Why should owners have their pets professionally photographed? Why should people hire you instead of the photographer down the street. What benefits will your clients receive by hiring you?
These answers are key to your marketing and offer creative techniques instead of the constant, “book me” and “hire me” that you see throughout social media. These are the concepts that intermingle into your scheduled marketing events.
There are two marketing ideas that you need to include in your marketing schedule. The first is why owners should consider professional pet photography. The second concept is why your potential client should hire you.
Why pet photography?
I know that it is easier to market a Santa session or another session type; but these questions are the essence of your business. This is what will finally separate you from the pack. There are quite a few reasons why pet owners should consider professional pet photography.
- As photographers, we have something unique to offer to pet parents. We create legacies of their pet that will last long after the pet is gone. I don’t know how many times I have heard the statement, “Oh I wish I would have had my dog/cat photographed before they passed.”
- The ability for pet owners to track growth and progress throughout the years. You want to emphasize the idea that their pet should be photographed as a puppy, in the middle years and when they become a senior.
- Photographers capture the emotional connection between owners and their pets as they interact with each other throughout the session. Encourage the owners to be part of the session.
- We all love our cell phones; but it can be difficult to photograph yourself with your pet, your active pets, and black or dark brown pets with your cell phone. During their consultation, I have had numerous clients complain about their dark blobs and out of focus images that take with their cell phones.
- Finally, head tilts, tricks and loving gazes are all part of a pet’s personality. You want to photograph elements of their personality that the owners see every day.
Why should clients hire you?
Once you have established why people should have their pets photographed, you now need to offer the benefits of hiring you to be a client’s pet photographer. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.
- You can share with clients that you have had professional training in photography, lighting, and composition. What really matters is how your client will benefit from your training. Communicate to them that because of all your training, you can focus on the pet and capture the personality, expressions and the bond between the owner and their pet.
- Share with your client that you know when to use noise makers and treats so that you can gain and keep the attention of the pet to capture those sweet head tilts and the ears that raise up.
- Share with your client that you are well versed in editing software so that your pet’s images look like a work of art.
- You will save time for a client since their wall portraits are delivered framed and ready to hang and their albums will be designed for them.
Take some time to reflect and write down your answers to these questions. Not only will you create content that you can use on social media; but you will begin to separate yourself and what you offer to other photographers in your community.
