Your Starter Kit purchase entitles you to 30% discount on up to three studio sample albums but, even so, sample albums are a major investment and worth thinking hard about. Making the right choices can dramatically improve your business.

“Photographers don't sell albums, they sell photographs”

That statement is true, and so is this one: “Successful wedding photographers don't sell photographs, they sell albums!”

Why? Many reasons, but here are two:

• Albums turn your “images into art” - something of greater value than a “stack of prints” from a mini-lab, or on a DVD or a web page.
• Albums create opportunities for your clients to buy more and spend more.

Show what you sell

Make sure your sample albums illustrate what you want to offer your clients.

What does that mean in practice?

• An album showing an actual wedding coverage is more compelling than a "greatest hits" collection.
• Make sure you update your samples when you update your packages.
• Don't show what you don’t want to sell.

Entry-level packages

If you offer a variety of packages or coverages at diferent price points, make sure the “entry level” package doesn’t cost you the earth in terms of albums and printing expenses (you can keep costs right down by making sensible choices from our range).

There are two good reasons for this approach.

• The money you’ll save if your clients aren’t paying enough to justify spending more!
• If you restrict costly extras to your upmarket offer, you make it easier for your clients to understand the value of purchasing something better.

Don't “confuse” low-end options (like limited coverages) by presenting them in high-end “packaging”. If you do, the likely effect will be to devalue your time and professional expertise, which are really what justify your prices.

That doesn't mean that you shouldn't let the low-end client upgrade to a better album than your standard. It just means that nobody in business can afford to give away valuable products and services for free. So, allow your low-end clients to upgrade, and use the appeal of beautiful studio samples upfront to promote what you want to sell.

“If they don't say ‘Wow’ there’s a problem”

Your top-of-the-line studio samples should clearly illustrate the benefits of upgrading.

A sample album that a couple can look through together is a powerful way for them to discover what they're getting for their money. And if they don't say ‘Wow’ you’ve got a problem!

There are many ways to design high-ticket offers around our product range. Just remember that what matters is the total cost (processing plus presentation) versus the perceived value.

Even if you use our most elaborate album you’ll be unlucky if your total cost is more than twice as much as our cheapest option. But consider what the extra outlay might earn - provided your client can see the added value.

Other issues affecting your choice of sample albums include...

Personal taste

There's no point trying to sell something you don't like yourself!

Your market position

If you're at the top of the market, your presentation should be too. We should add that offering up-market albums, if only as added extras, is an effective way of improving your position. On the other hand, there's no point selling something at a loss, either!

Practical issues

For example, what size prints can your lab produce? That’s not a problem if we’re printing for you, of course.

Adding perceived value with accessories

There are many ways to add value for your clients with Queensberry products, thereby increasing your sale. For example, what about offering your clients a proof album (“originals album” is a better term) to match their feature album? (only available in NZ). A proof album can include all the images, whereas the feature album will have only a selection.

How about a marketing role for parent albums, guest registers, boxes or galleries? Digital albums, PageMounts and Duos, also, can be offered as an “added extra” in place of conventional overlay-style mats. Carry Cases and Display Boxes add the finishing touch to a beautiful album. Digital Copies are a wonderful accessory.

You can find all these products in our Albums and Accessories section.