{ Only 3 More Weeks! Sign Up Today! } -- Mesa, AZ Photographer

{ Only 3 Weeks Left To Register! }

If you haven't registered already, make sure you do soon! Only 50 total spots available { less now }!

If you've ever wanted to get better at taking pictures and know what it takes to turn a passion for photography into a new business, then you don't want to miss this!

Email or call me { Alicia } to sign up :

Email: alicia@BebaPhotography.com    /    Phone: 480-399-3030

{ Sales 101 -- The Unconventional Approach To Sales } -- Mesa, AZ Photographer

{ The Unconventional Salesperson }

Photo courtesy of Beth Obermeyer of Lizzie Bee Photography / www.lizziebeephotography.com

This is me.

Beba.
(pronounced "Bee-Buh")

I'm probably the most backwards person when it comes to sales.

I am not a pushy salesperson.

It is not the most important thing for me to make sales.

Yet, I still stay in business and do make sales.

Why is that?

I think that it's a shift of focus that's totally unconventional from what traditional salespeople will tell you. Here's what I think makes the difference:

I'm more interested in making a connection than I am in closing a sale. I'm more interested in investing an experience and friendship into that person than I am in getting something back from them.

Scary thought as a salesperson, right?

Not really.

The truth is that people will be walk away happier because they will have been invested in and they will have products that they love and won't have buyer's remorse for being pushed into a sale.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a business woman, so I still set minimums on my packages that clients sign contracts for......They know ahead of time what they're going to be paying for when they hire me as their photographer, so there are no questions......but I don't push for more once they meet their minimum.

Wait!

Shouldn't I be? Shouldn't I be trying to "sell" them?

In my opinion, no.

Of course I want sales--I'm in business. But for me, it's more important for me to make a genuine connection with that person. My end goal is different. I want my clients to walk away with an experience--a happy memory--and not just pictures. I want there to be an incredible memory of, "We had so much fun that day!" rather than "That girl was such a pushy salesperson--I bought a ton of extra stuff that I didn't want."

Do my clients end up buying extra photos? In almost every case, yes. But not because I pushed them. After they meet their minimum, I leave it up to them to decide what they want.

Is it counter cultural?

You betcha.

But is it more satisfying and fulfilling as a business person?

YES.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to know that you've made someone's day brighter or the thought that you've just made a new friend with someone who was a stranger just a week ago.

Many of my clients have now become my dear friends.

For me, that's the best "sell" in the world--it costs nothing and gives the greatest return.

Sales are momentary, but creating friendships and lasting memories are priceless.

So, go out there and sell....but make sure that you're investing more into the lives of people who are giving their business back to you. : )

{ More Sales 101 tips at my upcoming 1 Day Workshop for those of you who are interested }
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/note.php?note_id=223103164403652

{ Love Me } -- Mesa, AZ Photographer

{ Love Me }

As a photographer, your heart wants to scream out to others:

"Please love my work!"

"Please like my Facebook page and read my blog!"

"Please choose me!"

"Please find joy in viewing my work!"

There's something so wonderful about sharing your heart and gift with the world and having people respond back in a positive way. I know it blesses each of us as photographers and as artists.

But is it just me or is it sometimes easy to get too focused on whether or not people like your work and not stay focused on your love and passion for what you do?

I'm talking to you other photographers out there.

And I'm talking to myself, too.

Right now, I'm enjoying the busy season--I'm booking a lot of sessions.

But there are times { when it's not busy season } that it's tempting for me to question my work when people aren't responding as much as they are right now.

I know that I am not alone.

I've heard other photographers say, "I'm not as good enough, so I'm quitting."

Wait! Throw on the brakes! What?!

I realized long ago, that I love this dream too much to let it go, no matter how I feel. Emotions come and go, but passion lives on.

Even though I sometimes get in that funky rut, I fight it off with a vengeance because I know that validation should always come from experiencing joy in what I do and not from the outside. Sure, it's great to have people love my work--it feels amazing when people find joy in what I do. I'm sure that you feel the same way too. You delight when people love what you're pouring out from your heart, through your camera and into your pictures.

But even when the crowd is gone and the band has gone home....can you still hear the sweet chords of music playing from your camera? Can you still hear the song from inside stirring your heart to want to capture the world in all it's beauty and to capture the magic in and between people?

I sure hope you do.

I do.

It keeps me moving forward during these easy times that I'm experiencing right now and it keeps me moving forward during the hard times too.

Stand on that empty stage and sing the song you were meant to sing.

Stand and sing even if no one is listening....

...because in time, they will.

And in the meantime, you'll be doing what you love the most.

Hope this encourages those of you who are feeling discouraged tonight.

I believe in you and am applauding you.