Today we take a peek inside the studio of Sarah McGraw of McGraw Photography.

In what kind of space (and where) is your studio located?

It’s a commercial space in Charlotte, NC USA
Square Footage:

130
How long have you been there?
4 months

What makes your studio special?

My studio is just a small room in a keyman office suite so I wanted to make it not feel like a sterile, cold space but a cozy living room. I added in textures with a jute rug, linen curtains, and wicker touches. I also added in some warm, walnut wood in the coffee table, shelves, and coat hanger – all made by me and my husband. However, my favorite thing in the room (and my clients’) is the chalkboard wall! I love the wonderful messages they write to me!

How has it helped your business?

The office space has been a huge help with in-person sales. I no longer have to drag my samples into someones home and set them on their kitchen floor. Clients can now envision what art will look like on a wall and how the different sizes will look. Plus, instead of crowding around my tiny laptop, my clients can see their images large on my TV. My office simply makes the process so much smoother and my clients have fun seeing the pictures of all the other pets!

What products do you sell the most?

Coffee Table Albums! My clients love having their favorite images in a gorgeous book that they can have on display and show off to friends!

Do you have any tips for opening a studio?

Think long and hard before deciding to move forward with renting a space. I went back and forth for about a year and it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made for my business. There are huge pros and cons so the benefits must outweigh the negatives. If you decide to move forward, have a lot of fun decorating and making the space reflect your branding!

Do you have a great space you would like to share with our community? We would love to hear from you and possibly peek into your world. Simply visit this link and we will guide you through the quick submission process.

Today’s fan share comes to us from Liz of Elizabeth & Jane Photography. She writes, “I had my brand new assistant create a DVD case and matching discs in record time using one of the I Want it All DVD Covers. She changed the colors to match the session, added a second disc design and voila, it was done! The simple, yet fun design of the DVD Case worked really well for our client’s sessions. It was very straightforward for my new assistant to do for me and I didn’t have to spend extra time teaching her how to use the templates – which is a huge time saver. The clients adored it and approved it with no changes. The mother even keeps it displayed in her living room for all of her family and friends to see when they visit!”

Thanks for sharing, Liz!

From the shop:

You CAN have it all, and Design Aglow’s I Want It All DVD Covers can help you get it because we have all of the one-of-a-kind accents and companion products that will make your business boom. Our eye-catching DVD covers and labels can be adjusted to reflect every client’s personal taste and desires.

DVD Covers: I Want It All at a glance:
• Templates for single and double CD cases and CD labels
• Six coveted and engaging designs
• Layered PSD files for unlimited customization, including color changes
• Designed using single and double CD case templates by White House Custom Colour

PERFECT FOR:
• Those who prefer high-resolution images delivered electronically, adding value to their substantial investment.
• Turning any session into a collector’s item. You’re offering a digital product that is unparalleled.
• Sending prospective clients and referrals a peek at your portfolio.
• Coordinating matching cards, album covers or even wall art with portrait sessions.
• Revitalizing your own studio’s image with updated marketing materials, websites and blogs.

Click here to check them out in the shop!

Each month Design Aglow brings you Studio Policies for Success to make your photography business run smooth as silk while avoiding all too common problems that plague even the most experienced photographers. Feel free to use our recommendations as-is or modified to suit your needs…and you can thank us later *wink*.

The Policy: “Your session will begin promptly at the agreed upon time. Please arrange to be dressed, made-up and ready to begin at this time. (Because the session length is predetermined, any additional time required to prepare yourself or children once you’ve arrived will reduce the amount of time we can spend in-session, and further limits the amount of images captured.)”

Design Aglow Note: Setting boundaries for when a session begins and ends is important to keeping your schedule on track. Letting clients know in a firm but polite way that your session ends at a specific time lessens the likelihood that they will expect you to keep shooting beyond this time.

Clients have a tendency to value their own time over your own. Some believe that if they are late, you can simply make it up to them on the back end. Even if you have no other sessions booked that day and they are your last session, and even if you’ve padded yourself with some extra time, that extra time should go into your business, not into providing extra time for a client that didn’t respect you. Clients who do arrive on time will sometimes request a “few moments” to touch up their hair, set curls, or apply makeup. Again, this only takes away from the time needed to start. Let clients know that the session is a set length and stick to it. Any additional time left once their session is complete is time you could be investing back into your business – coming up with your next great idea, imagining new and inventive offerings and more.

See more Portrait Policies for Success and learn procedures for challenges like strategizing session fees, methods for heading off cancellations and tardiness, how to handle retouching requests, and what the best in the business are doing to sell digital files.  Key topics provide essential procedural information for before, during and after your sessions. Stay inspired with daily tips and inspiration by joining our private mailing list.

*Special thanks to Wildflowers Photography for the lovely image.

Showing your clients exactly how their portraits can look in their own home has never been easier! With Preveal’s iPad App, you can take all of the guesswork out of planning a wall gallery, and showcase size and layout options in an easy and brilliant way. Simply give your client our instructional guide (available in non-editable free pdf or editable Photoshop version), then drop their image into your Preveal App. Our educational guide teaches your clients how to take a well composed, properly scaled image of their home’s future wall gallery location.

We’re revolutionizing the way photographers sell wall art! Learn more at www.getpreveal.com.

*Special thanks to Untamed Heart Photography for the lovely sample images.