What’s Your Preference?

kirbinster · #11 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 04:45 PM

WOW, its a long time since I got married - but we had to pay the photographer before the wedding including the price for a minimum package of prints.

imagesbyjk · #12 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirbinster

WOW, its a long time since I got married - but we had to pay the photographer before the wedding including the price for a minimum package of prints.

Sounds like your photographer was a businessman. That's what separates the successful shooters from the others. Its not photographic talent its business acumen. I see a lot of very talented shooters without a clue of how to run a business just scraping by. And I see a lot of mediocre shooters thriving because they know how to run a business.

thenimirra · #13 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imagesbyjk

Sounds like your photographer was a businessman. That's what separates the successful shooters from the others. Its not photographic talent its business acumen. I see a lot of very talented shooters without a clue of how to run a business just scraping by. And I see a lot of mediocre shooters thriving because they know how to run a business.

yes, this is true. I am definitely learning more about the business aspects of photography. Again, this one was my first wedding, so I am still learning how to make this type of thing work.

imagesbyjk · #14 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenimirra

yes, this is true. I am definitely learning more about the business aspects of photography. Again, this one was my first wedding, so I am still learning how to make this type of thing work.

Hey, been there done that. The best thing I ever did was volunteer to help an established photographer shoot weddings. I worked for free as an assistant schlepping lights and holding reflectors. I learned so much, not only about the actual shooting, but about the business side of it as well.

Loose_Canon · #15 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 05:03 PM

Good points. There are lots of good books on running a wedding photography business - try amazon.com.

Lots of communication problems with this deal. It sounds like you need to chalk this one up and start fresh with a new engaged couple.

In the mean time, hone your business skills, create a good simple contract and act professional thru it all. Professionalism breeds confidence in your prospective clients.

And as a friend of mine often says, "Fake it till you make it." At least look and act the part... Your business will grow, and none of us hits home runs every time.

Dizzle · #16 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 01:09 AM

In this economy, a lot of folks are happy enough to look at the images online and be done with it. The bride and groom may want prints, but if they can continue to look at them online they may not be as quick to purchase them.

I agree with the set time for the online gallery to be up.

For my season of baseball photos, I have had the gallery online since May. The season is now over so I sent an e-mail saying I would be taking the gallery down at the end of the month. I had a nice amount of sales through the season, but since sending that e-mail and giving a solid date for it to come down, sales picked up again and I have requests from several families to do private sessions as most of the teams I shot did not get "team pictures" this year.

Send an e-mail letting the B&G know that you will be taking their gallery down on such and such date and see what happens.

wannabehorsephotographer · #17 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 10:23 PM

I had planned to leave my gallery photos up for a year, but after reading this I might not tell people that that's the case. Really I don't mind if sales trickle in, but I don't want people thinking they can just order later and forget about it.

That being said, I have started shooting horse shows this year. I put the images on the web and people order them from there. I was disappointed at first because it seemed few people were ordering, but now almost 2 months after an event, I am still getting huge orders. Weddings are a big deal, and photos are a big investment. It may just be taking them a long time to make up their minds. If you are worried about seeing an instant payback, I would send them an email telling them that the images would be taken down shortly. Keep your chin up & good luck
!

imagesbyjk · #18 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 10:28 PM

I've had brides order 2-1/2 years after their wedding - I'm talking the first order here! It happens. People let life get in the way and procrastinate. Just make sure you keep backup discs for those orders that don't come in for a few years.

southernbelle · #19 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenimirra

They paid me the $500 for shooting the wedding, and I made the CDs for the bride, but when she didn't have the money, I didn't give them to her. She said she would contact me two weeks ago to get the CDs...but that time has come and gone. I called to see what was going on but she didn't return the calls.

The images have my watermark on them and they are right click protected so they couldn't steal them that way.

Thenimirra, I went on your website and your images actually aren't right click protected