Media Buyer / Ads Manager

I am looking for an experienced Meta Ads Manager / Media Buyer to help manage and optimize Facebook and Instagram advertising for my established photography business in British Columbia, Canada.

I currently run Meta ads myself, but Ads Manager is not my area of expertise. I feel that I may be wasting money and I need someone who can take ownership of the advertising strategy, identify what isn't working, and improve the overall performance of my campaigns.

This is an established photography business with 12+ years of experience, specializing in weddings, families, maternity, newborns, and couples. We primarily serve clients in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

What I need help with:
Audit my existing Meta Ads Manager account and current campaigns
Identify wasted ad spend and areas that need improvement
Develop a simple, effective advertising strategy
Set up and manage Facebook & Instagram campaigns
Research and recommend appropriate audiences/targeting
Create and test different ad variations
Optimize campaigns based on actual results
Monitor cost per lead and lead quality
Help ensure tracking and conversion setup is working correctly
Recommend appropriate daily/monthly budgets
Provide clear reporting on what is working and what isn't
Make recommendations based on actual data rather than simply increasing the budget
Eventually help create a repeatable advertising system that I can continue using
The most important thing:

I am NOT looking for someone who simply knows how to create an ad.

I need someone who understands why an ad is or isn't working and can make informed decisions about what to change.

I care much more about qualified inquiries and actual photography bookings than likes, impressions, reach, or followers.

I want someone who understands the difference between:

"$500 spent and 50,000 impressions"

and

"$500 spent and 10 qualified inquiries that resulted in 3 bookings."

Ideal candidate:
2+ years of hands-on Meta Ads experience
Strong experience with Facebook Ads Manager
Experience running lead-generation campaigns
Experience with local service businesses is strongly preferred
Experience with photographers, wedding vendors, or other high-ticket service businesses is a major plus
Comfortable analyzing campaign data and making strategic decisions
Understands Meta Pixel/conversion tracking
Strong English communication skills
Able to explain complicated advertising concepts in simple language
Proactive and able to work independently
Honest and comfortable telling me when something isn't working
Able to provide examples of previous campaigns/results
How I would like to start:

I would prefer to start with a paid trial/audit project rather than immediately committing to a long-term arrangement.

The first project would involve reviewing my existing Ads Manager account and providing:

What you believe is currently working
What you believe is wasting money
What you would stop doing
What you would change
What campaigns you recommend running
What budget you recommend and why
What results you would consider successful
How you would measure whether leads are actually turning into bookings

If the audit and initial work go well, I would like to continue working with the right person on an ongoing basis.

Please include in your application:
How many years you have worked with Meta Ads
What types of businesses you have managed ads for
Whether you have experience with local service businesses
Whether you have worked with photographers or wedding businesses
An example of a campaign you are proud of and the results it produced
What you typically charge per hour or per month
Your availability
Your experience with Meta Pixel/conversion tracking
A brief explanation of how you would approach a photography business like mine

Please do not send a generic application. I am specifically looking for someone who can think strategically and help me make sure my advertising budget is being spent wisely.