Wakey wakey, Sparkles! I know you’re frustrated that newer and less-experienced photographers are booking more clients than you. Why do you think that is? Your skills are amazing, you have your business set for success, and you’re engaging on social media like the #bossbabe that you are. So, whhyyyy is your calendar so barren? I have three solid simple tips to make your photography business stand out. They are so easy to incorporate and will not only make your clients happy, but will help you attract future clients as well. Ready? Let’s do this.

Make your photography business stand out by swooning clients with attention to detail.

The first amazing way to make your photography business stand out, is to swoon your clients with attention to detail. Now, I’m not talking about making their eyes sparkle getting rid of blemishes in post. Au contraire. It’s so much more than that. Set-off the sparkle from the get-go by making the show ABOUT THEM. That’s right.

Your brand is glorious and wonderful, but at the end of the day, your clients want to know that they are number one. How do we get this done, you ask? LISTEN. No, not to me {well, yes to me…} but, LISTEN to your clients and let them know you’re listening. During your pre-session meeting or call, take down all the details about their personality; the event {down to color schemes, favorite treats, family, pets, details of the day, pet peeves, nervous twitches, hobbies, etc}. Really, get to know your clients. This will not only make them rest-easy in front of your camera, but it will help them relate, build a rapport with you and not be nervous.

And, as an added bonus, when you focus on them – you can easily become a social media super hero!  Make THEM the star and they’ll fall in love with you even more!

Case-in-Point #1… last year I photographed a wedding at my alma-mater. Because I was diligent with details, I knew that the entire bridal party would be wearing Converse sneakers. When my team and I showed up, we were outfitted in Chucks.

Confession: Our feet were DEAD by the end of the day, but the bride, groom, and everyone in the wedding party LOVED our effort…and remembered it!  {You know what I remembered? The amazing pizza at Goodfella’s.  We ate it not once, but twice that day.  MMMM… but that’s besides the point!}

Case-in-Point #2… Another way I love to make my photography business stand out, is to coordinate colors. That’s right, if the wedding colors are pink and black – my entourage will show up in some form of pink and black to coordinate. We may not come outfitted in hot pink prom dresses, but there will be some hint of colors thoughtfully incorporated throughout. This not only shows the bride and groom that you were listening {and care!} it also woos the bridal party {hello, future clients} and wedding guests. Show. Them. You. Care. Small gestures like this mean so much. Even if pink isn’t your color – we all know it’s mine.

Make your photography business stand out by connecting with humor

“A sense of humor is part of the art of  leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

I’m not afraid to be a goofball {you know that, I’m sure}. You can make your photography business stand out by being silly and relatable – yet in a way that adds value. If you start your session with knock-knocks, you’re probably not going to get very far. Howevah, if you incorporate appropriate humor into the session, you will be doing yourself a tremendous favor {and your clients, too}.

I like to do this as an ice-breaker at the beginning of a session {always when they are most nervous}. Work out the jitters {and the grumps} with a quick posing lesson. I tell all of my clients how to stand {e.g., pinch your shoulder blades as if you’re squeezing a walnut}. Then I tell them that if they feel like an awkward turtle, they’re doing it right. I them give them a little back of camera action – showing them that while they feel totes ridic, they look like HAWT SUPERMODELS.

This creates an amazing connection between you and the client; builds confidence; and gives them a little take-home lesson, too. Clients will often call me and tell me how they used their posing techniques when taking pics at home with their friends and family. I LOVE that. These are the little things that make your photography business stand out.  And even better, they help keep you on the forefront of their minds!

And, finally…

Make your photography business stand out by pampering your clients.

Who doesn’t love to be pampered? If you said “me,” you’re totally lying. Quick story… years ago, I was totally stressed out and dress shopping with my two young sons in tow {we all know how fun that is, right?}. I thought I would have to abandon the mission, but a precious angel from God saleswoman called over to me and asked if my boys would like a distraction while I shopped and tried on clothes. BLESS YOU, wonderful woman. This store had a special section for kids to play and even eat snacks {they provided} while I got my shop-on. I could see and interact with my kids the whole time, but they were occupied…. not playing hide-and-seek in the racks.

I will NEVER forget the convenience of that store and how they truly cared for me as a customer. This stuck with me and I’ve made many trips back because of their unique approach to customer-care {even if I have to pay a little more for such awesome service}.

Did you know, you can offer the same thing to your photography clients? This is exactly what I do in my studio. When I have customers in for IPS sessions, I make sure to have drinks and snacks at-the-ready for parents and kids – as well as a play area set-up. This way, parents can grab a tissue and get their happy sob-on while we review sweet images from their session. Now they feel comfortable because their kids have fruit snacks, goldfish and juice boxes… instead of feeling stressed and rushed because their kids are climbing the walls.

Think about it: how many times have you left a store empty-handed because you were too stressed to make a decision. DO NOT let that happen at your studio. You have the power to pamper! Making your photography business stand-out is all about pampering and making your clients feel like the wonderful, glorious, special, creatures they are.

What about you?  How do you make your photography business stand out?

If you’ve got something special you do for your clients, tell us about it in the comments below so we can learn from each other!  And, if you loved this post about how to make your photography business stand out, I would love to send you my free guide!  It contains the five questions you have to answer  before starting your photography biz. Grab your FREE download right here and let’s #glitterdone!