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| Damu the Wolfdog, from the Project Wildsong Photography Event. |
Photographers are generally running around other people's events snapping photos - but sometimes the photographers themselves host the event. Holding your own photography event can be a fantastic way to bring in more clients, give past clients a ‘quickie’ session, and make a fast profit. Essentially, everyone wins! But, how does one go about doing this, and what are the keys to holding a mind-blowingly successful mini-session extravaganza?
1. Game Plan – The key to doing anything effectively is to have a game plan in place well in advance. Some of the things that you should plan for in detail beforehand include:
- What kind of an mini-sessions are you shooting? Is there a theme? How "mini" are the sessions going to be? Most mini-session events include a day of quick, 15 – 30 minute sessions at a discounted price. Depending on the season, having a thematic event with props and sets is another fantastic option.
- Where is the event going to take place? Many photographers opt for studios, some opt for parks, and others opt for their own homes. Wherever you choose to hold your event try to acquire the proper permissions and permits at least a couple of weeks ahead of time. A little advance planning can save you some big headache on the day of your event!
- What is the name of the event? You might be surprised at how important a name is to an event and how much it impacts the event's attendance. Names are what people remember and recognize and pass along to their friends, so put some thought into what you're calling your event before creating and sending out your announcements.
2. Price Accordingly – One of the most difficult, yet vital, decisions to be made before any mini-session event is the pricing for your services. The benefit for you with this type of event is that you're able to meet and service a lot of clients in a very short amount of time. On the other hand, the benefit for your clients is usually in the form of a discount for your services. Because your primary goal is to get in as many people as possible on the day of the event, you may want to consider adjusting your pricing accordingly. You obviously don't want to be giving your services away for free, but having an offer that is compelling-enough to almost guarantee a "yes" from your clients definitely has its benefits as well.
3. Prepare in Advance – Never put something this big off to the last minute. Be sure that you are fully prepared! Check that the equipment is fully functional, that the space is large enough to accommodate your clients, and that all of your props and materials will arrive on time. Much like preparing for a wedding or a large birthday party, hosting a photography event of this type requires advance planning.
4. Get the Word Out – What’s an event without attendees? You have to make sure that people know about your event! Prepare an advertising campaign to get the word out! Facebook is a great place to start, but also considering sending inexpensive fliers to your past clients, placing fliers on your studio's counter tops, and sending emails to everyone you know. The more people that hear about your event, the easier time you will have in getting each of your time-slots booked!
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| Alicia Vigil, Morgan Omitt, and Lindsay Stransky |
• In modern times, the best way to notify those on your contact list about an upcoming occurrence is through social media. Make (and post) Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter digital flyers that your followers can repost and share with their friends.
• Emailers are also a good way to mention the upcoming special. Services such as http://mailchimp.com, https://madmimi.com, and http://www.targethero.com have some great tools for this, and they all include free plans that may be perfect for some of your smaller events.
• You can also go old-school and have printed flyers and posters that can be redistributed by hand, or hung up in your studio or local shops. You can print these out on your work printer or you can get them professionally printed fairly inexpensively at places such as a http://www.vistaprint.com or http://www.nextdayflyers.com.
5. Make Your Deliverables Clear - In order to prevent any misunderstandings, be sure that the event and the final deliverables are fully described in all of your advertising. For example, how long are the sessions? What do your clients need to bring with them? What will your clients be receiving afterwards? Do they get digital files, or prints, or nothing at all? How many people can be in each group photo? Be sure that all of this type of information is clearly available, and don't try to be sneaky or hide anything in your signs and marketing materials.
6. Keep Everything Organized – Put your best bookkeeping skills to use throughout the event! Have your clients’ contact information written down and easily available, make sure contracts are signed upfront, keep track of which images belong to which sessions, and keep your sessions organized and on-schedule throughout the day. Keeping everything organized and on-schedule will prevent confusion and will make the photo editing and delivery process significantly easier for you once the event is over!
7. Enlist the Help of Others – It is okay to ask your friends and/or assistants to help with your mini-sessions event! The day will be fast-paced and crazy, and enlisting the help of others will take a lot of the pressure and stress off of your shoulders, and it will make the day go much smoother for everyone.
8. Post the Photos Online - Your clients will want to see their images as quickly as possible, and posting their images online through a service such as Instaproofs will help make that happen. In addition to viewing their photos online, your clients will also be able to select their favorites and purchase the images of their choice as soon as they are ready to do so. You can also use your mini-session photos as samples for your future events (get permission first!).
Following the tips and guidelines outlined above will help ensure that your mini-session event is a hit! Good luck!
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| Labradors from the Pup Portrait Event by Deliquesce-Flux Photography |
Anabel DFlux is a California native who prefers to spend every waking moment with her trusty camera in hand. In 2009 she started her own photography business on a whim and a wish, and has since gone on to work for a variety of publications, companies, and unique clients throughout the country. With her foot in a variety of photographic doors, Anabel is recognized as a zealous individual with a passion for art that knows no bounds.