How To Find Your Dream Client

We spend a lot of time discussing the process of finding the right clients in my business success class. Many photographers struggle with finding the right combination that leads them to the right potential client. Here are four tips on connecting with your dream client. 

YOU UNDERSTAND WHO YOUR CLIENTELE IS
The most important thing is for you to understand who the right client is. You need to have a picture in your head that helps you describe exactly who your client is. You should know all the details about who your dream client is! To find the perfect client, you need to know what that looks like to you.

Make some notes about what this looks like to you. Here are a few questions to get you started:

• What type of personality does this client have?

• Where are they located?

• What type of hobbies do they have?

• Are they married?

• Do they have children?

• If they have kids, how old are they?

• What do you feel they value most when working with a photographer?

Once you have your list, you'll have a clear picture of what you dream potential client looks like to you. Know exactly who your potential client is. It makes the search a million times easier.


THEY LOVE YOUR STYLE
One of the most significant struggles photographers encounter is making the switch from having clients who are booking them for their prices to getting hired for their artistic style and quality of work. It can take time but starts by changing the way you see yourself as a photographer, artist, and business owner. Once you value what you have and create, you can be more confident when talking to potential clients about setting up a session and can be confident in telling them what your prices are because you know that it's worth it.

When you go into a conversation confident, then your clients will respect it. When they sense doubt, they might doubt it themselves as well. It's important to remember that this doesn't mean that just because you can tell someone what you charge with confidence that they will book you. You might not be in their price range. However, they won't look at it like you're not worth it. There's a clear difference between being out of someone's price range, and someone not seeing the value in what you offer.

THEY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND TIME
Appreciating your work and time goes hand in hand with loving your style. As professional photographers, it's essential to find clients who love our style, see the value in our pricing, but it's just as crucial for them to appreciate the time you put into your business. As professional photographers, we do more than just shoot a session. We work with our clients well before their session, and long after it's complete. We spend countless hours making sure that our clients get the best experience ever. Finding clients who value and respect your time should also be at the top of the list.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS YOUR JOB
Everyone starts as a beginner. No one starts a business and has it all figured out; this goes for the photography side of things as well as the business side. We learn as we go. When we first start, we often do it as a hobby and work with friends and family that let us work on getting better. Having this time to learn is important but can also bring difficulty when making the move to being a professional photographer. Although it might be hard, try to focus on finding clients who see you as a professional. The ones that see that this as a business, not a hobby. Find clients who understand that you are a professional business and treat you exactly like you deserve.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

Do you currently struggle with working with your 'dream client'? What are some things you can change right now about finding more potential clients that line up with what you love? Remember, you need to know what your potential dream client is before you start searching for them.