I just booked a wedding for a very young couple - they love pictures and got all excited, went with my highest package plus a bunch of a la carte extras! So naturally I got all excited with them and offered to do a bridal photo shoot included with their package. Not to mention the bride is stunningly beautiful and I know would look amazing in pictures. (my wife agrees!)

Anyways, if all goes well, I'd like to create a whole album of this shoot and I'm considering offering this to future clients. I also spoke to the groom and he is interested in ordering a copy of the album as a surprise gift... Does anyone offer this, how often does this sell, and what is involved (album, large prints, etc.)???

Hi Bumatay,
I offer formal bridal portraits with my packages.
They have not been the best seller. My clients always prefer the engagement portraits over the formal bridal portraits.
I think this is the case for me because I don’t have enough unique demo bridal portraits to show them.
As a matter of fact I have contracted a model that I will be shooting today specifically for unique bridal portraits demo.
I’m thinking this will help increase sales in that area.
I have made it my policy that I will not shoot formal bridal portraits until after the wedding. I’m a nervous wreck with doing them before hand. I had a bride who got grass stains on her dress two days before the wedding. Even though her mother was there to help with keeping the dress pristine.

I don’t know if that answered your question but I hope it helps.
Just remember I have only been at this a year so I’m still trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
My business motto is KISS.
And it’s working for me..

Let me know how things go for you and any advice that might help me increase sales in this area.

Talk to you soon.
L.

Hey guys...

...this is what I do (that really sets me from the others in this area)...now mind you, this past 12 months has really taken off for me because of this. I don't know if you're wives will agree...but I shoot my line of "FOR HIS EYES ONLY" or FHEO. When I initially meet the bride I offer this to her a la carte as a surprise to her hubby to be. THEY LOVE IT! They bring all their stuff from their lingerie shower and we take TASTEFUL pictures...not smutty...but very tasteful ones to just tease her fiancee with. They even sneak his work shirts and hobby type stuff. (in this area...I've been known as the TRASHY photographer.....JUST KIDDING!) Seriously though...the guys thank me for it!!

Another thing that I do...and this might just be because of who I am and my personality, is that I know when they book me like 12-18 months in advance I don't have much communication during the long gaps between our engagement and bridal portraits. So I make it a point to do girly girl stuff with them in our long gaps. I'm just the type of person that llllllloves to get to know and study new people! especially new people with a nice budget that can afford me ...but either way...big or small budgets this is how I am. I'll take them to lunch, go shopping with them, even get pedicures, or make a trip to a local spa, movies, etc etc, to just get to know them really well. (not all in one day, mind you!!) I realize that time is money...so I do include these little extraneous fees in their packages. By the time of their wedding when I'm shooting,...they totally trust me and feel like I'm their bestest friend.


For my weddings, (which is why I only stick to doing two a month) is because I cover two pre-wedding events. That can be anything to the bride's discretion. (which is usually the engagement party and bridal/bachelorette party). Again...this is a tool for me to get to know both sides of the family well. I take notes, I write people's names down and make it a point to memorize them. Saves a lot of boggled memory and embarrassment in calling people the wrong names.

Do I book everyone that wants to pay? Actually...no. Even if they have a million dollars to spend for their wedding photographer...if we do not have a connection...I will turn them down. Connection is such a great deal of importance to me. That is just how I work. Other wise I will be miserable. I pray about it...and just go from my instincts.

Linda...about grass stains....have you ever tried or heard of this method? It works great for me. get a white queen sized sheet ( really cheap one)...cut a hole in the middle of it big enough for her to move her feet's strides through. When your out doing location shoots with your brides...have her step in the hole and gather up all the corners of the sheet to hold. (so if you lift the corners wayyy high...just her legs will show!)So when she sits on the ground...you tuck the sheet underneath her dress and nothing wil get dirty.

Anyhow....I hope everyone had fun in their WPPI trip. I hope to be there next year!!!

KK

Katherine --- Such a great idea!!! I think some of the most important tools of the business are making sure that the customer is happy, building relationships with the client (becuase most of the time that will bring out more buisness), and all in all just making sure that you both have fun!

Some of the stuff you suggested is easier becuase you are a woman too... I don't know how comfortable I would be offering that in my packages.

--- Gregg

Gregg... you mean you wouldn't...

QUOTE

...go shopping with them, even get pedicures, or make a trip to a local spa, movies, etc etc,

...I'd still do the pedicure thing - sounds kinda fun!

Katherine! All those things are awesome! Building that relationship with them beforehand is a must!

Funny... I had always thought of Bridal portraits as studio only type sessions but have since changed my thinking since joining this forum.

Katherine--

Great idea of using the sheet to protect the dress (my greatest concern)

I agree with Gregg that offering the sexier side of the bride photos is easier for a female photographer to offer. I would feel a little creepy offering this as a man. Maybe I need to lighten up:-)

QUOTE (asmilie @ April 25 2005, 09:33 AM)

I agree with Gregg that offering the sexier side of the bride photos is easier for a female photographer to offer. I would feel a little creepy offering this as a man. Maybe I need to lighten up:-)

More importantly, our wives would kill us!

[More importantly, our wives would kill us! ]

True:-)

Some of my girlfriends refuse to go to a male gynecologist - as for me, I go with whoever is most experienced and that I am comfortable with. Gender has never been an issue for me. They've seen it all and we, as wedding photographers, have seen it all as well.

Now, my husband on the other hand will insist that I see a female doctor and have a female assistant accompany me when I shoot overnight weddings.. we rarely argue but this is one topic we can't seem to find a truce on.

Moral of the story? It could go either way. Some brides will prefer a female photographer when it comes to having preparation or "FHEO" shots taken. Others will care less and will go with whoever is most talented (and will make them look good)!

Tam

Katherine, that's a great idea on the two 'event' coverage. I've specified in my packages that my two pre-wedding photo sessions are specifically engagement and bridal portrait, and so far most have opted to subtract them from the package because they don't feel them necessary.

If I let the event be of their choosing, that will make for much more fun!

Michelle Grace

I agree with you totally Michelle! Let them choose the event! Cover a funfilled bachelorette party! You get to bond with all the girls in the bridal party! Though, you might end up with some incriminating evidence later on! I usually offer to be the designated driver so everyone can have a great time. Going to all these parties or events really help you establish a connection with your brides! They will love all the personal attention you give them! And think about it....you will cover not only their wedding day...but all the special and fun events that lead up to their big day! How many photogs do that? Just make sure you incorporate your time with your price tag!

KK

I am so all over that two event thing.

Thanks girl!

I think my wife would probably make sure this never happens in this life time.