I recently submitted a survey to the over 900 members of Brand-ography.com regarding their photography business website. There were some very interesting results.  Below is a sampling of the answers I received…

What type of website do you have for your business?

30% = I have a Flash Website and a separate WordPress Blog
28% = I have a fancy Flash Website
16% = My Website is made with WordPress
10% = My Website is made from HTML Website
10% = I have a Website, but I don’t know how it is made!
4% = I have a HTML Website and a separate WordPress Blog
2% = Website? I don’t have a website!

It is interesting that the majority of the photographers I polled had either a flash website or a wordpress blog in conjunction with a flash website. I understand the attraction with a flash website as they are usually quite visually beautiful, however there are sever limitations as we shall see later…

Who created your website?

72% = I did it myself
21% = I hired a professional
5% = A family member or friend made it for me

No big surprise here, the majority of photographers created their website themselves. This seems to be a growing trend as the tools are easier to use and the cost of a professional web designer increases.

Are you satisfied with your website?

41% = It is just okay
33% = Yes I am completely satisfied
25% = No it needs an overhaul

The majority of photographers felt their site was ‘just okay’ or needed an overhaul.  Only 1/3 of those polled were completely satisfied with their website.  Even more interesting are the comments received when asked what they would change about their website.  Below are the responses…

What would you like to change about your website? (expense, time, results, etc)

• My wordpress needs some help looking more professional
• Just updated it and it will be going live within 2 weeks
• My wordpess needs some help looking more professional
• Copywriting
• Results and more engaging
• Needs to be updated
• Easier to update , etc…
• I would like to move away from flash and go with a CMS site where everything is neatly in one place.
• I need to add a proofing section but they are soooooooooooooooooo expensive!
• Client viewing area and testimonial page
• Nothing, I just wish I had the time to update it as much as I’d like.
• I need a cheap, easy to manage site that looks like a million bucks!
• Look more professional.
• I would like to customize it a bit more and make it look less like a blog… but would still like to include a blog. I also would like to learn to make it more effective!
• Results
• I would like to integrate a self hosted shopping cart that I can control the product offering (prints, gift certificate redemption, promos).
• Copywriting
• More flash, easier simple navigation. One that works on all browsers.
• Able to get it pinged on search engines.
• Better SEO for the flash part
• More interaction
• More traffic
• Increase the number of visitors, increase the conversion rate
• Colours, look, content
• I am not sure! But I haven’t improved due to $.
• Just created it but will be looking for a more professional option
• I am not completely satisfied but I don’t need a complete overhaul
• I like it but want more flexibility and options for layout and content
• A comprehensive CMS so I don’t have to do everything with XML, a bit less flash so it has better SEO.
• Actually I just personalized my smugmug site a little and that is all I have.
• Results
• Mix Flash with HTML
• Need to hire to set a website up for me personally
• The client galleries, the speed at which it loads

I found it interesting that there were many repeated themes in the comments to include : Getting results, more traffic, increasing conversions, more professional appearance.

I found it interesting that there were many repeated themes in the comments to include : Getting results, more traffic, increasing conversions, more professional appearance.

Based on this survey, it is apparent that the majority of photographers want a professional appearing website that gets results!

If you are looking for help in setting up your photography website, be sure to join Photowebsitetutorials.com and get a free website building checklist.  Click here to join.

If you are like me, you are an Iphone addict. I am ashamed to admit it but it has greatly simplified my life. Now if you are a wedding photographer it can also help you organize your business. I ran across this app the other day SmartStudio.
SmartStudio: Wedding Photographer Studio Manager empowers wedding photographers to manage their entire studio from the day a prospective bride calls to the day the final product is delivered all from the iPhone or iPod touch.

SmartStudio enables wedding photographers to track and manage payments across multiple bookings and payment milestones, capture prospective clients and manage bookings with shot lists, package deliverables, itineraries, contacts, crew members and more.

Below is a video tour:

Check out the website of the developer here: http://gorillagroup.net/

I myself am not a wedding photographer so I have not tried the app, but if you have used it, please let me know what you thought of it by leaving a comment below…

If you are interested in owning your own photography business then it is well advised to develop a photography business plan. This is particularly true if you need to raise funds for capital expenses such as building rent/lease or purchase. It is also a good idea to create a business plan even if you are not looking for capital because it can help solidify the vision for your business and help you to set realistic goals.

So what are the key criteria for a business plan?  There is no standard format for all business plans but I have provided a sample outline below that worked well for me.  You can adjust it to suit your own situation. The key is to provide a solid well-defined plan that addresses the key issues of profitability and risk.

1. Executive Summary- An overview of the pertinent facts found later in the document.
2. Objectives – List of your business objectives.  Market share goals, type of services offered, client list size, revenue, etc.
3. Mission – Mission statement for your business.
4. Keys to Success – Critical tasks to accomplish in order to achieve your objectives. Examples include establishing online presence, outsourcing retouching, reaching new client base, etc.
5. Company Summary – Brief overview of history and current state of business.
   1. Company Ownership – Who owns the business and under what type of ownership?  Sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.
   2. Start-Up Summary – Description of initial start-up costs and how capital was raised (if needed.)
   3. Locations – Description of studio location (if any). In the absence of a dedicated building, describe how shoots are completed on-location.
6. Products and Services – Description of products and services offered.  Include general costs such as session fees, package ranges,etc.
7. Technology – Description of technology required such as cameras, lighting, photo processing software.
8. Market Analysis Summary – Overview of market. This information can often be found at your city’s website.  Include information such as median household income, family size, age, etc.
   1. Market Segmentation – What age(s) are you targeting?   How will you reach that market?
   2. Competition – Who is your competition?  What is their size?  What do they offer?
   3. Value Proposition – How will you provide value to your customers?  What will set you apart?
   4. Marketing Strategy – How will you reach your target audience?
   5. Competitive Edge – What sets you apart from your competition? Why will you succeed?
9. Management Team – Describe the owner(s) and their management and technical experience. This is a mini-resume in a paragraph form.
10. Staff – If you have staff workers, you can insert their responsibilities here.
11. Financial Plan – Include the following financial information:
    1. Income and Expense – Provide data  for current year and past year
    2. Break Even Analysis – How many clients do you need to break even. This is critical for capital investments such as building purchase.
    3. Trends – What trends have you seen in the past and what do you predict for the future based on your marketing plan?
    4. Projections – Provide projected income, expense, and profit numbers for upcoming years. (3 years ideally).
    5. Capital Investment requirements – Outline what amount is required and for what.
12. Exit Strategy and Risk Assessment – What will you do if profitability cannot be maintained?   This is your exit strategy.  How high is the risk that this will occur?
13. Conclusion- Wrap it all up