I think most photographers have a promo video on their “to do one day” list.   We all kind of dream of hitting that point in our career where we are that invested in the business.   Well I had put the promo video on my 2015 goal list.    I’m going to tell you why that changed for me…..

Last Spring a few amazing opportunities came about where I knew that my website had the potential to get more traffic.    (You can see more about some of that in this blog post. )   So I was already in the works of the website rebuild…..  or at least shopping around for it…. but I knew that people just going to my website was not enough for me.   There are TONS of photographers that take pretty pictures.    I, all of a sudden, knew there was an urgency to really portray my personality to potential clients.    My personality is what makes me different…… the whole experience is what makes my business unique…. it is what makes us all unique…. it is SO much more than pictures.

So I had to really look at my budget and decide where to put my money…..   I talked with a few non photographer friends about it…. they said “Liz, I can’t tell the difference in your website and one that cost thousands of dollars, and neither can a potential bride…..they need to see YOU, duh, do the video!”     They were so right…..   (We photographers, especially me with a graphic design background) we really hammer ourselves with the branding side of things…. nothing EVER feels good enough, the logo, the website, it is such a struggle to feel like they are all our “perfect” representation.     I decided, I needed something better….it was time to do the video.     Some would argue, it is too “early” in my career, or that the video should be the last step of branding….. OH WELL…   It was the right time for me and I have zero regrets.     My new logo and website were done just in time for the launch of the video.

NOW I feel like if potential clients are watching that video they are getting a really great vision of who I am and what I’m about.    It helps me hone in on my ideal clients!

Sorry it is so easy to get off topic talking about this haha….. Here are a few REALLY IMPORTANT things to consider if you are thinking about a promo video… and WHY I invested so much hard-earned money and time.

1.   The video style should match your photographic style.    I wanted the best of the best…. I knew Tyler and her team had the ability to even bring my work up a notch.   Kinda like when you play sports, if you play next to someone better than you it makes you look even better…. it brings out the best in your game.   AND I knew they would match my work in color, composition, everything artistically.

2.  Make it timeless….  This is a BIG investment, or it should be!… so make sure this is something that will last… As much as I LOVE yellow chevron, I don’t think it will stick around for 5 years.    So keep your vision true to YOU as a person, things about your business that won’t change.

3.  The video allows potential brides to meet me before booking!    I don’t offer pre-booking consultations with brides… I just can’t, it takes too much time out of the office, and my heart can’t take investing that kind of time and energy if I’m not the photographer for you.    Side note:   I do offer Skype sessions though!

4.   Watch other videos….tons and tons of videos…  do the research.    Again…. BIG investment… don’t waste it by just “winging” it.   Know what you want and WHY you want it.     Even though I was nervous to talk in front of the camera, I knew how important that part was for my vision….. for what I would want as the consumer.

5.  Be ready financially…  You want to invest in the best!  Your business is worth it!   Have some extra savings ready so that you can really put together the best shoots for the video, you should feature exactly the things you want to book more of!   That might require more money, styled shoots, assistants, YOUR outfits, etc.

6.  Take care of your video team.   Treat them like you want to be treated by your clients.   Choose someone who you feel honored to work with…. it will make you happier with the result 🙂    The Girl Tyler Rocked my world and my next Promo Blog will be a full review of my experience working with them!