We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Renea Ash. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Renea below.

Renea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

What have I done to show a client that I appreciate them? I had a client who wanted portraits to display on her walls that matched the décor of the home. She knew what she didn’t want but was not aware of other material options until she saw an acrylic photo. An acrylic photo is a print covered with acrylic. It is a contemporary look unlike the traditional canvas print most of my clients are familiar with. Her first order was two wall-sized acrylic prints. To my surprise, upon delivery of that order, she and her husband decided to make a second order. Now I don’t take it lightly when a client entrusts me to fulfill their photographic needs. This is why all my clients receive a thank you note with a small gift in appreciation of their business. However, the second order proved that I had gained their trust So when that order was delivered, the level of appreciation had to be in line. I gift wrapped the photos and included a handwritten thank you note just as I do with every client. Except for this time, a bottle of imported champagne was included as the gift.
They were in awe about the photos but their surprise at receiving a gift of any type was priceless. It was almost as if they were in disbelief. The comments centered around getting first-class treatment, and it wasn’t just the wife, the husband was saying this too.
Because I know how it feels to let go of hard-earned money only to feel unappreciated, I don’t’ want my clients to walk away feeling this way. This is why I strive to instill a positive impression of what it’s like to work with me as a small business entrepreneur. I want my clients to feel like a winner who in addition to getting great photos also feels appreciated.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My Name is Renea Ash and I own a photography business called Renea Ash Photography which is in Atlanta Georgia. I offer a photography experience with a focus on family portraits, grad photos and headshots for business professionals. Currently, I’m on a mission to photograph 50 phenomenal women who are over the age of 50. My passion for photography goes back to when I was a teen. This was well before cell phones and digital cameras plus all I could afford was a basic point and shoot back then. It wasn’t until I had children who were active in sports that I started taking it seriously. After all, at this time, I could afford a camera that had more than one setting and came with interchangeable lenses. The challenge was that I needed to learn how to use those settings. So, I practiced with my son who played baseball, and my daughter who was a competitive cheerleader. Sports photography is not the genre I shoot now, but it gave me an opportunity to hone my skills. In addition, I took continuing education courses plus attended photography related workshops. To this day, I continue to educate myself on the latest trends and techniques.
While the need for photos is what brings clients to me, their real concern is how I can help them look their best in their photos. My model is not to leave the client to figure it out on their own, but to understand their concerns and address them. It’s my job to put them at ease. From guidance on clothing choices, incorporating poses that deemphasize their least desirable attribute to sharing tricks to help them look and feel their best during the photoshoot, that’s what I am here for.
I’m most proud of the work I’ve done with showing women over 50 how amazing they are. Some of these clients have never had a professional photoshoot and a few have never pampered themselves with a glam session by a professional makeup artist. We make a day of it starting with the glam session, followed by the photoshoot, and ending with wine, fruit, cheese, and crackers. I do all this because I believe that whatever you do, don’t cut corners, it’s either all or nothing.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Acquiring the initial capital to fund my business was a gradual process. At the start, I self-funded it with money from my full-time corporate job. My bonus money was used to purchase major assets like the camera and lighting equipment. I used savings for systems and marketing tools. Then, whatever I had left after the bills were paid was used for continuing education and workshops. By the time I decided to do this full time, I had obtained quite a collection of equipment and educated myself to proficiently capture images I would be proud to sell.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

To keep in touch with my clients and those who have inquired about my services, they receive a newsletter about two times a month. The newsletters cover anything from tips on getting family pictures, current events, or how to manage stress during the holidays. It’s just whatever comes to mind that I feel would be useful to them. In addition, I mail holiday cards to past clients in December and as a token of my appreciation, they receive a gift certificate redeemable for a discount on their next session or on print products. I am a believer that it’s the little things that count and ultimately affect how my clients feel about me and what I have to offer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://reneaashphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneaash_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renea.ash.photography
• Other: Google: https://bit.ly/GoogleReneaAshPhotography

Image Credits
Renea Ash Photography