As the holiday season approaches, professional photographers everywhere are preparing for a crazy increase in product orders (and so are we!). Take advantage of the opportunity to sell more photo albums than ever before by creating beautiful studio samples that show your clients the value of preserving their photo memories in an album forever.
We caught up with pro photographer and business owner Kelly Cortes of Creative Imaginations Photography to ask her why she believes studio samples were the most important part of her product sales strategy:
AC: What makes a studio sample album such a great sales tool?
KC: When a client comes into your office, being able to show them a product (versus just talking about it) makes all of the difference. Letting them touch, feel and flip through the album allows them to emotionally connect to what could be theirs. When my clients sit down in my studio, the first thing they always reach for are my sample albums to look through not only a print form of my portfolio but to also see and feel the beautiful quality and textures of our Artsy Albums. Once I put an album in a client’s hand I usually don’t have to say much more; they sell themselves.
AC: Do you see an increase in album orders around the holidays?
KC: We generally see an increase in parent album orders (since we specialize in wedding photography) around the holidays. It’s very easy to just present the 10”x10” Artsy Album as the perfect parent gift with a collection of their favorite wedding images inside.
AC: Say you already have some studio samples. Why create new ones?
KC: It’s important to update your work every 6 months to a year, especially as you grow and develop as a photographer. Also, albums can take some significant wear and tear with photography shows, bridal shows and contact moving and shuffling, so it is important to keep them looking as close to an accurate representation of what the client will be receiving as possible.
AC: Do you have any tips for creating great sample albums?
KC: I personally like to tell a story with our albums. While I do outsource the actual design, I like to have a specific, and very classic look to my albums. I believe that keeping albums classic (less wording and graphics) preserves the heirloom nature and will allow the album to be passed down from generation to generation.
AC: What are your clients typically looking for in an album?
KC: In this digital age, I do not think clients even have much of a certain expectation anymore. This can be a good thing, but can also sometimes be a hindrance during the initial discussions about albums. This is also why it is so important to have samples of what they can expect and to discuss with them the importance of preserving their memories in print format as well as digitally. I think albums still represent a nostalgia that we can all reflect on and connect with. I know when clients pick up the studio albums, it connects them to memories of their parents’ and grandparents’ wedding albums.
AC: What makes the Artsy Album & Custom Album Box perfect for your images and your signature style?
KC: The Artsy Album is completely unique with the custom image box, soft leather covers, and customizable engraving. The Deep Matte Fuji paper is also beyond comparison. The feel, the look, it’s just the perfect match for my light and airy style of photography.
AC: Any tried and true advice for selling albums?
KC: My number one rule is to get the album into your client’s hands…it sells itself from there!
Don’t forget – Artsy Album Studio Samples are ONLY AVAILABLE through Friday, October 23, 2015! Once they’re gone, they’re gone, so don’t forget to create yours today!
Kelly Cortes is a boutique wedding and family photographer from Southwest Florida. Her unique style and combination of intimate moments, candid captures and traditional bridal photography has made her a leading wedding photographer in her area and destinations around the United States. Her passions include travel and her fur-babies, along with becoming an influential female entrepreneur within the community.
