Pre Wedding Meeting

[Biomech]

Just a quickie.
I have a meeting with some potential wedding clients soon, I'm wondering what you all take with you? All my previous weddings have been friends, family, friends of family and very relaxed and informal.

I'm thinking along the lines of the following, let me know what I've missed out:

Photo Portfolio
Terms and Conditions
Receipt/invoice paper for deposit
List of package contents
Price list of "add ons"
Client Questionnaire (where is it, what type, what are you looking for etc)
Examples of mounted prints available
Examples of disc/s available
Details of post production including print standards/quality/process etc

A freshly cleaned car, iron shirt and shave... anything else? Is it worth taking the camera so they can see that it's a serious bit of kit and not a bridge/point shoot?

TIA

[tzimmerman]

The list looks good, but remember, while they will be interested in your work and your packages and how it fits their needs...the most important part of meeting them is....well...meeting them. They will be sold by you as a person and how you handle the meet more than anything else.

[Biomech]

Thanks fo rthe quick response! Yeah I'll try my best with that one Should be ok I think (hope), people generally don't seem to hate me heh.

Also, if anyone has any contracts or ToS or anything that they wouldn't mind sending me that would be amazing, not to leech of course, just to check over the layout and what I might be missing. If anyone would be so kind, my email address is "Jamie" @ my website in my sig.

Thanks again

[BigFuzzy]

Make sure your photo port is directly relevant. Ie have photos of actual shots you are planning or will try with them. No point having a nice portrait of a child to try to sell them on your ability as a wedding photographer as the average joe isn't so good at transposing the fact that if you can take a nice portrait it should work in all circustances.

Come prepared with questions about the event, location, restrictions, etc.. anything you need to know about the event, even such simplicities of can you park near the venue, little things like that can put a damper on the day if you're late because you had to park 5k from the wedding.

[Biomech]

Cheers, the wedding is actually in December, so I plan on having a more mission specific meeting just before. I'll be asking were it is so I can speak to the people there etc too.

[DavidFenwick]

I always like to discuss group shots at the pre-wedding meeting. People tend to vastly underestimate the time these take and, unless you tell them otherwise, will end up with a list of 25 to do on the day. Most couples only want to spend about 30 minutes on group shots (they've all been to weddings where they go on for hours) and as a result you need to tell them how many you can accomplish in that time. I normally recommend they opt for 6-8 groups. Clearly this is not a rule and they can have more if they want, but if they do we adjust the itinerary accordingly.

[Biomech]

Thanks for the input, I spent most of last night writing up the paperwork :P
Tonight I plan to construct a brief questionnaire, things like, venues, points of contact, dates etc and anything else that you lovely people can think of

[autofocus]

Jamie, you may want to ask them if you can attend the rehearsals...a good way to learn the flow of things, and get to know all the key attendees, and the officiant. You also can provide some inputs to them at that time as to how you'd expect the photography flow will go. You also may want to set their expectations as to how long it'll be before they'll being seeing proofs. If you're anything like us, you'll probably shoot up to 1000, or more images...that requires a fairly long editing process as you know...they also, have to know that. Also, many shots are done as the bride and groom, and their party get ready...see if she (the bride) is comfortable with you being there as she gets dressed and made up.

[candleman]

This is what I take to the "booking meeting"
/sample of exactly what they will get... I let them have the "unboxing" experience during that meeting
/contract for them to take away (i'll get to that part soon)
/package list to refer to
/diary
/bank card to I can pay for their drinks, or at least offer to

a shave, ironed shirt and all that are obvious.
I wouldn't take the camera..

In the meeting however,
I wouldn't over complicate things too soon.
I keep it informal and chatty, not pushing a sale but getting to know them, talking about their day and how I can help them.. as they look through the sample product I talk about the retouching and editing process and i tell them whatI deliver both in terms of fimal printed products but also in terms of my efforts such as visiting the venues and scouting locations.

show them what you want to sell them.A "sample" which doubles as your portfolio. As they say "awww" I talk about that particular image, and use that as an opportunity to drop a few tips in to make me seem helpful and knowlegable.

have a chat about their plans not a 12 page questionaire), their choices of venue, special family, theme colours
(keepig it emotional rather than dollars based. I throw in alot of "We" "us" and I talk to them like they have already hired me.
EG. "after we have done the formal posed family pics, we can head off to that awesome beach nearby."

I don't quizz them off of a checklist anymore but let the conversation flow naturally and listen to them rather than trying to plan the day before they have even booked. Remember, they are checking you out so show you care about them and not their money.

The only details I usually ask them specifically is where and when, to guage if I need to charge extra for travel and if the package they want suits their timeframes. This meeting is more about coming across as a friendly, helpful, nice-guy who will be a nice addition to their wedding....rather than a salesman trying to take their money.

I know others may differ and say "close or they will walk" ..this works for me and i'm sticking with it.

Most of the time I encourage them to leave with the agreement so they can read it over. Often they look at eachother and say.. "may-aswell do it now eh?"
The times I pushed for a signing on the spot I lost.

I have a 100% booking rate for people I meet with by doing it this way...
(since showing them the product and not pushing for a signature)
Thats based on around 12 consecutive couples over the last 5 months.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by candleman

This is what I take to the "booking meeting"
/sample of exactly what they will get... I let them have the "unboxing" experience during that meeting
/contract for them to take away (i'll get to that part soon)
/package list to refer to
/diary
/bank card to I can pay for their drinks, or at least offer to

a shave, ironed shirt and all that are obvious.
I wouldn't take the camera..

In the meeting however,
I wouldn't over complicate things too soon.
I keep it informal and chatty, not pushing a sale but getting to know them, talking about their day and how I can help them.. as they look through the sample product I talk about the retouching and editing process and i tell them whatI deliver both in terms of fimal printed products but also in terms of my efforts such as visiting the venues and scouting locations.

show them what you want to sell them.A "sample" which doubles as your portfolio. As they say "awww" I talk about that particular image, and use that as an opportunity to drop a few tips in to make me seem helpful and knowlegable.

talk about their plans, their choices of venue, special family, theme colours
(keepig it emotional rather than dollars based. I throw in alot of "We" "us" and I talk to them like they have already hired me.
EG. "after we have done the formal posed family pics, we can head off to that awesome beach nearby."

I don't quizz them off of a checklist anymore but let the conversation flow naturally and listen to them rather than trying to plan the day before they have even booked.

Al I usually ask them is where and when, to guage if I need to charge extra for travel and if the package they want suits their timeframes. This meeting is more about coming across as a friendly, helpful, nice-guy who will be a nice addition to their wedding....rather than a salesman trying to take their money.

I know others may differ and say "close or they will walk" ..this works for me and i'm sticking with it.

Most of the time I encourage them to leave with the agreement so they can read it over. Often they look at eachother and say.. "may-aswell do it now eh?"
The times I pushed for a signing on the spot I lost.

I have a 100% booking rate for people I meet with by doing it this way.
Thats based on around 12 consecutive couples over the last 5 months.

Good advice...back in my old days of selling, Wilson Councilor Selling was a training I had to attend, and what you are saying was called "Breaking the relationship tension" and was always the first step in a sales process and done well before any advocating