Eco Benefits of Video Conferencing

Video conferencing (iChat, Skype, Go to Meeting, DimDim) is a technology that has been around for SO long and is totally under utilized! Just as emails are being replaced by texting, we are loosing so much face to face time and not taking advantage of existing opportunities. For our families, clients, business partners and friends.

I have been really pushing video chatting this past year with my potenital and current clients for several reasons:

* Saves me from having to constantly clean my house

* Saves the client a drive over in a snow storm, getting a babysitter, etc.

* Work with clients who do not live in my city, in a more personal way

* A lot gets lost in back and forth emails

The biggest reason I began pushing Video Chat as an option was that I kept realizing that Brides come to town for a weekend and are cramming as many vendor meetings into the weekend as possible (weddings). They are late to their meeting with me, then have to rush out the door to their next meeting. The entire weekend is a blur and it is very difficult to really make a mark on them and stand out from the crowd. Much like a bridal show.

In this highly competitive wedding market, I thought that if I could get them to video chat before these whirl wind weekends, then when they are here we can focus on getting the contract signed and they are pretty much a done deal. Or worst case scenario, they can meet with another photographer that better fits their needs! Not wasting my time or theirs.

Well, for me, this has been a HUGE success! So far, I have booked EVERY one of the people that took me up on the offer.... right then and there! Luckily for each of them, I received a slew of inquiries for their dates right afterwards as well. Two thirds of my booked weddings for 2011 were over the phone/video chat. Last year, maybe one was booked without meeting first.

Why is this a Greener Photography topic? A lot of reasons. One of the potential wedding clients that I talked into video chatting told me that they were actually going to be driving in for the weekend JUST to meet with me. Now, even though that flatters my ego and makes me feel like a rock star Photographer, it is such a waste....

* I saved them 6 hours of driving EACH way

* I saved them their weekend (and mine!)

* They saved several tanks of gas, food, etc.

Is this just for potential wedding clients? NO! I've used this for Portrait client sales as well. We can screen share and do the sales presentation that would be done in studio... on the computer. When I travel, I always line up Portrait Sessions wherever I go, yet the trouble is capturing sales afterwards. Now, with video conferencing, I can screen share over video chatting and we talk handsfree as if we are next to each other and I can still visually show my client what I would show in person. The client can even take control of my computer (if I let them) and make changes to their album, greeting cards, whatever.... right there on my computer.

So, when trying to be a cut above the rest, think out side the box! Sometimes bringing an old technology into the limelight can pay off. When I mentioned in email that we could video chat to one potential wedding couple, their response was "I guess this is why we pay you the big bucks! What an awesome idea!" My response was, "Why yes it is!"

For more information on getting started with video chatting technology, keep an eye out for webcasts and information on the Greener Photography Forum! The Greener Photography Education Committee is hard at work developing easy to use programs for our members. If you will be attending WPPI, please visit the Greener Photography / Rice Studio Supply booth for more information.

~Heather McKay

Greener Photography Education Chairperson & Leadership Circle Member

McKay's Photography