491: Graham Crichton – University graduate and dog photography successfully under the same roof

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Graham Crichton of www.grahamcrichton.com is a people and pet photographer with a street front and purpose-built studio in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In addition to being the birthplace of the Titanic, Belfast is a famous university city, which means there looks to be a solid market for graduation photography — for both the graduates and their families.

Starting from a spare room in his home in 2005 when weddings and engagements were the initial focus. He opened his first portrait studio in 2015 and this year moved into a beautiful new space with a sizable investment.

If you watch his studio walkthrough and welcome video, you'll see his beautiful working space, including a shooting, sales, post-production and printing areas. Everything is done in-house.

In this interview, Graham shares everything you need to establish yourself as a graduation photographer servicing your local university graduates and marketing his business's profitable and very successful pet photography side. 

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• How to structure a photography business with different genres
• Graham's total yearly revenue from photography
• Graham's thought process behind his purchasing of graduation gowns
• The volume and style of graduation portrait sessions
• How to market your graduation sessions to students and families
• Running ad campaigns on Facebook to attract graduates
• When is the best time to show your graduation photography pricing
• The process involved in collaborating with universities for graduation photo sessions
• Graham's shooting process for graduation portraits
• How same-day printing works and the challenges involved
• Graham's printing process and print formats
• Is there really money in pet photography in Belfast
• The importance of continuously growing your photography skills
• How to kick off a dog or pet photography business
• The importance of IPS and joining trade shows
• Why Graham prefers joining home expos to market his pet photography business
• How to grow your photography business with expos
• How to get people's attention at expos
• Graham's #1 trade shows for photography leads and bookings
• How to get people's details during expos
• Utilising scratch cards and how they work
• Why you should never declare everyone as winners when running competitions
• Possible prizes with scratch cards
• The risky side of running promotions
• Using JotForm to record lead details at expos
• Should you offer refundable session fees
• How people find Graham's business

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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I take photos of what I think will sell but I'm not there to take a million photographs to push anyone into a hard sell. – Graham Crichton

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.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access 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.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Graham 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 your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business due to what you heard in today's episode.

I prefer in person, meeting people, so trade shows would be my favorite way of bringing in new clients. – Graham Crichton

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Graham 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

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