Known as Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving is considered the start of the holiday shopping season. The “black” in “Black Friday” comes from the term “in the black,” which refers to business profits. Many businesses bring in their highest earnings of the year on Black Friday. As a photographer, how can you get in on the profitability of Black Friday?
In this post, we’ll share some helpful tips and strategies for completing a successful Black Friday campaign for your photography business.
Before you can offer a reasonable discount, you must evaluate the profitability of your standard pricing. Think about how much time and money you put into your business vs. the amount you earn. Consider equipment, materials, repairs, and the amount of time you invest in your photography business. If you struggle to calculate your cost of doing business, remember that for every one hour of photography, there is usually 6-9 hours spent related to not only that shoot but also the back-end of running your business.
Does your current pricing allow you to make a reasonable profit? If not, consider raising your prices . You want your business to be sustainable and to provide a comfortable life for you and your family.
Now that you’ve assessed your pricing, you can make sure that your Black Friday offer is profitable too. Yes, Black Friday is all about discounts and low prices. But you need to make sure it works for you too, not just your customers. Your Black Friday offer should never lose you money. Remember, we’re trying to get in on those profits!
One idea is to use Black Friday as an opportunity to upsell previous or existing customers. For instance, offer discounted prints, digital images, or framed prints from prior shoots. Or offer a product you don’t usually provide, like holiday ornaments, holiday cards, or scrapbooks from photos you captured in previous sessions.
Even though these prices are a discount you’ll be getting sales you wouldn’t have made without Black Friday. And you don’t have to invest time in additional shoots or travel. If you want to offer something for new clients too, crunch the numbers and make sure it won’t cost you.
Another option is to offer discounted pre-sales on photo shoots or mini sessions to take place during your slow season, helping you drum up more business. Many photographers also opt for discounted gift cards (which make a great holiday gift) or discounted bundles (e.g., session fee, digital images, and framed prints).
Whatever promotion you decide on, ensure that it benefits you too. To reap maximum benefits, determine what you want to achieve from your Black Friday promotion.
Set a goal for your Black Friday sales. Do you want to engage new clients? Re-engage clients you haven’t heard from in a while? Bring in a certain amount of profit? Increase business for your slow season?
Knowing what you want to achieve will help you strategically choose your Black Friday offering. Set a specific, reasonable goal that you can easily measure. For instance, maybe you want to book ten mini shoots for your slow season. If that’s the case, you’ll offer a discounted pre-sale on minis for your slow season. If your slow season is January through April, offer options like sparkler minis, Valentine’s Day minis, spring-themed minis, or Easter minis. Include high-quality sample images in your advertising, so potential clients know what they’re getting.
Again, make sure your goal is easy to track and measure. Measuring the effectiveness of your Black Friday campaign allows you to reevaluate and improve your strategy for next year. What worked, and what didn’t? If you hit or surpass your goal, you can repeat your strategy next time or set your sights even higher.
Start advertising your Black Friday sale at least a few weeks in advance so people have time to weigh their options and make purchasing decisions. If you wait until the last minute, it might be too late. People may have already decided on other ways to spend their Black Friday budgets.
Another frequently asked question is: How long should I run my sale? Over the years, it’s become more common for businesses to run extended Black Friday sales. Cyber Monday, which is all about online discounts, has lengthened the holiday. And many businesses run their sales for an additional week or weeks beyond Cyber Monday.
Still, we recommend keeping your sale to a weekend at the most. Limited-time deals suggest urgency, encouraging people to purchase before they miss out. But if you aren’t getting the engagement you were hoping for, you may want to extend your sale for a few extra days with “last chance” messaging.
Market your sale on your website, social media channels, via email, and through word of mouth. Start by sending an email to your client list announcing your Black Friday offer(s). Make it sound fun, exciting, and urgent. Include
beautiful, relevant images to increase engagement and interest.
Set up a landing page or banner on your website or change your Facebook profile photo announcing the sale. As always, include appealing images to entice prospective clients to buy.
Next, announce your sales on social media through posts and stories. If you’re interested in reaching new clients, you can use paid ads to target people in your area. While brainstorming what to offer for Black Friday, ask your social media followers what Black Friday deals they would like to see or create a poll with your top (already profitable) options.
Ask your friends, family, and most loyal customers to spread the word. Consider partnering with local businesses to promote one another’s Black Friday deals. Ask if you can leave a flyer or brochure about your sales in exchange for posting about their Black Friday deal on your social media.
Swipe copy makes it super easy to get the word out about your black Friday session deals, so we’ve included some swipe copy that you can send to your email list. We also added some swipe copy for your instagram feed or Facebook post.
Simply copy and paste these, add your links, images, and business info and you’re ready to hit send or post!
Swipe copy for your email list:
Dear [Client's Name],
As the holiday season approaches, I wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of my photography services. It's been a pleasure capturing beautiful moments with you, and I can't wait to create more cherished memories together.
To show my appreciation, I'm excited to offer you an exclusive Black Friday deal on photography sessions. It's the perfect opportunity to make this holiday season unforgettable with stunning photos.
📷 Black Friday Session Deal:
[add your offer]
This limited-time offer allows you to capture your most cherished moments in style. Whether it's a family portrait, a couple's session, or a solo adventure, I'm here to make it a reality.
Book your session now to secure your spot and lock in this special Black Friday price. Availability is limited, so don't miss out on creating beautiful memories with me this holiday season.
Thank you for choosing me as your photographer, and I look forward to capturing more of life's beautiful moments together. Book your Black Friday session today by replying to this email or giving me a call.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Photography Business Name]
[Contact Information]
(Customize this email with your specific Black Friday session details and contact information.)
Instagram Post swipe copy:
[Image of a Festive Photography Setup]
Caption:
📸 Black Friday Special Alert! 🌟
As the holiday season draws near, I wanted to express my gratitude for all the beautiful moments we've captured together. Your support means the world to me! To celebrate, I'm thrilled to announce an exclusive Black Friday photography session deal just for you.
✨ The Details:
📷[add your offer]
This is your chance to preserve cherished memories in style. Whether you're longing for a family portrait, a romantic couple's session, or a solo adventure, I'm here to make it happen.
Don't wait! Secure your spot and lock in this special Black Friday price. Availability is limited, so let's create more beautiful memories together this holiday season.
Simply reach out via DM or by giving me a call to book your Black Friday session. I can't wait to capture the magic with you!
#BlackFridayDeal #HolidayPhotography #CaptureMemories
(Customize this post with your specific Black Friday session details, beautiful imafes (s), and contact information.)
Having swipe copy at your disposal during busy seasons is an absolute game-changer. It ensures seamless communication with customers, so you can say good-bye to missed opportunities. With pre-written messages in your arsenal, you can effortlessly connect with clients, making your marketing campaigns a breeze, even during the busiest times.
When it comes to Black Friday campaigns, the possibilities are endless! If a traditional Black Friday sale won’t be profitable or help you accomplish your goals, you can always think outside of the box.
So far, we’ve discussed upselling previous customers, offering discounted gift cards or bundles, and pre-selling “buy now, shoot later” mini sessions for your slow season. We’ve also touched on exclusive offers you don’t typically provide, like holiday cards, holiday ornaments, or scrapbooks. These offers don’t necessarily have to be discounted. They can simply be marketed as exclusive, limited-time offers that make fabulous holiday gifts.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your Black Friday offers. In a sea of similar offers, something different will help you stand out.
Black Friday is an excellent opportunity to boost your profits, engage clients, and bring positive attention to your photography business.
Remember these steps when putting your offer together:
With these tips, you can get in on the profitability of Black Friday and reap enormous benefits for your photography business!
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