Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.
Jo Menneer of Divine Divas boudoir photography studio AND Spirit Studios family photography business is based in Bath UK and was happy to record an impromptu interview where she shares the ins and outs of marketing two separate photography businesses operating under the one amazing roof while managing multiple photographers and staff.
Jo and her photographer husband Neill operate their incredibly successful business from a converted Methodist Church in the stunning city of Bath. You can see a walkthrough of the complete studio shot on the day I visited by fellow photographer Rahim Mastafa at the bottom of this post.
One of the biggest challenges Jo faces is bringing in a continuous flow of clients into a business with multiple shooters and staff. The marketing to achieve the incredible number of bookings falls squarely on Jo's shoulders and she does it with flair and seemingly, ease, by employing a variety of everchanging strategies – which she shares in detail in this interview.
In addition to bringing a flow of clients through the studio doors, Neill and his team of photographers deliver a shooting experience and set of images that make the streamlined and efficient sales process simple and seemingly easy to achieve the fantastic averages they do.
It was truly fun and engaging to steer away from the usual interview format over Skype to be able to sit opposite Jo in her studio sales room and talk face to face for this candid interview about one of the most successful businesses I've had the opportunity to discover and share with you on the PhotoBizX photography podcast. I know you'll get a ton from what Jo had to share, no matter what stage of business you're currently at.
Don't forget to check the studio walkthrough video with Neill which you'll find at the bottom of this page.
Here’s some more of what we cover in the 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.
I had to learn how to market this sort of business – Jo Menneer
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, 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.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Jo 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 today's episode.
With any business, whatever your business is, having staff that are open and friendly is so so important – Jo Menneer
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Jo 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 mean 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 keywords or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.
Here's the latest review – which was actually a post inside the members Facebook Group I wanted to share by Ormeau Family Photographer, Jemma Entriken.
I joined PhotoBizX just over 2 months ago and because of this, my client board now looks like this!!! … probably not much to some, but to me it’s massive!!!
Previously I was sooo quiet I would change the dates by clients names to make it look like I was actually working even if they’d been done & dusted months before … heck, I may have even made up clients just to look busier??♀️!!! Now I have a full board of 16 and a list of 8 who have booked but I can’t fit! ?
I look forward to letting you all know how great my average sales are soon (positive thinking right!?) but for now, I’m celebrating the little/big win of 24 bums on seats. ?
Thanks Andrew Hellmich for these fabulous podcasts… thanks to you, I’m back to feeling fab about my business ☺️
Have a great Tuesday everyone ?
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Episode 136: Bernie Griffiths – A Challenge for You to Book More Portrait Photography Sessions
Episode 198: Bernie Griffiths – Facebook Ads and The Missing Link To Successful Sales
The awesome Photographers Group by Jeff Brown – search Facebook Groups to join for $1
Jeff Brown Interview on PhotoBizX
Thank you!
Thanks again for listening and big thanks to Jo and Neill for sharing their thoughts on photography, staff, advertising, management, business and marketing for their successful portrait studio and for opening the doors to their incredible studio space and home to Rahim and I while visiting Bath.
You will always have to reinvent the wheel with marketing and photography, so you're always looking for new things – Jo Menneer
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
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