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DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> Non-Traditional Wedding Photography
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Showing posts 1 - 9 of 9, (reverse)
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11/30/2010 09:06:16 AM · #1
I'm nearly complete with my Maketing Plan and had decided to focus my services on Portrait, Fashion, and Glamour photography with some commercial photography intertwined. But that idea is slightly starting to change. In the last month I've gotten emailed out of the blue five times about shooting weddings. Normally this isn't my thing. I will never (and by never I mean I have no plans now) of shooting traditional church weddings.

But I'm thinking of adding non-traditional weddings to the services I offer. By non-traditional, i mean weddings in backyards, at courthouses, ect where it is not a full formal ceremony. Has anyone else ventured into these services? Does it seem like a good idea to try. It seems like it may turn out to be profitable if I plan it correctly.
12/01/2010 04:30:18 AM · #2
it could be a profitable niche. like anything else, if you plan it out and make a commitment to it, you can probably make it work. it might take some time to get traction, but i imagine that once you get known as the guy-that-can-shoot-anywhere-and-make-it-look-really-cool, you could stay pretty busy. the main thing is being able to delineate yourself from the rest of the wedding industry...
12/01/2010 05:18:03 AM · #3
My initial reaction to this is that people are having their weddings at the aforementioned venues because they are trying to save money - which tells me they wont be spending a huge amount on a photographer - so you`ll have to aim for shooting a lot of these to make any decent money over the course of a year.

Just my opinion.
12/01/2010 06:13:07 AM · #4
Originally posted by Simms:

My initial reaction to this is that people are having their weddings at the aforementioned venues because they are trying to save money - which tells me they wont be spending a huge amount on a photographer - so you`ll have to aim for shooting a lot of these to make any decent money over the course of a year.

Just my opinion.

all true, making it quite a sales challenge to convince them to put the money they're saving into photography...
12/01/2010 06:32:02 AM · #5
I find it doesn't really matter where the wedding is, it's the attitude of the couple. I make it very clear on my site the style of work I do (informal, photojournalistic), and have sent couples to other photographers if they're asking for studio-type work (very nicely, and I've had people sent my way too).
12/01/2010 07:23:47 AM · #6
Originally posted by Skip:

Originally posted by Simms:

My initial reaction to this is that people are having their weddings at the aforementioned venues because they are trying to save money - which tells me they wont be spending a huge amount on a photographer - so you`ll have to aim for shooting a lot of these to make any decent money over the course of a year.

Just my opinion.

all true, making it quite a sales challenge to convince them to put the money they're saving into photography...


I agree that these people would be willing to pay far less than people looking for a traditional wedding, but i think my costs would allow me to place a reasonable price that would be far less than that of a photographer shooting at a traditional wedding...for example no second shoot would be necessary. I'd also expect product orders to be lower...ie only looking for an album. The major concern I see is most of these people would want a CD in order to print pictures themselves which I think I'd have a hard time parting with at such a low price (once I determine the price).
12/01/2010 07:25:07 AM · #7
Originally posted by xianart:

I find it doesn't really matter where the wedding is, it's the attitude of the couple. I make it very clear on my site the style of work I do (informal, photojournalistic), and have sent couples to other photographers if they're asking for studio-type work (very nicely, and I've had people sent my way too).


I think my plan would be to turn away anyone looking for a traditional wedding...ie in a church or something of that sort. So far I've been turning all weddings away.

Damn..looks like it's already time to go re-write the marketing plan.
12/01/2010 08:00:27 AM · #8
Originally posted by albc28:

[quote=Skip] [quote=Simms]The major concern I see is most of these people would want a CD in order to print pictures themselves which I think I'd have a hard time parting with at such a low price (once I determine the price).


If you are going for the bottom of the market, you are going to need to embrace this.
12/01/2010 09:34:34 AM · #9
Originally posted by albc28:

Originally posted by Skip:

Originally posted by Simms:

My initial reaction to this is that people are having their weddings at the aforementioned venues because they are trying to save money - which tells me they wont be spending a huge amount on a photographer - so you`ll have to aim for shooting a lot of these to make any decent money over the course of a year.

Just my opinion.

all true, making it quite a sales challenge to convince them to put the money they're saving into photography...


I agree that these people would be willing to pay far less than people looking for a traditional wedding, but i think my costs would allow me to place a reasonable price that would be far less than that of a photographer shooting at a traditional wedding...for example no second shoot would be necessary. I'd also expect product orders to be lower...ie only looking for an album. The major concern I see is most of these people would want a CD in order to print pictures themselves which I think I'd have a hard time parting with at such a low price (once I determine the price).


To be honest, I never got tied up in the micromanagement of selling prints to relatives etc - I usually use the DVD of images as a sweetener to `seal the deal` so to speak - this is only relevant to those customers who go for an Album package - I dont include the DVD as standard and have it priced up at around £300 - although I dont really expect to sell it. The trick being, when I am trying to sell the package I offer to throw this is for free - they think they are getting £300 worth of product and I dont lose a whole bunch of cash - I don't do reprints, so everyones as winner. If I dont need to throw this in then they have either a/ paid for it and I am £300 better off, or b/ I call them up a year later and offer it to them at 50% off, I still get £150 and that wedding has created another (albeit limited) revenue stream for minimal outlay (less than ten pounds for DVD case, DVD and postage).
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