Mystic Seminars: Building a Better Business

The Eight Greatest

business ideas I came away with from Mystic Seminars

1. “How does it feel to be a Steph Stevens Photo bride?”  

This is a hard one right off the bat. If you happen to be a past client and feel inclined to share, please help me articulate this… here’s my take: Organized & well taken care of prior to the wedding. Relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera on the wedding day. After the wedding they feel relieved that all of the hard work paid off and grateful to have so many photos to start a life as a newly married couple!!

2. Making the studio EVEN MORE cozy and comfortable. 

Bought a coffee maker – check! And now have a complete drink station. Looking for the perfect rug and other little touches to pull the room together.  Actually, I seriously am looking for a good rug.

3. Identifying client needs

Doesn’t that sound like a simple concept? Very simple. So often people tell me they want “candids”, but this is actually quite vague. I’ll be looking to have people give me visual examples of what they like / don’t like about the photography they’ve seen. Open up a deeper conversation about their expectations.

4. Reaching out to other wedding vendors

Big goal for 2012!! Blogging and bragging about my client’s favorite vendors. Sharing the photos that they helped to make beautiful.

5. Headshots for select wedding vendors

I love a good headshot and it’s something worth giving to someone I want to build a stronger professional relationship with.

6. Engagement Sessions < Photo Road Trip Adventure

Which sounds more fun? For those that are up for it, why not just hop in a car, wander down a country road and hop out to shoot when you see some amazing barn, field of wildflowers, used book store, etc…. It’s a little bit of a gamble but the payoff is bound to be greater than shooting some run of the mill photos next to some Boston landmarks.

7. Eeeek, complaints!

My business is in this for the long haul and diffusing a tense client situation is a necessary skill. It’s so valuable to see a professional photographer discuss how to turn a negative situation into a positive and then go even farther to get that client’s confidence back to a raving fan.

8. Email Newsletters!!

If you’re a former client you’re on the list. The first one, out in the next few days will include a complete portrait shoot giveaway!! In total a $1600 value. These will be quarterly and in order to make it worth your while there will be giveaways and deep discounts in each issue.