Be Authentic. Be Transparent. And Be Nice. This sounds totally elementary, but it is important. Let’s face it; most of us do not live in communities that have just too few photographers. Competition is everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. So, we have to mind our customer service practices to the ultimate degree.
Be authentic to who you truly are. Clients will choose you because of YOU, so make sure the person and work that you are sharing is truly a reflection of who you are as a person and an artist. There is not one single person in your community or anywhere for that matter than can do what you do, you are uniquely YOU! There may be others that do the same thing as you but your mind’s eye captures their portraits and images as only you can, and only you can work with your clients and give them your own special care and service. So take this USP (unique selling proposition) and run with it, it will truly reinforce with your client that they have made the right decision in choosing you and will certainly share their experience with others.
Make sure that all of your “rules and requirements” are clear and upfront. Do not try to “pull something over on a client.” I promise you that this will not fare well for you in the future. A company’s best standards of procedures is to be honest and upfront from the very beginning. You are a small business owner and it is perfectly within your rights to have guidelines and restrictions, as long as your client understands them from the beginning then your experience together will be a lot smoother with very few to any unintended consequences.
And, lastly just be NICE. Say thank you, return phone calls and emails promptly. Take time to write a real thank you note, send a text or make a friendly phone call. Just be nice. It’s free, and it goes a long way. In a world full of automated, drive through, drone deliveries, on-line ordering we offer one of the most custom and personal products and services around. Take advantage of this opportunity to shake their hand and smile and say, “Thank you!”. I promise this will lead to future referrals and business because people want to work with good people, it is part of basic human nature.
Certified StoryBrand Guide
Profit First Professional and Guide
For almost 25 years Mary Fisk-Taylor has owned a portrait and wedding business with her business partner, Jamie Hayes in Richmond, Virginia. Hayes & Fisk Photography is one of the most sought-after Portrait and Wedding studios in their industry. Mary and Jamie are both incredibly committed to preserving family legacies, professionally capturing and printing portrait and milestone memories.They both believe that these fleeting need to be proudly displayed in family’s homes, not living digitally on phones, computers and modern technology. Mary also partners with her Mom and sister in a boutique volume and high school senior portrait studio that caters to local private schools and stresses both excellence in hometown and local client service and technical proficiency in the art of photography.
Mary was very pleased and honored to have received her Master of Photography, Craftsmen of Photography and Certification of Professional Photography in just three short years. Mary has been named Photographer of the Year in 2007 and has won Best Wedding Album of the Year in Virginia several times. Nationally she has had her prints and albums recognized as Grand Imaging Award finalists.Mary is also a recipient of the prestigious Virginia Award, which honors photographers for their commitment and dedication to their state association, and the business of professional photography. And, in 2012 she was awarded the PPA Charities Legacy Award for her work and dedication to the philanthropic arm of PPA. In 2014 Mary was awarded the Charles H. (Bud) Haynes Award for her distinguished service to PPA and its members and for encouraging business awareness and practices in the field of professional image-making. And in 2015 Mary was honored to receive the National Award from the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association for her commitment and dedication to Professional Photography and has gone on to receive two more National Awards from other affiliates. Mary has also taught and lectured all of the United States, as well as the Philippines, Korea, Canada, Mexico and Italy and most recently South Africa.
Mary is of course most proud of her two beautiful children, Alexandra and Jackson. Her husband, Daryl, and she enjoys the flexibility and joy that owning a profitable photography studio has allowed their family. Mary currently serves on the Executive Committee of the PPA Board of Directors, is a proud member of the Society of XXV, and is a past President of the PPA Board of Charities. She holds offices and board positions for her state professional photography affiliate, Virginia PPA and serves on several philanthropic and local boards.She is extremely active with Operation Smile International and has served as a staff photographer for several events and missions. At the age of 42 Mary was named one of Virginia’s Top 40 under 40 for her leadership in the community, volunteer and charity work and her business savvy.
https://www.maryfisktaylor.com
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Mary Fisk-Taylor
Mary Fisk-Taylor, MBA, M. Photog., Cr., EA- ASP, CPP, ABI, API Certified StoryBrand Guide Profit First Professional and Guide For almost 25 years Mary Fisk-Taylor has owned a portrait and wedding business with her business partner, Jamie Hayes in Richmond, Virginia. Hayes & Fisk Photography is one of the most sought-after Portrait and Wedding studios in their industry. Mary and Jamie are both incredibly committed to preserving family legacies, professionally capturing and printing portrait and milestone memories. They both believe that these fleeting need to be proudly displayed in family’s homes, not living digitally on phones, computers and modern technology. Mary also partners with her Mom and sister in a boutique volume and high school senior portrait studio that caters to local private schools and stresses both excellence in hometown and local client service and technical proficiency in the art of photography. Mary was very pleased and honored to have received her Master of Photography, Craftsmen of Photography and Certification of Professional Photography in just three short years. Mary has been named Photographer of the Year in 2007 and has won Best Wedding Album of the Year in Virginia several times. Nationally she has had her prints and albums recognized as Grand Imaging Award finalists. Mary is also a recipient of the prestigious Virginia Award, which honors photographers for their commitment and dedication to their state association, and the business of professional photography. And, in 2012 she was awarded the PPA Charities Legacy Award for her work and dedication to the philanthropic arm of PPA. In 2014 Mary was awarded the Charles H. (Bud) Haynes Award for her distinguished service to PPA and its members and for encouraging business awareness and practices in the field of professional image-making. And in 2015 Mary was honored to receive the National Award from the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association for her commitment and dedication to Professional Photography and has gone on to receive two more National Awards from other affiliates. Mary has also taught and lectured all of the United States, as well as the Philippines, Korea, Canada, Mexico and Italy and most recently South Africa. Mary is of course most proud of her two beautiful children, Alexandra and Jackson. Her husband, Daryl, and she enjoys the flexibility and joy that owning a profitable photography studio has allowed their family. Mary currently serves on the Executive Committee of the PPA Board of Directors, is a proud member of the Society of XXV, and is a past President of the PPA Board of Charities. She holds offices and board positions for her state professional photography affiliate, Virginia PPA and serves on several philanthropic and local boards. She is extremely active with Operation Smile International and has served as a staff photographer for several events and missions. At the age of 42 Mary was named one of Virginia’s Top 40 under 40 for her leadership in the community, volunteer and charity work and her business savvy. https://www.maryfisktaylor.com
