| You are a photography business owner. You love | | | | and your review. |
| your work. Your clients love your work. You also love | | | | The disadvantage is many clients will go to another |
| your family - whom you never see because demand | | | | establishment where they can deal with the lead |
| for your services has increased at a wonderful rate. | | | | photographer. However, if the price adjustments are |
| You really don't want to turn profitable business | | | | correct, your profits should not suffer. The increased |
| away. This is a good problem to have. But it is still a | | | | volume that having an associate allows you to do |
| problem. You decide to hire an associate to help with | | | | along with your increased prices should offset the |
| the workload. | | | | revenue of any clients who may decide to go |
| Your clients love you. They don't yet love your | | | | elsewhere. |
| associate. You are facing the problem every | | | | 2. Allow your associate build his reputation (and |
| photography business owner faces when they make | | | | yours) with a particular area of the business. For |
| their first hire - how to address the real and | | | | example if you do weddings and senior portraits, |
| perceived value difference between yourself and | | | | divide the work responsibilities. The associate will |
| your talented associate. | | | | develop the senior portrait brand and you will work |
| There is not any one answer to this question. Any | | | | on the wedding brand. One major advantage of this |
| decision has its advantages and disadvantages. Your | | | | arraignment is your associate is more likely to |
| brand and reputation are at stake. The following are | | | | appreciate his work. You are allowing him to head up |
| two suggestions on how to address this issue: | | | | a brand, develop the client base and make creative |
| 1. Lower the price for the work done by your | | | | and strategic decisions. If he has real talent and a |
| associate photographer and raise the prices of the | | | | desire to grow this will hold real appeal to him. The |
| work you do. Make it clear to your client's that any | | | | disadvantage of course is that employee may decide |
| work that your associate does will be reviewed by | | | | he can do all of this and make more money on his |
| you. This has several valuable results. The increased | | | | own. He may take your clients with him. |
| prices will increase the profit margin of any shoot | | | | There are no easy answers to the best way to |
| that you complete. The price increase will broadcast | | | | expand a photography business. The selling of high |
| an increased reputation (as long as your work really is | | | | end photography services is distinct (thank goodness) |
| quite good). Many of your clients who cannot afford | | | | from selling widgets. It is much easier to expand the |
| your higher prices will decide to go with the associate | | | | selling of widgets. |