Switching from HoneyBook?

We’ve got a sweet 🍯 deal for you.

Why relevance is the key to selling beautiful wedding albums to every client

Sprout Studio is an all-in-one app to help you run your photography business and includes a CRM, studio management system, galleries & more!

It was the Fall of 2012, and I was looking to buy a new car.

I had done some preliminary research online, and after talking with a few friends, my heart was set on getting a Volkswagen SUV. I knew there were a few options, but I wasn’t quite sure of the difference, so my wife and I decided to make a trip to our local Volkswagen dealership.

It was a chilly Saturday morning and as we drove down the street the dealership was on; we couldn’t find it. We drove up and down the street several times, before finally seeing a little handwritten sign on the side of the road saying “Volkswagen, this way” with an arrow pointing to the right.

“Strange,” I thought.

As it turns out, the dealership was tucked away in behind a big giant industrial building. When I got there, it was a big building with one small door to the left-hand side. There were no windows; it looked like it used to be a warehouse. There were no demo cars out front, either.

I walked in, and there was a long hallway of doors. Someone greeted me at the door, but it almost seemed as if I had interrupted him. He walked me into their office quietly.

He sat me down and asked what I was looking for. I told him that I was interested in their SUV’s. He slid a promo brochure across the table, and said: “Here you go, flip through, these are the SUVs in our line-up.”

[icegram messages=”14297″]

As I asked questions, he simply pointed to the answers in the brochure – the Tiguan had “this,” and the Toureg had “that.” The different models and options were listed in a complicated Chinese-take-out style list.

I asked if I could test drive one before I made a decision, and he said “Oh, we don’t have any of the cars here,” and then he reached into his desk, pulled out a tiny toy car and said “Here’s a miniature model of the one you’re looking at, though.”

Ok, of course… this isn’t a real story. This is not how Volkswagen does business.

Volkswagen has a professional presence, are polished at every touch point. They have friendly and cheerful salespeople, visually merchandise their product and guide you through the buying process, including being able to test-drive the car you’re looking at purchasing.

It sounds silly when I tell the story this way. It sounds ridiculous that Volkswagen would ever design their customer experience this way, but this is the way many photographers design their customer experience.

You need to think about the experience you create for your clients.

This image is the cover of Chris and Christine’s wedding album. The sample album that I have in my studio with this image displayed on the front is a copy of their actual wedding album; the one they purchased from me.

I intentionally order copies of clients albums for my sample albums, so that I can have a variety of options to show potential clients when I’m meeting with them. In a meet-and-greet, I will usually only pull out one album to show a bride a groom, but it will be an album that is relevant to them – from their venue, their style, their reception location, etc.

The only way I can do this is by having many samples. I would suggest that you have multiple sample albums, as well, all that are:

  • From different venues in the area that you photograph at often.
  • Feature different vendors who were involved in the wedding day.
  • Varied in styles (leather, cover choice, page thickness, binding, etc.).
  • Different styles of weddings (outdoor, tent, hall, vintage, backyard, etc.).

This will allow you to actually show an album that most closely resembles what your client will end up getting instead of trying to explain it, like how the Volkswagen salesperson in my fictitious story had to hand me a miniature model of a car.

Many photographers will have sample albums that are a collection of several weddings or a “best of” from the previous year, but I recommend against this. Instead, have one wedding per album, and design it as if it were a client’s album. This helps your prospective brides visualize what their album will look like, and it shows the quality of your work and your storytelling abilities in the context of one wedding.

This will also help you:

  • Save time: I don’t have to design new sample albums from scratch each time, but instead just order copies when I am ordering an album for a client that I love.
  • Set expectations: By having copies of past clients’ albums on display, I can rest assured that I am showing new and prospective clients a true representation of exactly what I’ll be able to do for them.
  • Show social proof: When I am showing new and prospective clients my sample albums, I make a point to tell them that what they’re looking at is a duplicate copy of a past couple’s actual wedding album. This is “proof” that past clients do order these big beautiful albums, and it signals to the new or prospective client that this is what couples who work with me get.

Author name
Share this article
Frequently Asked Questions

Have some questions?

Still have questions about Sprout Studio? We’ve got you! Let’s dig in …

Sprout Studio is different because you get all the apps you need in one place. You get a CRM, invoicing, contracts, bookings, scheduling, questionnaires, galleries, email marketing, album proofing, AI tools, reports and so much more in one single, seamless platform specifically designed for photographers!

You can watch a short demo video of Sprout Studio here. Each feature page on our site also has live demos of various features in Sprout Studio. The best way for you to preview what Sprout Studio looks like is to sign up for a free trial and see it in action for yourself!

