“There are no stupid questions, only stupid people who ask questions.”
~anonymous~
True story. A lady calls our studio yesterday.
She was asking about a client’s session we had shot four weeks prior.
When Tina, the studio bozz, my queen bee and fashion goddess got on the topic of the order being in (large prints and all) she asks:
“Great! Can I come by and take a picture of the wall portrait with my cell phone so I can go to Walmart and make a print.”
I sh*t you not.
I sh*t you not.
So this is what our industry has come to.
Nothing new. I’m sure changes in our industry has happened before. Like when they switched from using flash powder to electronic flash.
Or when they dropped the big heavy cameras for leaner, meaner medium format and 33MM format.
Changes, all big changes. And as usual, stupid questions.
Questions like: “Since you’re no longer using flash powder, can we have the negatives for free?”
or
“Since you’re using a smaller format camera, can’t we have the negatives included in the deal?”
or
“Since it’s digital, and EVERYONE is doing this, AND I can easily duplicate what you’re doing using ONLY my cell phone, can I have all…..for free?”
Here’s the thing. You can’t let those questions beat you down. If you do, you lose.
Few understand the business strategies used when running a profitable photo studio.
But YOU need to understand them. Or call it a hobby. There is NO excuse for the business owner being dumb or irresponsible when it comes to using profit creating strategies that produce sales and increase profits.
People aren’t dumb. They sometimes ask dumb questions because…drum roll….:
“They don’t know any better.”
What you need to always remember is that it’s up to you to manage your clients expectations. And explain to them, communicate, show, tell and ask for the sale.
The onus is on us, as business owners.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer
“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”
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