437: Sam Gilmore – How to add kindergarten photography to your business for the win

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Sam Gilmore of www.leisurelanephoto.com/school-photography is a Gold Coast Australia based photographer who has been part of the PhotoBizX community for years.

I've worked with him and seen how much he's been working to succeed — from exploring different genres of photography, a range of marketing and advertising ideas, reworking his websites and throwing everything he can at photography as a business.

I felt like he was on the right track but also had the feeling that he needed to find what works for him to make all this work pay off.

Then last week, he popped up in the member's Facebook group after being quiet for months with this post…

Andrew, I thought I'd share some wins!

I've dived into kindy photography this year and have had amazing feedback from centres and families.

I spoke with you a few months back, really worried about cash flow, and since then, I've had my two biggest months, and it's been amazing (and a relief) at the same time.

I've got my last kindy for the year this week, so the turnover won't be the same for the next few months, but celebrating the wins for now and can get on to booking more and growing for next year ?

August revenue $12k

September revenue $21k

I've learned so many little tips over the years listing to the podcast that have helped me land these jobs and get the feedback I have so far.

Right after that, I asked if he'd be up for an interview. Listen in to hear how to add kindergarten photography to your business for the win.

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

• What are kindy sessions
• How Sam started his photography business
• What is it about photography that made Sam switch careers
• How to find your photography niche
• Marketing your photography business to kindy directors
• Sam's studio and lighting setup
• How photographing kindergartens work
• Does it matter if kids smile or not when doing kindy shoots
• How to deal with privacy issues when sharing photos of children
• What Sam did to find clients
• Sam's process of cold calling clients
• The difference when approaching primary schools and kindys when marketing your business
• Leaving sample albums as a reason to go back and speak with directors
• How to handle “no” from clients
• The importance of email lists
• Sam's take on approaching kindergarten chains
• Sam's strategy for doing after session follow-ups
• Sending ‘Thank you' gifts to kindy centres
• How long it takes to cull each child's photos
• Sam's shooting process and equipment used
• Printing and drop shipping client orders
• The importance of having a CRM for ease of business
• Sam's shooting process
• Finding your photography passion
• Sam's plan for filling the gap during off-school season
• Where Sam sees his business in another 6 months
• Elena Blair's SCHOOLED program

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 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.

If you do one product with one income stream and one way of landing clients, if you do that for one year, you have a really good business. – Sam Gilmore

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 Sam 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.

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

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has made a difference to you and your photography business.​

Here is the latest review…

★★★★★ Amazing Podcast

Via Apple Podcasts from Cameron Martinez, who is a Colorado wedding photographer, USA on October 24, 2021

Just started listening to this podcast and the information given each episode is insane.

I've gained a bunch of knowledge to further expand my business. Very tempted to even jump into a premium membership to get the full episodes. Can't say enough good things here.