Booking Process | Sending & Receiving Contracts & Invoices
Entrepreneur: Brittany Schnell
Pre-Booking
The first ingredient to connecting with your clients is earing their trust. They need to be able to see with total confidence that you can provide their ideal experience or product. I build trust in many ways: consistently posting to Facebook, Instagram, the Brittanyography Blog, the Newsletter & Podcast, YouTube, and dare I say it? TikTok; I’m always talking about my business because I’m genuinely excited about it; and I run promotions with the local radio station, bridal shows and photo competitions.
They say it takes three points of contact to make a sale, so I’m trying to make as many points of contact as possible. My platforms are diverse and I can easily move to a new platform. Gary Vaynerchudk notes that the top marketers are always looking for the newest way people communicate. So being fluid will allow me to stay on top.
Content is King. So, I always ask myself these three questions when I create any sort of content:
Would I find this helpful?
Would I find this interesting?
Would I find this valuable?
If the answer is “Yes,” I can move forward with the publishing plan. Always making sure that the content matches the platform I am publishing it on.
Finally, your clients are all around you: The kid that bags your groceries will need senior photos. The mom you met at the local paint and sip needs family photos. Your husband’s mom’s friend needs their kid’s senior photos taken. Your pastor could use new portraits for the church website. Talk to them!! See if you are a good fit for them!
Booking Process
Here is a look into my booking process. My preferred client management system is Honeybook, but there are others out there!
Clients reach out to me and let me know what they would like for services and products.
Private message on Facebook or Instagram
Website submission form
Speak to me in person
When I reply to potential clients, I’m trying to find out all the important things about their photo needs. I ask the following
Their wants & needs
Date, Time & Location
Budget
Specific Ideas
A person’s reply will help determine what kind and size of session they need. Clients often know what they want. If they want to move forward with booking, I will email them a project proposal composed of a contract and invoice using HoneyBook.
It’s that easy. Clients can sign their contract from their computer or device and pay just as easily. Once the contract is signed and deposit paid, they are booked. HoneyBook will put them on my calendar and automatically send anything I have set up. Seniors photos will have a different set up of prep emails than a boudoir session which will be different from a wedding client. With HoneyBook, I never miss a beat.
I do not work if there is no contract. Contracts clearly layout the expectations of each party. It covers my butt and my client’s butt. Imagine paying a wedding photographer but not signing a contract. The photographer’s word would be the only thing keeping you on their schedule. Or imagine me setting a specific day, let’s say June 4 aside for Jane & John doe- the couple says they will pay me cash the day of their wedding. The night before they call off the wedding. How am I supposed to find work now? Where will my income come from? Not them!
I did not sign a wedding photography contract with my wedding photographer. She backed out the Thursday before I got married. I ended up scrambling to find someone. Special.
I’ll let you know more about my shooting prep and shooting process another time. Until then!