Once you begin scrapbooking for others or getting paid to scrapbook, you might wish to put together a sample album or binder. This is quite a bit different from the Scrapbook Portfolio, and should actually be kept separate. A sample album or binder is usually a book of samples or sketches that the person can choose depending on the number of photographs or layout desired.
So why create an album or binder with sketches or samples? It makes the job much easier when you have provided them with a visual guide to what their layouts will look like. If you put about four per page, you can number them. The client can then go ahead and browse through the book and order the layouts by number for the different pages they want in their own album.
If you decide to create a sample binder that they choose their layouts from, be sure and make a special note in the front of the album that papers may vary from those shown. This is important as paper companies retire their paper lines from time to time and certain manufacturers only make them available in certain areas. This means that it is harder for you to get that paper again if needed.
You might also purchase that particular paper in bulk and have it on hand. When you deplete your stash, search for more. If you are unable to locate any more of that paper, you might wish to remove that layout from the sample binder and not make it available for customer use. Another way to deal with that issue is to put a piece of paper below it that might say LAYOUT AVAILABLE – REQUEST PAPER SAMPLES. At this point, you might show them that you can recreate that particular layout but not with those exact papers because they are unavailable. Either way, you want your client to understand that it won’t look exactly the same.
There are so many people that still don’t understand scrapbooking, that having visual samples that they can choose from to get a scrapbook page they really are drawn to, is the best way to ensure your client will get what they want. Obviously somewhere in the album you might indicate that custom orders are accepted and will be available through a separate consultation.
Feel free to share with us how you go about scrapbooking for others, showing off your work, designs and albums and how you go about showing them what is available.
Nicole Humphrey writes about the creative and memory preserving side of life and families in the Scrapbooking Blog and Fun Blog, provides helpful hints to blended families and single parents on the Parents Blog, and provides informative tips and advice for students, teachers and parents on the Education Blog. She also guest blogs on a variety of topics. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
Related Articles:
Scrapbooking for Others: Pricing Albums and Layouts
Tips for Creating Albums for Others
Scrapbooking for Others: Building a Scrapbook Portfolio