Get the Job Done: Client Pleased With Event Photos

I just sent Cheryl Carter, the marketing director at Auraria, an email linking to the final edited shots I took for the campus during the Denver Food and Wine Classic. She said I definitely had an eye for this type of photography, and that she was very pleased with the images.

I find it very hard to decide which photos I like the best, and I am very proud of these images. I think focusing my business on people and events was a good choice for me as I progress in my photography.

I will be giving Cheryl a CD with all the images as well as an invoice for payment tomorrow. I also asked Cheryl to share with me what her favorite images were so I would have a better idea of the kind of shots she needs to be able to promote the Auraria Higher Education Center as a new venue for hosting events such as the Denver Food and Wine Festival.

The shot above is one of my favorites because I think it nails the fun and decadence of this ultra swag event were attendees paid $55 for a lavish all-you-can-eat buffet of fine wines, food and alcoholic beverages. I just love seeing the excitement on the ladies' faces as they reach for the sweets. I captured one woman with licking her lips in anticipation. It will be interesting to see what Cheryl picks as her favorites, and I will be sure to share them with you so you can get a better understanding about what marketers are looking for photography.

Get the Goods: PhotoVision Educational Videos

You've got only 2 weeks left to get your hands on some of the training videos I used to help prepare me for my first wedding shoot.

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I haven't used the calibration targets. But the DVDs I have received since I attended Ed Pierce's "Captivated by the Light" seminar and the interviews with wedding photographer Dan Doke give me everything I needed to be ready for my first wedding shoot.

Plus, save on all educational DVS and digital calibration targets. The sale ends July 1, 2008. Order online here or call 1-888-880-1441

Get the Goods: Now Accepting Credit Cards

Picture Your World Photography is now set up to accept credit card payments via PayPal. Colleague Dave Scott recommended his blog readers to follow this business practice, adding that doing so himself increased his sales by 21 percent for shooting specific services, namely portraits.

According to Merchance Made Easy, accepting credit cards may increase sales by as much as 50 percent or more. Credit card users spend nearly 3 times as much as cash customers, and credit card users are less concerned with comparison shopping than cash or check customers. Customers also prefer merchants who accept credit card and ATM card payments.

As a consumer myself, I personally appreciate it when I can pay for a purchase using my credit or debit card because I rarely keep cash on me. I thought my customers would like the same convenience, so I took Dave's advice and opened a Paypal, "PayFlow" Account. My bank serves as my merchant account services while Paypal acts as my gateway for accepting payments. I paid a one time set-up fee for both Paypal and my bank, and I also have minimal monthly service and transactions fees. My Virtual Terminal application is pending to also be able to accept a client's credit card information securely via your web browser and get a transaction number and confirmation code right away.

It's not enough to accept credit cards. Dave suggests going one step further by letting your clients know to with key phrases such as "We Accept Credit Cards" in your graphics, logos, email signatures and newsletters. "Remember, accepting credit cards is all about making it easier for more clients to spend more money which leads to an increase in your bottom line," Dave explained.

Get the Goods: Commercial Insurance

I took another important step today in securing the success of my photography business by getting commercial insurance.

Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of assuming that their homeowner's insurance policy will cover damages that occur to their home businesses. But basic property insurance does not protect you from liability and property damage. Most homeowner's policies limit loss of business property to $2,500 and won't cover losses that happen away from the home. My new desktop computer and laptop computer alone cost me $10,000, not to mention what I paid for the camera, lenses and studio lighting equipment. And what would I do if a drunken guest at a wedding tripped over my tripod? The hospital bills could ruin me. So I definitely needed a more comprehensive policy.

My Farmer's insurance agent, whom I've worked with for more than a decade, reviewed different coverage options, pointing out what was covered in my basic homeowner's insurance policy and what wouldn't be. We settled on a Retail Business Owners Policy, known as a BOP. BOP covers:
professional and product liability for off-premises coverage
personal liability for bodily injuries clients could sustain when they come to my studio
fire and flood protection
computer hardware and data loss, building contents
property and equipment that is damaged or stolen
business income
home-based accounts receivable
money securities.

I could have opted for a less costly policy, but the $55 a month I will be paying will offer me a great sense of peace of mind. And in the future, I could always add riders for more coverage, including additions for signs, fences, and other outdoor property not attached to a building and intangible property (good will, trademarks, etc.) and improvements to my home studio.