I was chatting to my allotment neighbour Andrew the other day - we spoke for ages, but he didn't ask a single thing about me. I offered up information and he carried on talking as if I hadn't spoken. In fact, he tried to tell me I should do something I'd literally just said I hated doing! I went home and told my boyfriend how annoying it was and how I don't think I really like Andrew very much!

The next morning I did a Pilates session with my neighbour Hannah. She asked me all about a shoot I'd done, then listened as I told her about the course I'm creating. She then gave me ideas for sections I should put in the course. I went home and told my boyfriend how much I liked her. (And yes, the section is going in the course!)

The trouble is, Andrew is the personification of so many photographers' websites and Facebook feeds and Instagram posts.

There's a line in the famous psychology book How to Win Friends and Influence People: "To be interesting, be interested." Author Dale Carnegie knows a thing or two about influence - and influence your potential clients is exactly what you want to do, right?

I'm ALL about personality on your website and in your brand. I genuinely believe in talking about things you love and value in order to attract your ideal client.

But you have to remember to acknowledge their presence too.

The amount of times I've said during a website review "turn it around! Make this about them!". Have a look at your website right now for sentences that only talk about you - I'll wait.

Done?

What could you have turned around, where could "I" have become "you"? What sentences can you add "so that you..." or "which means that you..." onto?

I'm a relaxed wedding photographer who loves taking stunning portraits could become You're looking for a relaxed wedding photographer who takes stunning portraits.

Let's see what else you can do...

I love taking photos at weddings because I get to be really creative and arty, which means that you'll get stunning photos that are nothing like your mates' wedding photos!

I take photos of families because I have a real passion for real life documentary photography, and this means that you'll get a caring and passionate photographer who will go the extra mile to make sure your photos show your family as they really are.

What is your ideal client excited about, worried about, looking for? (If you haven't got an ideal client profile, Module 1 of the Bag the Bookings course will sort you out!)

Don't be Andrew, be Hannah!

This excerpt is taken from my course Bag the Bookings.

If you want to get booked up with dream clients and love your job, and be part of a cool membership of photographers, join the Kick Ass Collective membership!