The Improvement Plan is a simple, practical way to help you boost your sales by checking how well you follow the 6 Main Points for Successful Sales. It is not a punishment. The goal is to:
🔍 Understand where exactly sales are dropping (approach, photos, timing, mood, or selling).
🎯 Choose 2–3 clear focus areas you can improve right away.
📈 Track your progress over the next few shifts and celebrate your wins.
We use this plan when:
Your sales or frames per hour are lower than expected for a few shifts, or
You ask for help and want coaching to improve your results.
Review your recent numbers: We look at your frames per hour, total frames sold, and number of groups photographed.
Observe you on a live shift: A coach/manager will watch you work for 2–3 loops (taking photos, printing, selling).
Use the 6 Main Points Checklist: We check each of the 6 points using the checkpoints below.
Discuss feedback together: You’ll hear what you’re already doing well and what needs attention.
Choose 2–3 focus actions: Together we decide simple, specific actions for your next 2–3 shifts.
Follow-up: After a few shifts, we check your results again and adjust the plan if needed.
For each checkpoint we’ll usually mark:
✅ Consistent
⚠️ Sometimes
❌ Needs improvement
What we’re checking: Are you using the approved phrase with confidence and energy, inviting guests instead of asking for permission?
Uses the approved phrase (postcard + optional photos + invitation) at every table, with only small acceptable variations.
Says “Let’s take a quick photo” / “I just need to take a quick photo, please sit closer and smile” instead of “Do you want a photo?” or “Would you like a picture?”.
Focuses on the free photo postcard and makes sure guests understand there is no obligation to buy framed photos (explained simply when needed or when they ask).
Speaks loudly and clearly enough so everyone at the table can hear, not just one person.
Tone is confident, friendly, and positive (not shy, robotic, rushed, or apologetic).
Approaches groups proactively and regularly instead of waiting too long between groups or hesitating before approaching a group.
Keeps the opening phrase short and direct (around 10–15 seconds) and doesn’t over-explain or talk in circles.
Approaches every possibly group around with not skipping anyone (even singles).
What we’re checking: Do you create enough separate shots and move quickly between them so you have more to sell and keep guests engaged?
Comes to the table with a clear plan of separate shots (e.g., all together, kids, couple, grandparents with grandkids, etc.).
Takes multiple shots per group when possible (at least 2–4 photos or combinations instead of just one group shot).
Moves directly from the group photo into separate shots by saying something like “Now two of you guys” without asking “Do you want more photos?” or “Do you want individual ones?” or starting extra conversations/explanations. The transition between the group photo and separate shots takes 1–2 seconds, no longer.
Gives clear, specific posing instructions (e.g., “You two please hug each other”, “Kids together, big smile”) instead of asking guests to invent their own poses.
Keeps the whole mini-session fast and smooth – usually 1–3 minutes per group (longer for big groups, but still efficient).
Avoids long silent pauses that make guests think the session is over or let them stop after just one photo.
Takes enough separate shots (not too many - not too few).
Avoids taking photo of the same pose more than 1-2 times (maybe with group short exception).
Takes diverse shots (not all the same people all the time).
What we’re checking: are your photos easy to sell because they look bright, sharp, and well-composed without needing heavy editing?
Uses recommended camera and flash settings so photos look bright enough (not dark, not overexposed).
Chooses a straight, natural angle – avoids extreme side angles where one person looks huge and others look tiny or blurry.
All important faces are sharp and in focus – no important person is blurred or out of focus.
Composition is clean: no cropped heads, people fill most of the frame, and the background is not too distracting.
Reviews photos quickly on the camera and retakes when needed (adjusting light, angle, pose, etc.) instead of keeping obviously bad shots.
In Darkroom, uses quick, simple edits (1–2 minutes per group) and doesn’t spend a long time trying to “fix” poor photos – focuses on taking better photos with the next group instead.
What we’re checking: Do you use your time in a way that lets you work with many groups and maximize your sales each hour?
Works in loops: usually takes photos of 3–4 groups per round in the same area before going to print (not one table → print → sell → walk → repeat). One loop takes no longer than 15–20 minutes.
Can easily identify a group around to approach and take no time between groups, approaching next group right away after one group.
Approaches tables at good moments (after ordering, while waiting for food, relaxing, or at a “boring” moment), not when they are clearly paying the bill or eating with food in their mouths.
While at the printing station, still watches the room and is ready to pause printing for 1–2 minutes to photograph a ready table or go and sell right away if the moment is right.
Prints efficiently: about 1–2 minutes per group for selecting, adjusting, and printing all photos – no endless zooming, cropping, re-editing, or going back and forth between photos trying to decide what to print.
Avoids walking back and forth just to drop unsold frames, grab a frame bag, etc.; usually returns to the station when there is something new to print.
Aims for at least 3 full loops per hour (at least 9+ groups per hour), depending on restaurant volume.
What we’re checking: Do you look professional and keep positive energy so guests enjoy the experience and feel comfortable buying from you?
Arrives on time, in a clean, correct uniform, with name tag visible.
Keeps a friendly smile and open body language while approaching, shooting, and selling.
Uses polite and upbeat language and gives simple, natural compliments (e.g., “You guys look great here”).
Handles rejections professionally: when people say “No”, responds with “No problem, enjoy your evening!” and moves on without visible frustration.
Keeps stable, high energy during the shift – doesn’t look bored, doesn’t hide in corners, and doesn’t stay on the phone instead of working.
Avoids negative talk and thoughts such as “Nobody is buying today”, and instead focuses on positive opportunities: “The next group will definitely like my photos.”
What we’re checking: Do you present photos in a way that lets everyone see, touch, and connect emotionally with their images so it’s easy to say “yes”?
Clearly explains the offer at the table: the postcard is free, framed photos are optional.
Starts by placing the postcard in someone’s hand and then handing framed photos one by one to guests.
Hands photos around the group so different people hold them (kids’ photos to parents, couple photos to the couple, etc.), instead of giving the entire stack to one person.
Points out 1–2 emotional key photos with a short compliment (e.g., “This one of the kids is my favorite, they look so cute here”).
Gives guests a few seconds to look and talk while holding the photos, staying close and ready to answer questions about prices and packages.
Avoids “lazy selling” habits like throwing all photos on the table or flipping through them quickly while still holding them.
Observes customers’ reactions to the photos and notices which photos people like and which they don’t.
Tells the price when guests ask and explains better deals clearly (for example, “3 for 45”).
Is ready to answer customers’ questions at any time and stays engaged with the group while selling (not watching TV or checking their phone).