5 Tips to Help you Sell Your Photography as an Introvert
When you decide to turn your passion of photography into a business, you'll have to get out of your comfort zone a little bit. This can be especially challenging for photographers like myself who are more introverted and struggle with or simply find it exhausting putting themselves out there over and over again.
And yet there is no way around it: If you want to create a profitable portrait or wedding photography business, there will be times where you'll need to push past being a introvert so that you can get the booking and make the $1000+ IPS sales.
This is definitely not a bad thing! Introverts can become incredible business owners who can book and sell their photography sessions and weddings with ease and class. If you'd like to do more that, here are 5 tips to successful sales as a photographer who is an introvert!
#1 : Research First
Sales doesn't just happen the moment your client whips out their credit card to pay you. Sales starts way before that point. In fact, effective sales starts at the very first touchpoint a potential client has with you. When you get an inquiry, spend a few minutes researching them prior to their consultation call. Look them up on social media. Depending on what niche you photograph, you can learn a bit more what school they go to, their interests, their family or their business. Come to the consultation already having a general idea of who they are so that you are better prepared for the booking conversation.
#2 : Ask Insightful Questions & Actively Listen
Introverts tend to be amazing listeners, which is an absolute must when you are selling a potential client on a wedding collection that's a few thousand or if you are hoping that your portrait clients invest in albums and wall art. After all, those who tend to be the most successful at sales ask insightful questions, genuinely listen to their client's responses and then make suggestions based on what's best for their clients. Actively listening will allow introverted photographers to connect on a deeper level with their clients so that they feel heard and understood, making them much more likely to book you for their wedding or photography session.
#3 : Use Testimonials
Introverts tend to be a bit shy or feel weird about promoting how great of a photographer they are. It can feel super awkward so this is where testimonials come in handy. Well-crafted testimonials throughout the inquiry and the selling phases can go a long way. Consider adding testimonials to your reminder emails and text messages and throughout your various marketing material. If you happen to be an IPS photographer who wants to sell more products such as albums and wall art to your clients, show case images of the products your past clients have purchased. This also provides the added benefit of social proof as current clients tend to purchase the same products as past clients.
#4 : Follow A System
Systems help lesson overwhelm and allow for processes to stay on track and run smoothly. When you have a proven system to follow, it will increase your confidence level and negate the chances of skipping steps that could potentially hurt the sale. There is nearly a system for everything I do in business. I have a system for how I run my initial consultation calls and nine step system that helps my students consistently generate portraits sales over $1000 each. I teach both of these extensively in The Booked Photographer Mentorship program so if you're curious to learn more about that, click here!
#5 : Set Aside Time to Celebrate
Selling yourself, your photography and your products can be a difficult task, but well worth learning. Take the time to celebrate the small wins and progress you're making even if it hasn't yet lead to the sales you want. If you've hosted your first consultation call instead of sending out pricing in an email, celebrate that regardless of whether or not that person booked you. If you hosted your very first In Person Sales session instead of sending a digital gallery, celebrate the effort you made regardless of what you sold. With persistent practice and time, you will improve. Celebrate who you are becoming on the journey you're taking, not the destination!
At the end of the day, being an introvert is not a liability, it can be an asset! Though each and every one of these can be beneficial to the photographer who is an extrovert, they are especially helpful for photographers who are introverts, but want more bookings and higher sales!
Cheering you on!
Heather