3 tips to actually make money with mini sessions | Rentable Natural Light Studio in Dublin, Ca (Copy)

3 TIPS TO ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY WITH MINI SESSIONS

Mini sessions: you either love them or you hate them. There really isn’t an in between. The people who love them I think have had success and know some of the rules of the game, which is why they like them! But if you’re new to mini sessions, or haven’t made as much money as you’d like, here are 3 tips to actually make money with mini sessions!

MAKE YOUR OFFERING SPECIAL
When it comes to offers, you really want to stand out, give your client what they want. It’s easy to copy or be “inspired” by something you found on Pinterest, but we want to push the envelope a bit and challenge you to take 30 minutes and have some quiet time to think about your clients. What have they responded well to before? If you aren’t serving your ideal clientele yet, what would they want from mini sessions? When we go to our intuition and brains first, THAT is where the magic happens instead of relying on outside sources. We get it, if you really need some help, look to Pinterest or Insta for some help, but if you want to create something unique to your clients, start with your brain first!
YES, YOU NEED TO MARKET YOUR OFFERING!
Once you have an awesome idea, shoot your concept with a model. Before you even get to the studio, make a list of all the content you want to create for your marketing campaign. I know, “marketing campaign” can sound like a time suck or make you want to hurl, but you can have a marketing campaign with a newsletter, a few images and 1-2 reels. REALLY!! Start where you are, that’s all you need to do!! We recommend to start marketing at least 2 months in advance. So, if you want to send a newsletter out, plan to send out 2-3, (one for the teaser announcement and early bird sign ups for a discounted price or a free gift, one for the actual announcement with images to show your clients what your offering will look like with your regular pricing, and another for all those last minute people who wait until a week before you’re shoot is happening) Next, at your content shoot (for marketing): shoot images, BTS, a reel or two (reels can be with you in them OR just a fun slideshow of images!) If you are shooting images, take detail shots to make them into beautiful announcement graphics, try to capture how your client will FEEL when they work with you. If you do anything, post images in your stories but post them MULTIPLE TIMES…. like seriously. We have seen so many photographers and other businesses share a new offer or sale once on their grid and never hear anything about it again. If you don’t like sharing your face, or don’t like talking to the camera, then WRITE, SHARE and use your friends and past clients like crazy! There are so many people out there who want what you are offering but they’ll never hear about it if you just post once!
GET CREATIVE WITH PRICING
The thing we see most often with mini sessions is photographers equating the word “mini” with “less”. Friend, we are here to free you from that thought! Mini sessions serve as a means to create a special, one time offering (seasonal Christmas card photos, a special set, etc.) and THAT is worth a lot! Create a bit of scarcity with your one time set up or special offer. Just because sessions are mini, does not make the amount of money you can potentially make mini. K? If you want to rent the studio out for 2 hours, think: How much money do I want to make that day? How many clients can I book within 2 hours with 10 minutes in between to make that? What are the conditions/limits to these sessions? What is my cancellation policy? Late policy? How can I over deliver even with these mini sessions without costing me a lot? What do I want to tell myself to help me believe that this is possible?

BONUS TIP: CREATE WHAT YOU WANT NOW

Selling, marketing, creating a new offer… all of those things don’t have to be hard or make your stomach churn. Nope. The “hard” can stop, right in your brain! Take 5 minutes and answer these questions:

What is it that I want?
What do I need to be thinking to create ideas and calm my anxiety?
How do I want to feel about my offer/marketing/selling
What am I going to think/do when things don’t go as planned? (plan on this! Have a plan B and a really solid person who’ll give you a pep talk)
Who do I want to become to create what I want?

These questions will help you create the thoughts and emotions you need to be the person you ultimately need to be to make money with mini sessions. Commit to this future version of yourself by thinking a little differently today.

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CSS is a gorgeously modern, light filled rentable studio for creatives alike to create magic whether it’s branding photoshoot, cake smash, couples, or boudoir session, this space is just for you!

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