Topics in this episode are wide and varied with a big focus on how to better communicate with your photography clients with written templates, questionnaires, inbox solutions and other things a lot of us are not good at or don't like doing. Plus, a detailed look at getting booked via vendor referrals – which is exactly how Anna has built her successful business.

Today's guest is wedding and portrait photographer Anna Sawin from New England USA. Anna describes her photography style, and perfectly so, as bright, natural and lively. Her ‘about page' leaves me feeling like I know her and her family well – it's perfect, video and all!

In addition to her photography business, Anna is the founder and creator of Pencil and Lens which provides templates and tools for your photography business to speed up communication and make your life behind the computer easier.

Here’s some of what we cover:

  • How Anna manages her business during winter with low booking numbers
  • Life before full-time photographer
  • How Pencil and Lens came to fruition
  • Capitalising on your skills to start your business
  • Why you should be utilising canned responses when corresponding with clients
  • Is it more appropriate to reach out to your clients via phone or via emails?
  • The best time to speak to your clients in person or over the phone
  • Simple ways to deal with time-wasters in your business processes
  • Saving repetitive responses in a template for future use
  • How to personalise canned responses simply and easily
  • Where to store your templates to have them always accessible
  • The advantage of using a studio management software
  • Customisable email templates for photography business
  • Blog posts from client wedding questionnaire responses
  • Which part of Anna's photography business is the most profitable?
  • How clients find Anna
  • The advantages of being a part of a vendors network group
  • Getting booked via vendor referrals
  • Why you should check with photographer friends first before sending leads
  • How to book your first wedding
  • How long should it take to build a vendor referral network?

Anna Sawin 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 episode where you can hear lots more content from where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:

  • How Anna shows her gratitude for every referral she receives from her network
  • Tailoring your “gift” to the person who gave the referral
  • The importance of  showing thanks to those who send referrals your way
  • Anna's tip for showing appreciation to your vendors
  • How to sell yourself through your About page
  • How much does it cost to film a marketing video and is it worth the investment?
  • Anna's trick when tagging images in Photo Mechanic
  • Christmas cards – are they a missed opportunity for your business?
  • The benefits of joining an affiliate marketing program for Christmas cards
  • The best thing Anna has done for her business
  • How to handle complaints or unhappy clients
  • Solutions to help you remember client names

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 Anna Sawin, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus, access to a members only Facebook group where you'll connect with other members (and interview guests) to help, support and motivate you to take what you hear in each episode and put it into action. You will not find cooler, more motivated and caring photographers online.

Anna Sawin Photography Podcast

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you’d like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

It is a very personal and customer-service heavy business to be a photographer – Anna Sawin

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Anna or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.

Anna Sawin Photography Podcast

Special Prom Code for Pencil & Lens

Anna has kindly offered all listeners a special 10% off your purchase at Pencil and Lens until February 26th 2016.

Use the code pencillens10 for 10% off at the checkout.

Check out some very cool solutions here: http://www.pencilandlens.com

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 and your name.

Anna Sawin Photography Podcast

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

Anna Sawin Website

Anna Sawin on Facebook

Anna Sawin on Instagram

Pencil and Lens

Pencil and Lens Online Shop

Pencil and Lens on Facebook

Pencil and Lens on Instagram

Pencil and Lens on Twitter

Shoot Q

Style Me Pretty

Buzz Media Company

Photo Mechanic

When you want to ingest and cull in Photomechanic (Blogpost)

Minted.com

Tiny Prints

Equipment

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 22.3 MP Full Frame CMOS with 1080p Full-HD Video Mode Digital SLR Camera (Body)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Anna Sawin Photography Podcast

Thank you!

Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks to Anna for coming on and sharing so much.

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