Hi all!

I'm pretty new to this forum, so I'll give some background info.

I started my business in 2003 when friends asked me to shoot their wedding. Since then I have done a handful of weddings a year. I did it the way most did, starting out charging $500 and raising my prices as I went along.

Last year I branched out into some studio work thinking that I may want to focus on that. Then we sold our house and I was studio-less.

I have since raised my prices, mostly after reading a bazillion posts on photography fourms telling photographers to raise their prices. I now only have 1...yes 1 wedding booked this year, and I'm starting to get very nervous.

I'll be the first to admit I've kind of pulled my prices out of the air. I did try to stay in the general ballpark of some of the other photographers in the area. I'm honestly thinking I need to go back and lower them because I'm second-guessing whether or not I'm worth what I'm charging.

My other problem is I want to develop my style a bit more. I've found over the last few years that I have tried to give the client's what they want, but I want to steer towards a trendier approach to things...bright colors, more contrast, etc. I want to do some tfp work to develop a portfolio to show people, but I can't find any models!

Lastly, I've been thinking about changing my business name as well. I feel like maybe I just need to do a complete overhaul. I am currently using "Impressions" and tiring of it, but I don't think my name is catchy enough for business. Photography by Lisa Walsh puts me to sleep.

I would love any feedback on prices, marketing strategy, getting out of the rut, etc. I have been doing this while raising a little one, and he will go to kindergarten in the fall. I feel like time is running out to make this business successful or I will have to go back to work, so to speak.

My website is www.impressionsphotography2003.com

I just want you to know that you're not alone! I'm totally going through the same thing right now after having moved to a rural location. For me, it's more of a "do I revamp the business or say good-bye to it altogether?" And, like you, I'm facing the "empty house" soon as my youngest DD heads to K-garten. I've gotta do SOMETHING!

I'll be watching for any wise words that get posted here ....and in the meantime, good luck with your decisions!

hi lisa -

where to start...
i checked out your site, and you have great work! there is one HUGE problem:

your contact info is missing! i was looking to see where you were located. i have no idea. i looked for a way to email you. nothing. finally, on your about page, i found a phone number. if i was a bride, i'm not sure i'd look so hard, and MOST of my inquires come as emails. so that could be a big part of your problem. if i missed it, i'm pretty sure others will, too. make sure you can be contacted from every page.

sometimes the answer is very simple. this could change everything.

i have a lot of ideas for you, but i need to know where you're located, if i'm a bride, and be able to reach you!

Thanks for the compliment! I really admire your work and I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I will get some contact info on my site ASAP!

I'm in Cortland, NY.

Your name is easy to say and easy to remember, so i can't think of any disadvantages to using it as your business name. Clients will be referring you by name, so why not make it the first thing they would look for in a domain. It's all about making it easy for customers to find and get in touch with you once you are mentioned or recommended.

"David Jay" isn't exotic or catchy either (Sorry, DJ ) , but it's the person behind the name that sells.

[Edit] I also looked at you pricing. From a brides point of view I believe the hourly rate approach can be off-putting, since hourly rates are often compared with personal wages and $200/hr while not excessive in our business looks pricey. It also takes some work on the brides part to translate the hourly figure to a line item on a wedding budget. All she wants to know at first is what ballpark figure is she looking at if she hires you. Even if you don't go to all packages, I would prefer to see an set base price for a wedding where the client gets at least something tangible for their money (even if it's a print credit) and then list add-ons. This, of course, is just my gut feeling.

+1

Me too. My son is in K already, but my daughter goes in 1 1/2 years. What to do?!

Lisa, maybe a change of name is just enough of a change to get you moving again? If you aren't established as Impressions, and you aren't fond of it anymore, maybe that kind of change is what you need.

I agree with "Steve Madden" I think Lisa Walsh is a power name. Not nearly as overdone as impressions...memories..., etc IMHO. As it was, it looks like you had to add the 2003 to find a web url that wasn't already snapped up.

I'm also shocked at how many photographer's websites I've happened upon and can't figure out where they're located. Even a lot of OSPers I've checked out don't show their location. What key words are you using? How are you marketing?

I also agree with the sentiment of not listing your rates by the hour unless your goal is to work with brides who either only care to or can only afford to have a few hours of their wedding photographed. Robin is right, that number is high if you think about it as per hour, but it doesn't impress upon potential clients that for each hour you spend at the wedding, you may spend 1-2 additional hours editing the images. I see a wedding as an entire day with a beginning, middle, and end. Perhaps being limited by your clients has contributed to your lack of inspiration?

Just some thoughts. Good luck!

-Jess

I'm still working on the contact form. It seems whenever I add it to the info page I loose all the rest of the text. I really don't want an entire page devoted to a contact form, but I'm afraid if I just put an email address then I will start receiving a ton of junk mail.

In the mean time I'm going to search for SEO info so I can better understand.

As far as advertising goes, I have done virtually none. I don't have much to spend (a few hundred, tops), so when I do I want to spend it wisely. I don't know what the best option is for me. Maybe I should spend it on a business coach...

I agree with the thoughts on pricing. It was hard for me to even type in $200/hr., and I know all of the work that goes into it! I originally had packages, but I rarely had anyone interested in anything other than my cheapest one. I'm listening, if anyone has any good info/resources on pricing.

