Most wedding vendors at bridal shows have some kind of a fish-bowl drawing / give-away for collecting prospect names. You can take that concept and turn it around. Here's what I mean...

If you have a booth at a bridal show...get there early and -- before the doors open -- collect business cards from all the other vendors (well, the non-photographers anyway!) -- tell them you are having a vendor drawing (make sure this is okay with the show promoter first). Give away a vendor photo session -- you can shoot their product or location or even do a shot of them for their site. It's a great way to build your business rolodex. Be sure to give your card to each vendor you talk to...

(If you don't have enough time to do the rounds completely beforehand...you can also do it at the very end of the show or after the doors close.)

Great idea, we have a bridal show Saturday and I think we might do that. We usually always network at bridal shows but I like this idea! THANKS!

i wish i were as smart as you

Solid advice. One thing though, I actually collect the cards from the photographers too!!! I probably have about 4 weddings booked that other people were not free to do. They passed the brides on to us.

But I totally agree, network! Depending on the show, I have found that the brides who trail around the shows want a deal. Have something to give them, a discount, whatever.

As a start up company last year, we actually put on a prize for free wedding photography - 2 photographers - $2,000 value. We really just wanted to shoot! The winner went on to spend over $5,000 with us on a great album, prints, engagement book, etc, etc. I think she had a budget and the free stuff left more to spend on other things with us. So we still made a decent profit. And how could she have went anywhere else?

Anyway, good luck to those of you going to the shows this weekend.

Hugh

You so crazy girl...

No... but I do miss you're smartness.

Here's the trick that I used....

I made up about 30 gift-boxes with a DVD Slideshow of my work, a candle, chocolates, business cards galore, a photo frame with a picture from a wedding of mine, and I gave these out to 30 of the vendors who were there. This was a great way to introduce myself to them, plus out of everyone there, they WILL remember me.

This was in March and I have landed 3 solid paying events from this alone.

It is truly a great way to network with others in our industry! Don't pass up the opportunity!

To add to what Hugh mentioned, I deffinately network with local photographers! I have a master list and we share work (from days we are booked) all the time. Again, this has brought me a bounty of work!

Network, network, network! The new word of the day!

Great idea about the giveaway, and I also like Christine's idea of a little gift for every vendor. It's all about getting your name out there in a positive light. Thanks for the ideas.