buy an ad in a wedding magazine for $5,000, and get no return. And, we learned that that is such a painful lesson. Do you know how much $5,000, in our checking account, our personal checking account would be? That would be wonderful. And so, we learned right away that shotgun marketing approaches weren't really great for us. Buying ads, anytime somebody had to call me, and ask me to place an ad, generally those marketing dollars weren't a great investment on our part. When the schools called and said, hey place an ad, it'll support our school. That's great, but it never sent me any business. If I'm gonna give a school money, I'm just gonna give a school money. That's a gift, instead of an investment, in my marketing department. Okay? So, how do you find the right partner? You go back to where that ideal client is. But, here are some guidelines. You look for a company, or a business, that has a s...
imilar culture to what you have. So, outdoorsy, athletic, adventuresome, organic, natural for my business. So, look for somebody that has a similar culture. Look for a business with a similar level of integrity. How are they supporting their client base? What are they doing for their clients? Are they active in the community? Do they help in community events? Are they out there? Are they doing the same things that we're doing as a business, in our community? So, what kind of integrity do they have? Is this a hardworking business? Because Peter and I give everything, 110% of our energy and time and attention, and we wanna work with a company that has that same intensity in serving their clients and serving their community. And so, we wanna make sure that all of that is in mind when we look for an ideal partner. If I walk into a store and nobody greets me, within a couple of seconds, I'm not interested in partnering with that business. That's not the kind of service that I want to work with. I don't wanna be like that. Do they have similar interests to us? Do they have a similar client base? Do they have a similar product offering? Do they have a similar look and feel? Are they similar to us? And then, we're a high quality business, so we only wanna partner with businesses that have high quality services and products. And, ideally we wanna work with a business that has a really big client base. A business that has the dollars to invest to bring clients in. Then we just help them serve those clients because we don't have the big dollars to invest, to meet those clients. That's how we can collaborate together. And then, the healthy marketing budget, so they can reach out and get new clients. If we can find one business that has this, and add that to our network of people that we partner with, every six months, or every year, it will exponentially grow your business so quickly.
Class Materials
Bonus Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
Lindsay
I started my business a year ago with little formal technical photography education. It's hard to admit but I've been winging it, figuring out each small task that goes with photographing a session, editing one, and working with clients as I go. I may be doing things backwards, but now that I feel like I'm more comfortable in those small, specific parts of business, I need to figure out how to make this business sustainable and profitable. Kathy's class felt perfect for this time in my business to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of what I want to focus on and where I want to go (and how much I want to pay myself!). She uses realistic, specific numbers: something that's SO helpful and I feel like I rarely see in the photography community. And she breaks everything down in an organized and easy to understand way. The classes were easy to follow along with and Kathy's positivity and patient manner is inspiring and motivating. The fact that she used to be a school teacher is clear. Thank you so much Kathy (and the rest of the Holcombes)!
Jenny Farrell
I am so glad I was able to attend this course in person and receive all the wonderful and practical information Kathy shared with us. I also really enjoyed the connections with other audience members and side conversations with Creative Live peeps as well as the Holcombe family. What an inspiration this family is--lots of practical info, but also a great pep talk to not sell yourself short and get out there and do what you love, but use sound business practice while doing it. Thanks so much for these incredible two days.
Vanessa
Fantastic course! Very helpful instruction and how-to guide for anyone considering starting up a photography business. Kathy was an excellent instructor, with a wealth of knowledge and experience. I gained a good understanding of the practical everyday aspects of running this kind of business, and how to create my own vision.