Glamorous Miami Beach Wedding Album Design for Niki Marie Photography
We've had the honor of working with Detroit based destination wedding photographer Niki Marie for 9 years now. Her editorial and documentary work that captures her subjects in such a classic and timeless way is always a treat to work with and she is one of the kindest humans to boot! Today's featured design showcases so many of Niki's fantastic black and white images along with some epic drone shots. You can see that when we use fewer images per spread like we did in this album, it really allows each image to shine and receive the attention it deserves!
It was so challenging to pick just a few favorite spreads from this gorgeous design, but these are the ones that rose to the top:
It was so challenging to pick just a few favorite spreads from this gorgeous design, but these are the ones that rose to the top:
To see the design in full, click through the slideshow:
Thank you, Niki, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
Thank you, Niki, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
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Design by: Rachel (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Design by: Rachel (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
When Should You Update Your Sample Album?
Showing a studio sample album is crucial to selling albums. Seeing and holding a sample album allows clients to visualize their own album in a way that no amount of description can do! Many photographers understand this and create a studio sample album when they first begin offering album. But as their business progresses, they become unsure of when to update it. So how DO you know when it's time to create a new sample album?
Here are four indicators that you might need a new sample album:
1 -- Your style has changed
Photographers may be entrepreneurs, but we're also artists. As such, our style and skill level develop over time. When you reach a point where the images in your sample album no longer represent your current photography, it's time for an update! For example, when I shifted my photography focus from digital to mostly film, my sample albums no longer reflected my work. I got new sample albums and loved the way they were a reflection of my best, most current work!
2 -- Your album offerings have changed
This one might seem like common sense, but it's important! Your sample album is there to provide an example of what you offer. When your clients feel the weight of it, touch the pages, stroke the cover, admire the design -- all of those should be indicative of what their own album would include. So if you change the dimensions, cover materials, etc. of the primary album you offer, you should also get a new sample album to match. This is especially true if you change album companies!
3 -- Your target client has changed
As I mentioned in my blog post, How to Choose Which Wedding to Feature in Your Sample Album, your studio sample should feature a wedding in which the details and couple are relatable to your ideal clients. If your ideal client changes -- if you now want to attract clients who are edgier, more traditional, more whimsical, etc. -- those are the kinds of images you should be showing in your sample album. That way when you have those kind of clients in front of you, they will resonate with the work you show them and be more likely to both book with you AND purchase an album.
4 -- You're tired of your old sample album
Sharing your passion for albums is so important in helping your clients to value them! Your enthusiasm shines through! Similarly, if you're feeling stale and bored with your sample album, that feeling will come through to your clients, as well. So if you look at your studio sample and feel just "meh", refreshing your sample album is sure to revitalize the way you share albums in client meetings!
If any of the four indicators above are true in your business, it would be wise to get a new sample album -- one that represents your style and skill level, your album options, and your ideal client ... and that also makes you excited about offering albums!
If you found this post helpful and would like to receive tips like this straight to your inbox, click here to sign up!
Here are four indicators that you might need a new sample album:
1 -- Your style has changed
Photographers may be entrepreneurs, but we're also artists. As such, our style and skill level develop over time. When you reach a point where the images in your sample album no longer represent your current photography, it's time for an update! For example, when I shifted my photography focus from digital to mostly film, my sample albums no longer reflected my work. I got new sample albums and loved the way they were a reflection of my best, most current work!
2 -- Your album offerings have changed
This one might seem like common sense, but it's important! Your sample album is there to provide an example of what you offer. When your clients feel the weight of it, touch the pages, stroke the cover, admire the design -- all of those should be indicative of what their own album would include. So if you change the dimensions, cover materials, etc. of the primary album you offer, you should also get a new sample album to match. This is especially true if you change album companies!
3 -- Your target client has changed
As I mentioned in my blog post, How to Choose Which Wedding to Feature in Your Sample Album, your studio sample should feature a wedding in which the details and couple are relatable to your ideal clients. If your ideal client changes -- if you now want to attract clients who are edgier, more traditional, more whimsical, etc. -- those are the kinds of images you should be showing in your sample album. That way when you have those kind of clients in front of you, they will resonate with the work you show them and be more likely to both book with you AND purchase an album.
4 -- You're tired of your old sample album
Sharing your passion for albums is so important in helping your clients to value them! Your enthusiasm shines through! Similarly, if you're feeling stale and bored with your sample album, that feeling will come through to your clients, as well. So if you look at your studio sample and feel just "meh", refreshing your sample album is sure to revitalize the way you share albums in client meetings!
If any of the four indicators above are true in your business, it would be wise to get a new sample album -- one that represents your style and skill level, your album options, and your ideal client ... and that also makes you excited about offering albums!
