Ok photographers, lets be real….when we are organized….we are more efficient. We get more accomplished and the overwhelming tasks of a day are a bit easier to handle. If you are new or a seasoned photographer that could use a bit more organization in life, I may just have the answer for you: The Consult Form. 

Between emails, Facebook messages, phone calls and more….we constantly have a LOT of information to handle and process. From couples names, dates, venues, start times….ahhhhh. So one of the best decisions I made was creating a consult form with my designer. It features every “NEED TO KNOW” question that I would like to be able to have at the flip of a binder page.

I bought a black 3 ring binder, the old school five star kind where you can slide a piece of paper behind the lamination in the front. Inside the binder, are my consult forms. I bring this binder on consults and I have it open during skype/phone consults. This lovely piece of paper is not only effective at keeping information organized….it helps me keep the CONSULT organized and flowing. The last thing you want is to get back from or hang up with a consult and forget their date, their venue or the hours their are after as far as coverage…then have to go back and ask and give the impression you weren’t listening or were otherwise distracted. That could cost you the wedding!! Right?!

So, back to the binder. After a consult, I have all of the immediate information I need, in addition to the initial email I send that asks for names/contact information if not otherwise stated in the contact form they fill out on my contact form from my website. If the couple winds up booking, that sheet is taken out of the binder and added to their file in the cabinet (yes, I am old school like that) and is entered into their Pixifi account. If they DO NOT book, I either jot down a reason why they didn’t book, save the form for the remainder of the year, and then they are discarded at the end of wedding season.

I had this form custom made for me, due to my technological disabilities, (no really….its amazing I can turn on my MAC), but yours certainly does not need to me anything fancy like this. I am just obsessed with my new branding and had to have it on everything! lol

I wish you the best of luck trying out your own consult forms and here is to a more organized and efficient business life.

Cheers!

Kaitlin Noel