Photography Tools & Equipment

In today’s economy you need to  increase profits any way you can  when making sales to existing customers. I am not saying to overcharge because that could hurt business. I would be looking for products that fit with what you are selling .

For example if you are a web site designer you could still sell your design service but also sell a link building service to help get the site seen. You could also have available a live chat feature that they could use. Of course pick one that works and offers you a referral commission.

As a professional San Antonio portrait photographer I add like products to my inventory not only for additional profit but to increase customer referrals. If I sell a large wall size print of the family and send it home in a roll like many photographers do to save money you just lost all chances of referrals. That roll will stay on top the kitchen table until they have time to drive to a custom frame store , pick a frame and get it mounted. By the time they get it to the house the photo is old news. It may get put up on the wall within an hour or a week or two later depending on the family schedule.

If you want to increase referrals from clients I would at least purchase the print mounted on foam core or another hard surface ready to frame. At least it could be shown to friends who are waiting to see it. I would say you should go a go the extra mile  and offer top quality wood picture frames. I know a lot of photographers reading this are saying I see those frame sellers at every photography trade shot I go too and some professional photo labs even sell  this service.

The difference is all the frame services wholesaling frames to photographers sell the basic ready made frames for more than I can buy a semi custom made frame at a local frame shop. While others may offer mounted prints and ready to go as part of the deal the cost is just way too high . If you look at the prices a 20×24 frame and mounted print is usually around $110.00 to $160.00 each. Deduct the price of the mounted photo and the price is as high as retail at local stores .

I would recommend finding a real wholesale frame supplier that offers good quality at a price you can still make a profit selling. For example the company I recommend sells a solid wood, very ornate frame between $23.00 and $28.00 each. The minimum purchase  is only $300.00 which means you can get a dozen large frames for the price you would be paying for round 3 from those selling to the photo industry. When the frame comes in all you do is drop the pre-mounted photo in place, add a few point drivers, which is a  special frame, staple used for frames. The point driver tool is available from $25.00 to $75.00 for professional models all over the Internet . Next cut a piece of black or brown craft paper as a dust finishing cover. If you sell wedding cakes, platinum wedding bands or offer your services as a wedding ï»¿coordinator get in touch with a local photographer . Have them offer a no cost photo session to your clients and make the offer more valuable by mounting the finished photo in a beautiful frame.