The Envelope Please!

About 2 months ago now, I got an email from a bride that wanted to book my wedding services for November of 07. I had to refer her to another photographer because I was already booked for the date in question.

So I have found myself at a crossroads. How do I increase my business? I can hire more photographers to shoot more weddings, or I can introduce a second product line.

In less than one month now, Solaris will be offering it’s own unique line of family portraiture!

Here’s my problem: How do I sell myself as a creative and innovative source for family portraiture when I have no samples of family portraits to show you? Do I just ask you to trust me? I didn’t think so.

My wife Toni is absolutely right. When it comes to my photography, I’m a perfectionist. I have a clear vision in my mind of what I want my family portraits to look like, but I need sample portraits. She has been forwarding emails, and passing along verbal requests from members of North West Houston Mothers Of Multiples (NWHMOM) asking if and when I would do some family portraiture.

In an effort to design a new website for family portraiture, I recently had an exclusive drawing for a free session and portrait to the members of the NWHMOM in hopes of attracting volunteer families. We had a huge response!

The first 20 responses received the following.

• A free portrait session in our studio. ($150 value)
• One 24” wall portrait! ($450 value…that’s a BIG portrait)
• Your family portrait featured on the new Solaris Web Site.
• Selected images from your session will be made available in a private online gallery.

Within the first day we received over 40 replies! Beth, my production manager, suggested that we needed to offer something to the additional entries as well. The problem with that is, that giving away additional prints over the 20 that we had committed to already would exceed that budget that had set for this special. So, we decided that the next ten entries over the initial 20 would receive the following…

• A free portrait session in our studio. ($150 value)
• Our policy of a minimum purchase would be removed for these sessions.
• Your family portrait featured on the new Solaris Web Site.
• Selected images from your session will be made available in a private online gallery.

Additionally, we wanted to have a prize for four more entries:

• A free portrait session in our studio. ($150 value)
• Your family portrait featured on the new Solaris Web Site.
• Selected images from your session will be made available in a private online gallery.

AND HERE ARE OUR WINNERS!

The Top 20!
N. Terry
S. Baum
V. Worster
B. Myers
E. Young
S. Brown
M. Morgan
M. Strickland
B. Lewis
K. Marshall
M. Rigdon
L. Collins
L. Clement
D. Sherrill
L. Quinn
J. Spencer
C. Powell
M. Durrani
P. Vacek
A. Ison
K. Hearn

Here are the 10 runners up!
L. Sanders
L. Ranney
A. Bennett
D. Chapman
T. Plum
K. Nabors
H. Mitcham
Young
S. Troyer
K. Pavlesic

Our Final Four!
L. Yannessa
K. Minson
D. Long
K. Stachowiak

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this big of a response, but I am very grateful!

Candor, truthfulness, openness, and honesty. This is where we are at currently.

1) Beth will be contacting all of the winners in an effort to schedule session times for each.

2) We are working on the logistics of being open late one night a week, as I shoot weddings during the weekend. This becomes increasingly difficult when trying to coordinate with Toni’s work schedule at Chili’s and picking up the kids from Day Care. You know how it is. Beth and I are thinking that Wednesdays would be best as her son does not have soccer that day.

3) I am expecting a hand painted background to arrive at the studio any day now. The background I have ordered is from the best background painter in the country. They are done by hand and are very expensive. We are going for a Jackson Pollock look. Once the background comes in, I will have to install it. This will take a day or two.

4) We expect to start shooting on 10/6.

Again, I want to say thank you for the huge response! Beth and I are very excited to be working with all of you very soon.

Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer

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