First, let me apologize for being MIA for a while. Where did I go for the last month? Let's see - since the EXPO (New York City), then off to Minneapolis and next week to Richmond for another ASMP seminar.
Now it's time to start thinking about the holidays and giving. How will you acknowledge your clients?
Here is your STEP BY STEP PROCESS on how to get organized and prepared:
- Make a list of your clients and contacts (people you have worked with over the last 2 years and people you have connected with but have not worked with YET).
- What is your entire budget for holiday gifts?
- Will clients and contacts get the same thing or will you have 2 different levels? You may have 3 levels: High paying clients (bigger gifts), Medium Paying Clients (smaller gifts) and Little paying jobs and/or Contacts (cards). Once you figured that out - divide your client and contact count into your budget. i.e. $100/10 clients=$10 per client gift (remember shipping and postage).
- What will you give? Something individual per client, one generic gift, a print, just a card, a donation to your favorite organization, chocolate, alcohol (only give if you know the person personally, you know what they like to drink and you know for SURE they are not a recovering alcoholic) or NOTHING (not an option in my opinion).
- Price out everything and confirm you are within budget and start ordering and preparing. It's appropriate to send gifts from Dec. 1st through the first week of January as a New Year's gift.
Giving Tips:
- Be sure to be HOLIDAY PC or generic - regardless of your personal religion. If you know a client celebrates a certain holiday - you can make a special note or special exception for that client.
- Write a personal note per person - THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THIS YEAR. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR WORK IN THE FUTURE. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
- Be sure to send your gift in a lovely presentation. Think about how it will arrive (envelope, stamp and label are key) and if you plan to send something larger - be sure your package is safely wrapped. I recommend sending the gift to yourself first to make sure the presentation arrives the way you have hoped.
CONSUMER GIFT IDEAS (wedding, portrait and other retail photographers):
- 8x6 iPhoto Books for your clients (their wedding, the baby or their family out-takes - $10.95 for a 22 page book + $6.00 for tax and shipping)
- Tiffany ornament: click here
- Make a Wish Ornament: click here
- Extra 5x7 Prints
- Holiday Cards of your clients from iPhoto or your favorite printer
- Non Profit donation
- Book of Stamps with your clients' photo on it: click here
COMMERCIAL GIFT IDEAS (advertising, corporate and editorial photographers):
-Non-profit donation
-Chocolate with your logo: click here
-Baskets: click here
-Cookies with your name or images or special notes on it: click here
-Gift Certificates of your choice
Non Profits that I support:
Dress for Success: click here (you can select a closer location to you or your client - Great gift for a woman)
St. Judes: click here
Note on non-profit giving: You can donate a small amount per client (especially on a limited budget) and send a card with a NON-DISCLOSED amount saying "A donation in your name has been made to my favorite charity X." Tell a little about the charity and write a personal note thanking them for the work they have given you or how you hope to work with them in 2009. You may also call the charity and ask for donation cards to be sent to you so you may place them in your personalized card to each client. A charity should have these available.
Have a wonderful TURKEY DAY - and regardless of where you are and what is going on in your life - FIND SOMETHING or SOMEONE to GIVE THANKS TO - because regardless of economic times or anything else that weighs on you - there is something wonderful in your life to be THANKFUL for. Gratitude creates abundance. GOBBLE GOBBLE!
I am most thankful for my family, my clients and for the opportunities life presents me with.
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