Make an Extra $1000 SELLING PRINTS in ONE MONTH!

Easiest Ways to Boost Print Sales for Wedding and Portrait Photographers

Are you a wedding and portrait photographer looking to maximize your earnings and provide a better experience for your clients? In this article, I'll share with you one of the easiest ways to sell prints online and how I plan to make a thousand dollars or more this upcoming season using the gallery service, Pic-Time.

Introduction

My name is Balram Tharu, and I'm a wedding and portrait photographer based in Nepal. Over the past decade, I've grown my photography company from charging $800 for a wedding to upwards of $9,000 per wedding. While this price range is sustainable for my lifestyle and family, I have discovered that there is still more money to be made by selling prints.

The Power of Pic-Time

Pic-Time is a gallery service that offers a beautiful format for sharing images with clients online. It allows them to download, share, create favorites lists, and order prints all in one platform. This method is far superior to simply sending a Google Drive or WeTransfer link, as it presents a more professional appearance and provides a better overall experience for clients.

I made the switch to Pic-Time from a previous gallery service earlier this year for three main reasons. First, Pic-Time's minimalist layouts and design are stunning, creating an amazing viewing experience for clients. Second, they offer a wider range of products to sell in their shop, including calendars, greeting cards, and albums that clients can design themselves. This means less work for me and more opportunities for sales. And third, their sales automations are fantastic. The platform sends out automated emails to clients with discounts and codes, streamlining the sales process and generating passive income.

Previous Success and Future Goals

In previous years, I've had success with dedicated sales using discount codes, generating around a thousand dollars each time. This year, I plan to achieve even higher sales figures with Pic-Time's features and offerings.

Despite the challenges of 2020, with many events postponed due to the pandemic, I still managed to sell approximately $2,400 in prints and have additional album orders in shopping carts that will likely double that amount. By leveraging holiday print sales and promotions like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, I expect to make as much money as in previous years, despite photographing fewer events.

Utilizing Pic-Time's Holiday Apps

Starting one week before Black Friday, I'll activate all the holiday sales automations within Pic-Time. I'll also ensure that my past galleries from 2018 and 2019 are made live again to reach out to old clients and their connections. Using the "request email before entering the gallery" option, I'll gather warm leads of friends and family who will receive exclusive discount codes for print sales.

I'll kick off with a classic holiday sale of 30% off, giving clients a limited time to make their purchases. Pic-Time's automated emails will remind them of the deadline, encouraging them to take advantage of the discount.

In addition to the general holiday sale, I'll activate the holiday cards app, as people often seek to order family holiday cards during this season. Again, Pic-Time's automations will help remind clients of the limited-time offer.

Following the Black Friday week, I'll roll out gift-focused sales and holiday album sales, catering to specific products that clients might want to order during this time. These automations will once more drive sales and revenue.

Year-Round Sales Strategies

While the holiday season offers an excellent opportunity for sales, there are several other year-round apps that I recommend for photographers using Pic-Time:

1. General Coupon:

Offer a 30% discount after delivering a gallery to clients and their friends and family. Automate reminders to increase conversions.

2. Abandoned Cart App:

If a client adds items to their cart but doesn't complete the purchase, Pic-Time's app will send them reminders, prompting them to finalize the order.

3. Gallery Expiration App:

Set a two-week expiration time for galleries, motivating clients to order prints before losing access.

Conclusion

By using Pic-Time and implementing strategic sales tactics, you can significantly increase your print sales as a wedding and portrait photographer. This gallery service not only enhances your professionalism but also empowers you to make money even while you sleep.

So, if you haven't already, consider signing up for Pic-Time and use the code "BALRAMTHARU" (all caps) to get a bonus month on your plan. Remember, even just selling $500 on the platform can cover your entire yearly subscription and put more money in your pocket.

Whether you're participating in Black Friday sales or other holiday promotions, make the most of Pic-Time's features and watch your print sales soar. As a fellow photographer, I wish you all the success in achieving your dreams and financial goals through your photography business. Happy shooting!

