I have finally managed to finish the first branding package!  See below for a quick sneak peek.  I also have 4 more just days from being ready to go.  The packages will be officially for sale in a matter of a few days so stay tuned!

You can expect a full walk-through of all the elements included in the branding packages to be released within the next two days.

I’m busy, busy, busy — this month is shaping up to be a busy one. Not only am I working overtime in the studio, since our other photographer is moving to another state, I’m also working on several photographer branding design packages.  This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time now.  You all know how much I love branding and how important I think it is to our businesses.  Well, these branding packages are great way for other photographers to get their own brand in place quickly and affordably.

To start, I will be launching 5 sets, and then the plan is to launch a new set each consecutive week following the launch. Each set will be presented as a pre-designed set; meaning all a photographer needs to do is simply download the set of their liking, put their name on it, and they will have a complete, and professional looking presentation to represent their photography brand.

Each set will also be completely customizable for you tinkerers out there. Based on feedback from my recent survey I am jam-packing each set with 13 coordinating templates. Everything from business cards, brochures, information trifolds, promotional post cards, to blog headers, logo stickers, DVD/CD labels, greeting cards, and gift cards… this list goes on and on! The best part, they are available at very affordable prices!

These packages are perfect for photographers who don’t have the money to hire a custom branding professional, or aren’t yet ready to hire one, but still want and need a professional presentation for their photography services. Like I said, once the first 5 sets are launched, I plan to launch a new set every week thereafter. So, if there is a particular design feel you’d like to see in one of the upcoming collections, or you just have some ideas for me, please submit your suggestion on my website at: http://www.brand-ography.com/about/suggestions

I’d love to hear from you, and get your input and idea’s and include something in the collections that’s just your style. Please understand that I am currently getting a lot of requests for designs, so if I don’t personally respond to your suggestion, please know that I do read all emails, and I put all ideas into my data base, and they are very important to me. I will set aside some time as soon as possible to work your request, and all other similar requests into a design collection.

Check out a sneak peek at my first Branding Package here

Sandy Schurz

I wanted to thank everyone who participated in my recent survey regarding branding and marketing for Professional Photographers. The purpose of the survey was to get feedback for my upcoming line of branding packages for photographers.  I learned what you want and I intend to deliver it!  Below is one of the questions that I answered in the survey and the results.  The question was: “What assistance would be the most beneficial to you in your photography business?”

As you can see, what most respondents wanted was help in marketing their business! It seems that marketing is what the majority of photographers struggle with and it is easy to understand why. Most of us are photographers because we love taking beautiful photographs that touch people’s hearts. Not because we like marketing.

Let me tell you, I feel your pain and I hope that I can help.  Besides my branding packages, I am also going to release shortly the system I used to bring new clients in my door daily. It is a great technique and can be worked in any situation.  If you aren’t a subscriber to my newsletter, I suggest you sign up now so that you will be notified when the system is released!

Sandy Schurz

P.S.  What you won’t find on this site are photography tips.  (If you want to know why, just look at the survey results!)

P.P.S.  Thank you also for the kind words that were posted as part of the survey.  I don’t know who to attribute the remarks to as the results are not tied to names, but here are a few of the comments:

“Sandy’s work is relevant, current, real, beautifully designed, and very smart. I have loved virtually every piece she has created.”

“NOBS posts – always AWESOME advice”

“I was fortunate enough to download the Bebe collection from Sandy’s blog. It’s great!”

What do you think is the biggest hurdle that most photographers face?

Is it learning to take incredibly fantastic pictures?

Is it learning how to bring in new clients?

Is it learning how to balance all the needs of a small business with your personal life?

This probably varies for most people, but from my experience most photographers are artists.  We think with the right side of our brains.   This is great for the creative art of photography, but often not so great for the mundane tasks of running a business.  For this reason, I think the biggest hurdle that most photographers face is managing the details of a small business without getting burnt out.

What do you think? What is your biggest hurdle? I would love to know. Leave me a comment!

successful making money doing what they love. The problem is there is a big difference in being a professional photographer and being a business owner, and they jump in head first with out acquiring a solid education about business, that’s when they find themselves in deep water desperate to learn the crucial basics… hope your not going to post this somewhere, people would think of me as a jerk

I have often been asked what the secret to my success as a photographer has been. Here are two areas that I consider to be the key to making it as a boutique photographer:

• Have a passion for what you do.  I found my best success in the niche that I love the most. Babies!  Enjoying what you are photographing will always show to your client.  If you don’t enjoy what you do, how can you expect your clients to enjoy the experience?
• Set yourself apart.  That are thousands of photographers out there who are trying to make a living.  However, while most of them can take good pictures, they struggle with presenting a unified image to their prospective clients.   What will keep clients coming back to your door time after time is a cohesive image that they can identify with.  That makes them feel like they are experiencing special.  This is what branding is all about.