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Mentoring for photographers

Mentoring for photographers:
becoming an outdoor school photographer

Invest in the future, by developing a thriving school and nursery photography business.

 

You’ll enjoy freedom, creative stimulation and a flexible and profitable working life that fits around family.

 

Drawing on my experience, I mentor those who are starting out or looking to grow – working with you to refine your offer, meet challenges, and lay foundations for long-term success.

 

School and nursery photography:

  • Offers a regular and predictable income, with opportunities for growth

  • Fits perfectly around family life, with shooting taking place in term time and during school hours

  • Is less vulnerable to economic headwinds

  • Provides a guaranteed audience

  • Creates opportunities to build relationships with schools

  • Raises your profile and increases referrals

  • Can significantly increase traffic to your website

Enquire now
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Why me?

As a successful school and nursery photographer, I’m pleased to mentor those setting up in business or looking to grow. I draw on my experience working with schools, nurseries and preschools to help you define your goals and realise them.

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With a specialism in outdoor portraiture, I offer a service that sets me apart from the crowd. My approach is popular with schools and parents alike – as evidenced by positive feedback, strong sales figures and exponential business growth. I now have a regular roster of a dozen settings, providing predictable income that makes up a significant proportion of my annual turnover. 

 

Alongside being a photographer, I have nearly 15 years’ experience as a director of a family copywriting and communications business. Coupled with previous roles in customer relations and the law, this equips me to offer advice that is wide-ranging, strategic and practical.   

I couldn't have been happier with the service we received from Sarah Gibson Photography. Sarah took care of everything and the whole experience was positive from start to finish. The photographs were just what we were looking for as a school, and really captured the children's true characters. We were delighted to be able to use our natural surroundings and utilise the school grounds, and truly believe that this contributed to the impressive outcomes. The children were happy and relaxed, and this shone through in the photographs. We have had nothing but positive parental feedback. If you are looking for a fresh approach to school photography you won't be disappointed.

- Ali Collins, Headteacher, Neroche Primary School​

What can we cover in a mentoring session?

Your mentoring session will be bespoke. We start by discussing your circumstances and your aims, and develop a plan to help you achieve them.

 

Here are some of the topics that our sessions may cover:

 

  • Getting started: building a portfolio, approaching schools and nurseries, and nurturing strong relationships with them

  • Marketing: developing a compelling offer, and conveying it effectively

  • Working with schools and nurseries: handling pupil data, providing excellent customer service, and minimising the workload of school and nursery staff

  • Pricing: developing a strategy that’s realistic and sustainable

  • Shooting: choosing outdoor locations, developing a shooting flow, and using natural light to your advantage

  • Planning and logistics: streamlining your workflow and maximising efficiency at every stage of the process

  • Post production: increasing your efficiency when editing in volume, and maintaining control when selling digital files

  • Admin and sales: setting up a proofing and ordering system that maximises sales and minimises admin

Options and pricing

1-hour online session
£149

A Zoom session on any aspect of setting up or growing a school and nursery photography business.

Is this right for me?

Ideal if you are just starting out, or have a particular issue you'd like help with. This session can be at a time of your choosing, and focus on any topic. 

6 online sessions
£749

A block of six Zoom sessions. These can be spread over a number of months (up to six), or combined into longer sessions. 

Is this right for me?

Suitable if you would like ongoing help, support and accountability in establishing and growing your nursery and school business.

Annual programme
£349 a quarter

12 hours' worth of support, used as you wish over the course of a year.

 

I mentor you through every aspect of setting up and running your nursery and school business, including winning and planning work, shooting and editing in volume, streamlining your processes, and marketing your services to a wider audience. 

Is this right for me?

Ideal if you would like the reassurance of an ongoing relationship that evolves with your business. 

Let's chat

If you'd like to book a mentoring session, or have a chat about whether my approach is right for you, I'd love to hear from you. Simply send me your details or give me a call, and I'll schedule you in. 

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