I think the most valuable seminar on our wedding course is not about photography!
Our seminar 4 covers:
How to get wedding enquiries.
How to convert the enquiry to a booking.
The knowledge required to do this often takes years of experience and entails understanding that the wedding photographers responsibilities go way beyond just the photography.
The photographer is the only wedding supplier at the wedding from beginning to the end. He/she is the only person who understands, and appreciates, the timings and sequence of events and can assist, and advise, the client about these key facts to ensure the couple and their families have a stress free and wonderful day.
How many wedding photographers appreciate this?
The really professional wedding photographer should fulfil the role of the wedding consultant. Realise this and you begin to hold the key to booking every couple you see.
Over a ten year period there was only one occassion when I visited a couples home that I did not book the wedding ....before you ask my prices were higher than anyone in Norfolk.
Following our seminar 4 a week ago a student wrote:
"Got my first real wedding lead this week- and from the marketing and wedding knowledge from you on the course last weekend still ringing in my ears I now have my first booking- a selection 2 upgraded.
Amazing...I was only going along for the practice with no sales expectation. GREAT TRAINING."
This is far from unique, it happens on a regular basis. As far as I know there is no other course that contains the contents to make this happen on a regular basis.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Digital World
Shane Watson in the Sunday Times style magazine made some interesting observations regarding changes in our market place:
'We live in a culture where photographs aren't merely memories, they are evidence of how well our lives are going. Quality, quantity, how good we look, and then who gets to see the shots is what it's all about now.
The idea of making do without your backed up file of digital evidence is unthinkable. That would be like having a birthday party and nobody bringing a camera, so you wouldn't be able to post the images on facebook the morning after. It would be like going to a concert in the park and not relaying pictures of you in the crowd, with Paul McCartney in the background, to everyone in your address book.
Meanwhile, we are all getting super model attitude. Show me a 19 year old girl and I'll show you someone hunched over the computer screen deleting her brothers facebook holiday snaps because she looks too much like herself and not enough like Lily Donaldson. And it's getting worse. Last weekend a friend of mine discovered her boyfriend doctoring her crows feet and the bags under her eyes before posting her on his site."
I believe this culture will have a massive effect on photographers and social photography during the next few years. Our images of babies,families, weddings and makeovers must be available to send and circulate through all the different forms of digital media - Facebook, mobile phone etc.
Like all new markets this could be seen as a danger or opportunity.
I think it's a great opportunity!
'We live in a culture where photographs aren't merely memories, they are evidence of how well our lives are going. Quality, quantity, how good we look, and then who gets to see the shots is what it's all about now.
The idea of making do without your backed up file of digital evidence is unthinkable. That would be like having a birthday party and nobody bringing a camera, so you wouldn't be able to post the images on facebook the morning after. It would be like going to a concert in the park and not relaying pictures of you in the crowd, with Paul McCartney in the background, to everyone in your address book.
Meanwhile, we are all getting super model attitude. Show me a 19 year old girl and I'll show you someone hunched over the computer screen deleting her brothers facebook holiday snaps because she looks too much like herself and not enough like Lily Donaldson. And it's getting worse. Last weekend a friend of mine discovered her boyfriend doctoring her crows feet and the bags under her eyes before posting her on his site."
I believe this culture will have a massive effect on photographers and social photography during the next few years. Our images of babies,families, weddings and makeovers must be available to send and circulate through all the different forms of digital media - Facebook, mobile phone etc.
Like all new markets this could be seen as a danger or opportunity.
I think it's a great opportunity!
Thursday, 19 November 2009
New studios
The team were very impressed with Alex Drury's studio in Stamford and following this went on to Sheffield to see the premises acquired by our latest 'Fast Track' franchisee Penny Scutt. Smart and spacious Penny is planning to open the studio in January.
Meanwhile Julia Taylor opened yesterday in Worthing with a full day of six baby sittings! TIME have booked her thirteen in her first week! Good luck Julia..we are here if you need us!
Today has been spent seeing a photographer who is contemplating a B and C license to operate six areas under the B and C brand. Following that two and a half hours with another enquirer that wishes to open the first of possible multi studios in the Nottingham area. One of the most impressive applications we have received.
