One of my favorite things that I get to do as a Client Relations Specialist with McKenna is help photographers make their spaces work great for sales. We all know that the physical environments we invite our clients into are of huge importance. Not all of us have commercial spaces solely dedicated to sales, but that doesn’t need to stop us from turning whatever space we have into a great showcase for our photography and products. It’s so much fun helping photographers display and sell their work in whatever space they have to work with.
What does the process look like? How do I work with photographers to turn their spaces into the best they can be? Here are the steps:
Evaluate the space-
When I first enter a photographer’s space, I am already thinking things like, “Does this space help or hurt this photographer?” It’s incredible how even little details can make or break a space. Your space says a lot about you and your style of photography. Consistency is huge. Your clients need to see that your space fits into your style of imagery. For example, if you are shooting soft and pretty pictures of newborns and puppies, you probably don’t want camo and hot rods as your décor theme for your space. On the other hand if you take dramatic and edgier looking portraits, your space shouldn’t be decorated like grandma’s house (no offense, Grandma!). It all needs to work together. Sometimes it can be hard to evaluate our own spaces. We can’t always be objective. That’s why it’s important to have someone else come in and give us an honest assessment. When I first arrive, I’ll help you understand how your space is helping or hurting you.
Listen to your goals-
Before we get too crazy, it’s important to have a conversation about goals and objectives. What are you wanting to see happen in your space? What are the circumstances you are dealing with? Is the space shared? Are there other things that need to happen? What can or can’t be done? Do we get to tear out walls? Do we have to get permission from a landlord (or spouse)? Before we know what we should do, we have to figure out what we can do. It’s important to know as much information about what a photographer wants to sell and what challenges must be overcome so we know the type of environment we need to create and how to get there.
Design your walls-
This is where the magic happens! I will show up to your place with a laptop and ProSelect software so we can photograph your walls and design them with your sample images. It’s so much fun designing and creating layouts for studios and sales rooms. When photographers see their own work displayed in a way that makes their space feel like a showroom or gallery, it’s really incredible. We will take time to decide which pieces belong where and what sizes work the best. Everything we do is designed to make sure each photographer’s work is displayed in a way that makes customers want to buy it. The whole process is an absolute blast.
Deliver and Install-
When I get to arrive with a truck load of samples and take some time to install them, it’s like Christmas morning! The whole thing is a breeze because we already know where each piece will hang. Putting it all together is simple and fun. At the end of the day we stand back and admire how amazing it looks. Many photographers have told me, “I am so thankful you came and did this! I never would have done it alone.” I won‘t leave until the job is done and done correctly. Each space is like a work of art, and I want to see the whole thing finished.
Follow up-
After a few weeks have gone by, I will follow up to make sure everything is looking great and to hear the reactions of your clients. I love hearing when customers have been blown away by the results. I love it even more when photographers tell me how their sales have increased as the result of what we have done. That’s what it’s all about!
How to get started:
If you’d like me to come and work with you on your space, please contact me at keith@mckennapro.com Or you can call me at 319-423-1966. I can’t wait to see what we can do for you!
Let’s do this!
Keith Nester
