570: Kim Jongen – Mother Puppers… The power of unique branding and original marketing ideas

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Kim Jongen of www.motherpuppers.nl is today's special guest. She popped up on my radar after leaving a Google review for the PhotoBizX podcast. As usual, I jumped over to check out the reviewer's website and was blown away!

Her dog photographs popped off the screen and were so much fun.

Photographed in the studio, the dogs have fantastic expressions on their faces and are framed against beautifully bright and coloured backgrounds. She has over 30 different coloured backgrounds to choose from!

I learned that her business, Motherpuppers, has only been operating for two years and is doing very well. She is booked out with three-month lead times and photographs 4-5 sessions per week!

She believes business has been busy from the start because her style or concept had not been seen in the Netherlands.

Most of her bookings came via Instagram after she created an account for her dog and asked for referrals from dog owners interested in photographs like the ones she created.

She also told me that as happy as she is to come on the podcast, it's on the proviso that we're ok with not perfect English.

It was a resounding yes from me, and I know you'll feel the same after seeing her work and hearing what she has to share.

In this interview, learn and be inspired by the power of unique branding and original marketing ideas.

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• Kim’s dog photography business is a hit. It offers over 30 coloured background options and maintains a 3-month booking lead time, which clearly shows how popular and in-demand the business is.
• Kim's journey is truly inspiring. After 17 years as a butcher and another 17 years in dancing, Kim switched to full-time photography without prior experience. It’s a great example of how successful career changes can be.
• Starting with basic equipment, Kim began attracting clients by photographing their dogs and posting pictures on Instagram. As the business grew, so did the quality of the equipment, showing an organic growth strategy that works.
• Kim officially started the photography business last year, two years after starting. Their employer was supportive during the transition to full-time photography, highlighting how important external support can be.
• Now, Kim handles 4-5 clients weekly, indicating a steady and reliable client base.
• Even though it was scary, Kim has gradually raised prices, a necessary move for business growth and sustainability.
• Kim is incredibly dedicated to client satisfaction, often working late to accommodate their needs and prioritising them over personal time.
• Instagram plays a big role in bookings, with reels and posts drawing a significant following, especially from Dutch clients. This shows the power of effective social media marketing.
• Creating reels used to take a lot of time, but Kim has streamlined the process, making content creation much more efficient.
• Engaging with comments and messages on Instagram and TikTok is key to building strong client relationships and ensuring client retention.
• About 60% of Kim's clients come from Instagram, while 40% find them through Google ads. Impressively, Kim learned how to use Google ads by watching YouTube videos, showcasing a diverse approach to client acquisition.
• Outsourcing has been a bit of a struggle for Kim, who wants to find someone who can execute their vision accurately. This is crucial for maintaining quality.
• Having a professional website is essential for credibility and building client trust.
• Kim prefers to handle booking inquiries over the phone rather than email, which helps foster more personal connections.
• When discussing bookings, Kim covers details, deposits, and cancellations and advises on colour choices and shoot preparation, ensuring the best results for clients.
• Offering a variety of background colours for dog photoshoots gives clients plenty of choices.
• Clients can be in the photos, although most prefer not to. This highlights their preferences.
• A typical session costs 300-320 Euros, which includes 10 retouched digital images, offering great value for money.
• Referral marketing and coaching other photographers are strategies Kim uses to grow the business.
• The “Ugliest Dog” contest was a brilliant marketing idea that gained significant media coverage.
• This contest was even featured on TV in the Netherlands, showcasing the impact of unique and original marketing ideas.
• The business name “Mother Puppers Studio” has a great story behind it, emphasizing the importance of a memorable brand identity.

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus, special member-only interviews.

Make captions…You need to keep it simple, and automatically you want to think very deep about things but you don't have to. Just keep it simple and act like a child who read the captions and that's, I think, the trick to get views on reels. – Kim Jongen

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Kim shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.

Eventually, I want people to see my work not only from the Netherlands but from other countries too. – Kim Jongen

If you have any questions I missed or a specific question you’d like to ask Kim, or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

When I try to learn something, I watch YouTube videos. You can learn antyhing you want. You just need to look for the right thing. – Kim Jongen

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google. You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help both me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

The post 570: Kim Jongen – Mother Puppers… The power of unique branding and original marketing ideas appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.