| Unfortunately, most photographers can relate to the | | | | client has paid for the session and the session is |
| following scenario. A new client has seen your work | | | | completed. The client's expectations may have been |
| and calls and sets up and sets up a time for the | | | | he would have several months to complete his order. |
| session. The photographer prepares for and shoots | | | | A photographer should clearly communicate his policy |
| the session. The photographer then further invests | | | | early and in a straight forward manner. This will avoid |
| his time editing the images, creating proofs, uploading | | | | confusion and help communicate that the |
| the pictures to a website and blog. He sends out an | | | | photographers time is valuable. |
| email with viewing and ordering instructions. | | | | 3. Offer to keep the the pictures in an online gallery |
| Next, he than patiently waits for the order - and | | | | for a period of time, afterwhich the pictures will |
| waits and waits. He contacts the client to make sure | | | | come down. There are several reasons for doing this. |
| they understood the proofing instructions. They still | | | | First, it addresses a basic human trait - |
| do not order. What is a photographer to do in this | | | | procrastination. Many people find completing a task |
| situation? The delay in orders can wreck havoc on | | | | they want to do is easier when there is a deadline. |
| the businesses' cashflow. The following is a list of | | | | By creating a deadline it gives your clients some |
| suggestions for dealing with this situation. | | | | structure with the ordering process. In addition, you |
| 1. Identify the cause of the delay. Once in a while a | | | | be able to better manage online server space. |
| client will delay ordering simply because they have | | | | 4. Charge a modest stocking fee for putting the |
| come under some difficult financial stress; however, | | | | images back to the web. Managing images does take |
| most of the time clients don't get around to ordering | | | | time. This will cover some of that time, but more |
| because life simply gets busy. The task of ordering | | | | importantly it will provide an incentive for completing |
| simply gets crowded out. | | | | the order in a timely fashion. |
| 2. Communicate your ordering policy before the | | | | Cash flow in a portrait or wedding photography |
| shoot. A photographer does not want to be in a | | | | business is important. The above steps are proven |
| position of trying to establish that orders need to be | | | | techniques for solving this issue. |
| made within three weeks after the shoot when the | | | | |