If you are a regular reader of this blog, you are likely a semi-professional or professional photographer. That means you are either looking to make a living at photography or already are making a living at it one way or another.
If that's the case, you probably don't need to be told how crazy and competitive things are in the industry. You have two choices – continue going about your business and eke out a living or find a way to stand out so much that you can't be missed and you are the obvious choice for most people in your community.
How do you stand out in a crowded marketplace? Focus on these two words – customer service. A popular post here already discusses why giving away your images on a CD or DVD is terrible mistake. What's been forgotten by a lot of photographers is that we are in service of our clients – from the moment they call you on the phone till it's time to deliver their images to them.
It was when I spoke with Chris Scott of Preveal recently, that he hit home the idea that to truly serve your clients you need to be their guide all the way to that point where you even help them hang their images on their walls. Taking them through all of their options where they get to enjoy and experience their images every day should be your ultimate goal.
Here is more of my chat with Chris. He touches on the exciting new features that have been added to the next version of his iPad application, Preveal, that launches on July 8th. More importantly, he showed me how photographers can benefit by using Preveal in their own businesses, to show and sell images that their clients want for their homes.
Now, Preveal isn't inexpensive ($74.99), but I am going to take Chris' word that photographers like you and me can easily make double or triple what we are making by using this application in service of our customers. You see, that's an important point to highlight. It's not merely a tool to show of your work or to make selling easier. There are portfolio applications that do that just fine.
What Preveal does and does very well is it provides your clients a visual facsimile of what their own images can look like on their own walls. You will agree this is extremely powerful as it takes the guesswork out of the sale and ultimately reduces and eliminates the perceived risk your clients are likely to harbor when doing business with you.
When you know as plain as day what you can expect to receive from your photographer, what client isn't going to see it as a big win for them?
Use the application to show your client's images with frames or as canvas prints:
Here is an example of finished canvases in a bedroom:
If you ever get stuck, help and support is built right into the application (yes, with links to videos showing you how to use the features):
I twisted Chris' arm to give away two redemption codes for two lucky commenters below. Before you race off to type anything below, please first vote for Preveal on PPA Magazine‘s website.
As a pioneer in this industry, I feel it is Preveal that totally deserves to win the Hot One Award for Best Mobile Business App. Voting ends on July 7th and you can vote daily.
Once you have voted, come back here and tell me a little bit about yourself and why winning one of two redemption codes will mean the world to you and your business. Please do not forget to include your email address as that's the only way we are going to be able to notify you. Good luck!
And do remember, version 3 of Preveal launches on July 8th. If you buy Preveal today, updates via iTunes are always included.
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I have been debating buying an IPad just for preveal for a long time. Reading articles like this just increases my desire to take this huge step! Awesome article, thanks!!
I am the photographer-owner of a brand-spanking new business– Preveal is *exactly* the right tool for my IPS… what a great way to start out with style!
I’ve been looking for a great way to transition from discs to selling more prints and canvases and I know preveal would be the way to do it (and get myself an iPad while i’m at it)
Please oh please let me win! I quit my full time corp gig to be a photographer, and the cost is immense! But I feel Preveal is a must to help me provide stellar customer service. Would love this prize! thanks! (Kate@appelmanimages.com)
This is fantastic giveaway! Thank you a lot for this chance! I have been looking at Preveal for half the year minimum but have no possibility invest into it so far.
I think this is fantastic tool for me as as family photographer to educate my clients about possibilities to design their homes with their photos. So far this is not my strong part (I am selling mostly digital files and paper prints) but I really feel that it is important not only for me as business owner but as well to my clients to help them to save their family legacy.
So I am sure Preveal can make a HUGE kick for my canvas and other wall photography items sales, it will help me to improve GREATLY my customer service and the most important part – make my clients MORE HAPPY.
Thanks for the heads-up on this app – looks ideal for letting a client choose image size and even the images themselves, to suit their decor. Naturally hoping to win the app… (wpadarin@gmail.com)
Wow! What a great idea! I can see this helping to sell images. Thanks for the review.
info@digitalcocoon.ca – almost forgot!
You nailed it, Natalia – it does so much more than just make you money, it really does make for much happier clients! Good luck!
Congrats on jumping in full time! Good luck in the giveaway!
You’re absolutely right, this is a great way to make that transition! Good luck!
You’re going to rock it with Preveal, Becky! We built it especially for those who don’t have a space or all of the fancy equipment, just like you! Good luck!
We have SO many people tell us this, that they’ve bought an iPad just for Preveal, which is awesome! I’m excited to hear what Preveal will do for your business, good luck with the giveaway Miranda!
Yep, exactly! It’s perfect for showing your clients what their own images will look like in the context of their own home… it doesn’t get any better than that! Good luck with the giveaway!
Thank you all for your comments. But please do include your email address. Without it, I won’t be able to contact you, if you won one of the redemption codes for Preveal.
alexandrameghan@gmail.com
nkozerskaya@gmail.com
Sooooo??? Who won??? :)