Want to get more boudoir photography clients? First you must have an understanding of what boudoir clients are actually looking for in a photographer. I believe there are 4 main questions potential boudoir clients are asking themselves when choosing a boudoir photographer.
1 Are you a specialist?
Specialising is particularly important as a boudoir photographer, rather than being seen as a ‘jack of all trades’.
Imagine visiting a photographer’s website and being amazed by all the different styles of photography they can do – not only do they shoot weddings, families and newborns, but they also do boudoir photos. Good on them! But a potential client would be thinking they possibly aren’t the right choice for their boudoir photo shoot.
A boudoir specialist provides clients with reassurance as they do this style of photography day in and day out. That they will know how to guide clients in choosing correct outfits, be able to confidently direct them throughout the boudoir shoot, choose the most flattering camera angles and poses to help them look their best.
I highly recommend specializing, as most clients will prefer a photographer who specializes in boudoir.
My one exception to this is I believe wedding photographers can easily add on boudoir shoots to their business. This can be a good fit and add another source of income.
2 Do you have a recognizable style?
Potential clients should be able to recognize your work purely by your images, rather than by seeing your copyright or business name.
This comes down to a combination of factors – the posing, retouching, lighting and studio furniture – they all play a part. Personally, my images are usually light-filled, the posing is tasteful, the retouching is polished and professional, while the décor is classy French Provincial.
I believe my chosen bedhead has been instrumental in helping my images stand out from the sea of other boudoir photographers and I strongly suggest choosing a great bedhead.
Having a consistent style provides reassurance to potential clients that they will receive a similar quality of images.
3 Will I feel comfortable with you?
There are a few ways to get a potential client to feel they can trust you and feel comfortable with you:
– Firstly, they want to form an impression of you. Therefore the biggest mistake photographers make is not sharing a photo of themselves on their website or social media. Potential clients want to see the person behind the camera. They want to know if they will feel comfortable with you. They want to know you aren’t just some creepy person with a camera. They want to feel safe while being half-naked in front of you! And a smiling photo is going to make you look far more approachable and friendly than a non-smiling one.
– Secondly, they want to know what other people think of you. Therefore sharing testimonials by previous clients is also very important. Include those where your previous clients talk about how they were so nervous before the shoot, but they felt so comfortable and at ease with you.
– Thirdly, potential clients need to feel welcome. That is why it is important to provide diverse photos on your website. If you only show the model types, plus size women will be unsure if they are welcome at your boudoir studio. If you only show 20 year olds, women over 40 will be unsure if you want them as a client. Same with people of different ethnicities etc. Therefore prove to all women that they are welcome at your boudoir studio by having a diverse portfolio.
4 Can I justify your price to myself?
Photographers think clients are shopping based on price and therefore going for the lowest price boudoir photographer. But that just isn’t true.
We have all known friends on low incomes who went to one of those glamour studios, with the full intention of walking out with the single free or low cost photo, but instead walked out with thousands of dollars in photos on a payment plan. We are all on a tight budget. But if we have enough desire, we will find the money.
So how do we create desire? Share about the photo shoot experience. Show ‘before’ and ‘afters’. Talk about the transformation they will receive in their confidence after the shoot. Show your quality products with luxury packaging. Share why you are the best at what you do and demonstrate that you are in-demand.
Finally provide different options for paying off the photos, to lessen any financial concerns they may have. They may not have $2000 readily available in their bank account, but would happily pay off the photos if they know that option is available.
Again, the four questions clients have are:
1 Are you a specialist?
2 Do you have a recognizable style?
3 Will I feel comfortable with you?
4 How can I justify your price to myself?
What do all these 4 questions have in common? Clients are seeking COMFORT. Want to get more boudoir clients? Then find ways to provide them with a feeling of reassurance and comfort. Keep this at top-of-mind when marketing your boudoir photography business and watch the boudoir clients beat the path to your door.
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