When I take a step back and look at how things have came to build, who knew the relationships with clients that would grow amazingly. I have clients that are just plain awesome! I love to see them in public, and just chit chat on how the kids are! It's amazing when they see you and stop just to say "Hi!". It really makes me feel like we connected during our session! Many of you think I talk your head off, but we all get each other, we have kids, and sometimes, its nice to talk to an adult for once!
So, just some images and I'll link my vendors from my past few sessions!
Floor Backdrop: https://www.facebook.com/LemonDropBackdrops?fref=ts
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Bird Hat: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Custom-Crochet-Jewelry-By-Amber/139079706124648
I'll post more blogs on my sessions once I have time, but those are ones that were recently purchased from that I had the consent to post on Facebook/Web!
When setting up and going into a commercial building, the excitement was defiantly there, but fear was my main factor in doing so. I mean, in this economy and with ever mom and pop (no offense) owning a camera, it makes it super hard to do my job. I have overhead now, and while people may think I make an arm and a leg, I don't. I make enough to pay my bills, and have some left to get a haircut and a new shirt every once in a while. I try to be as humble as I can. When I first started Photography, I did it to be affordable, but the more I grew into it, and the more I saw what he right equipment and set up I needed costed, I had to slowly up my prices. While I can say with out a doubt, I am the most affordable Professional Photographer in the Wiregrass. I wouldn't call myself cheap, I would just say affordable. Anyways, so back to fear factor. There is a lot to owning a commercial business, and I'm a small business on top of that. I don't have 10 years of knowledge, I have 3, I don't have a top A list clients, I have amazing families that want the best for themselves, but just can't afford a $60 8x10 (don't worry guys, mine will NEVER EVER be that high), mine is actually $25 right now. I had the average Joe in mind when compiling my price list. On top of that, I do sales, trivia, promos, freebies! So, when my fear set in, I started a $200 purchase minimum, and man, then I thought to myself, Charlotte, your prices are amazing, you don't have to put it that high, but you still have to make your bills, so I changed it to a $75 purchase minimum. So there it is for those of you that haven't got the new memo :)
Going commercial has been the best opportunity for my business and myself. It is nice not having clients walk through my home anymore and go to my garage and hear my kids bang on the door because they want Mommy. I am set up like an actual pro, and the feeling is amazing! I feel like, my prices can honestly reflect not only my quality that I produce, but the fact that I am now commercial, it just makes me shine in pure happiness!
On to the changes!
So, the other day, my lovely print lab, sent out an email stating that they are thrilled to offer affordable prints/products, but the end of this month, they will have a slight price increase (sounds like me huh!), so, I do have to reflect that in my prices, and it want be a huge price increase, just a few dollars!
I also have heard numerous votes for a smaller CD package bundle. I will do 2 levels of CD's once again (like I originally use to do), it will be bundled at 30 and 60. Not everyone really wants 60 images, but it is cheaper to bundle, than buy individually.
I will also be adding some awesome new things to my line, and they will be shown in the studio.
Ordering consults. Ahh, how I wanted to do them super bad, but it will be easier if I had an assistant, and I'm still not at the financial ground to hire out. So for now on, you will have a choice, either viewing/ordering consult 2 days after I edit your images, or a 5 day proof gallery. That proof gallery can start when YOU want it to start, but it does have to be ordered from before it ends. So, this is the way promo codes will work on your galleries if you choose that route. The first day it starts, you will be emailed a promo code for 30% off, which is good for the FIRST day only, so it will expire at midnight on that first listing day. On day 2, you will receive a promo code for 20% off that can be used until day 4, it will expire at midnight on day 4. On day 5, you will receive a promo code for 10% off. So, the earlier you place your order, the more savings you will have, and you have control of when your gallery goes up! Very awesome!
Hope I haven't confused you yet!
If your gallery expires, with no ordering, there is a $50 relist fee, and no promo codes (unless I have a sale). You can get an extra 10% off by being Military, AFS, Police, Firefighter, or a Dothan Mom Meet Up Member. Discounts can't combine more than 40% off.
I no longer accept checks, I do however accept PayPal, Credit, Debit, and of course cash. My hours of business are from Tuesday-Friday from 11:00-3:00. I will take the weekend completely off, so no emails, no Facebook, and no blogging :) If I have a weekend I'm working (only on Saturdays), I will spend some time answering! One great thing now is I have my personal and business life separated and it is great!
As always, editing time is up to 2 weeks (right now, it has been about 1-1 1/2 weeks).
Reward Points:
So, I completely forgot about my reward cards I have, so I will keep up with them "virtually". This is how they will work:
Booked Session-1 Point
Booked Mini Session-1 Point
$75+ minimum purchase order-1 Point
$300+ purchase order-1 Point
Booked Referral-1 Point
Once you get all 5 points from each category you will get a free session on the house! If you refer up to 5 people before completing the point system, you will also earn a free session!
Referral System:
**New**Regular Booked sessions, the referred person, and the person doing the referring will each get a $30 print credit (use to be $25). Once you get to 5 referrals, you earn a free session.
Mini Session referrals will get a $15 print credit.
SUMMER CONTEST COMING SOON, BE ON THE LOOK FOR DETAILS!!!
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