What if you could deliver an exceptional client experience for your brand photography clients every single time, with minimal effort?
I know what you’re thinking—sounds amazing, but how can you make it happen in your own business? The key is using the right tools to help you consistently deliver an engaging and memorable experience.
In fact, creating a top-notch client experience doesn’t require overly personalizing each interaction. Reinventing the wheel with every client won’t get you there! Commit to a collection of powerful tools to streamline your client experience, and you’ll be golden.
I’ve cracked the code on delivering for my clients using a mix of my custom tools and industry favorites. Once I started using these tools, I streamlined my business operations and worked less. Win-win!
In this blog post, I’m counting down my top 6 favorite tools for brand photographers, including favorites from my Resource Shop for Brand Photographers. I’m also revealing my favorite tried-and-true tech tools that have been game-changers in my business.
Ready to improve your client experience? Let’s dive in.
06. A Gallery Sharing Platform
A beautiful, easy-to-use gallery-sharing platform is first up on my list of must-have tools for brand photographers. The photos you deliver to your clients are the cornerstone of your service, so they deserve to be showcased beautifully!
I’ve relied on the platform Pixieset for my gallery system since 2016. It’s visually appealing, intuitive, and packed with features to seamlessly deliver a brand photoshoot gallery. You can customize download and privacy settings, adjust each gallery’s colorway and fonts, allow clients to create favorites lists, and even sell additional digital files or prints.
Pixieset enhances your images and simplifies viewing, downloading, and sharing for your clients. With its easy-to-navigate interface, I’ve rarely received questions about using the gallery in over 8 years. Your clients will love it!
Pssst… Take $20 off your Pixieset subscription with this link!
05. Policies Document
Communication is key in any relationship. That’s why I always send a policies PDF when a client books a shoot with me. While my contract includes all the details, I wanted to provide something more digestible than the fine print. The policies PDF covers business hours, preferred communication methods, the shoot process, meetings, selecting favorites from proof images, weather, rescheduling, image copyright and licensing, and more.
By making these policies crystal-clear from the start, everyone knows what to expect, and any questions can be resolved early on. If issues arise later, you can refer to your policies document, avoiding any awkward conversations and ensuring a smooth experience.
04. Client Questionnaire
Incorporating a client questionnaire into my workflow has been game-changing for my business! I send a questionnaire to my clients immediately after they book with me. I ask them strategic questions about their business, brand, goals, and story. Their answers provide clarity on their vision and goals for their photoshoot, and help me understand the the nuances of their business and personality.
As a brand photographer, it’s crucial to turn these insights into photos that clients love and that effectively market their offerings. Understanding and fulfilling their vision is key to delivering outstanding results. It’s especially hard to do without asking the right questions!
Kicking off your client relationship with a questionnaire shows how thoughtfulness and thoroughness. It sets clear guidelines and expectations for shoot day, ensuring you and your client are on the same page from the beginning.
Another amazing benefit of a brand photography questionnaire? It helps you generate tons of creative shot ideas! Because your clients are giving you highly specific information, you to create tailored shot concepts that resonate with their vision and avoid clichés.
You can create your own questionnaire, or if you want to hit the ground running, you can find the exact one I use for just $27 in the Resource Shop for Photographers!
03. Automated Workflows
One of the best moves I made to streamline my client experience (and to reduce my workload!) was setting up an automated workflow system. Inside my Client Management System, Dubsado (get 20% off your first year here!), you can create customized automated workflows. It took some time and focus to set up, but it paid off immediately, and continues to deliver!
I no longer miss important tasks or waste time on repetitive ones that Dubsado handles for me. If you are not using an automated workflow, get on it! The setup time is well worth it when you see tasks getting checked off the list while you do more valuable things with your day.
P.S. My exact Dubsado workflows will be available in the Resource Shop soon! Join the waitlist here!
02. Client Resources
As a brand photographer, a major part of your role is to prepare your clients for their experience with you. Many of your clients may be new to brand shoots. Thoroughly preparing them is essential for a smooth shoot day and incredible photos.
I’ve identified key areas where clients need preparation: posing, wardrobe, props, and locations. I created guides for these topics and provide them to every client. I’ll be adding these resources to the Resource Shop soon, but in the meantime, use your experience to create a simple PDF with tips on these aspects of the shoot day.
Consider what it’s like for clients that are unfamiliar with brand shoots and may be nervous about stepping in front of the camera. Provide clear, helpful guidelines, and as a result, you’ll ease their anxiety and ensure a more relaxed, successful shoot.
01. Brand Photoshoot Planner Template
Do you have a central place to create a brand shoot plan for your clients, or is it a jumble of scribbled notes, emails, and Google docs? If it’s the latter, let me introduce you to the #1 tool that has transformed my client experience: my Brand Photoshoot Planner Template.
This 20-page customizable Canva template organizes every detail of your client’s shoot day, featuring 8 strategically designed sections: Shoot Overview, Shoot Schedule, Shot List, Inspiration, Props, Wardrobe, Beauty, and Notes & Important Links. It’s easy to present via Canva, print for shoot day, and edit as needed. In addition, you can even personalize it with your client’s brand colors to make it clear that you’re invested in their vision and attentive to their individual needs.
I created this template to keep myself and my clients organized, streamline our collaboration, and to, well, impress them! My clients love this Shoot Planner because they can see that I’ve researched their business, understand their vision for the shoot, and offer them a clear, concise shoot plan.
This planner template has wowed my clients time and time again. I can’t do a brand shoot without it, which is why it tops my list of the best tools for brand photographers! You can grab my exact template here!
My Top 6 Tools for Brand Photographers
There you have it- my list of the 6 top tools for brand photographers! Incorporating the right tools into your brand photography business can significantly impact your client experience and streamline your process. By using resources like the Brand Photoshoot Planner Template, automated workflows, and a client questionnaire, you’ll consistently deliver exceptional results but also free up your time to focus on creativity and growth.
Sounds good, right? Get to improving your client experience, and if you run into any blocks, email me at abby@abbymurphyphoto.com.
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