If you’re here, it’s because you’re ready to build an associate team. Maybe you even read my blog Build an Associate Photography Team – Make it WORK for you! Building an associate team is the key to long term success and being a BOSS UP! CEO. Ready to get into how to create a photography team and avoiding the top mistakes? Let’s go!
Hiring Too Soon
I support you, I believe in you, and I know you will get there! BUT if you are not filling your schedule and STILL getting inquiries, you are not there YET. Not, not ever, just not, today. As your friend and an elopement photography coach, it’s my responsibility to be honest and give you the tools to grow!
SO, what you need to focus on first is being booked and busy. Fill that schedule and still get consistent inquiries month after month. Even if your dates are full, STILL take the consult call. Who knows where it will lead! Maybe the date they put in their questionnaire is just a placeholder. Maybe you meet and hit it off, and while they can’t use your services, they become a referral source. We keep doors open around here, honey!
You must have an established brand before you hire anyone on. Our Photographer Brand Onboarding Guide (currently discounted for our blog readers!) does a deep dive on how to train your new photographer. This covers their responsibilities, how to photograph as your brand, how to interact with your couples AND MORE. Your brand is your core foundation. It will be the northern light to direct your training. If you don’t have an established brand, throw it back, flip it and reverse it. Get your brand on lock first.
Contracts wah wah wah. If you don’t have your contracts and legal guides in place, you gotta get there first. This protects you and your associate team! I encourage you to find someone in your state as they will be are of any intricacies. While you’re at it, get an accountant. It is worth every penny and then some.
Building an Associate Team But Not Hiring Backups
When building an associate team, you’ll want to start with two associates. You need a back up if something happens or if your associate is busy with something else on the wedding day. When you don’t have a back up, you’ll end up contracting out to people who have their own photography business. The problem is, that photographer isn’t trained to represent your brand. Get your roster growing. Just like the Utah Hockey Club is doing!
Successful associate photographers align with your vision, genuinely enjoy being part of your team and embrace your brand. Associate photographers who ask about the pay and NOT the brand, will not be a good hire. While you will pay well, it’s about their mindset. We believe in taking care of people AND payment. Not just the payment part. Your full time associates should love working with your clients as you do! The associate photographer experience aims to match the quality that you would provide yourself.
Hiring your associate photographer team can be pretty hit and miss. You may think someone will be a great fit, only to learn they are not fully invested. Don’t get down on yourself. To hire someone is to give them a chance, to let someone go is to know what they are really like. Hence the roster, not everyone will work and THAT’S OKAY! I promise if you keep at it, you’ll find great photographers that represent your brand well. And are a hell of a lot of fun to be around!
Not Thinking It Through When You are Building an Associate Team
So, you think you’re ready for an associate photographer? Why? Ask the questions before you put all your cards out there. Don’t know where to start except that gut feeling? We gotchu. Check out Signs You’re Ready for an Associate Photographer. Word to the wise, you don’t need a bunch of venture capital to start! We find that the determination to get it done and building out your systems will get you far.
Are you ready to change who you are as a business person and photographer?
You will not be able to do things as you always have. You will no longer be a one woman show. AND THAT”S EXCITING! But you have to be ready to let go of the ropes, Jesse.
Are you fully booked?
If so, you need to reconsider your price and your worth. What value are you providing? A price increase may be in order. Rangefinder has some good thoughts on pricing with an associate photographer team. They share that your team is not going to be as expensive as your lowest collection. Also, they advise giving yourself permission to be more expensive during this process!
How many weddings have you had to turn down? If it’s a handful, you may not be there yet. Your goal is to get enough inquiries enough to completely fill a second calendar. You don’t want to hire an associate and give them only a small amount of weddings. The goal is to keep them booked and busy too and LOYAL!
Are you established?
You need systems in place before you hire an associate. This means CRMS (Customer Relationship Management System), pricing structure, editing techniques, style, brand, logo, etc. This is something Rebecca Rice talks about when she expanded her associate photography team to cities she hadn’t even LIVED in! Talk about really needing to build a brand and stay true to it.
You’ll be focusing on NEW things. It will no longer be about the photography, editing, and client experience but also the training and mentoring of your associate team. You have to really enjoy this part! What you pour into your team, they will pour back into your clients.
If you are already established, the client will feel comfortable with a handoff to the associate. They know you, they trust you, they’ll be on board with YOUR team who is trained to be mini yous!
Do You Love the Business Side of Photography?
You’re about to be a BOSS UP! CEO. This means YOU, my dear, are in charge of marketing, and scheduling. You are updating the contracts and emailing the client. If this excites you, WONDERFUL! If this gives you the ick, it may not be the best move for YOU. Your job is going to morph into manager of your photographers. That is a very personal decision. Associate teams are not the end all be all, it’s all about what makes YOU happy!
Building an Associate Team and Not Letting Go of Control
The hardest thing, in my experience, is letting go of control!! The associate team shooting for you might do things differently than how you would do it. You have to ask yourself, does it still represent the brand even if they do it a bit differently than you would? OR, does it need to be corrected? If so, use the Photographer Brand Awareness Guide to help them get on track.
If you want a preview of your time with your associate photographers before you let them loose, have them come in to help with office work and editing. You’ll get to know them better, they’ll be able to ask questions about what photos you like or don’t like and you’ll be building a long lasting relationship from the ground up. It saves time in the long run by truly investing in your team.
I will say, it also gets easier if you train and hire correctly. I would trust my associate team with my own wedding! Those are the talented photographers you will find too!
Is an Assistant Ready to be an Associate?
The best (and easiest!) way to find an associate photographer is to look organically. You should recruit someone you’ve already seen in action, someone you like, and you are familiar with! Have them start as your photographer’s assistant and then gradually move them into a lead role in a couple shoots. In no time they’ll be ready to be set free and photograph on their own!
If you are ready to be building an associate team, but looking for a tad more guidance, book a Coaching Call with Kelsey, can’t wait to learn how I can help turn your photography into a 6-figure PLUS business!
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