Professionalism -
Helps you boost your image
It almost never fails, clients complement us on our professionalism. I just thought it was the way you were supposed to act. Do you dress appropriately for the occasion, the way you shake hands, your language and tone of voice, the way you handle people - get cooperation with out bossing people around. I thought every photographer acted this way. (All right I'm naive) We get letters and comments from brides and their families regarding our professionalism and manners. An excerpt for a note I received this month, "... By the way, I was just at another wedding, and you are to be commended for your un-oppressiveness and very professional manner!" In a subsequent phone conversation, she told me, "The photographer was bossy, obnoxious and disagreeable. That is a great way to have people talk about you! What a tag line, Joe's Photographer - Bossy, Obnoxious and Disagreeable! We do weddings!
Another mother of a bride wrote, " Dave and I are thrilled with the beautiful pictures of Darcy and Kary. It has been a real pleasure to recommend you to our friends because we have so much confidence in your work. With out any hesitation we can say that you are not only very talented professionally, but delightful to work with. We feel very fortunate to have 'discovered' you!" Wow, what a nice letter. Thank you ma'am.
First, you need to figure out what you have to do to have people think this about you. A great book to study is by Dale Cananige, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" . This publication should be in everyone's personal library. If you don't have a sterling personality, hire a 'Front Person'. Someone with a magnetic personality to be the personality of the studio. We all know very talented photographers who are so obnoxious that it is amazing that they have any business at all!
Second, how do you let prospective clients realize how important personality is in a photographer and that you have a great one. Show them and tell them. From the first contact, whether on the phone or in person, everyone is sizing you up. Every word you speak and the way you speak shows people your personality. But you can also tell prospective clients that personality is important. At a wedding, we are one of the few vendors that are at the wedding. I always ask, "Would you invite the photographer to the wedding if you weren't hiring that person?" Another way to 'Tell them', keep all of the 'nice letters' you receive from clients, mount them in a album, place it out where clients can look at. If you don't have any nice letters, send a survey out after each wedding, asking for comments. Use those quotes in your advertising and brochures. Put those surveys in your ' Accolade Album'.
Remember, if you don't toot your own horn, you may have to ask others to toot it for you!