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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:

  • How Walter found his first photography clients
  • Doing goodwill service to generate business in the early days of his business
  • Horse owners are more inclined to spend money on their pets
  • What made Walter decide to bring PhotoFilms into his work
  • How Walter made his first PhotoFilm
  • How Walter chooses the music he uses for his PhotoFilm
  • Where to find free music online
  • The key to a successful PhotoFilm
  • Pricing PhotoFilms for engaged couples
  • What happens during Walter’s photo shoots that lead to the PhotoFilm?
  • What gear Walter uses when shooting and recording his PhotoFilms
  • Structuring your line of questioning when interviewing couples
  • The importance to keep digging the emotions you want for your PhotoFilm when dealing with a tough client
  • Managing the audio when editing your film
  • Using microphones for interviews can be intrusive and intimidating – what to do instead
  • Working on getting quality lessens chances of spending time in post processing
  • Does Walter edit speech crutches when working on his photo films?
  • How Walter does his film editing process and what are the things to consider
  • What do clients see and experience when arriving for a sales session with Walter?
  • How long does it take to edit photofilms?
  • Walter's tips when exporting an audio file
  • Tips on how to start your own PhotoFilms
  • The downside of selling PhotoFilms to couples
  • Men are more inclined to want to purchase the PhotoFilms
  • Walter’s pricing and the packages that include PhotoFilms
  • The best way to separate yourself from competition
  • How to make clients feel comfortable about their purchase

Walter Sheehey Photography Podcast

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.

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interview with Walter, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

You'll also receive access to the members only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group.

You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

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!

Seriously though, that's not all. In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

Walter Sheehey Photography Podcast

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.

Walter Sheehey Photography Podcast

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.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast  and email me your key words or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.

Walter Sheehey Photography Podcast

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Walter Sheehey Website

Walter Sheehey on Facebook

Walter Sheehey on Instagram

ArtList

Adobe Premiere Pro CC

MusicBed

SmartSlides

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

Walter Sheehey Photography Podcast

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