I just got off of the phone with a potential client and realized that not only do I absolutely hate talking to people on the phone, but I am terrible at carrying on a conversation over the phone. I feel like a complete goober right now.

Any advice? Please, someone tell me that it is possible to get better at this!

I definitely feel that way sometimes too. I'll hang up and go...'what the heck was that'?!
It'll get better.
-Eddie

i have reoccuring nightmares about the phone.

Glad I'm not alone!


Yeah, pretty much.

I don't even talk to my friends on the phone beyond "Let's meet up here at this time." I wasn't one of those phone-chatty preteen girls, I've never run up my cell phone bill. This has been the biggest challenge to my professional development yet and I'm not trying to be all whiny about it - everyone has challenges - I just want to make sure I'm not the lone weirdo

i am with you too!! i find myself saying "umm" way too much. that makes me sound really professional. HA!

I can totally relate! I used to be that way, where I'd talk to a client, get off the phone, and then spend about 15 minutes explaining to my wife why I'm a total moron...

What I've done that I find makes phone conversations with clients easier is to have a list in front of me of all kinds of questions that I'd like the answer to from a business standpoint for their wedding, but also a list of personal get-to-know-each-other kinds of questions to fill in the gaps...does that make sense?

Just something that works for me! That's why I prefer to meet in person so much more

Oh I seriously understand! I think I have a fear of the phone. Not the phone itself, but the conversations! So that is why I really avoid it.I probably do miss some clients that ONLY talk on the phone because I pretty much just e-mail. Sad!! I must get better at this!!

Ohhhhh I feel the SAME way. I hate try to sell myself over the phone. Just in general, I hate talking on the phone. My friends even tease me about losing my phone in a ditch because I hardly ever answer my cell or call them. It's nothing personal, I'm just not a phone chatter. Especially when it's just something quick I need to tell someone or a client, I would so rather email instead. I'm just a better written communicator than verbal.

So you aren't alone!

Welcome to the Goober Club where membership is open to all. You just need to learn to let go and say to hell with your insecurities. I guess it's a good thing that you have the phone to hide behind. You could try imagining them naked, or heck you could just get naked yourself! Whatever floats your boat.

Who's the goober now?

K...I'm done, better go take my medication

This is hilarious! I hate the phone too, that's why I usually email them back with "It may have been too late in the evening to call you back but..."

I just got off the phone with this bride-to-be asking me a list of questions from internet! It was so awkward listening to her read the questions to me,
"What's your primary style?"
"Do you shoot in color or black and white?"
"Can we buy the negatives from you?"
"What kind of equipment will you bring?"
"Can we meet your assistant?"
blah blah blah




but I found myself either stuttering or using the "ummmm" "uhhhh"
so embarassing

ha ha ha!! Man had she even looked at your work? Once glance and she should have known you were a rockstar!

i can't even being to tell you guys how HAPPY i am that i'm not the only one like this!! i thought i needed to rethink what the heck i was doing with my career!!

haha! definitely sounds like lots of us suffer from this!! Guess that is why we are usually *hiding* behind the camera and are not sales reps or something talking on the phone all day long, :-)

Greg, give me her number and I'LL call her back and tell her what TOTAL GOOBER she is for daring to ask such ridiculous questions of such a fantastic photographer.

I seriously don't think she looked at your Web site before she called, or did ANY research at all.

By the way, I'm a phone nut too. I can't seem to get it "down" when she's supposed to talk and when I'm supposed to talk, so I usually end up talking over her and then it's just SO STUPID. I've decided that I'm just going to shut up and listen and take notes and ask personal questions so they think I'm interested in THEM. (Which I am because then I find it's easier to take pictures if we "know each other.")

Are we long lost sisters ? I dispize the phone. I too, have the lowest # of minutes on my cell (I think 300) & never ever come close to that. I'd rather meet you in person or send an email. For some odd reason I can't multitask while I'm on the phone , & I do have about 2571 things to do other than talking on the phone.

What happened to me? When I was in high school I could talk all day & night on the phone.

I actually find that I have better luck booking clients over the phone than in person. I don't know why, but people LOVE me over the phone.

Maybe it's because I'm sooooo unimpressive in person that people prefer not to look at me? Good thing I've got a camera to stick in front of my face at weddings!

Leann

HAHAHA I don't think we should blame the bride - they've never done this before so they pull the first thing they find on the internet. Great idea about being interested in THEM, once they start talking about their wedding the conversation flows much smoother.

Im actually pretty good on the phone, but I find myself long winded after the phone call and about to pass out, hahaha. I never take a second to breathe. AHHH

I read somewhere on this forum to be "interested, not interesting....."

and it has helped me change the direction of the phone call a bit-

but yeah-I definitely have those 'ebojo "what was that?" moments....

working on it-working on it-
I use a info request form to remind me about what info i want to get
check Matt Antonino's website-
I saw a prospect sheet on there awhile back-
It helps to have something in front of me-

good luck!

Call me some time, and we'll role-play. Just warn me ahead of time that you're not a real bride, because I don't want to get all excited thinking I'm booking an actual date!

Leann

Wow! This thread has really taken off Thanks all of you for your encouragement! It looks like I am in GREAT company!