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Walter Sheehey of www.waltersheehey.com emailed me about the things he's been implementing from previous interviews he's heard – something I'm always big on and interested in. In that email he said something that caught my attention that became the catalyst for this episode.
Walter said…
“On another topic, you often ask about things we’ve learned that we’re implementing and are working. I love creating PhotoFilms with engaged couples that I’ve been shooting from the FB ad strategy. THANK YOU NEALE JAMES!”
We got chatting about Walter's process and I knew this needed to be recorded and shared with you.
In a nutshell, Walter heard the interviews with Neale James on Photo Films and modified what Neale taught to suit his business. Since then, Walter has been booking more weddings than ever before.
Here's a little more on Walter's workflow:
I meet for a consultation before the shoot and mention that I have a twist on the conventional music/picture slideshow. I ask if after the engagement session if I can record each of the engaged couple, individually.
I record these “interviews” inside my car immediately after the engagement shoot. They’ve been holding hands, hugging, kissing and joking with me for 90 minutes or so and are primed for the mushy questions I ask them.
After editing, I make a quick slideshow in Lightroom of their images and import the video to Premiere Pro. I could do it all in Premiere Pro, but I like a very light pan and zoom effect and that’s faster to do in Lightroom.
I overlay select snippets from their interviews over music. I’m using Artlist for music ($199US/Year – unlimited song downloads with 100% commercial licenses to use as often as you’d like). Unlike Neale, I don’t do any of my own voiceovers so I don’t write anything or record myself for any of the PhotoFilms.
I have a nice, big TV on the wall in the sales room. The PhotoFilm is the first thing I show the couple and it has all of their images from the session. I usually have both of them crying within the first 5 minutes of them being there. I’ve done 4 in the past 3 weeks and three of them have booked me for their wedding. They’ve all bought engagement collections or prints. To use one of Andrew's idioms, it’s pure gold.
Those PhotoFilms are it!
I’m going to figure a way to include them in all of the photography I do. I do a lot of high school graduate (senior) photography and I’m even going to incorporate them there. I’ll get the kids to talk about their years in school or something. The moms will eat it up! I’ll sell them in a similar way I sell albums.
What’s really crazy about the engaged couples is how much those PhotoFilms are slamming the men. They’re the ones who are telling me they have to have them – with almost crazy desperation in their eyes – it’s nuts. I include them in my top 2 collections and they can buy them a la carte.
It doesn't seem like a big deal, but I showed my father-in-law one of the PhotoFilms tonight. He's not an emotional guy at all and he had tears in his eyes. I said to him, “see, it touches the heart” and he said, “ah shit, I don't even know them” and wiped his eye.
I'm pretty sure that if I can rely on FB to keep generating bookings, I've got a sure thing.
Here’s some more of what we cover in this interview:
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.
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Joining a Mastermind Group (encouraged by Andrew) has been incredibly valuable and fun, I look forward to connecting with my group members every week. Jina Zheng, Premium Member and Melbourne Children photographer.
And that's not all… you get a set of steak knives… I'm kidding!
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What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Walter shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in todays episode.
The real magic of the whole thing is that they have completely opened up to me – Walter Sheehey
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Walter or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.
iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!
Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners means more interviews and ultimately a better show.
If you have left a review in the past, thank you!
If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.
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Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Episode 203: Neale James – The Business of PhotoFilms for Photographers
Episode PBX203: Neale James – The Business of PhotoFilms for Photographers
Episode TPX16: Neale James – Photofilms and Bringing Photography to Life with Audio
Episode 198: Bernie Griffiths – Facebook Ads and The Missing Link To Successful Sales
Episode 226: Annie Murray – Finding Your Beautiful through Photography Business
Facebook Ads Course for Photographers
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and thanks to Walter for coming on and sharing so much about his business, marketing, tactics and strategies for todays episode.
What I'm really shooting for [with my audio recordings], I want them to say mushy stuff – Walter Sheehey
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!
That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
I loved this interview! I’m trying to break into a very saturated wedding photography market and this could be my ‘thing’ that sets me apart! Away to hunt down the Neil James interview now…thanks to Walter for being so candid about his process! Melissa
Great to hear Melissa! I agree, this could be a perfect way to separate yourself from other local photographers. And yes, how good and giving was Walter – a real gem!
There are two interviews with Neale – both worth hearing and in this order:
#1 – https://photobizx.com/TPX16-neale-james-photography-podcast-interview
and
#2 – https://photobizx.com/The+Business+of+PhotoFilms+for+Photographers
And because you’re a Premium member Melissa, use this link to hear the full interview instead of #2 above: https://photobizx.com/The+Business+of+PhotoFilms+for+Photographers
Thought I’d save you the time to go hunting. 🙂
Hey Andrew! I’m probably blind but I can’t easily see the link to the example photofilm – can you direct me to it please? Thanks mate!
Sure thing Michael, it’s over in the members area here: https://photobizx.com/PBX237-Premium-Walter-Sheehey
Thanks Andrew found it!