If you found this post helpful and would like to receive tips like this straight to your inbox, click here to sign up!
And exciting news! If you're a photographer who wants to start offering albums without investing hours of guesswork and trial and error -- we have a solution for you! Check out the Album Start-Up Kit and start maximizing your profit today! Note: This Kit INCLUDES a beautiful custom designed sample album!
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Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Snowy Wyoming Lodge Wedding Album Design for Cassie Madden Photography
As I'm writing this blog post, snow is falling outside my office in northern Alabama. We only get snow about once a year here, and it is always a fun treat. Of course I have my space heater running right next to my desk. But in light of the weather, today's featured album design is very fitting!
Wyoming wedding photographer Cassie Madden shot this wedding on the balcony of a lodge where the bride, groom and their guests braved the cold to celebrate their love. Lots of smile and laughs in the images made it a joy to design. Plus, the snowy portraits are so dreamy!
Cassie is one of our beloved Client Advocates and we have had the pleasure of designing nearly 60 album designs for her and her clients in the past 9 years that we've been blessed to work with her! Click here to hear Cassie share how she made the leap to serving high-end clients through albums! She is incredible!
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this dreamy design:
Wyoming wedding photographer Cassie Madden shot this wedding on the balcony of a lodge where the bride, groom and their guests braved the cold to celebrate their love. Lots of smile and laughs in the images made it a joy to design. Plus, the snowy portraits are so dreamy!
Cassie is one of our beloved Client Advocates and we have had the pleasure of designing nearly 60 album designs for her and her clients in the past 9 years that we've been blessed to work with her! Click here to hear Cassie share how she made the leap to serving high-end clients through albums! She is incredible!
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this dreamy design:
To see the design in full, click through the slideshow:
Thank you, Cassie, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
Thank you, Cassie, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
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Design by: Shannon (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Design by: Shannon (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Maryland Stone Warehouse Wedding Album Design for Anna Lowe
Today's featured album design is one we did for Maryland wedding photographer Anna Lowe who we have had the pleasure of working with for over 5 years now! Anna has a beautiful eye for photography and we are always drawn to her images that utilize clean compositions and magnify the connection between her subjects.
This album is only 10 spreads long -- our minimum -- but I think it's a great example of how you can use a small number of spreads very strategically to communicate the story beautifully. It can be tempting when working with fewer spreads to try to cram a bunch of images in, but Anna embraces the purpose of white space in design and as you will see, that along with the smaller image count per spread really allows her images to shine!
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this beautiful design:
This album is only 10 spreads long -- our minimum -- but I think it's a great example of how you can use a small number of spreads very strategically to communicate the story beautifully. It can be tempting when working with fewer spreads to try to cram a bunch of images in, but Anna embraces the purpose of white space in design and as you will see, that along with the smaller image count per spread really allows her images to shine!
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this beautiful design:
To see the design in full, click through the slideshow:
Thank you, Anna, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
Thank you, Anna, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
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Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Sharing Your Passion For Albums On Your Website
So many photographers struggle to get their clients to value albums enough to buy one. The reality is that if we want to sell albums, we need to tackle this challenge of establishing the value of an album in the minds and hearts of our clients head on.
I've addressed this in a past post by offering Four Tips for Getting Your Clients to Value Albums and Buy One. And in essence, they all come down to communicating your own PASSION FOR ALBUMS.
Today I want to talk specifically about one of the best ways we can do this: Creating a spot on our websites just for albums!
Adding an album section to your website can be a quick and easy task. It can be as simple as constructing a blurb on your "Info" page like I have done for my photography business. I can easily point my audience toward this information within various blog posts in which I reference albums. This helps reinforce my passion for albums to potential clients because chances are when they search for package and pricing information, they will see the album page and will understand up front that a wedding album is the number one product I most want my clients to walk away with. The thought of purchasing one will already be a seed planted in their minds before they even meet with me!
So, what all should this designated page on your website include?
Here are 5 important things to incorporate when sharing your passion for albums on your website:
1 -- Your "WHY"
Whether you are talking about albums in your initial client meeting or are communicating this product/service to your clients through a different avenue, your WHY is always going to be important. I truly believe that an album tells the story of a wedding day in a way that no other product can and lives on to tell that story for generations to come. I make sure to share that belief with my clients throughout my interaction with them in various forms. I encourage you to know exactly what it is you value about albums and then build a strong, clear expression you can share with your clients, both in person and on your website! Feel free to check out my website for some inspiration!