Capture more clients - Do this to Perfect your Wedding Photography Contact form!

The Importance of Your Contact Form

One of the most crucial elements of your photography website is the contact form. Essentially, this is how you generate new leads and, ultimately, how you make income. So, let's delve into some best practices for your contact form to help you attract more potential clients and keep your photography business thriving.

Your Website: Setting Expectations and Narrowing Down Leads

First and foremost, you must have a captivating website that not only showcases your photos but also sets expectations for potential clients even before they reach out to you. Consider creating an FAQ page to answer common questions and a pricing page to display your initial pricing. By doing this, you not only inform your visitors but also filter out potential clients, ensuring that you receive inquiries from leads genuinely interested in your services.

For building a beautiful website and hosting your contact form, you can rely on platforms like Squarespace. If you're unfamiliar with Squarespace, it's an online platform that allows you to build your website quickly and easily, making it the ideal choice for establishing a strong web presence for your photography business. With great features like analytics to track visitors and a user-friendly interface, Squarespace offers an excellent solution for creating your website. Additionally, it provides commerce features, allowing you to sell your products or merchandise seamlessly.

Best Practices for Your Contact Form

Once you've set up your website, it's essential to create an FAQ page, a pricing page, and a dedicated contact page. Now, let's delve into some best practices for optimizing your contact form to be placed on that contact page.

Contextualizing Your Contact Page

When designing your contact page, it's crucial to provide some context on the page itself. Instead of presenting a blank page with just the contact form, consider giving a brief introduction about yourself and your photography services. You can mention what you specialize in and even inform potential clients of the typical response time to their inquiries. Setting expectations right from the beginning can go a long way in establishing trust and ensuring a positive client experience.

Tailoring Your Contact Form for Leads

As you start creating your contact form, you'll face an important decision: Do you want more inquiries or hotter leads? If your aim is to attract hotter leads, consider including more personalized and fun questions that resonate with your potential clients' interests. For example, ask about their favorite Marvel character or their preferred mixed drink. These personalized questions create a connection with your clients and help filter out those who are genuinely interested in your photography services.

On the other hand, if you prefer to receive more inquiries, keep your contact form concise with fewer questions. However, even with fewer questions, you can still attract more leads by having a pricing page on your website that indicates your starting price. This way, price shoppers will know upfront whether your services fit their budget or not.

Key Elements to Include in Your Contact Form

In general, here are some essential elements to incorporate into your contact form:

1. Names of the couple.

2. Contact information - phone number and email.

3. How they heard about you.

4. The type of service they are interested in (e.g., wedding photography, family photography, headshots).

5. Wedding date and venue (if applicable).

6. Additional personalized questions to create a connection.

7. A space for the couple to provide any additional details or special requests.

By following these best practices for your contact form, you'll increase your chances of attracting the right leads and booking more clients for your photography business. Remember to be personable, lean into what makes you unique as a photographer, and utilize tools like Squarespace and Honeybook to streamline your workflow.

Conclusion

Your contact form is a powerful tool that can significantly impact your photography business. By implementing the best practices discussed above and optimizing your website, you can create a strong first impression, attract the right leads, and ultimately achieve more success in your photography career. If you found this article helpful, don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe for more articles on wedding photography. If you have any other questions or suggestions for your contact form, feel free to share them in the comments below. Happy shooting!

How to find clients in 2023: A guide for freelance graphic designers.

When I began freelancing during college, I had countless questions on improving my portfolio, pricing, and industry best practices. Over time, I found answers through online research and invaluable insights from fellow freelancers. Now, I want to support you, fellow graphic designers, in navigating the industry and gaining that crucial edge I wish I had when I started. Let's discuss and explore industry practices together!

Let’s get started, shall we?

Making a portfolio

To begin, building your own portfolio is essential. Without it, relying solely on word of mouth won't attract clients. Showcasing your work is the first step towards success.

Your portfolio's importance shouldn't be underestimated. Present your projects well and keep them updated for maximum impact.

