Professional Marketing Selling Techniques For Digital Wedding Photographers

Updated to include the latest digital camera models, imaging software, and current image proofing and sales techniques, this business guide teaches wedding photographers how to build a profitable business. From formulating a business plan to presenting final images to clients, the strategies presented help photographers avoid the pitfalls that ruin many wedding photography studios. Photographers learn how to define a target demographic—whether that be low-volume big-budget or high-volume low-budget clients—and market to those demographics in print, on the Internet, through networking, and at bridal shows. Customer service tips include how to interview clients to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable portrait experience, conduct presession consultations, and write a contract, as well as presentation techniques for wall-size images, coffee-table–style books, and guestbooks. The featured images and drawings include a gallery of the author's wedding photographs and samples of advertising, marketing, and promotional literature.

Beyond taking great photographs, professional wedding photographers must master a workable strategy for selling their images. Entrepreneurs of all levels will learn how to create, refine, and restructure their studio business and to achieve their financial goals with professional sales techniques. Covered are valuable skills such as creating pricing strategies and dealing with clients on a one-to-one basis. Advertising techniques from print ads and direct mailing to the latest opportunities and strategies made possible by e-commerce and digital photography are discussed.

From shooting formal family portraits in a dimly lit church to capturing lively candids at a bustling reception, this valuable reference presents 100 tips for handling the process from start to finish—choosing the best equipment, capturing the best moments on film, and enhancing and presenting them afterwards. Numerous professionals offer valuable advice for digital wedding photography, giving technical guidance on lighting, exposure and metering, and color management, as well as ideas for scouting locations, dealing with nervous brides, and photographing large groups. Ample time is spent on the many aspects of posing and lighting—for both formal and informal situations—with an eye toward enhancing the efficiency of the shoot and the natural beauty of the resulting images.

This guide to digital wedding photography offers everything a wedding photographer needs to take full advantage of digital technologies. Essential aspects of digital photography are examined, from image capturing to creating wedding albums—a photographer's greatest source of revenue. Featuring 200 examples of professional digital photography, this book takes a detailed look at many common digital problems and provides techniques for fixing them with Adobe Photoshop.

Divided into two parts, this guide shows studio owners and photographers how to increase visibility, creativity, and financial rewards in the teen and senior portrait market. The first section is focused on technical mastery, gives tips on how to refine one's technique and remain competitive and providing advice on selecting the appropriate digital equipment and added artistic elements like indoor and outdoor sets, storytelling props, and fashionable backgrounds. The second section is devoted to successful marketing techniques that are low-cost and have a big impact, such as maintaining an Internet presence, offering special promotions, and producing direct-mail marketing pieces. Numerous marketing pieces from top studios are included as reference points.

More than a dozen marketers and photographers contributed to this manual that advises photographers attempting to run a profitable business while maintaining focus on their creative expression and client relationships. Savvy marketing advice on how to select a target audience, create a marketing strategy, design effective marketing pieces, and fine-tune the studio environment to appeal to families is complemented by before-and-after examples of studio mailers with an analysis of layout and design changes. The human side of the business of portrait photography is also addressed, including tips for improving interpersonal skills, gaining community visibility, managing the client intake process, and walking prospective clients through the product line.

This useful guide helps couples make smart decisions every step of the way, from selecting a photographer to choosing dress styles and colors, bouquets, and shades of makeup that positively impact portraits. 50 color photos.

Full of instructive images and insightful hints, this book is indispensable for photographers who want to boost their wedding-album sales. Updated with the latest styles, this showcase of 15 top wedding photographers' work and business practices provides insight into each artist's creative process, client service skills, and album design. Information on album types and basic design principles is accompanied by tips for marketing albums, including creating a dazzling sample album, expertly preparing the images for presentation after the ceremony, and discussing the importance of the album as a memento to be cherished for a lifetime. Savvy photographers will learn how to turn an album purchase into a multiple-album sale, how to add on á la carte images, and how to make networking and referrals generate additional business.