A fairly common thing we hear from photographers is: “My clients just don’t want printed products.” But here’s the truth — more often than not, it’s not that they don’t want them. It’s that they’ve never been shown the value of them. They’re used to digital galleries. They expect USBs. That’s what the industry has trained them to expect. But just because it’s all they know, it doesn’t mean that’s all they want. Ian tells the story of being in a seminar with a number of very wealthy Americans. When he tried To View More >>

Do you know Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds? — I'm showing my age here! Nick's strange baritone singing voice is definitely an acquired taste and I stayed away until I saw him as one of a bunch of big names singing Leonard Cohen songs at a Sydney tribute show.And then I came across the Red Hand Files. When they show up in my feed I stop scrolling and read, and his latest post made me think of photographers, and what you do. What we do too. Nick invites his fans to ask him questions, and every week or so he picks one to answer. He takes this very seriously. This week someone To View More >>

We get it — in the age of social media, digital files feel like the norm. Especially in the wedding world, they’re generally expected. Couples want to share their big day right away, and portrait clients love the idea of having “all the photos.” But if we stop there, we’re not just shortchanging ourselves — we’re shortchanging them. Here’s why: Digital is fleeting. Print is forever. Digital images are shared for a moment and then forgotten, buried in a sea of phone photos and cloud storage. Prints become treasures. Albums become stories passed on. To View More >>

Here are three photos that won’t mean much to you but mean everything to me. They explain why I love wedding albums. The first is from my parents’ wedding in 1945, a beautiful sepia print in a classic folder. Young as he looks, Dad had just returned from five years at war. The girl on the left is his younger sister. Seven years later she married the young man on the right. Like my parents they were together for 55 years. The other woman is my mother’s best friend. I remember her, but she died quite young. The other uniformed man is my father’s best friend. I’m writing To View More >>

Selling printed products doesn’t have to feel awkward or pushy. When you believe in the value of what you’re offering, that confidence naturally transfers to your clients. The key is to make products an expected and effortless part of your process — not a last-minute add-on. When you position prints, albums, and frames as a meaningful part of the photography experience, clients will begin to see them as essential, not optional. Here are a few simple ways to make product sales feel natural and genuine: 1. Show, Don’t Just Tell Always have stunning samples on hand. Let clients To View More >>