January 15, 2025

Ep 168 – Creating a Well Rounded Experience for Seniors with Michelle Nichols

36 minutes

Creating a Well-Rounded Experience for Seniors with Michelle Nichols

In this episode, Michelle Nichols of Michelle Nichols photography shares the importance of creating a well-rounded experience for seniors, not just focusing on photography but on the entire journey – from pre-session communication to post-session delivery.

Michelle started her photography business without a lot of equipment and instead worked hard to build her business, focusing on seniors and working to empower them with body positivity and help her clients feel comfortable in front of her camera. She aims to create not only high quality images but also a boutique experience for each one of her clients.

Episode Highlights:

Offer a Replicable Experience

Focus on the experience: Michelle suggests that creating an experience for your senior clients—one that is consistent and replicable—is a powerful way to stand out. This helps not only with organization but also ensures that every senior feels valued and special, not just another number.

Pre-session communication: From questionnaires to Zoom calls, offering personalized prep work helps you understand your clients’ preferences, which contributes to a more tailored and enjoyable experience.

Know Your Ideal Client

Who are you attracting? Understanding your ideal client and what they value is critical for effective marketing. Michelle suggests narrowing down your target audience, like athletes or fashion-forward seniors, so you can tailor your marketing strategies.

Not just the photos, but the full experience: It’s not just about capturing great photos. The senior you attract should be someone who values the entire process, from pre-session to posing to the final product.

Use Testimonials to Gauge the Experience

Let your clients’ words do the talking: Michelle talks about the power of testimonials in your marketing. If your seniors repeatedly highlight how much they loved the experience, this is a strong signal that your marketing is resonating with your ideal clients.

Marketing through the Experience

Stand out in a saturated market: To stand out in a competitive field, Michelle advocates for marketing the experience rather than focusing purely on the final photos. By showcasing the process and how you help seniors feel confident and natural during their shoots, you provide a much stronger value proposition than photographers who focus just on the outcome.

Address Pain Points in Your Messaging

Understand your clients’ fears: Michelle also mentions how understanding your clients’ fears or past negative experiences with photographers can help you address them in your messaging. For example, many seniors are nervous about how to pose, so positioning yourself as someone who can guide them through this can be a key selling point.

Know, Like, Trust Factor on Social Media

Building trust through content: When it comes to social media, Michelle recommends using the “Know, Like, Trust” approach:

Know: First, create content that introduces you to your audience. This could be a fun reel or post that introduces your personality and services.

Like: Then, nurture them by sharing educational content that helps your audience feel confident about booking you. This could include tips on what to wear, how to pose, or what to expect during the shoot.

Trust: The final stage is building trust, where your audience feels comfortable reaching out and booking you.

Promote Your Process, Not Just Your Final Images

Highlight your process: It’s not just about showing off your beautiful photos; it’s also about demonstrating how you help your clients get to that final image. By showcasing behind-the-scenes moments or sharing the steps you take to make them feel comfortable, you can better illustrate the value of the experience you offer.

Where to Connect with Michelle:

Website: https://michellenicholsphotography.com/

Instagram: @michellenicholsphotography

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MichelleNicholsPhoto

The Seniorologie Bundle

Michelle will be a contributor to The Seniorologie Bundle which will be available on February 10! Her contribution is Senior Model Teams 101 and it is a valuable resource to help any photographer create a successful senior model team! Be sure to sign up for the Bundle Waitlist so you are the first to know when the bundle is available and to receive a special discount as well as a secret podcast episode only for those who are on the waitlist!

Checkout the BUNDLE and join the waitlist HERE!

The post Ep 168 – Creating a Well Rounded Experience for Seniors with Michelle Nichols appeared first on Seniorologie.

...more