I’m old enough to remember being dragged around by my mom to Tupperware parties. Today there are candle parties, jewelry parties and a host of other items you can look at and purchase in a party environment. So why not host an album party at your studio? What better way could there be to share with many current and prospective clients all of the different album options you offer. This is also your opportunity to show that, even in the digital age, there is no better way to preserve your special memories than in a professionally designed photo book or album.

Start by designing your collection of books. This will be based partly on the services you offer as well as how you package your products. With Zookbinders you have the choice of two photographically printed and leather bound album styles. The matted album and our flush mounted, all panoramic album, the Zook Book are our premium books. Next we have the PhotoBook and PhotoBook Plus. These more affordable, press printed books give your clients the option of leather in the Plus sizes along with great package combinations in the smaller sizes. And finally, we now have our Soft Cover Press Books. These very affordable, soft cover books make for great accompaniments to larger hard cover books, proof books, and sample books for marketing. You could even design a soft cover promotional book as a take home item from your party to promote your business.

As you design your various collections, remember to show all of the different uses of these albums. Of course weddings and parent albums are the natural fit for any photo book or album, but don’t forget family session books, baby’s first year books, senior session books, engagement / guest books, Bar and Bat Mitzvah books and books from any type of event you photograph. Also remember to show various album sizes, formats and cover options so your clients can see the wide variety of ways in which they can package their images into an album.

Once you have your products lined up, pick a date and start promoting the event. A week night, after work for a few hours or part of a Saturday usually works best. Offer up refreshments and a relaxed atmosphere where guests can browse through the many options you offer in a low pressure environment. Use your client base, Facebook and Twitter to promote the event and to create buzz about this unique opportunity. While your photography will be viewed, focus on albums. Print up a basic info sheet that can be handed out to clients and prospects telling them of the many benefits of a professionally designed album along with the services you offer. Keep the event low key. Have one-on-one discussions between your staff and clientele. You may also want to have a couple of formal presentations to everyone assembled. In the end, you may up sell many of your current clients, bring in new clients for your photography, and maybe even bring in some album only business from “orphan” brides with only a disc and no album from their day.

Sure it’s a bit of work and an investment in several samples but since you can’t sell what you don’t show you should have several samples already made and be designing new products to sell to your current clients anyway (of course we at Zookbinders do offer studio sample discounts). Finally, think of the great buzz you’ll create when you host a party and show off the beauty of photo books and albums.

Feel free to contact me if you need any help organizing your party and let us know how it goes. Contact me, Scott Patrick, at Zookbinders, 800-810-5745, spatrick@zookbinders.com.