As a professional photographer, I’m sure you know that providing quality photographs is just one aspect of creating an exceptional client experience. One thing that I think really helps set us apart from other is over-delivering what our clients are expecting from us.
Have you ever considered the importance of over-delivering to your clients?
Here’s the thing: When you over-deliver, you provide more value than your clients expect or pay for.
And it doesn’t have to be extravagant, in fact, I definitely feel like it shouldn’t be.
This can be anything from providing extra services to delivering photographs ahead of schedule, or simply making your client feel special and appreciated.
The Benefits of Over-delivering In Your Photography Business
So let’s go over some reasons I teach all of my students to over-deliver in their photography business:
It builds trust and loyalty
When you over-deliver, you show your clients that you care about their experience and are willing to put in extra effort to make them happy. This builds trust and creates a strong sense of loyalty. As clients are more likely to return to a photographer who has exceeded their expectations in the past.
It generates positive word-of-mouth
Word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools for any business, and photography is no exception. When you overdeliver, your clients are more likely to tell their friends and family about the great experience they had with you. This can lead to new business opportunities and help to grow your photography business.
It sets you apart from the competition
In a competitive market, over-delivering can be the key to standing out from the crowd. When clients have a positive experience with you, they are more likely to choose you over your competitors in the future. By providing exceptional service and going above and beyond, you can create a reputation for yourself as a photographer who truly cares about your clients.
How To Elevate Your Client Experience
Here are some things that we do at EN Weddings to over-deliver every time:
BE RESPONSIVE
One of the easiest ways to over-deliver is to be responsive to your clients. Respond promptly to their emails, phone calls, and messages, and make sure to answer any questions they may have. This means that we hold ourselves to a 24-hour response time no matter what, and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve had people say they appreciated the quick response.
CLIENT GIFTING
I’m such a fan of client gifting. I truly get so excited anticipating when my clients will get their special gift in their mailboxes. We take the time out after someone books with us, to put together something beautiful to say thank you and welcome them to the fam. This doesn’t have to be a big expenditure, it’s more about exceeding expectations and surprising your clients.
DELIVER AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
There are multiple ways you can deliver ahead of schedule. However, one thing we are known for is delivering photos much earlier than we say we will. This is a big tip. Our clients are expecting one thing (and are totally happy with that) but we’ve built in sending photos quicker than expected to again surprise them and exceed expectations.
PERSONALIZE
Every client is unique, so personalizing the experience can make a big difference. I take the time to really get to know my clients. Almost all of my collections include an engagement session, even if they’ve already done one. This is because I want to know them, their story, and their nuances so that I can tell their story with my camera.
I know all of my client’s stories, how they met, what they like, what they don’t, what they feel uncomfortable photographing, and how they want to be portrayed. This is through sending questionnaires, phone calls, and again through the engagement session.
SHOW APPRECIATION
Finally, this is often overlooked but just letting your clients know you appreciate them. We let them know all the time, that we appreciate their time and it’s good practice to send over a thank you email or card after you have sessions with them. Again – this is necessary or even expected but it is another way to go above and beyond and make your clients feel really special.
So there you have it! Overdelivering can be the key to creating an exceptional client experience for your photography business. By providing extra value and going above and beyond, you can build trust, generate positive word-of-mouth, and set yourself apart from the competition. Let me know in the comments – which one you are going to try for your photography business.
1. Free Masterclass: 4 Secrets To Booked Out With Luxury Weddings
3. Quarterly Marketing Calendar
Comments +