533: Murielle Sassine – Payment plans equal large sales in portrait photography

PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

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Murielle Sassine of www.vividimaging.com.au is today's guest, and the interview came about through a chance meeting with Iclem Senol in Sydney, during Mark Rossetto's workshop a few months ago.

Iclem told me all about her amazing boss, and studio owner, Murielle, who started photographing weddings for 13 years before focusing on high-end portraits for the last 10 years.

She says other photographers find how Murielle manages her home-based, micro studio, inspiring.

I've since learned Murielle only offers sessions three weekdays out of the week, and their studio average sale is just under $5,000. I also heard about a $70,000 purchase from one client who has booked two additional sessions.

Iclem and Murielle are currently working on a photo book titled “Uplifting, A Celebration of Women” (released today), showcasing women affected by breast cancer.

They are proud of their robust system for booking clients, and by all accounts, this sounds like a small but fantastic business operating in the very competitive Sydney market.

In this interview, learn the importance of how and why payment plans equal large sales in any portrait photography business.

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• What a micro-studio looks like and how it runs
• How to personalise your greetings when clients visit your studio
• A walk-through of Murielle's micro-studio
• How to hire the most suitable staff members for your business
• Inclusions of a 70k portrait photography sale
• How to convert leads into wall art buyers
• Showing clients what others have purchased leads to more and larger sales
• Why Murielle never hesitates to mention pricing to clients and sends out physical brochures
• Showing snippets of the wall art on social media before clients see them
• How Murielle establishes connections with potential clients
• Establishing trust with your team members and doing away with micro-managing
• How Murielle handles client rejection after learning of her prices
• What does a typical follow-up client call sound like before the photo session
• What to say when clients say they can't afford your prices
• How often should you post on social media
• Uploading behind-the-scenes reels on Instagram and Facebook
• Murielle's turnover
• Setting up payment plans
• The best payment plan terms to offer clients
• Murielle's payment plan setup process
• How to deal with default payments
• Fees when using third-party payment services
• How far ahead should you print wall art when accepting payment plan options
• Murielle's outdoor photo session process
• Murielle's shooting process
• What is included in Murielle's packages
• Murielle's book project
• Booking fee and how to go about cancellations on booking appointments
• Why do clients choose Murielle over the competition

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If you think about $70,000 or even $50,000, which is one of the sales, you might think hundreds and hundreds of images but it's not. It's just big pieces of wall art and a few of those. – Murielle Sassine

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Murielle shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business due to what you heard in today's episode.

I don't hesitate when it comes to price. In fact, when Iclem speaks to them over the phone she says to them, “Our clients spend up thousands of dollars. Our most popular package is just under $4,000 and it's completely up to you what you decide to spend.” – Murielle Sassine

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Murielle or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes and Google are the biggest search engines for podcasts, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

Sometimes I've actually lost bookings because I've spoken about pricing, I'll be honest. And it is disappointing. It's like a stab in the stomach but I always have to say, ‘Okay. Well, it's better that this happened now than me taking them through the whole photographic experience, editing the photos, getting them back in and then they have a meltdown about pricing. – Murielle Sassine

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.

90% of my clients at the moment are on payment plans. – Murielle Sassine

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

Food Photography 5 Day Challenge

Join the FREE 5-Day Profitable Food Photography Challenge with Emma Dunham from episode 520, and start to make the money you deserve from your food images instead of relying on working for a company.

Learn the secrets to attracting the best food businesses to you with a clever combination of simple marketing strategies & stunning images that stop potential clients in their tracks so they are desperate for you to shoot their food now and in the future.

CHALLENGE STARTS ON 25TH SEPTEMBER 2023

All the details are here: https://photobizx.com/foodphotography

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Vivid Photography and Imaging Website

Vivid Photography and Imaging on Facebook

Murielle Sassine on Instagram

Uplifting: A Celebration of Women by Murielle Sassine

Episode 136: Bernie Griffiths – A Challenge for You to Book More Portrait Photography Sessions

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening, and thanks to Murielle for coming on and sharing everything she does to create an exceptional client experience, including offering payment plans that lead to large sales in her portrait photography business.

If I don't do this, this is not going to equal a big sale. That's what makes me do it. And it's part of my process. There's no ifs or buts, it's actually part of my process. – Murielle Sassine

That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew

The post 533: Murielle Sassine – Payment plans equal large sales in portrait photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.