This past weekend was Memorial Day here in the U.S., our officially unofficial start to summer. So you probably found yourself either diving into a freshly filled swimming pool or shooting your first, oppressively hot outdoor wedding of the year. (We did both!)

Take note! You just entered a new and busy season — full of new opportunities for your photography business. Don’t miss them!

Perhaps the simplest and most effective change you can make to your business NOW is with specific, strategic client communication. It’s the #1 area where we see most photographers’ businesses break down — even when everything else is in order.

What can you say to get your way and earn more? I (Phillip) had the honor of presenting this concept, which I call “the Power of Yes,” to a room of 1,000 photographers during Photographers Ignite at WPPI. My article on the same topic is featured in the current May issue of Shutter Magazine.

You can read the article (it will change how you reply to clients forever!) and watch the video recording from my WPPI presentation below.

Please, take these ideas and run with them! We believe the right approach can lift your business and life this year. And it has the power to change more than your business — we believe your success can improve the world! It’s why we’re here for you and every Unifier in this ComeUnity family.

In Unity,
Phillip & Eileen Blume

Join thousands of fellow Unifiers who receive the Blumes’ tips, tricks, and early-bird access to ComeUnity Workshops. Subscribe for free!

What to Say to a Client Who’s Always Right | by Phillip Blume (published in Shutter Magazine, July 2016)

“Lift your eyes up away from these words for a moment, stare straight ahead and say, “No.” Say it out loud. Say it like you mean it. Seriously. Wherever you are right now—reading online, in an airplane or sitting comfortably inside a Barnes & Noble with Shutter Magazine in one hand and a latte in the other—give “no” a try. I promise the people around you won’t mind. (They may stare at you and slowly walk away. But at least you’ll gain some extra personal space.)

“How did the word no make you feel? Interestingly, the sound of this negative word has a measurable psychological effect on us. It feels bad. It feels even worse when someone levels a “no” in your direction. But let’s change things up, and say “yes” out loud. Now that feels good, doesn’t it?

“This universal emotional reaction to yes and no is why successful businesses have long honored one sacred motto: “The customer is always right.” But is the customer really always right? Heck, no. (Now that “no” actually felt kind of good.) But if employees are sometimes all too eager to deal out harsh no’s in response to a customer’s bad behavior, then owners must learn that saying “yes” is the key to profits. We have something to gain by it.

“The question is, how can you say “no” while still making it feel like a “yes”? If you can master this art, it will enhance your clients’ positive experience so much, it can transform your business”… (Read the rest and learn how to profit with “yes” here.

For free access to all Shutter Magazine articles/images/+ instructional videos with each article, subscribe to the digital issue here.)