4 Reasons Family Photographers Should Use Client Style Guides | Nashville Family Photographer Dolly DeLong Photography

4 Reasons Family Photographers Should Use Client Style Guides | Nashville Family Photographer Dolly DeLong Photography

When photographers hear the term “style guide”, they immediately go to an engagement style guide or wedding day prep, am I right?! Today, I’m here to tell you that family photographers should ALSO be using a style guide with their clients. A style guide should help your clients decide what to wear for classic portraits but also help prep them for their session with you. Since I implemented sending a client style guide to my families, I have consistently attracted clients who truly value high-quality, joyful, and radiant photos. These clients know what to expect from me when they choose me as their Nashville family photographer because I’ve kept my branding and messaging consistent from start to finish. And seriously, it’s amazing how wonderful your sessions become when your clients feel prepared and excited about their photos, too! Here are 4 reasons family photographs should use client style guides!

#1: It helps you build a curated portfolio.

No matter what stage of business you’re in, building a portfolio that reflects the type of sessions you want to attract is key. If you create a portfolio of clients who are enjoying those high-quality joyful sessions in beautiful outfits that look great at their location, you’ll begin to attract those clients! Seriously, whatever vision you have for your business, your portfolio should reflect that. Helping your clients prepare means a better session all around! So send that guide before every session so they’re ready to go!

#2: It sets expectations.

Client style guides don’t have to JUST tell your clients what to wear. Your guide can also prepare them for your session together. Tell them about what to expect and share a few tips about preparing kids. Don’t you feel more prepared for a meeting or appointment when you know what to expect? A family session is no different! Style guides will also help build anticipation and excitement for your session together!

#3: It sets you apart from other photographers.

Sending a custom and styled guide that reflects your brand and business immediately sets you apart from other photographers. Clients are going to remember the experience you gave them, including helping them to prepare for your session. If creating a guide with a few tips will help them remember you, why wouldn’t you send one? Building a brand that’s consistent and professional is absolutely crucial for building lifetime clients!

#4: It helps create timeless portraits.

As photographers, we want to create portraits that are timeless and classic, ones that will look great today, tomorrow, and years from now. Creating a style guide can help steer your clients to options for outfits that will also stand the test of time. Take the time to remind them that bright neon t-shirts may not be the most long-lasting fashion trend and recommend your thoughts on how to pair outfits together, what kids should wear, and more. Again, helping your clients feel anything but overwhelmed for their session is SO important.

In Summary

Client style guides are about so much more than telling your client what to wear. They’re an easy way to elevate your brand, better prepare your clients for a session, and enhance your client experience. Once you’ve created your guide, it will be easy to add to your workflow and start sharing it with the world!

Ready to start using a client style guide but feel overwhelmed with the idea of designing one?

I’ve got you covered! This FREE Canva template makes it so easy to have your client style guide done today! All you have to do is drag and drop your brand’s photos and elements. It’s so easy!

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Meet Your Friendly Nashville Family Photographer/Family Photographer Educator & Business Systems + Workflow Educator

Dolly DeLong is a Nashville-based family & branding photographer and a creative business owner who educates on all things Pinterest & Dubsado (and how to use these platforms as systems in your business)!  Dolly loves serving families, and business owners with her timeless, radiant photography.  And, she also loves educating other business owners on how to set up systems and workflows that will ultimately help them save time in their business.

She has a heart for serving the larger business community. Dolly shares her knowledge of tools like Pinterest, Dubsado, Email Marketing, and Business Systems with new creative business owners & family photographers in an encouraging and supportive way because she believes that even muggles can become automating wizards. Plus BONUS: Systems is where the MAGIC happens!

Dolly’s faith and love for her family motivate her to help other business owners find the joy and freedom she’s found in running a successful small business.

Whenever she has a spare moment, she enjoys watching TV (i.e. Survivor), loves eating way too many sweets, and listens to podcasts while running or walking. To work with Dolly DeLong Photography LLC, fill out her contact form here.

Interested in learning how to best automate a part of your business but you have no clue where to begin? Check out www.systemsandworkflowmagic.com/automate to begin your automation journey today!

If you are ready to experience a full VIP day with Dolly DeLong Photography, Click Below!

Resources for Family Photographers To Automate Your Business

(*Click on the banners to get started! It’s super easy to work with Dolly DeLong & it’s super easy to automate your business today!) 

Learn how to start growing out your email list as a family photographer

Learn why it’s important to know the customer journey (your ideal client’s customer journey) so that you, the family photographer, can create content that speaks to them! 

Start to streamline & track your finances for your family photography business with ease! 

Find the magic of saving time by batching out your content so that you can focus on other areas of your family photography business! 

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