Case Study: Jeff Cable, Jeff Cable Photography

Organization Profile: Like many photographers, Cable started shooting pictures for friends, and his hobby soon gained a following. He began his professional career in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 2005, photographing Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Since then Cable has earned the respect around the globe, capturing images at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, photographing models in Brazil and Argentina and teaching photo classes in Australia and across the United States. He continues to work and study with some of the most respected photographers in the world. Cable writes a monthly photography column for Digital Reproduction Magazine (Australia) and is a featured photographer at Lexar Media’s Digital Photography web site. His images were chosen for Lexar Media’s 2007-2009 International Advertising campaign.

Summary: Jeff Cable is a professional photographer whose experience spans intimate events and those on a worldwide stage. He relies on DigiLabs’ Pro web galleries, software and premium photo products to help him grow his business. He credits the accessibility of online proofing web galleries and the quality of products including coffee table books with helping him increase sales and reserve new bookings.

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International Photographer Grows Business with Help of DigiLabs Pro

An experienced photographer who has shot everything from intimate events like weddings and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs to his local San Jose Sharks hockey games to the international event that is the Olympic Games, Jeff Cable is known for his artistic eye, his easy-going attitude and his knowledge of technology. He balances his passion for photography with being a savvy businessman. He provides the best services and products to his customers including using DigiLabs Pro to help make his studio more successful.

"We, as photographers, put our hearts and souls into our job and our art, but you have to remember that you are creating a family history for your clients. The photos they buy from you can be passed down through the family. So, you must give them the best options to preserve those memories," said Cable.

Since 2007 he has offered his customers access to online proofing through DigiLabs web galleries and offered DigiLabs products including fully customizable coffee table books, Cable has received positive feedback from clients and earned, on average, an additional $500 per event. He credits the extra sales to the ease at which his customers can order photos online, anytime and anywhere they have an Internet connection, and to the high quality of the photo products.

"One grandmother of a groom ordered more than $1,000 of photo prints. She was a prime example of someone who wouldn’t have ordered if they didn’t have access to an online gallery," said Cable.

Cable’s first experience with DigiLabs web galleries was shooting his son’s eighth-grade school play (no small production in their community) and offering prints to parents, staff and school friends at low costs. As folks started praising his work, he realized word of mouth was generating referrals for his business better than any advertising he could do.

Now, by using DigiLabs Pro feature-rich software, he can upload a gallery for an entire event in mere minutes instead of hours as with other software tools, thanks to DigiLabs’ simple workflow and flexible system. Cable usually e-mails couples the night of (or the day after) an event and encourages them to share the link with friends and family. Clients are impressed with the fast turn-around, he said. He also shares business cards containing web addresses to his DigiLabs’ galleries with people attending the events, such as guests, DJs and rabbis.

"My DigiLabs web galleries are my marketing tool as well as a proofing service for my clients. I can see who has logged in, capture their names and then send a follow-up e-mail encouraging them to contact me with any questions," said Cable. "My goal is always to turn one event into two. When someone is interested in hiring me, I send them a link to one of my DigiLabs Web galleries to show them examples of my work."

Cable says he is also able to easily re-post a gallery online with DigiLabs if a customer wants to order additional prints or products from an event long past.

DigiLabs also enables Cable to provide his customers with digital previews of coffee table books, before they order them. He said about 95 percent of his clients order coffee table books. With DigiLabs, he knows the physical product will always be something he is proud to offer his clients.

"One of the things that we like best about DigiLabs is their live customer support. We know that, whether we need technical support or product information, we can call and talk to the same great people each time. The support from the company is amazing," said Cable.

"As a photographer, nearly everything you do builds your credibility. With DigiLabs on my side, I am confident that my clients will be thrilled with their finished products and I will build a professional reputation that enables me to grow in my craft and find new business opportunities."

About DigiLabs Pro
DigiLabs Pro provides professional photographers with a comprehensive, cost-effective and flexible online proofing and fulfillment solution with advanced tools and widely popular product creations. DigiLabs remains invisible in to end customers, showcasing only a professional photographer’s brand. Offerings include e-commerce services such as web galleries, highly customizable flush mount albums, coffee table books, proof magazines, greeting cards, calendars and superior photo printing services. DigiLabs’ iPhone application allows photographers’ clients to access web galleries and to make purchases, anytime and anyplace. Thousands of photo professionals rely on DigiLabs products and services to help make their businesses more profitable and to distinguish themselves in their field. Founded in 2001 and based in Palo Alto, Calif., DigiLabs Pro is a privately held company. More information is available at http://digilabspro.com.