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04/12/2007 01:36:41 PM · #1
Recently I just finished my first wedding. It was a lot of fun and the shots came out very nice. I work w/ a partner and everything went real smooth between us as well. I would like to do this more and make this a strong part of our business. We have some contacts that could really pay off next year, but in the meantime I need to book more to be able to upgrade all equip and get the experience needed to have a very diverse portfolio. We are in the process of putting together a website now that we have wedding photos to include.

My question for the people already doing lots of weddings is how to advertise effectively. Ironically my "real job" is an advertising manager for a daily paper. Anyway, I have an ad running everyday, I posted an ad on craigslist (0 emails so far) I have business cards I hand out whenever i can and like I said the website will be up soon. What other methods are effective?

I have written a business plan for another business we started that will be getting off the ground in the next couple months. We were just approved for financing. I would really like to keep costs down and not have to seek financing again, at least not yet. Any advice would be great. Sorry for the run on post.
04/12/2007 05:55:33 PM · #2
At least you understand that marketing is important. To many photographers just expect business to show up at the door.

When we first started we had a very aggressive and broad marketing plan in hopes to grow quickly. Not only did it work but by using so many methods it has helped to figure out what really works.

First off is to get the website up and running. In the .com age that is your best tool and the first things most prespective clients see. For us it works well to focus the marketing towards funnelling brides to the site. Because most young people use the internet to find almost everything we seem to get the most quality contacts from wedding sites like The Knot or Perfect Wedding Guide. You can get advertising started for very reasonably considering the quality contacts you get. I'm sure there are other sites like that for your area. Some of them like Perfect Wedding Guide even give you leads that you can use for email or mail marketing.

Word of mouth is always a huge seller. Keep all of your clients happy and have a referal program to make them want to talk about you. Just as an example if someone refers a new client that signs a contract with us we give the old client a $50 American Express Gift Card and the new client a free engagement session. You win no matter what.

Probably the easist method is to network. Get in close with the DJ's, locations, caterers, florists, ect, in the area and offer to refer clients back and forth. Its free and supper easy.

Anyway, I hope this helps some. In the end you just have to try and see what works for you in your market. Good luck.
04/12/2007 06:45:50 PM · #3
A great marketing tool I've used are the slideshows I create. The brides & grooms love them and they e-mail them to all their friends and family
like so

each one of mine has somewhere over 5,000 views. Also I've heard great things about slideshows at receptions- guests will ohh & ahh over it. I have only gotten to do one so far. (But I'm working on it!) It really is a lot of work to get one done, but have lots of business cards ready when you do! :0)
04/12/2007 06:57:15 PM · #4
I also do the slideshows and they just LOVE them. I delivered one last night and the bride wept and wept.

Another good idea for marketing is get yourself known on fee free websites. Like your local community may have one. You can try advertising in the paper tho this is quite expensive.
Word of mouth is HUGE. Take your business cards everywhere you go.
Last week i was buying a cooked chicken and the customer next to me was telling the shop staff how she just got engaged, so I handed her a card and she wants a quote :) It really pays to take them all over.
04/12/2007 07:41:01 PM · #5
Interesting about the slideshows...here they don't go over at all - i've tried making them and having them made - no interest in buying them, getting them for free, never an inquiry about them, and not much interest and never any comments after showing one. OH well.

Internet - google your area and wedding photographer/y and see what comes up - here it's mostly site like knot, gatheringguide, wedj, wedplan and other directories - so get listed on them. It's take me about 2 years, but last time i googled my name was on the first page 4 times as the text under such sites. 20-30% of my brides come to me this way. Some folks pay big money to the Knot and say it works, others say it doesn't. Depends on other factors then - your area, your website, price range, etc. It can cost $1500 a year for this one site alone...an expensive proposition unless you get 10+ wedding from it alone.

craigslist seems fine for the bottom price bracket, freebies and the like.

bridal shows are excellent, but the first one will be expensive as you need several albums with several weddings to be taken seriously - and bigger albums impress more (and sell more) than little ones. I know a (wanna be) wedding photographer trying to sell $5000 weddings with only a 2x2 (yes, 2 inch square) album.