2 -- Album Options
While I believe it is wise to keep your album options simple, I also believe it is important to communicate those options in a way that is easily understood. Spelling out exactly what you offer frees up everyone from unnecessary overwhelm. I have picked out one album size, one cover option and one paper type that I LOVE from my album company, had a sample album created with it, and that is one of the two options I give my clients. The other option is a completely different album from another company -- again with one size, one paper type, and one cover option. Whatever your album options are, showcasing them clearly and in an easily consumable way will make choices easier on your clients!
3 -- Noteworthy Details
If there are any specific details that deserve a special shout out for each of your album options and/or the album company you use, this is a great place to do so! For example, when sharing about the Queensbury album option I offer my clients, I mention it is a high end, leather covered album that is custom made in New Zealand. I also highlight specific distinguishing features such as the textured white matte pages of the album. Each album is unique and has special characteristics that might attract potential clients. This designated space on your website is a great place to highlight these features!
4 -- Additional Album Options
Are parent albums an option within your packages? Gift books? These are all things that are worth mentioning when sharing your album information and all the various options available for purchase on your website. The more you can educate your potential clients about what is available to them within your products and services, the better!
5 -- Album Images
When it comes to helping clients visualize the product you are hoping they will purchase, words can only do so much. Using high quality images that show off the beauty of your albums is essential! It is the online equivalent to sharing your sample album at the initial client meeting. If you are in search of inspiration for some ideas on how to take photographs of your albums efficiently, look no further than this post where I share some fun tips and tricks for photographing your albums!
Hopefully this has helped give you some good ideas on what is important to include on your website in order to communicate your passion for albums effectively!
I've addressed this in a past post by offering Four Tips for Getting Your Clients to Value Albums and Buy One. And in essence, they all come down to communicating your own PASSION FOR ALBUMS.
Today I want to talk specifically about one of the best ways we can do this: Creating a spot on our websites just for albums!
Adding an album section to your website can be a quick and easy task. It can be as simple as constructing a blurb on your "Info" page like I have done for my photography business. I can easily point my audience toward this information within various blog posts in which I reference albums. This helps reinforce my passion for albums to potential clients because chances are when they search for package and pricing information, they will see the album page and will understand up front that a wedding album is the number one product I most want my clients to walk away with. The thought of purchasing one will already be a seed planted in their minds before they even meet with me!
So, what all should this designated page on your website include?
Here are 5 important things to incorporate when sharing your passion for albums on your website:
1 -- Your "WHY"
Whether you are talking about albums in your initial client meeting or are communicating this product/service to your clients through a different avenue, your WHY is always going to be important. I truly believe that an album tells the story of a wedding day in a way that no other product can and lives on to tell that story for generations to come. I make sure to share that belief with my clients throughout my interaction with them in various forms. I encourage you to know exactly what it is you value about albums and then build a strong, clear expression you can share with your clients, both in person and on your website! Feel free to check out my website for some inspiration!
2 -- Album Options
While I believe it is wise to keep your album options simple, I also believe it is important to communicate those options in a way that is easily understood. Spelling out exactly what you offer frees up everyone from unnecessary overwhelm. I have picked out one album size, one cover option and one paper type that I LOVE from my album company, had a sample album created with it, and that is one of the two options I give my clients. The other option is a completely different album from another company -- again with one size, one paper type, and one cover option. Whatever your album options are, showcasing them clearly and in an easily consumable way will make choices easier on your clients!
3 -- Noteworthy Details
If there are any specific details that deserve a special shout out for each of your album options and/or the album company you use, this is a great place to do so! For example, when sharing about the Queensbury album option I offer my clients, I mention it is a high end, leather covered album that is custom made in New Zealand. I also highlight specific distinguishing features such as the textured white matte pages of the album. Each album is unique and has special characteristics that might attract potential clients. This designated space on your website is a great place to highlight these features!
4 -- Additional Album Options
Are parent albums an option within your packages? Gift books? These are all things that are worth mentioning when sharing your album information and all the various options available for purchase on your website. The more you can educate your potential clients about what is available to them within your products and services, the better!
5 -- Album Images
When it comes to helping clients visualize the product you are hoping they will purchase, words can only do so much. Using high quality images that show off the beauty of your albums is essential! It is the online equivalent to sharing your sample album at the initial client meeting. If you are in search of inspiration for some ideas on how to take photographs of your albums efficiently, look no further than this post where I share some fun tips and tricks for photographing your albums!
Hopefully this has helped give you some good ideas on what is important to include on your website in order to communicate your passion for albums effectively!
If you are new to albums all together and could benefit from even more help creating an album page on your website, check out our Album Start-Up Kit! Included in the Kit is text you can customize for your website and blog. Use our worksheet to help you develop your own personal "why" that will serve as a compelling way to communicate the value of albums to your clients, and then choose between one of two copy-and-paste text options that effectively overcome the common question of why albums "cost so much" in a non-salesy way.
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Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