Here are things to keep in mind when creating a portfolio:

• Clarity: Who are you and how can you help the viewer solve their problems?
• Quality > Quantity: Curate your proudest work.
• Consistency: Be consistent with your style.

Clarity — Choose One, And Master It!

Having a stunning portfolio is great, but sometimes rejection happens. One reason could be showcasing unrelated designs from different fields. Avoid mixing UI/UX with motion graphics, for example. Instead, focus on your favorite field, master it, and create top-notch work for a cohesive and compelling portfolio.

Quality Over Quantity — Take Your Time.

My school motto was "Omnia Bene Facere," meaning "Do All Things Well." It's a principle I still uphold. Rather than taking on many projects, focus on a few and excel in them. Quality over quantity.

Consistency — Owning A Style

In a crowded online space of talented designers, find your uniqueness in your style. Stand out by understanding what sets you apart. Study other portfolios to discover your distinctiveness.

Here are some portfolios I found on Behance that can help you:
• Murat Kalkavan
• Gia Huy

List of websites to build a portfolio on
• Behance
• Adobe Portfolio (For Creative Cloud Members)
• WordPress Themes (If You Own A Domain) Article by blossomthemes.com
• Instagram
• Dribble

Finding Clients

Having covered the significance of your portfolio, the next vital step is finding clients. There are various effective approaches to do this. Some of the best ways are as follows:

Approach #1: Networking

To find potential clients, network actively and attend meetups, design contests, and hackathons. Put yourself out there, connect with a larger crowd, and increase your chances of success.

Approach #2: Get discovered on Portfolio websites.

Choose a niche you're passionate about and create projects in that field. For example, if you want to be a logo designer, start making logos for fictional briefs. GoodBrief and FakeClients are two good websites you can refer to if you are struggling with what to design. Otherwise, Reimagine popular brand logos in your style. Strive for perfection, but don't let perfectionism hinder progress. Finally, showcase your work on platforms like Behance to attract potential clients.

Approach #3: Community

Offline communities: 

Search within your local community for businesses you can genuinely assist and approach them. In the beginning, it's about taking initiative and trying, so go for it with confidence.

Online communities: 

Begin engaging in online communities on platforms like Discord and Reddit. Connect with people who share your interests and showcase your work. It opens up opportunities for growth and new prospects. Here's the link to my Discord server to help you get started.

The game plan to draw more business

Jumping without a plan is like escaping from prison without one. You might get out, but sustainability is doubtful. Planning is crucial for success. Jolted down a few of the points below:

Build Goodwill

Having satisfied clients and a good portfolio is essential, but if new clients aren't coming in, building connections through previous clients is the best way to expand your network.

A happy client is a gateway to stronger connections and potential new clients. After completing a project, ask for a brief review and recommendation for your portfolio. This approach has led me to work with many of my previous clients' friends, and it has been a delightful experience.

• Once your client seems satisfied with your work, ask them to write a 2 sentence review on their experience working with you.
• Ask your client if they know anyone who also might need an e.g. Logo, and that they should recommend you to them.

Reach Out To People

Feeling ready is a myth; take action even if your portfolio is ready. Reach out to people because everyone has problems to solve. Consider cold-emailing by finding potential clients on sites like LinkedIn or AngelList, and take your shot at offering your services.

In every 100 emails you send, you might get around 5 responses. So, invest time in crafting engaging and valuable emails and be prepared to send at least 50-100. It may sound challenging, but you can reuse well-written emails. Check out this article on reusing your email for more insights.

 Link: https://www.gmass.co/blog/send-email-multiple-recipients

Underestimating the power of a follow-up is a mistake

Sending a follow-up after a few days shows clients you value their business. It applies to networking events too, where you should reiterate discussed topics or share relevant information/resources. A follow-up strengthens connections and keeps communication alive.

Follow-ups are essential, but don't overdo it. Send the first follow-up after 3-4 days, a second one after a week, and a third after two weeks if needed. Three follow-ups are usually sufficient for effective communication.