Word of mouth is huge - BUT it takes time for this to work. This is my third year and I am just now starting to get referrals for weddings. You MUST keep marketing to previous clients - direct mail.

Direct mail - attending a bridal show is part of it, and you usually get a list of prospective brides - mail them and call them. If any of the websites you signed up with give leads, then CALL THEM and email them.

My direct mail is my weakest link...I have a plan, but sticking to it is the hard part. Mail 4 to 6 times a year to everyone on your mailing list - bridal special or a newsletter or something, even a christmas card, biz anniversay, etc.

If you do more than just weddings you can market 'everything' and then get more mileage from your work - like advertise for HS seniors gets your name out there one more time and will generate calls. I did a wedding and passed out wallets for the website of the wedding images and got a call to shoot a baby. No, i've not shot a baby, but I will. I shot dogs at christmas time and one lady called for me to do portraits at a group home for mentally challenges adults - I know she's thinking of me and my marketing is working in mysterious ways LOL.

The net got me call to shoot a music CD cover, a college class of the seniors for a year book and quite a few weddings. A bridal show got me a HS senior.

As for marketing with your other vendors - it's a good idea, and I've not tried cold calling them, but having worked with a few now it's starting to happen a bit more - the established vendors are the best as they have a steady stream of clients and referrals, but they're also the hardest to befriend as a newbie - they need to trust you, and know you're potential for referrals to them is low. If you are first class then you will hook up with other first class vendors. Bridal shows are a great place to meet them. I have one wedding this year from a referral from a reception hall. Find out what order brides book - priest/chruch first, then hall/caterer, and dress, then flowers. DJ is sometimes the last on the list, or photography is sometimes last. Tuxes are a minor deal, as would be jewelry and flowers, hair and makeup, cake. Wedding planners/coordinators are probably a good source for referrals, but many want paid for their referrals and you've got to be mid to higher end (here at least) for a bride hires one.
04/12/2007 08:23:29 PM · #6
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Interesting about the slideshows...here they don't go over at all - i've tried making them and having them made - no interest in buying them, getting them for free, never an inquiry about them, and not much interest and never any comments after showing one. OH well.


Wow, serious???

I have a slide show running with a projector on an 8 foot screen nearly every wedding and there is always a crowd of people sitting there watching the slide show. It's usually about 20 minutes long. Some watch it over and over (as if it's going to be different the next time through). I hand out a lot of cards due to the slide show. And that's the number one thing most people seem to remember.


04/13/2007 09:28:39 AM · #7
I have one couple that wants a slideshow at the reception of images of them growing up, dating, etc - they're providing the slideshow.

You show pics at the reception of the wedding that day? How? Help me out here!

I've heard of this but perhaps traditions are different where you are. Here EVERY wedding is the same, timeing and event wise - and there is NO time to do a slideshow unless it's done at dinner instead of eating - even with an assistant.

I shoot RAW so that's the first issue (conversion time). If you show/give every image you shoot as a proof, then that's fine, but if you edit down you run the rist of projecting something that doesn't end up as a proof and then get questioned on 'why don't i see X image i saw at the reception?'
Add in I'm using my assistant as a second shooter and sometimes another shooter - by the reception was can have 500 or 600 images - if we cut out the formals that would make it a bit better/easier/less boring and repetitive to a degree.

What are showing that it's different the next time through?

I could shoot at show the reception shots 'live' or close to it - but since they're there why would they want to see those images?
04/13/2007 09:48:24 AM · #8
Yes, it's true, traditions here are a bit different. On most occasions, the wedding itself is morning or early afternoon with at least a few hours in between it and the reception. I shoot raw, use RSP to convert about 60-70 images and play it with a song that will last about 4-5 minutes. I use ProShow Producer (but ProShow Gold is much cheaper and almost does the exact same thing) and can throw together a nice slide show in no time. So most of my time is spent simply picking which images to show (out of the hundreds taken earlier) and applying "quick adjustments" to just those.

