This month we feature the fabulous Tanille Williamson.  Based out of Saskatchewan, Tanille is a highly talented photographer whose newborn albums get all the feels going every time one comes through the bindery.

Think albums & products can’t be a part of a successful newborn photography business?  Think again as Tanille shows us that not only is it possible, selling products actually makes great business sense, as it can really add to your bottom line.

Q&A with Tanille

lta: How long have you been working as a pro photographer?

T: Oh boy, I purchased my first camera in 2013 and started charging (pennies) almost right away. Looking back though, I was far from pro- cringe!. Honestly, this question always has me stumped as I’m not even sure what qualifies as “Pro”… I mean, am I even there yet?!

Find Your Niche

lta: What is your chosen area of photographic focus & why?

T: Newborns! I had the Anne Geddes posters as a kid and when Pinterest became popular, I found myself obsessed with pinning the most ridiculous baby poses. You know what I mean: the ones where the baby is shoved into a Tonka Truck with an oversized headband!  I felt that if I could focus on this particular genre and develop my skills, it was a hard enough style and area of photography, that it would be out of reach from all the Uncle Bobs in the world. It’s been really amazing to be a Newborn Photographer while all my peers (and myself) have been having babies- I feel like I can relate so much to my clients.

lta: Two part question: We find your work and, in particular, your albums particularly eye-catching.

T: Part A Why do you sell albums? Answer – I find a series of images to be the most powerful way to tell a story of how the session played out. Although I love a good piece of Wall Art, the ability to hold an entire session in your hands is extremely valuable. I truly love my albums and my clients can see that belief.  They’re not a hard sell because of this.

T: Part B How often do you sell an album with your shoots? Answer – Nearly every session. So yeah, I’ve sold A LOT.

lta: What is your favorite album size, cover style & “just right” # of spreads?

T: I don’t have an ideal number of spreads, as I design my albums based on the images chosen by the client. Same goes for the album size and number of images per spreads. It’s all customized for every session.  As for the cover: I’m really loving the Shoreline in Full Grain (genuine) Leather with engraving.  And for paper Pearl Metallic finish is a favourite.

Pre-Design + In Person / Virtual = Sales Success

lta: Do you have any tips to make selling albums or photo products easier? (e.g. in person (virtual in person sales), pre-designing an album before meeting with clients, etc.).

T: I could write a book about this! In the past, I’ve tried selling albums many ways and have only had success with In Person Sales (IPS)… but Virtual IPS  (during Covid) has been working just as well! Either way, I think it’s key to be present through the selection and purchase process to guide clients every step of the way. If they are emailed an online gallery, the second they get confused or overwhelmed, you’ve lost that sale. I have a few sample albums that I bring out during the session and they get the chance to feel, hold and really get a sense of the quality. We discuss the finish options and they go on their way with the products on their minds. I pre-design an album for their Image Reveal & Ordering Appointment which gives them a great visual of how their images could look on the spreads.

lta: Favorite thing to do when you’re not behind the lens?

T: Oh gosh, I have three kids and I run a business, I have no time to do anything else! hahaha

We want to thank this talented photographer, business woman & busy mom, for taking time to share some hard earned wisdom with all of us. Our hats off to you Tanille!

To see more of Tanille’s work and be inspired find/follow her here:

web: https://tanillewilliamson.photography

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanillewilliamsonphotography/

Have some tips/advice/lessons you’d like to share with the lifethreads crew?  Drop us a line to get a chat started.

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