It’s not really a fair comparison (for the others) to compare us, because other CRMs are like a camera without a lens and accessory ecosystem. The camera itself may be great, but you’re forced to hunt for off-brand lenses, flashes and accessories that don’t fit and work the same as they would if they were on-brand.

The competitors do 1 thing – a CRM – for example. Or they do online galleries. Or they do email marketing. And many of them do that 1 thing really well! Sprout does those things too – a CRM, galleries and email marketing. And feature-for-feature, we’re all more-or-less comparable. The real difference is that with Sprout, you get all the tools you need in one place, so it’s better for you, your clients and your wallet! Everything works nicely together.

At Sprout Studio, you get industry-leading support from real people who show up every day to help you succeed as a photographer. They’re happy to answer your questions via email, right in your account or via phone.

There are several pricing plans and options for your Sprout Studio subscription, starting as low as $19/month USD. You can learn more on our pricing page.

Setting up Sprout Studio is straightforward. We’ve designed the platform with ease of use in mind. You first walk through Startup Wizard, which guides you through the initial setup process step by step. Additionally, you can download templates and preset workflows that make customization quick and simple, allowing you to get your CRM up and running in no time.

No, you don’t have to start from scratch with Sprout Studio. We provide 100s of customizable templates for emails, contracts, questionnaires, and more, which you can easily adapt to fit your brand and workflow. These templates are designed to save you time and effort, making it easier to maintain consistency and professionalism across all client interactions.

Migrating your existing clients to Sprout Studio is a smooth process. We offer tools that allow you to quickly enter client data directly into Sprout Studio from your existing CRM. You can also hire us to do it for you, and our concierge team will seamlessly migrate your clients for you.

Sprout AI: Questionnaires

Create questionnaires for clients in seconds.

Effortlessly design tailored client questionnaires with Sprout AI, the world’s first AI questionnaire builder for photographers. Say goodbye to the hours spent drafting and revising what to say – transform your client interactions now!

Sprout AI: EMAILS

Stop wasting your time writing emails.

Elevate your communication game with Sprout AI. Craft compelling emails in your unique brand voice, effortlessly and efficiently! With a click of a button, you can spend more time doing what you love – photography.

INDUSTRY REPORT

The Photographer's 2024 Industry Report.

We sent out a survey to thousands of professional photographers to better understand how the first half of 2023 was looking for them and what they were thinking about, worried about and excited about moving into 2024. See what they had to say.

2024 Industry Report print out for Professional Photographers
Workflows

Sick of drowning in admin tasks?

Photographers, don’t let admin tasks dim your creativity. Sprout Studio’s automation and customizable workflows can set you free. Let Sprout Studio take care of the heavy lifting. Sign up for our free trial and rediscover the joy of photography.

Sprout Studio Professional Photography All-in-one CRM
ADMIN TASKS

Sick of drowning in admin tasks?

Photographers, don’t let admin tasks dim your creativity. Sprout Studio’s automation and customizable workflows can set you free. Let Sprout Studio take care of the heavy lifting. Sign up for our free trial and rediscover the joy of photography.

Sprout Studio Professional Photography CRM
Reports & Analytics

Time to stop guessing and start growing.

Sprout Studio’s analytics, email marketing, and automation can elevate your photography business. Sign up for our free trial and take the first step towards success.

Sprout Studio Professional Photography Business Insights
Galleries

Elevate your photography with stunning galleries.

Present your work in the best light with our advanced gallery software. Showcase your creativity and connect with your audience like never before. Experience the power of visual storytelling today.

Sprout Studio Professional Photography Proofing Galleries
Scheduler

Streamline your photography schedule.

Tired of juggling appointments and bookings? Our scheduler features are designed to simplify your life. Spend less time managing schedules and more time capturing moments. Try our scheduler today and take control of your time.

Sprout Studio Professional Photography Scheduler
Ambassadors

Spread the love and earn as a photography ambassador.

Calling all photographers! Want to turn your passion into earnings? Join our ambassador program and share your love for photography. Not only do you get to be a part of an inspiring community, but you also have the chance to make money doing what you love.

Sprout Studio Professional Photography Client Portal

30-days of awesomeness, on us!

30-days of awesomeness, on us!

See how Sprout looks and feels

Book a complimentary 1-on-1 demo call with our team or watch a pre-recorded demo now!

Select “Sprout Studio Demo Call” to start.

Prefer not to wait?

Huge Welcome Offer

Only $7
for 3-months!

Enjoy a 30-day trial and get your first 3-months for $7/month USD.

Deal is on until Jan 17, 2025!

No credit card required. Cancel anytime.

Step 1 of 8

Sprout Studio Logo

Start your free
14-day trial

No credit card required. Cancel anytime.