How important is it to have a newborn-1year baby plan (or a different baby plan?) Would you say having one has definatley increased your sales??  I'm tryin to decide if I need to do this.  What should I avoid? WHat has worked for you?  I need samples of this kind of thing b/c I've seen very few. I have a newborn session coming up, can I implement this now?  Is it always customary to get payment for all of them at one time? Thanks in advance!

Julie

I am by no means a full time baby photog.....

I specialize in seniors and weddings, but I just implemented my baby plan about 3 weeks ago, Since then I have had one newborn shoot & two maternity... I introduced the baby plan to them and they all three signed up.  I explained that because of the nature of the baby plan, I can only accept 3 new clients each month and offer it exclusively to those that schedule maternity and/or newborn sessions with me.  This allows me to have some control over how many sessions I will be taking each month.  I offer sessions at 3, 6, 9 12 months.  Each session has a milestone that can be photographed (3 months baby can lift head up, 6 months sitting up, 9 months standing with support, one year starting to walk).  I offer the clients the 4 sessions and 10 of their favorite low res files of each session.  Then at the conclusion, they receive a photobook of their ORDERED images (the ones they chose for the low res possibly, but i haven't gotten that far yet).  I offer the package for $500 paid up front, or a payment plan of $50 each month (this way I get $150 before each session and that covers the session fee).

 Hope that helps some.

Thanks Jami, the quick response you had makes me hopeful that it could work for me.  Where do you print your books?  The ones that I've gotten from snapfish and mpix didn't really suit me.  They were so thin.  I'd like to present my clients with really nice books without the cost being over the top.  Mine are priced close to yours, nice site btw, love your work.

J

Miller's Layflat press book, leather cover.  They cost about the same as MPIX custom hardcover, but so much better quality!  I LOVE them.  I plan on picking either the leather color that matches decor/theme of baby's stuff, or pink for girls, blue for boys.  Haven't decided yet.  I have done a custom cover before and liked it, I will offer that as an add-on.    thanks for the compliments!