In this episode of the Book More Clients Photography Podcast, I’m diving into the client onboarding must haves for your photography business. Those of you who are in your first 3 years of business are working the hardest that you ever will in your business compared to a couple years from now. You may be wasting too much time with your client onboarding process. This podcast gives you the rundown on how to save time and make room for more clients.

Automated Emails

If your goal is to have ten clients per month, would you be ready for 10 clients to book you tomorrow? Or is it going to take a lot of your time and energy to meet their needs? Are they going to have to wait days to hear back from you? Or will they immediately receive an automated email letting them know you’ve received their inquiry and will be in touch with them soon? One of the reasons people end up booking me over other photographers is because I am not leaving them hanging. I don’t have them wait days to get a response from me. In this day and age, you need to be efficient with responding to people. Your clients should be receiving an initial email when they reach out to you about booking and a confirmation email after they officially book you.

Client Management Software or CRM

One of your very first investments in your business should be a CRM system. Something that allows you to book your clients, send them invoices, send them contracts, and send them emails. Not only does investing into this workflow saves you so much time during your client onboarding process, but it will allow you to book more clients in the long run. Furthermore, If you don’t have this workflow setup, the only other option you have is to do everything manually. This is exactly where people get stuck and limit the amount of clients they can take on. My personal favorite system to use is Iris Works, it allows you to do everything in one place and stay organized. You can save 20% off with my code BROOKE.

Client Onboarding Questionnaire

What information does your client need from you and what information do you need from your client in order to have a successful session? Are you going to help them pick their wardrobe? Style them? Are they going to meet up with you to try on items from a client closet? Even if you aren’t helping your client with styling or wardrobe, let them know you are there to help them. Some clients feel like they are bothering you if they ask for help, so check in with them and ask them questions. Otherwise, you can’t have high expectations for their session if you aren’t helping them.

How to Go Above & Beyond

The only reason you don’t have the success you want is because you haven’t quite figured out how you are different, how you want to show up, how you want to treat your clients, or how you are going to go above and beyond for them? The goal is to accomplish this without compromising your boundaries. I want you to automate as many of these steps as you possibly can. Consistently check in with your clients before their session to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Brooke Jefferson | Photography Business Coach & Podcaster

Ready to learn more tips on how to scale your photography business and create a smooth client onboarding process?

Listen to the Book More Clients Photography Podcast. Join our Photographer Facebook Community. Or join me inside the Blueprint Program where I teach you how to make a full time income and start booking more clients!