The Trick to Happy Photography Clients? Excellent Communication.

Make your process a no-brainer.

First of all, start with making YOUR life easier. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for every single client. Set up some systems and templates for yourself to make sure you know what to say at all times. Setting automated messages, using CRM platforms, and creating email templates are great ways to help you stay on top of communication without going crazy.

Because simpler is just better sometimes.

When you don’t have to think of what to say, who to respond to, or how to phrase certain things, your focus can go to the tasks that do require your brain power.

New client inquiry? Great! An automated (but personal) message about the next steps can get them started.

Have lots of different clients to interact with? Customer Relationship Management platforms are about to be your new besties (think: Dubsado and Honeybook). They’ll help you stay completely organized so you can know what each client needs and when.

Not sure what to say? Having ready-made templates to pull from will save you time and energy, while also meeting your clients’ needs.

Map out your workflow for clients.

Happy photography clients know what to expect every step of the way. You don’t want any room for interpretation or guessing games when it comes to your process. Clarity is one of the most important things you can offer your clients. Plus, it makes your life way easier while you’re at it — which we already know is a great thing!

So, as you communicate, give your clients a roadmap for what to expect. Once you know your process, lay it out so your clients can feel comfortable. From that very first inquiry to asking for a review after wrapping up, set the expectations for every step. Remember the templates and automated messages we talked about? Use those to help make the entire process as smooth and clear as possible.

Block out your communication time.

When you’re communicating with clients, be mindful of your own time and energy, so you don’t get burnt out. Being available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is just not a sustainable vibe for any type of business.

Constant communication does not equal good communication.

I like to set aside a certain amount of time to engage with clients – respond to emails, make phone calls, engage on social media, etc. Decide how long you need for each task and put it in your daily schedule.

Not only will you stay on top of everything that needs a response, but you’ll also feel less stressed and overwhelmed. Your clients get quality responses in a timely, consistent manner, and you feel organized and calm.

A true win-win!

Go above and beyond.

Now that you’re ready to stay on top of all the necessary communication, let’s go a bit further. What can you do to go beyond what’s expected? This is where you can win over clients with a little extra thought and effort. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Send them a client guide with tips for posing, what to wear, and how to prep.
• Make sure your questionnaire and email templates are on point. You can grab mine here.
• Create some educational freebie resources that are just for your clients.
• Text super specific directions on the day of a shoot.
• Check in with how they’re feeling, or if they need anything to feel more prepared.

If you think you can add something to make their experience even better, go ahead and do it. They’ll appreciate the thoughtfulness, and you’ll stand out from others because of a little extra effort.

Lastly, communicate how YOU would want to be communicated with.

Putting yourself in your client’s shoes is a great way to inspire your process. Ask yourself what you would want someone to do for you if the roles were reversed. What little things would make the experience better, clearer, more enjoyable, or simpler? Spend a little time thinking of your answers and go from there.

And remember, though it’s important to create an amaing experience for your clients, an amazing client experience is a benefit to you as well.  This is how you create clients willing to give you rave reviews, purchase your higher packages, refer all their friends, and come back again and again (especially if you shoot personal branding photography).

You’re all set to be the best communicator you can be. If you’re looking for tips on what to say to make your clients the happiest, I’ve got some templates to get you started. Check out my resources for photographers here!