Wondering about the challenge of selling product when giving away the digital? Jeff and Lori give all packages a USB and digitals, which I assume include a print release. Do you find that your client are hesitant to spend the $ on your albums when they feel that they could simply make there own?
what do you recommend when you do not have a studio but have products to show them, i.e albums, wall art etc? It is hard to carry all these to coffee shops or hotel lobby's.
How you do in person sales if you dont have a studio? I should said how you set wall portraits? I usually do it at their house but I cant hang anything there so I only bring one or two wedding albums only
In both cases, you are getting WAY more for wedding photography than I ever did. It has been quite a few years since I got out of it, but even adjusted for inflation, you are probably get double what I was getting, and more than anyone was getting in my geographic area. I guess this has a lot to do with where you are, though I am surprised to hear of 10K-12K packages in Wilmington, NC. I was working in SW Va., where incomes are clearly lower, but even in today's dollars, my packages would have been no more than $4,000. including big album, framed wall portrait, etc., done in medium format film. Adjusted for inflation, wedding day shooting and a proof book was only around $1000., with no album, no portraiture or enlargements. And, that was about all the market would bear. Too many photogs doing it at that price
Great Interview. I'm reworking my comlete pricing now :P I have one more question thou, how do you send out the images you put on the USB Drive? Every Image? Retouched? Best of? Client Proof?
Hi Jereome The images that are on the USB have Lightroom edits only...Color correction, crop, black and white and so on. We only bring images into photoshop that will be used in our portfolio or have been purchased by the client in some sort of printed product. Hope this helps!
Oh, and I don't think I fully answered your question! (I'm still not awake!). The images on the drive is the final proof set. We deliver approx 5-700 images from each wedding depending on the size of the wedding. We found that delivering less, but stronger images tends to resonate well with our clients. We aim for quality over quantity!
Jerome Courtois Awesome! We posted our complete price list with a 40 minute instructional video on our site. It may be something that will help? If you use promo code "loungepricing" you'll get 25% off. theshootspace.com/shop/ Cheers!
Hey there! i'm a brand new wedding photographer. So far i've only shot one wedding. I however have 2 years experience under my belt for photography and 7 years of video exp. All i know is how to take pictures, and edit photos/vidoes. I know nothing of the business side of photography yet. I'm getting more and more requests to do weddings and I was wondering how do I even talk to clients about pricing. The video was great, but there are still steps missing for brand new beginners. I'd like to make this my profession and the demand for more work is becoming overwhelming. Any advice you can spare me would help. I feel like if i don't learn fast, i'm going to lose more potential clients. So far i'm charging $300-$500, but idk if that's too little or too much. HELP?
I would start by joining our Faebook group here: facebook.com/groups/slrlounge. We can help you answer specific questions and help you improve. I would also consider studying our wedding education here: www.slrlounge.com/products/wedding/
There's some good tips and also some really not good advice in here if you really want to maximize sales and give your clients the best possible experience. NEVER EVER show or discuss a usb drive when talking to clients. By making the usb drive look good and giving it a special packaging, you are subtly telling your clients that digital files are important and that they should value them. Don't ever use the word "credit" with clients because credit is a negative word; think post-holiday news stories about people over-using credit and debt to purchase gifts. Remember, great clients are MADE not FOUND. These tips completely eliminate the most important part of photography, which is the opportunity to give people a chance to discover and relive the feelings that they have for their fiance every time they look at the photographs. If you find out what those feelings are and attach those to printed products, they won't even ask about digital files.
If I am going to spend anything over $500 I want ALL of images including any outtakes in RAW format... period! As a photog I totally love this percieved valve failure! Photography is like real estate and, you throw 1"x3" wood trim up around the ceiling, call it crown molding and these boards you can buy for a few hundred or less now is suddenly worth thousands. Yet you can have an average home and 10 people think it is worth 10 different values based on they're needs, likes and preferences. Yet photos don't like this! That is why they push the perceived value rather than actual value! Plus as this video represents, this is photogs once again over stepping their bounds to be wedding planners. While I have my style, I don't go in and start suggesting and take away from a couple's special day to my own selfish wants. Sometimes I have to work outside of the box to meet they style. If I can't then I then I refer them to someone who can meet their style.
Registry idea for others to help purchase the products for the couple is genius !!
I agree!
Great advice! It's always refreshing to get new perspectives on the business side of being a photographer.
These series of tips, are so Helpful. Sue Bryce, talking of Getting over pricing and saleing, hit the nail on the head for me. Thank You so much.
One of the BEST interviews I've seen on this subject EVER! Thank you.
Truly!!!
This was a great interview! Really enjoyed this. Thanks
Really really awesome! Can't wait for more! Thanks for SHARING!
Great couple. Thank you all for the great video! I love SLR Lounge.
Yes great interview and very helpful tips
This is a terrific vid! It's just the sort of thinking that artists need learn to engage in.
Wondering about the challenge of selling product when giving away the digital? Jeff and Lori give all packages a USB and digitals, which I assume include a print release. Do you find that your client are hesitant to spend the $ on your albums when they feel that they could simply make there own?
You're exactly right. They won't buy an album if they already have the high res files.
