Spokesmodel programs, rep programs, ambassadors or whatever you choose to call them are a hot topic in the senior photography industry.  There are so many different ways to structure the programs and they mean different things to different photographers.  But regardless of what your program means to you, the number of reps you have in your program is just as important as the program itself.

There are photographers all over the country who have two reps or some that have 25 reps or even some in the middle with 12 or 15 reps.  So how many reps in the perfect number?

Well to be honest I don’t think there is a perfect number but rather a perfect number for you.  Just like the rep program itself, the number of reps is entirely up to you!  That’s right, I give you permission to have as many or as little reps as you wish!!

But even with you deciding on your own how many works best for you, there are still some rules to follow that I think will help you come up with that perfect number.

For me, the perfect number is a matter of how many I want to invest my time and energy into as well as how many I want to have on one big photo shoot.  Some people can have a ton of people on one shoot and be in their element.  While others crave some control and having too many leaves too much out of control.  For me somewhere between 12 and 15 is a perfect number and the final number depends on the girls themselves.

So what goes into picking the perfect number of reps?  Here are a few tips:

• How Many Schools are in your target area?  Doing a little research and deciding what high schools you want to target is key in helping you determine the number of reps to have.  If there are schools in your area that don’t produce clients or more specifically don’t produce your ideal client, then don’t have reps from that school.  For me there are about 7-8 high schools that will produce my target client.  There are more schools in the area but I know they aren’t going to have many of my clients so I don’t typically choose reps from those schools.  Knowing the type of schools in my area help me determine how many reps I have.
• Size of Student Body at Target Schools – Depending on the size of the student body at each of your schools, you can determine how many reps you have from those schools.  For instance, Texas has huge high schools.  So big that you could probably pick 5 or more from one school in one senior class and those five probably wouldn’t even know each other.  However, if your schools are more like mine, then picking 2 or 3 could be more what your goal is.  I do have two high schools that I get the majority of my clients from so for those schools, I have more reps because I know there are more clients to be referred.
• Your Goal/Your Program – What is your goal for your rep program and how is your rep program structured?  Are you looking to get as many referrals as possible?  Are you trying to get your name out?  Are your reps also your clients?  If your program is structured in a traditional sense where reps get referrals in exchange for some type of reward, then a smaller number of reps might be wise so you get more paying clients.  But if your program is structured in a way that your reps either pay up front to be a rep or they end up paying you for their photos, then you may have more reps because you know you are making money off of them, they are filling up your calendar and are real clients.

So as you can see, there is no set number or no perfect number to make your rep program successful.  However, there is a perfect number for you!  So sit down and think about your program, your target schools and your goal for your business and you will be able to determine your perfect number of reps!  And remember, the more reps you have does not mean the more successful!!  Just because you see photographers with 25 or more reps, do not think that makes them more successful.  Success is defined by you!  So go with a number that you can handle and YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL!!

xoxo,

Leslie