The merriest time of the year is nearly upon us- and as photographers, we know that this is one of the busiest seasons for photo shoots! Between the Thanksgiving holiday, Christmas, New Years, and everything in between, families keep photographers quite busy. So, what are some sales strategies that can help maximize this season for both the clients and the ones behind the lens?
Sales. Discounting your photo packages or putting up special offers is one of the most popular ways to sell more photographs and allow families to get more bang for their buck. Clients will gravitate towards good photographers who have Holiday deals so that their Christmas cards look their very best! Sales also have been proven to encourage our clients to purchase more products, and to return in the future for more photography fun. So shave a few dollars off of that photo package, or throw in a free gift! Luckily, online storefront providers, such as Instaproofs, allow you to create sales and special packages for your online proofs!
Special holiday products. Begin selling Christmas cards, calendars, and other fun gifts that your clients can purchase for the holidays! These types of merchandise are both enticing and festive, which can drum up your sales significantly! Alongside this, you can build holiday sets in your studio that feature Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and other such fun things. These types of sets create a lovely atmosphere that can help keep your clients, and their little ones, smiling and happy throughout the entire shoot.
Social media advertising. Create thematic banners and adverts to sell your services! Getting into the spirit is the absolute way to go. No one likes a Grinch for the holidays, and this applies to businesses. Even going the extra mile and decorating your photography website has been proven to benefit. These banners and advertisements can then be blasted out and reused on various social media sites, such as Facebook and Instagram, and also posted up at local stores and specialty boutiques. Keep your advertising going until the very end of the year, don’t stop early!
Pets. Don't forget to include pets in your sales strategies! Pets are a big part of many families, and organizing holiday photo ops for pets is a great idea. Invest in a few silly, but cute, costumes for Fido and the rest of your potential animal subjects to make the sessions memorable (and shareable!) for everyone.
Arrange photo shoot events! Talk to your local shops and malls to see if you can arrange a little photo booth event that's available for their patrons. For example, many malls have a Santa Claus greeting children- partner up with the company and see if you can sell photographs at the event. Photo events are a sure way to find new clients, and give happy patrons a memory keepsake.
December keeps us shooters occupied- and makes our beloved clients happy. Use the some of the tips outlined above to your advantage and make the most out of this holiday season for you and your business!
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.