To those of you in my boat; good luck! I hope we all find some useful tips as a result of my post. It was hard to put myself out there this morning, but I'm hoping it will give my business a much needed jump start, and hopefully yours, too!

Lisa, think of it this way.... no bride will care who you are (ie, about you) if they can't get in touch with you. Thats the first thing I look for on a site is the contact button. I like to know that when I need to get in touch with you, I can..without tons of hassle. Change one of your button titles to include "contact". You can always have your bio at the top and the contact info at the bottom....

First I'd like to thank everyone for their responses today. I really did take it all in, and I made some changes that I hope will be for the better.

I added a contact form and blended the former "About" pages and "Info" pages together. I'm still hoping for some pricing/package advice, and I will change that later if need be. I moved the link to my blog to the page with the link for client galleries. I also updated my mouseover colors to the pink that is on my blog (they were yellow...I'd never noticed it). I thought it was important to add some color to all of the black.

I'm just playing around with the "logo" (if you can call it that) right now. I think I'm going to add my "real" name to it.

I'm really new too - you know what I just learnt in this thread - I don't have a easy 'contact' button either - I have a number on the about page, but nowhere someone can click and 'get' us.



Thanks for raising this Lisa!

Lisa Walsh is a totally great name.

Look at it this way: my son's in K now. He meets some kid in the playground. Kid's mom googles my name to figure out my phone number so she can arrange a playdate with my kid. Pretty soon she figures out that my phone number is there and SO easy.

Now, pretty much ANY time any body needs to reach me, they just google my name.

Do you see where this is going?

I see that you have a "contact me" page, but you still have not given any information about yourself.

I have a whole page devoted to just contacting me...and it's your single most important page. If you have nothing else...have this.

You need to give your email address, your phone number, your blog and your general location.

By the way..your work is fabulous. Really, really good.

One more thing...and I'm not sure that you can really do anything about this now, but I don't like the 2003 thing in your website address. It makes me think that you haven't produced any work since then.

I agree with what others have said above. I was really hesitant to use my name because I thought it sounded like a Dr. Suess character (Hope Yost, with the Yost rhyming with most). But you'll find that clients can't remember jack when they're telling other people about your work, and asking them to remember your name + Impressions + Impressionsreallylongwebsitenamehere2003 = futile. Using your own name means you have faith in it, confidence in your own abilities -- you don't need catchphrases. You don't need to characterize your work because it stands on its own two feet. And, well, with few exceptions the trend seems to be that the lower grade the photographer, the more fruity the name (FairyTaleGooGooEyesImagesofTrueLove.com is probably already taken or will be soon).

Check out Matt's website for some advice on optimizing your search results in Google and increasing your business through your local jewelers, among other things: http://www.mattantonino.com/

Everyone has a different opinion about this, but insofar as packages I only offer one package. Then clients can select add-ons to the package (but never take off). This is assuming that you don't mind setting a price and sticking to it and/or working full days for nearly every wedding. It just makes business sense to me to do it that way, and I always explain that offering one all inclusive package helps me keep costs down overall and helps me sleep at night instead of wondering afterwards what I could have done had I been given more time for their special day. Just something to consider.

Networking might help you, too. Get in touch with local wedding planners, have lunch with them individually and talk about the wedding biz. If they aren't familiar with your work, bring a sample album and hopefully by the end of the meal they'll feel comfortable suggesting you to their brides. If there's a really popular place in your area for weddings (country club, etc.) get in touch with them. Offer to give them free exposure by recommending them on your site, if they'll recommend you to their couples (you could even throw in a 10% discount for that specific resort for added sweetness if you feel so inclined). Offer to do pro bono work for people, say a local college sorority for one of their formal dances -- you'll probably be able to score some free models that way or headshot sessions (which can be done outdoors, no studio needed this time of year!) or even weddings, since lots of college juniors and seniors get engaged these days.

Oh, btw, I love the photo of yourself you used on the site! It's bold and real, but still classy. Good luck!

Hi Lisa,
I left you a comment on your blog. Looking forward to hearing from you.

I can't say I know what pricing you should use for your market, but I like the idea of general pricing like...packages starting at $x,xxx for 2007. These numbers mean nothing until the potential client meets with you and sees your products etc.

OK, I need to add "learning to quote" to my list.

Hope, you had a lot of good points and you cracked me up, too. I see that FairytalegoogooeyesImagesoftruelove.com is available, and I just might snatch that one up, lol.

You are right about the networking, too. I have been content to do my little thing here without anyone really knowing I exsisted. I had a venue contact me in Oct. asking if they could put me on their preferred vendor list. I was overjoyed...but now what?? Was I supposed to DO something? I have no idea what protocol is for that.

Thanks for the compliment on the pic. I took that for a self-portrait assignment.

Frank, I'll be shooting you an email! Thank you!

Stateofthenation: get that contact info up!

I'm so glad I posted this yesterday. As nervous as I was, I knew I had to do it. I am determined to be successful at this!

Quick note.. somebody may have mentioned it already... your song on your site is too short. I just looked at a couple wedding photos and the contact page and it ran through twice. It might make people feel hurried. Just a thought!

b