Canon Ambassador Richard Walch produces his own custom photo prints on his Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer and uses them to build relationships with clients and create business opportunities. © Richard Walch
As a teenager, Richard Walch dreamed of travelling the world as a professional snowboarder. While that didn't happen, he instead managed to combine his two main passions to become a winter sports and advertising photographer, working for clients including Red Bull, Apple, Audi and BMW, and winning multiple awards. Creating his own custom photo prints is a key part of his business, as it enables him to stand out from the crowd and can serve as a unique calling card in retaining clients and attracting new business.
Despite developing a faithful customer base over the years, he feels that building and retaining good client relationships has become more of a challenge since the pandemic reduced face-to-face meetings. He also says, "Photographers, like everyone else, are now competing for a slice of a much smaller cake, but my Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer gives me an edge.
"When I do a shoot for a client, I like to create a beautiful print, frame it and hand it over as a gift. Selling prints isn't part of my business portfolio but giving a handmade, large-format print as a present adds a personal touch. It's a way of saying, 'Thank you for the job, I've really enjoyed working with you'. It's a great help in building a close relationship and retaining business. If I give the client a new print after each job, they'll start to build their own private collection to treasure."