Episode 41 - Building an Associate Photography Team with Grace Troutman
Grace Troutman, destination based Wedding Photographer and Business Educator, talks about the advantages of scaling a business by adding an Associate Photographer to the team. There’s more than one way to build a team for your business and yours will be based on your own business goals and what you want your client experience to look like.
Pricing as You Build Your Team
If you’ve built your brand around you and your individual work, you may want to start out by pricing bookings that an associate will handle a bit lower than what you normally charge, especially if they are in their first few years of being a photographer. As your Associates gain experience and your clients come to trust your team, you can make the pricing the same across the board. Eventually, you can raise your individual rate as a “premium offer” if someone specifically wants you to shoot their event.
“If you’ve raised your pricing, it is at the top, you feel really comfortable with where you’re at and you’re still getting booked up, your demand is high, you’re booking two years in advance, then yes, this is time to start a team.”
- Grace Troutman
Building a Successful Associate Team that also Protects Your Business
Contracts - to ensure you, your Associate Photographer, and your clients are protected. The contract makes sure your Associate knows what is expected of them (number of hours they work, whether they can give out their own business card, what photos they can use personally, etc.).
Training for your team
Set up days where your team shoots poses and flat lays, you answer questions, go over what they are struggling with, and then you all go out to eat together to bond as a team.
Take your new hires on second-shoots with you so they can watch you, ask questions, assist with bags, and shoot some photos themselves.
Go over lighting, posting to social media, and even tips for interacting with clients.
Always support your team by being a good resource for them to gain experience, ask questions, get feedback, and grow in their ability.
Make sure the Associate knows they are representing you, your brand, and your business.
Advantages of having a team of Associate Photographers
Frees up time for you to focus on other avenues of your business that you really enjoy doing such as creating an online course or mentoring.
Gives you more time off with your friends and family.
Creates passive income - get paid when you are not doing the actual work.
Signs That You Are Ready to Build a Team
You want to make more money, but the thought of taking on more work is overwhelming.
If you are booking 18-24 months in advance.
You are in high demand, booking almost everyone that comes to you even with higher pricing.
You want to diversify your income and have a passive revenue stream.
Favorite Apps
Canon Camera Connect App - transfer images to a smartphone/tablet and remote shoot with live view imaging of the camera from a smartphone.
Later, PlannThat, or HopperHQ - for planning your Instagram Feed.
MileIQ - If you travel for work, this app automatically tracks mileage for a business expense.
CONNECT WITH GRACE
Online: gracetroutman.com
Instagram @gracetphotography
If you’d like to dig deeper into how to grow an associate team, check out Grace’s self paced course ”Let Go and Grow: Building an Associate Team”.
Also, boost your Instagram engagement with a couple FREEBIES available on the link in Grace’s IG bio - a free Engagement Guide and a free Instagram Caption Guide!