Some interesting points came out of yesterdays meeting. It appears that the competitor in providing leads for photographers has been taking substantial cuts on some of the Portrait Experiences...as much as 75%! Add annual fees, marketing fees, booking fees and the figure is enormous. No wonder they were a little disturbed to start getting some competition!
I got it wrong, Oliver is nine. Sorry Oliver but you are growing up far too fast. My best present was a taxi ride on a real live Lancaster Bomber next May! Amazing!
Meanwhile Julia Taylor opened yesterday in Worthing with a full day of six baby sittings! TIME have booked her thirteen in her first week! Good luck Julia..we are here if you need us!
Today has been spent seeing a photographer who is contemplating a B and C license to operate six areas under the B and C brand. Following that two and a half hours with another enquirer that wishes to open the first of possible multi studios in the Nottingham area. One of the most impressive applications we have received.
Some interesting points came out of yesterdays meeting. It appears that the competitor in providing leads for photographers has been taking substantial cuts on some of the Portrait Experiences...as much as 75%! Add annual fees, marketing fees, booking fees and the figure is enormous. No wonder they were a little disturbed to start getting some competition!
I got it wrong, Oliver is nine. Sorry Oliver but you are growing up far too fast. My best present was a taxi ride on a real live Lancaster Bomber next May! Amazing!
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Planning
Tomorrow we leave for London at 7.30 with Glenn (Time Associates) to meet Tony Franks, our marketing consultant, in Harrods to plan our next move in creating Portrait sittings for franchisees and independant photographers. We have a number of projects on the go at the moment.
Glenn is announcing various seminars in telemarketing. His company have completed more than 65,000 telephone calls to almost 14000 people for Emmas Diary leads, so they probably know more than anyone else about this subject!
The rest of the Thorpe Road team Elaine, Andy and Dominic are going to Stamford to assist Alex Drury with his new high street studio...branding, decor, marketing etc.
It is also my birthday, not telling which one, so we hope to have a birthday lunch at Gauchos at Liverpool Street, catch the train, and join my 8 year old grandson Oliver's party in Norwich in the evening. He shares the same birthday.
My present for him includes a book about China about which he is fascinated. He can already count, and write in Chinese, to 100!
Glenn is announcing various seminars in telemarketing. His company have completed more than 65,000 telephone calls to almost 14000 people for Emmas Diary leads, so they probably know more than anyone else about this subject!
The rest of the Thorpe Road team Elaine, Andy and Dominic are going to Stamford to assist Alex Drury with his new high street studio...branding, decor, marketing etc.
It is also my birthday, not telling which one, so we hope to have a birthday lunch at Gauchos at Liverpool Street, catch the train, and join my 8 year old grandson Oliver's party in Norwich in the evening. He shares the same birthday.
My present for him includes a book about China about which he is fascinated. He can already count, and write in Chinese, to 100!
Activity Superstore
I understand we are now live on Activity Superstore with a special Christmas offer....this is to match up with other offers already on the site. Competitors are not happy, but we aim to prove that Barrett and Coe can offer the best customer experience. Gradually, we will create a brand that is unstoppable.....Fantastic Photography by very nice people!
Any succesful wedding/portrait business,after two years, should get 50% of it's business from past customers. This does not just happen...it requires dedication, perseverence and determination.
Last night we were invited to the first anniversary of a local Indian Restaurant. The owner started his first restaurant in Brick Lane and this is his second, Roti's in Norwich. Everything that they have done in marketing this restaurant has been superb. We have already copied a couple of their ideas in the Franchise. It was an entertaining evening and included eating part of our meal with the photographer employed to cover the evening. He came from Portugal a couple of years ago. He has his own high street studio in Norwich and came to UK with virtually nothing.
Having completed three days solid training, with some of the most stimulating students we have ever had, Brian and I took Monday off for golf. The driver worked......Brian, after seeing my ball wiz past his with my new fitted driver, has decided that he needs 'measuring too!'
