I’M TOTALLY CRAVING SOMETHING SWEET!
It may have to do with the fact that I’m sooooo pregnant right now but let’s be honest, I can have a sweet tooth any time of year. Can you relate?
Which got me thinking about Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and how my bestie and I would actually drive to Mohegan Sun [the casino resort in CT] to stand in line for one of those amazingly gooey, warm treats, painted in liquid sugar.
[I once heard it takes two weeks for a Krispy Kreme Donut to work its way through your system but that’s just hearsay.]
My husband and I recently relocated from Boston to Charleston. Well apparently, Krispy Kreme started in the Carolinas and you can definitely tell. In some parts, these adult versions of Disney World are located on every corner! You would think they are what Starbucks is to New Yorkers. But when we were living in Boston? Forget about it! No Krispy Kremes. Until that is, Mohegan’s put one in. Sure it’s a two-hour drive but who’s counting?! [I’m kidding. We were in the area but really did pop into Mohegans just for the doughnuts.]
The point is, both of us were very excited to get to try a hot Krispy Kreme! Can you imagine what would have happened if we both ordered a doughnut and went about our morning, only to find out that one of us actually got a toasted bagel instead? Or worse…a cold doughnut? I assure you, it wouldn’t be pretty.
WHY?
Because we wanted a hot doughnut! When we saw that glorious red light come on, we were promised a melt in your mouth, gooey, confectionary delight of a dessert. Now, why on earth would you give one of us a hot doughnut and the other a cold one?
Were they worried that because we were friends, we might get the exact same thing?! Were they afraid that we would have found them out, that they are not unique; they only do hot doughnuts!!!
What if they just wanted us to realise they can be creative? They wanted us to know they can do other things, like a Doughnut Sundae?! [That’s a real thing by the way. It’s a doughnut with ice cream in the middle, covered in chocolate sauce.] I mean, that’s better than just a doughnut, right? It’s a doughnut but a creative one! One that goes over the top and gives you something special, something extra!
The problem is, that’s not what we wanted. It’s not what we thought we were getting. It’s not what that hot light advertised.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
How many times do you hear yourself selling a hot doughnut but trying to give a doughnut sundae instead? And if you haven’t figured it out by now, the doughnut I’m talking about is your customer experience, particularly posing.
The problem with running a business like a business, is that there HAS to be some form of consistency. A client has to be able to look at your website, be able to see what they are getting and then be confident that they, too, will get exactly what they ordered.
Being able to take an amazing photograph is great. But being able to do it over and over again [as boring as it sounds to you] is what sets you apart, builds trust and excitement in your brand and clearly communicates to your client what he/she will get.
Don’t you think there are doughnut makers who are sick and tired of making doughnuts day in and day out? That’s probably why they offer a doughnut sundae! It’s on the menu but they get it…the majority want a hot doughnut. They understand that to do one thing and do it really well, is the best way to be successful in business. Don’t get me wrong, you can do other things [Krispy Kreme does K-cups and now sells in the grocery stores too] but you need to start with a solid foundation. Otherwise, you confuse people and confused people don’t buy.
Still not convinced? Take a look at the list of brand names below. Do they have one solid foundation they are known for? Have they still been able to build onto it?
Arby’s
Chick-fil-a
Nike
Manolo Blahnik
Diane Von Furstenburg
Apple
Obviously, when working with people, every shoot will be a little different. But don’t stress about the fact that you have some go-to poses, especially if you’re offering a marathon session. You’ll need to be as efficient as possible. You can even create mini sessions around the same 3-5 poses. Then it’s expected as to what they’ll get, you’ll have a game plan and she may buy another mini session because she wants one of the poses she didn’t get in a previous mini session.
I may not recommend putting repeating poses side by side [like in the picture featured above] on your website, but it’s nice to know that when a client looks at my work and asks specifically for “this” pose, I know I can give that to them. Remember, it’s new to them.
I guarantee you that my friend and I both had a hot doughnut and didn’t have a complaint in the world that they were made the same way. It’s what we wanted. It’s what we bonded over and they each tasted as equally delicious.
THE BIG QUESTION FOR YOU…
Is your brand is consistent enough? Are your clients really sure of what they are getting when they hire you? Are you attracting the kind of clients you want to work with? Do they see enough consistency in your portfolio to feel confident booking or even contacting you?
If you said “no” or “I’m not sure” to any of those questions, you’re not alone. It wasn’t until I mastered posing and editing my portfolio to reflect my client experience [not my personal projects], that I saw a significant improvement in my business. I started booking more consistently and booked clients that I actually wanted to work with. I attracted clients who valued what I do, who wanted to pay me for it and who trusted me completely to give them that same experience.
And because I’ve done it [and because no two portfolios are alike] I’ve created a one-on-one program that will let me help you get results, no matter what genre of photography you focus on. Here’s a brief rundown of how I’m able to do this:
WEEK ONE – You’ll be given some homework so that I can learn more about your business. I’ll be reviewing your work, looking into your online portfolio, as well as evaluating your posing experience and what you’re really communicating to potential clients vs what you think you are.
WEEK TWO | THREE – We will schedule a one-on-one Skype call to discuss how you can better your posing, your portfolio and overall client experience. We will decide who you want as a client and design a plan for you to attract that person based on the portfolio you’re sharing.
WEEK FOUR – Following our call, you’ll have an assignment based on your individual posing or portfolio needs. You’ll also receive detailed notes from me about our call so that you can continue to implement any additional changes necessary beyond our time together.
WEEK FIVE – I’ll answer questions that come up during your assignment and review the changes you’ve made. You won’t be left behind after this course. Feedback and follow-up is so important to make sure you’re on the right track.
THE FINE PRINT:
I can’t be sure of when this offer will be available again. No really…keep reading. See, I love, love, love being able to meet and help other photographers. However, my primary focus is on running and growing my own business while working with my private clients.
In complete honesty, the reason I’m able to offer this now is because I’m taking some down time for the birth of our son! And I’m super excited to use this opportunity to finally be able to focus on you! Well, I’ll be focusing on him too, but because I have help, I’m thrilled to be able to do both! I look forward to getting to know you personally, supporting you through email, social media and one on one calls, as well as helping you really focus in on your business before the busy season takes over again.
SO WHAT’S IT COST?
There is a ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF $499. Yup, that’s just $499 for all 5 weeks!
WHEN DOES IT START?
So if this sounds like it’s a good fit, I would love to hear from you! And because I want you to get the most value out of this experience, space is definitely limited. So to join us… JUST CLICK HERE. Once your payment has been confirmed, you’ll be sent the course schedule, so you can plan around each week’s assignments. Don’t worry, aside from the one-on-one call, the course is meant to be flexible so that you can do each week’s assignments when you have time.
“I flipping love you, Shannon!!! You have such a knack for getting to the root of the issue or excuse. And you have a unique ability to see straight to the heart of someone and ask the right questions, which allows them the ability to actualize their goals. You are unique in that you don’t just answer the questions for people, you help them arrive at the answers which is much more powerful!” – BRITTANY
