We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anne Adolphson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Anne, thanks for joining us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

In today’s photography world, the most common “product” sold is a digital image. Which makes sense because most photographers are using digital cameras,

Because of this, the industry is flooded with what’s referred to as “All Inclusive Photographers”.

While one often thinks of a dreamy beach vacation resort when the phrase “all inclusive” is used, in this regard, it is referencing the photography business strategy of having ONE fee for a photography session. This session would include a gallery of digital images along with a print release (which allows the client the freedom to print their own products for their own personal use).

So, in short, one would pay a single fee for the sitting and an entire gallery of digital images. At first thought, one might think that is exactly what they want. It feels simple. Easy. They get all the images with the freedom to do whatever they want with them for one fee. But what clients don’t often think about at first is what they want to actually do with that gallery of images.

Most clients plan on putting an album together or having wall art made for their homes. They have the best of intentions to do so, but most are either 1. Too busy and don’t have the time to actually do those things or 2. Get overwhelmed with countless amateur printing options and decide to “put it off until later” . . . and later never comes. Because of this, their images end up sitting on a phone or a hard drive somewhere unused and unseen.

I, on the other hand, go a step further with my clients. Instead of offering just a basic digital download, I offer an in-person order session. During this session, I reveal a fully edited gallery of images, show them product samples and explain the details of the product vendors I carry, and also present personalized digital mocked-up wall art so they can “see before they buy”. This service really helps the client understand what they actually want to DO with the images in the gallery. So they can be seen, cherished, and kept as heirlooms for generations to come.

Do I sell digital images? Yes! Most of my clients still want the digital files so they can be in possession of them. However, most of my clients also opt to print their images through my business. Because they know I carry only the best products, and also because I take care of all of the work that goes along with the ordering process (design photo albums, create wall collages, etc.).

This additional service also serves the business financially due to the higher sales. Instead of collecting a set sale amount session after session, it creates a ceiling-less sale opportunity where the sky is the limit. The sale amount is based on the clients’ wants and needs instead of just a (lower) set dollar amount. I see this service as a true win/win situation for both client and business owner.

Anne, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

First and foremost, I am a mother. And interestingly enough, being a mother is what eventually led me into business.

Shortly after the birth of my 3rd child (I now have 4), I bought myself my first DSLR camera. I wanted to make sure I was able to document this new baby (and her big sisters) and I wanted to do so beautifully. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with photography. I was having so much fun learning about light and teaching myself how to manipulate the settings in order to create the “look” I wanted. I was hooked.

I often posted my children’s photos on social media. Because of that, other moms asked if I could take photos of their kids. Over time, it naturally turned into a side-hustle, and eventually led me to leave my teaching job and start a full-time business. In 2016 I was able to lease a store-front studio and am still working out of it today.

I specialize in newborn, child, family, and senior photography. I love being able to offer different types of sessions because I feel the differences keep my work fresh. I don’t seem to get caught up in many photography trends. My style has been described as clean and timeless.

I pride myself on offering more than just digital images. I also offer my clients high quality printed products during personalized order sessions. I don’t leave my clients with the “homework” of a full gallery of images and no idea on what to do next. I design digital mock-ups of wall art so my clients can “see before they buy” which takes all of the guess work out and offers a true custom experience.

A few years ago I started offering mentoring sessions to other photographers who felt they wanted to grow in their businesses. It was incredibly fulfilling. I was able to teach again, but in a different way. I was able to share what I had learned over the years and help other photographers make more profit in their businesses. I hope to do more of this in the future.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2014 (about 1.5 years into my business), I was over-booking sessions. Which, I must admit, was a little thrilling! I had gotten to the point where I was in demand, booking several months out, and having to turn clients away because of I was too busy. However, I STILL wasn’t making quite enough profit to match the needs of my family. And I couldn’t possibly shoot more sessions.

I did the math and realized that I needed to make (on average) at least $700 more per session. That number hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt there was no way I could simply raise my session price that high without losing most (if not all) of my clients. So, I realized the only way to meet that profit goal was to offer MORE to my client in hopes that they would spend more.

I decided to offer high-end printed products through in-person order sessions for all of my full sessions. This decision terrified me at first. I in no way thought of myself as a salesperson. It’s intimidating to present your work in person and ask your client to invest in your art. What if they didn’t love their gallery of images? What if they didn’t buy anything? The products themselves were beautiful, yes, but would my clients think they were too expensive? I wasn’t sure. But I knew I loved the products. I knew they fit my brand well. And I knew that I had to make more of a profit. I started to offer the order sessions slow at first. Kind of tip-toed into it. But once I realized my clients VALUED this service and were HAPPY to pay more for these gorgeous products, I never went back to online galleries.

Today I am one of the top sellers for The Original Photoblocks (one of the highest sought after photo vendors in the industry – based out of the Netherlands). Selling these products is one of the main components of my business’ success.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I truly love what I do. And that simple fact radiates off me when I’m working. It’s evident to my clients. Which makes my sessions have a very happy and relaxed vibe. Which I believe keeps clients coming back.

Yes, I believe clients love my work. Yes, I believe they love the products I offer them. They love having those products in their home to enjoy on the daily. But I think what keeps them coming back is the “knowing” that what truly matters to me is making them happy through my work. It’s not just the photos themselves. It’s also the experience From the very first email to the moment I deliver the finished products.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clickbyanne.com
• Instagram: @clickbyanne
• Facebook: CLICK – photogrpahy by anne

Image Credits

Copyright Click by Anne, LLC