Sponsored by WHCC
Jen Basford is the owner of 3 girls photography, a fashion senior portraiture business based in Edmond, Oklahoma. Scrolling through her website, it quickly becomes clear why Basford is a leader in the pro senior photography market. Her deep understanding of the industry shines through her lovely images, thoughtful blog, and especially in her “Tips” section. Here, she details everything her clients should consider before a shoot from clothing to fingernail polish. This is for good reason as she has found, “What stresses these teens out the most, hands-down, is what to wear for their senior pictures. It’s the top Google searches for this age group.”
Armed with that knowledge, Basford and her team operate 3 girls photography with an atmosphere of fun and trust, which they carry through each step of their process. “Everything we do, our business model, it centers on relationships. Before I get a client in the camera room we spend quite a bit of time getting to know them,” says the photographer. When they first meet, she holds a consultation with each senior and follows up by sending them a welcome packet. Basford also does her homework, visiting clients’ social media profiles to learn more about their tastes and preferences. Then, when her clients arrive on shoot day, she says, “We don’t jump right into hair and makeup. I sit and talk with them and get to know their personalities.” Her strategy, in essence, is threefold. Basford strives for technical and emotional excellence, but is quick to point out that when it comes to successful print sales, the memory of the shoot is essential as well.
Press Printed Books, Image Blocks and Gallery Wraps
When it comes time to order printed pieces, Basford turns to her friends at White House Custom Colour. Her trend-savvy clients’ favorite products are WHCC’s Press Printed Books (Basford prefers WHCC’s Lay-Flat Satin Paper with Lustre coating and combo photo covers) and Image Blocks. “I think they like the Image Blocks because it’s something new, it’s a little more modern, it’s something different. WHCC’s Gallery Wraps are a very close second. I’d say with the parents the Gallery Wraps are the favorite,” she says. 3 girls photography sells them as wall groupings of three to five images in an effort to sell more than just a single wall portrait. “That’s how we tell a story, I shoot for the series. I also sell the groupings with a single look, and that helps us sell more groupings per client because I’m not mixing multiple images from different outfits. That way, clients are able to hang them in their homes and they look really cohesive and it becomes a design element.”
Backdrops by WHCC
Basford has found that teens gravitate towards an all-around sincere experience. It’s important for photographers to be themselves and aim for imagery that looks authentic. “The kids point out that they like Backdrops by WHCC because they look so genuine and because of how we use them,” she explains. The backdrops are printed directly onto wrinkle-free 100-percent polyester fabric and are available in 6 x 8-foot and 10 x 8-foot sizes. Basford uses them to create fashion-forward spaces by anchoring them with molding and incorporating carefully researched pieces of furniture.
In the age of social media, candid reviews come easily, and it’s clear to see the philosophy of 3 girls photography is successful. A young client recently posted, “Thank you for the best day of my whole life.” It’s comments like these, Basford says, “You start to realize you’re doing way more than just taking pictures.”
TRY A BOOK OR ALBUM SAMPLE
Want to try out a WHCC Book or Album? Order one through the Sample Discount Program and save 25 percent! Pricing ranges from as low as $35 depending on the selected size, paper types and cover options.