Publish Your Services To Freelance Websites

Being on platforms where potential clients search for solutions is a smart way to attract business. Numerous fantastic websites cater to freelancers and their services, increasing your chances of being discovered.

Websites you can start selling your service on:
• fiverr.com
• upwork.com
• freelancer.com
• toptal.com
• designhill.com
• peopleperhour.com

Conclusion

When pursuing your first client, don't stress over pricing, processes, or perfect proposals. Focus on getting the work and learning the rest as you go. Taking action will naturally lead to valuable experience and growth.

Much love!

How to get started on your freelance journey — A complete guide for beginners.

This article is not about reaching the A-list level in freelancing; it's for those who want to hustle and start paying their bills with freelance projects. As a freelance graphic designer with a YouTube channel, the author reflects on what advice worked and what didn't while building their business.

Let’s dive into it!

Getting Started:

“Brainstorm on services you can offer”

First things first, let’s explore what all you can offer as a freelancer and what markets are ripe for.

List of the services you can offer:

• Freelance Writing

• Web Development

• Marketing Services

• Logo Design

• Graphic Designing

• Illustrations

In the current digital age, the possibilities on the internet are endless, especially with remote work becoming more prevalent. Here's a list of popular niches right now. For more such ideas refer to this link.

“Educate yourself”

After choosing your field, the next step is education. To get paid, you must excel in your craft by learning and polishing your skills. Don't skip the basics; dedicate time to self-improvement.

People lie in two categories:

• If you're in college or recently graduated without a job, it's an ideal time to develop your skills, gain experience, and earn income. Use this opportunity to experiment, discover yourself, take courses, learn new techniques, and read extensively in your industry.

•If freelancing is your side hustle, start by taking a paid or free course, and build your portfolio. Don't rush to quit your job; have a plan in place. Utilize your current job to study and enhance your skills at your own pace.

Getting Discovered:

“Get on social media”

Start by posting your work on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. Consistency and patience are key. It may take time, but within a year, you can build a significant following and attract freelance opportunities.

“Build a website”

Create a simple website to showcase your portfolio. It enhances professionalism and credibility, setting you apart from others in the field. Get started on building your website now!

“Get on Reddit and Quora”

Join Reddit to engage in discussions and gather valuable insights in your niche. Quora can also be fruitful by providing helpful and factual information. Being kind and generous with knowledge can lead to potential clients seeking your services. Embrace the opportunities these platforms offer!

Finding clients as a freelancer can be challenging, but the strategies mentioned above can attract potential clients to you. For a comprehensive guide on client hunting, check out the article linked at the end of this post.

Some Personal Advice:

1. Be nice

I love helping people with my skills. Building lasting relationships matters more to me than just completing projects on time. It's not just business; it's about making a meaningful impact.

2. Go above and beyond!

Always go the extra mile for your clients. Adding value strengthens relationships and can lead to more opportunities. Sincerity and dedication will be recognized and appreciated.

“Give what customers don’t even know they want!”

Understand your client's journey by researching and asking questions. This knowledge will help you deliver beyond expectations.

3. Ask questions. Listen more, talk less.

Listening is valuable; wars, fortunes, and friendships hinge on it. In freelancing, attentive listening and asking the right questions lead to success.

Things that worked for me and why:

1. Document your journey

Document your freelance journey through a blog or social media. Share photos, videos, and info to engage your audience effectively.

Why?

Build a good reputation by collecting testimonials and cultivating champions for your work to gain credibility as a freelancer.

2. Quality > Quantity

Stay focused on your goals and give equal attention to all projects in your portfolio to succeed as a freelancer.

Why?

Building a reliable reputation can lead to better-paying clients, as businesses value quality over quantity.

3. Stay hungry

Embrace the unknown and seek new knowledge to grow as a freelancer and as an individual.

Why?

“The things you don’t know are the birthplace of all of your new knowledge.” — Jordan B. Peterson

Embrace new challenges and cherish the process of unlearning to keep life exciting and your skills evolving.

Break free from typical advice, and if you have any questions, leave a response below. Clap if this was helpful!