My mini-sessions clients are NEVER late! Really, it's true!

One of the big factors I see hindering photographers from taking the leap to try mini-sessions is that they fear that their clients will show up late and throw the whole day off. It's a valid concern, but that doesn't have to be your reality.

My clients are never late, but it isn't by accident. There are a few intentional things I do to prep my clients to insure that my families are on-time and prepared for their session. These things aren't difficult, and are can be implemented in your business TODAY! Trust me, they're game-changers!

 

1. Don't give them an option.

When I send out my famous Final Info Email to my clients a week before our session, I remind my clients of their time slot. But I don't stop there. I make it very clear that they CAN'T be late. Like, it isn't an option. If they're late, they lose their spot with no refund. (Harsh? Maybe. But it works like a charm!)

I let my families know that I shoot my minis back-to-back, so there isn't any sort of wiggle room for them. If they're late, it eats into their shooting time. I encourage them to arrive at least 10 minutes early to make sure they get their full shooting time.

The key here is to use clear language. Don't beat around the bush! It's ok to be direct. That way everyone is for sure on the same page!

 

2. Let them know what to expect.

There's a spot in my Final Info Email where I give directions to our location. I don't just provide an address here. I go into detail about what the area is like, where they can park, how long it will take them to find parking, how far they'll have to walk to our spot, literally everything. I don't want them to be surprised when they arrive. The more they know about our location, the better they can plan. (If it's a random field spot, I'll even link a pinned location so they can see exactly where we'll be.)

For one of the locations I shoot at a lot, I know parking nearby is super limited. I tell my clients in their Final Info Email that they'll likely have to park farther and they can expect a 5 minute walk. This helps them factor walking time into what time they need to arrive.

 

3. Equip them for success.

Not only do I let them know they can't be late, but I also equip them with everything I can to make sure their day goes as smoothly as possible. I provide all of my clients with a Client Experience Guide a few weeks before our session. I go into detail about what's inside in “Walking Through My Client Experience Guide”. But one thing that typically helps my clients arrive on-time to our session is reminding them to lay out outfits the night before and to have the kids fed and rested before our session.

I don't know about yours, but my kids are slowwwwww when they're tired or hungry! It's basically impossible to get anywhere on-time under those circumstances. By helping my clients to think ahead, their day typically runs a lot smoother and allows for them to get to their session early.

Proactive communication is KEY!  Be sure to check out my Email Templates! (They're 20% off today only!) Get every proactive email I send my client along the way, including my automated up-selling email!

 

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Have you watched my free 1-hour class all about pricing, timing, and marketing your minis? If not, you won't want to miss it! Click HERE to watch it today!

You may also like…

“How to Grow Your Email List With a Giveaway”

“How to Handle a Busy Toddler During Mini-Sessions”

“My 3 Favorite Family Posing Prompts”

“Using “Session” Booking System For Your Mini-Sessions”