I am a photographer who has spent the past seven years specializing in wedding photography. My goal is to capture all the joyous moments with photos because one of the best things about being a photographer is that I get to help people relive those moments when they see their photos. I find it rewarding that I can help play a role to do that. I do not claim to be an expert or a master photographer, I simply want to share what I learned and experienced in how to operate a photography business with an online photo gallery.
How to start using an online photo gallery?
When I first started, I was hesitant to include an online photo gallery in my photography business workflow. I thought it would take too much time and the time would be better spent in other aspects of the business. But I found it was much easier than expected and the return is higher than I ever could have imagined. Here are some suggestions for you:
– Choose a suitable platform: There are a lot of online photo gallery platforms available, so it’s important to pick one that suits your needs. Look for a user-friendly cloud-based online photo gallery that offer features like easy sharing, online proofing, customizable galleries, and the ability to sell prints or digital downloads.
– Try it in a typical business workflow: Before paying and making a commitment to one online photo gallery, take the time to try its features in your business workflow. Create collections based on themes, locations, or events and engage your friends for help and get feedback. Make sure that the online photo gallery and estore works on different devices such as laptops and phones.
– Avoid a balloon payment at the beginning: Once you selected a few different online photo gallery platforms to compare, make use of promotional offers and free trials first than paying regular price to start. For example, Zno Gallery™ has a Free Trial for new customers to help you grow your online presence and improve your clients experience. Usually, promotions are usually found on the product page or you can send email to support team to ask about it.
How does it benefit me and my clients?
An online photo gallery allows me to showcase my work in a professional and visually appealing way. By displaying my best images in an online photo gallery, unlike traditional workflow requiring clients to come to my studio to look at photos, clients can conveniently view and share my work online at their comfort anywhere. This feature is perfect for me because taking photos at weddings and important events, multiple parties are typically needed to review and look at all the images.
Using an online photo gallery also add credibility to my business. It shows that I am serious about my craft and have taken the time to curate my work in a professional manner. Besides, the clients’ experience is improved because they can easily browse through the photos at their own pace and download or share favorite images with others. This accessibility and ease of sharing sometimes increase the chances of attracting more potential clients.
What’s more, an online photo gallery should provide photographers with an estore to sell print products. This has become an additional source of income for me by bringing more sale opportunities. With an estore, I can offer a wider range of print products than what I can show in my studio. Plus, clients enjoy the convenience of being able to design and order their own products online without any sales pressure from me.
What are the most critical touch points for building an online photo gallery estore?
As a photographer, kindly note that our goal may be to earn more profits from clients. Thus, when building an online photo gallery to showcase, an integrated estore should be considered. Clients can enter the online store after they view their photos and preview what their photos will look like after printing.
From a client’s perspective, what are the touch points to purchase?
First, ensure that the estore has a clean and intuitive design that is easy for clients to scan. Use clear categories and product names to help clients know the print products displayed.
Second, use high-resolution images that accurately represent the print products. Include multiple views and close-ups if necessary to give clients a clear idea of what they will be getting.
What’s more, prepare many customization options. This could include options for different sizes, framing styles, finishes, or personalized text or images. If applicable, offer clients the ability to customize their print products and order in the estore. Also, having an automatic fulfillment releases my work pressure and helps clients feel confident in their purchase decision.
Overall, an online photo gallery greatly benefited me by providing a platform to showcase my work, increased my professional credibility, and generated more sales opportunities.
