Hi Everyone,


Our site: http://www.clarkproduction.com

Well, I had a longer post ... but decided it was too long.

Here's the quick version:
It is our first year in photography - started promoting ourselves in December, got our first wedding booked in december, shot our first wedding on March 10th, shot four more in the last month (starting june 2nd), and we have a total of 13 booked for 2007.

Our goal was/is to book & shoot 20 weddings in 2007. This was to get our name out there, pay for all our equipment, pay for any marketing, and perhaps make a few bucks.

So, we're still seven shy of our goal for this year. Our goal for 2008 is to book 30-35 weddings. I want to get our name out as much as possible.

So far, we have been meeting as many wedding professionals as possible. I think the late start into weddings (June 2nd) did hold us back a bit in getting our name out. With the weddings we are doing, we are following up with the other wedding professionals there offering prints, albums, etc. But, I have a feeling that anything coming from the other wedding professionals will be for 2008 (not bad, but I would like to meet our 2007 goal if we can). Also, the same for the brides - we haven't started getting referrals yet, but I am 100% sure we will; however, I would think they would be for 2008 weddings as it is mid-june now.

So, what do you think my best bet is in order to book 7 more weddings for 2007?

On another note - we haven't ever done a bridal show. Do you think it might be worth it to do one in the Fall? (Cost of the bridal show I assume is near $3000 after getting the space, the setup, the accessories, etc to make us look different & top-dollar ... I might rather have another 5D ... but, if it turns into 5 or more weddings, that'd more than pay for the 5D)

Anyway, if you can, let me know what strategy you would take if you were in our shoes in order to reach our 2007 goal.

Oh - what we have been doing - meeting as many other wedding professionals/reception sites/photographers as we can, advertising with google adwords/msn adcenter, recently just started volunteering in the community, & can now start giving prints, albums, etc to the other professionals from the weddings we are shooting.

(And this was the shorter version of this post!!!)

Thanks for the input. My gut tells me to invest in relationships with wedding professionals. Perhaps my gut is missing something though.

- Spencer Clark
http://www.clarkproduction.com

I think the smartest way thing to do at this point is to become good freinds with the photogs in your area. Chattanooga is a hot bed for awesome wedding photogs and all the ones I know there are as nice and freindly as they are good photographers! Get in with them, NETWORK! Become a great photographer (not saying your not, haven't seen your work yet) so they can refer weddings to you.

13 first year isn't bad man. I totally understand wanting more, but 13 isn't bad. It's only June, you still can reach your goal. What are your bookings right now for oct-dec?

I do have to agree - the other wedding photographers here are great. As of now, we only have one wedding booked in the Fall or Winter - that one is on October 27th. We'd love to travel for weddings as well.

Try Matt's idea. Get some really nice oversized cards made up (maybe from viastaprint.com or some other affordable lab) that have your business logo on one side and on the other, "Good for one free engagement session" or the like. Visit your local jeweler stores or bridal shops and talk to the owner. If a shop gives out a 'coupon' (oy, just don't use that word) for a free engagement session when a couple buys their wedding rings or a bride buys her wedding dress, it makes the shop look good and it helps get your name out there.

This is a good idea!

Hi,
Congrats on the 13... not too shabby. Ok, before the marketing stuff. A couple of things to watch out for in the beginning. Please learn from my mistakes:

Watch out for spending too much of your income in the beginning (equipment.. unless necessary), taxes due in April will shock you! Hopefully you are smarter on this than I have been.

Start your database! Have a contact system set-up right away. PAT from photogassistant.com, shoot Q, successware, whatever.

If you have dedicated wedding venues... ceremony and reception in one place - start wooing them. Offer something of value to them - they have dozens of photogs wanting free advertising from them. If they allow example albums, get it in the collection fast.

OK now on to the marketing whys...

Once you get past the initial price shoppers. 80-85 percent of your business will be referrals. The database is for keeping in touch. You want to access your existing customers as much as possible.

- Send out a newsletter twice a year with exciting news about your company and tips to better photographs that they can use themselves. Highlight specials that you may have for family or children portraits or whatever.
- Send Holiday cards and Aniiversary Cards
- Send Thank you notes
- Get testimonials and publish them on your blog
You want your current and past clients to create a buzz about you! With the percentage of referrals - the database is most important!

Wedding venues, vendors, and coordinators can provide new clients. You have to find a way to schmooz them, but without being clingy. Offer them something of value. Also send your newsletter, and thank you cards to them.

Track your marketing in the database program to see what works. Set an advertising budget, so you are not tempted by everyone that has an advertising website. WeDJ, mywedding.com, wedalert, they are in this to make advertising dollars... track it if you use it.

Bridal shows can work, but research your competition. If it is a lower demographic and you are competing against photogs offering a $1500 all inclusive package then you may not be able to compete unless your samples, display, bonuses, etc. are far and above the competition. Some people book six and seven weddings in a show, some only two. Do the numbers and see if return on investment is worth it.

Anyway, not an expert, but since I implemented these things I am definitely doing better. Best to you. By the way, I like your natural light photos on your site. Nice work.

Stuart

Hey, Spencer!

I agree that it's June and you could still expect to book 7 more with hard work.

I like all of Stuart's suggestions - they're great food for thought! I have something to add re: contacting vendors. I did a recent mailer campaign to drive more referrals and lots of buzz about my business, and so far it's been working really well. My goal is 30 weddings for 2008 and I've already got one booking and three brides who seem genuinely interested for 2008 from my mailers.

If you'd like to hear what I did specifically that got so many vendors interested in referring me, please PM me or email me at mistrettaphoto at gmail.com and I'd be happy to send you the rather long description of what I did and why. Actually, anybody who's interested in welcome to PM or email me. I've told a few OSPers about it already who were curious - but it's just too darn long to post in the forums. DJ would exile me.