Love the power of suggestion!
Eric Smith *Wedding Photo Editing Has Never Been Easier! here >>>>>> **Photography--Editing.blogspot.com** Click view now !!!*
this was helpful, never heard tips like this either
This was very interesting to watch. Excellent tips :)
Excellent video. Great tips. Thank you so much for this!
Excellent info! Thanks for sharing!
Awesome information!
what do you recommend when you do not have a studio but have products to show them, i.e albums, wall art etc? It is hard to carry all these to coffee shops or hotel lobby's.
Awesome Sauce!
I'm in central NC and this is my approach as well. (side items) ... I can't wait to see the other videos! (And I'm not a state fan either ;)
great interview! Thank you. :)
Thank you so much this is going to help a lot!!!!!
Amazing video. Thank you!
How you do in person sales if you dont have a studio? I should said how you set wall portraits? I usually do it at their house but I cant hang anything there so I only bring one or two wedding albums only
Great video, thanks.
love this!
In both cases, you are getting WAY more for wedding photography than I ever did. It has been quite a few years since I got out of it, but even adjusted for inflation, you are probably get double what I was getting, and more than anyone was getting in my geographic area. I guess this has a lot to do with where you are, though I am surprised to hear of 10K-12K packages in Wilmington, NC. I was working in SW Va., where incomes are clearly lower, but even in today's dollars, my packages would have been no more than $4,000. including big album, framed wall portrait, etc., done in medium format film. Adjusted for inflation, wedding day shooting and a proof book was only around $1000., with no album, no portraiture or enlargements. And, that was about all the market would bear. Too many photogs doing it at that price
In-studio premiere. Hmm... interesting.
what is the name of that app?
good job!
Thanks!
Great Interview. I'm reworking my comlete pricing now :P
I have one more question thou, how do you send out the images you put on the USB Drive? Every Image? Retouched? Best of? Client Proof?
Hi Jereome
The images that are on the USB have Lightroom edits only...Color correction, crop, black and white and so on. We only bring images into photoshop that will be used in our portfolio or have been purchased by the client in some sort of printed product. Hope this helps!
Oh, and I don't think I fully answered your question! (I'm still not awake!). The images on the drive is the final proof set. We deliver approx 5-700 images from each wedding depending on the size of the wedding. We found that delivering less, but stronger images tends to resonate well with our clients. We aim for quality over quantity!
Thanks! This helps. I'm writing up a modular / à la Carte system right now.
Jerome Courtois
Awesome! We posted our complete price list with a 40 minute instructional video on our site. It may be something that will help? If you use promo code "loungepricing" you'll get 25% off.
theshootspace.com/shop/
Cheers!
Jeff Poole but do you you give to the customers the full resolution images or resized?
How do you sell an engagement session to people who are already engaged?
well engagement photos are only for those who are already engaged.
Hey there! i'm a brand new wedding photographer. So far i've only shot one wedding. I however have 2 years experience under my belt for photography and 7 years of video exp. All i know is how to take pictures, and edit photos/vidoes. I know nothing of the business side of photography yet. I'm getting more and more requests to do weddings and I was wondering how do I even talk to clients about pricing. The video was great, but there are still steps missing for brand new beginners. I'd like to make this my profession and the demand for more work is becoming overwhelming. Any advice you can spare me would help. I feel like if i don't learn fast, i'm going to lose more potential clients. So far i'm charging $300-$500, but idk if that's too little or too much. HELP?
I would start by joining our Faebook group here: facebook.com/groups/slrlounge. We can help you answer specific questions and help you improve. I would also consider studying our wedding education here: www.slrlounge.com/products/wedding/
ahhh I dont like this money thing..I know it has to be a way but It sounds so much money that has to be found.
There's some good tips and also some really not good advice in here if you really want to maximize sales and give your clients the best possible experience. NEVER EVER show or discuss a usb drive when talking to clients. By making the usb drive look good and giving it a special packaging, you are subtly telling your clients that digital files are important and that they should value them. Don't ever use the word "credit" with clients because credit is a negative word; think post-holiday news stories about people over-using credit and debt to purchase gifts. Remember, great clients are MADE not FOUND. These tips completely eliminate the most important part of photography, which is the opportunity to give people a chance to discover and relive the feelings that they have for their fiance every time they look at the photographs. If you find out what those feelings are and attach those to printed products, they won't even ask about digital files.
If I am going to spend anything over $500 I want ALL of images including any outtakes in RAW format... period! As a photog I totally love this percieved valve failure! Photography is like real estate and, you throw 1"x3" wood trim up around the ceiling, call it crown molding and these boards you can buy for a few hundred or less now is suddenly worth thousands. Yet you can have an average home and 10 people think it is worth 10 different values based on they're needs, likes and preferences. Yet photos don't like this! That is why they push the perceived value rather than actual value!
Plus as this video represents, this is photogs once again over stepping their bounds to be wedding planners.
While I have my style, I don't go in and start suggesting and take away from a couple's special day to my own selfish wants. Sometimes I have to work outside of the box to meet they style. If I can't then I then I refer them to someone who can meet their style.
Corporate at its finest