Hey Photographers, Have You Got A Decorator?
Posted on 01 September 2011
Two Great Ways to Get New Business
One of the best ways to get new business is to specialize in a particular niche market. Another great way to get business is to partner with someone who serves a market similar to your target market, and have them do some of the selling for you. Today’s tip incorporates both of these concepts.
Now, this particular business niche idea does require that you are both a very good photographer and a very good Photoshop postprocessor. When I say you have to be very good at both of these, I mean it! I’m not talking about the kind of “good” where your spouse and kids think you’re the greatest. I’m talking about the kind of “good” photographer who is constantly being asked questions by fellow photographers at local club meetings, and the kind of post processor who sees and knows how to reproduce the latest, hottest image design trends. So, if you’re really good at photography and postprocessing, this might be a good niche for you.
Start by finding a decorator that serves either upscale businesses or upscale homeowners in your area. Then request a meeting with them and let them know that you are able to deliver both custom photography, and highly stylized postprocessing consistent with practically any design theme out there today. You will need to bring samples to prove your case. While doing your research to find this decorator, if you can find several examples of what he or she has done, do your best to emulate the kinds of images they use in these various installations and include those designs in your portfolio. Doing your homework here is going to be critical to getting a “trial agreement” to see if a working arrangement might happen.
Now, don’t kid yourself, it’s going to be tough just to get the appointment with the decorator. And it’s going to be tough to find the right decorator in the first place. Then it’s going to be tough to do some research and find out what that decorator likes. But if you can do all of that, it’s definitely worth the effort because you will have an automatic sales department for your photography and design work (postprocessing).
When it comes to your sales pitch to this decorator, you need to make sure they understand that you are willing to work with them to make this a profitable venture for both of you. It is not unethical to offer to pay them a commission for any sales they make for you. They are acting as your agent so they deserve a commission. Like I said earlier, your sales pitch will work better if you already know their work and adjust some of your samples accordingly. But the real hook for them is that they are not only decorating with pieces which are consistent with their design taste, they get to use freshly created images which have been captured specifically for the client in question. What I mean is, all these cool designs you do to your images, will have been done to pictures of family members and other places and things that are important to the end client. So that way the decorator can deliver not only cool looking designs, but they can deliver cool looking, personalized designs. And that means bigger commissions for everybody.
Now, don’t just look up local decorators on the web. Ask around. Do some serious research by touching base with wealthy people and successful businesses in your area who have hired a decorator themselves, or who might be friends with lots of wealthy people who hire decorators. That’s who you need to ask about decorators.
This last thing is actually the most important thing in the whole process… If all of a sudden this opens up new doors for you when you start making good money at it, I want a commission. — Okay, either an expensive gift or just telling everybody about BeckerBiz is good too.
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2 responses to Hey Photographers, Have You Got A Decorator?
Great suggestions!
WHEN I start making money at it.
Since I already tell people about your sites, I guess it would have to be the expensive gift
Love your Idea
….
Best Wishes
-Ali