Any succesful wedding/portrait business,after two years, should get 50% of it's business from past customers. This does not just happen...it requires dedication, perseverence and determination.
Last night we were invited to the first anniversary of a local Indian Restaurant. The owner started his first restaurant in Brick Lane and this is his second, Roti's in Norwich. Everything that they have done in marketing this restaurant has been superb. We have already copied a couple of their ideas in the Franchise. It was an entertaining evening and included eating part of our meal with the photographer employed to cover the evening. He came from Portugal a couple of years ago. He has his own high street studio in Norwich and came to UK with virtually nothing.
Having completed three days solid training, with some of the most stimulating students we have ever had, Brian and I took Monday off for golf. The driver worked......Brian, after seeing my ball wiz past his with my new fitted driver, has decided that he needs 'measuring too!'
Friday, 13 November 2009
Courses
Today we have the first of three successive training days. Course 2 today and tomorrow and Course 1 Sunday. Also, on Saturday, we have a stand at a franchise exhibition in Milton Keynes. What a breath of fresh air after a really boring week trying to share some of our benefits with non franchisee photographers!
Barrett and Coe is about having alot of fun and helping people with their business as much as possible. It is amazing to me that this can sometimes be misinterpreted. I am afraid that UK does seem to specialise in negativity which is not something with which I can equate.
Great to be working again with Elaine, our National Studio Development Manager, who is on the same wavelength as me (she was ill last week). Elaine is currently assisting 10 of our studios and is already having a dramatic effect on increased sales. But the requirements of a B & C studio seem pretty small beer to her because she comes from a background where Portrait sales of £16000 a week were required!!
In the last 10 days we have managed quite alot: Michael Bolton at The Albert Hall, a visit from my daughter and son in law who is a wine connoisseur extraordinary, been to Lincolnshire for a fitting for a new driver(have to try to hit it further than Brian!),played in a pro-am golf competition, five meetings with people interested in a franchise, met with David Castle of Emma's Diary, tried to broker a deal between three franchisees swapping areas, and sold a house! During all of that I tried, and failed to understand, slideshows!
Barrett and Coe is about having alot of fun and helping people with their business as much as possible. It is amazing to me that this can sometimes be misinterpreted. I am afraid that UK does seem to specialise in negativity which is not something with which I can equate.
Great to be working again with Elaine, our National Studio Development Manager, who is on the same wavelength as me (she was ill last week). Elaine is currently assisting 10 of our studios and is already having a dramatic effect on increased sales. But the requirements of a B & C studio seem pretty small beer to her because she comes from a background where Portrait sales of £16000 a week were required!!
In the last 10 days we have managed quite alot: Michael Bolton at The Albert Hall, a visit from my daughter and son in law who is a wine connoisseur extraordinary, been to Lincolnshire for a fitting for a new driver(have to try to hit it further than Brian!),played in a pro-am golf competition, five meetings with people interested in a franchise, met with David Castle of Emma's Diary, tried to broker a deal between three franchisees swapping areas, and sold a house! During all of that I tried, and failed to understand, slideshows!
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Sunday Telegraph
As part of our national marketing campaign for Family Portrait bookings we have booked advertising in the Sunday Telegraph Seven magazine at the end of November. Where we do not have a franchisee these bookings will be made available to our existing clients.
Merilyn Saddleton, who took the Kings Lynn and north Norfolk franchise 2 months ago and is still on a course emailed me:
'I have made my first collection 4 Emma's Diary sale (£400), and my first entry into the SWPP baby comp. Got a silver grade.'
Apologies to those not in the loop but someone also emailed me:
'Not sure about 666.....he probably needs to ring 999....he will either spontaneously combust or have a coronary I think!!
Merilyn Saddleton, who took the Kings Lynn and north Norfolk franchise 2 months ago and is still on a course emailed me:
'I have made my first collection 4 Emma's Diary sale (£400), and my first entry into the SWPP baby comp. Got a silver grade.'
Apologies to those not in the loop but someone also emailed me:
'Not sure about 666.....he probably needs to ring 999....he will either spontaneously combust or have a coronary I think!!
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