And you're right, often the ones that end up being shown as proofs aren't an identical set as to the ones shown at the reception. I just don't have time to think about it between wedding and reception.

On the occasions where the wedding and reception are back to back, I'll just run a slide show with the engagement and bridal pictures in it (and growing up pictures if they've given them to me).

I've thought it would be cool to shoot wireless at the reception and have those shots show up mixed right into the slide show. But obviously the quality of the presentation would go down so I've never really pursued that idea.

04/13/2007 11:46:25 AM · #9
Got my first craigslist email today and a call from the paper. Funny thing is the requested date is the only date I have another gig in July and the call from the paper she told me I was too expensive.

The too expensive is kind of ridiculous. She wanted 2 photogs for about 8 hours on a boat for a wedding. I quoted her $800 and she said that its way too much. I have a feeling after some research she will call back.

I appreciate all the advice for advertising. Website is number one priortiy and then we will work on some other stuff.

I really want to do some HS sports action shots for parents. I was thinking of passing out a flyer in the stands at some games this spring, baseball, lacrosse, etc.. and let parents call and work something out for prints. Anyone doing this? If so how are results?
04/13/2007 11:54:30 AM · #10
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:



You show pics at the reception of the wedding that day? How? Help me out here!


This may be beyond what your market will bear, but I've heard of photographers shooting the wedding and using wireless to transmit the images as they shoot to an assistant with a laptop who assembles the slideshow using a template while the ceremony is going on. When the ceremony is over, the slideshow just needs a few finishing touches and it's ready to go.
04/13/2007 12:05:20 PM · #11
Originally posted by Jmnuggy:

The too expensive is kind of ridiculous. She wanted 2 photogs for about 8 hours on a boat for a wedding. I quoted her $800 and she said that its way too much. I have a feeling after some research she will call back.

Are you kidding me? She's gotta be nuts to pass up that kinds of deal. I think I paid $800 for 1 photographer for my wedding and that was only 4-6 hours or shooting.
04/13/2007 12:14:21 PM · #12
Ask and you shall receive......
Kind of funny, I asked about marketing yesterday and today I got 2 calls, and an email. i booked an event in July and turned down a wedding for july 14 due to the other event and the other wedding, I was told im too expensive at $800.

Anyone in Vermont, I have a lead for a wedding on July 14th, hit me w/ a PM if interested. I only ask 10% if you book it... just kidding.
05/03/2007 11:21:34 AM · #13
For those wanting to do sports photography, what about just showing up at games and start taking random photos. Wear a shirt or jacket that is advertising your business. Perhaps someone will say "hey, could you shoot my _____ at their next game?

Just a hunch.


05/03/2007 11:29:53 AM · #14
Originally posted by Todd1225:

For those wanting to do sports photography, what about just showing up at games and start taking random photos. Wear a shirt or jacket that is advertising your business. Perhaps someone will say "hey, could you shoot my _____ at their next game?

Just a hunch.

while this might be more appropriate in a 'sports photography marketing' thread, i'll go on and bite... it all depends on the venue. at most places (high schools, colleges, professional), you can't just show up and shoot--at least not from the sideline. if you're talking about little league, it depends on whether or not somebody has already paid for an exclusive right to be there. some venues don't mind if you take photos, but they won't allow you to sell them--and they'll come after you if you do. if it's a place that is open for anyone to shoot, it's still a 'shot in the dark' as to whether or not you'll get any business just for being there with a camera taking random shots ;-)
05/03/2007 12:43:31 PM · #15
Just go here for your wedding photography marketing needs. This guy's a "Specialist in the development of photography businesses" ;-)
05/03/2007 01:13:41 PM · #16
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Just go here for your wedding photography marketing needs. This guy's a "Specialist in the development of photography businesses" ;-)

Wow. You're cruel. lol
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