Once More Unto the Breach

[daveb]

I feel slightly strange posting this ... and some that know me may be a little shocked ... BUT
I am considering after a 20 year absence getting back into wedding photography.

Yes the world has changed since my trusty F3 was my workhorse... but I do have the experience of a couple hundred weddings under my belt ranging from simple affairs to 1 at the National Cathedral in DC.

But that is so water under the bridge now from the aspect of having contemporary, "showcase" work... so from the marketing standpoint I am starting from literally nothing in the wedding world.

Not that I cant do weddings but I have no evidence that I can...

So here are my questions ... (and they are fairly obvious)

1) how to effectively develop a marketable book of images with out having a solid starting point.

2) would marketing based on my other work be effective ?

3) Best means of advertising

4) any advice that I can get ...

Thanks Y'all

[stephenpinn]

Good luck Dave, my hiatus from wedding photography has been near 25 years, with nearly 300 weddings under my belt. I don't think I could do it again, it is so different now. I shot for a very high end studio (not my own) and only shot wedding formals and ceremony, receptions were covered by someone else, but I would shoot 2-3 on a Saturday. I was much skinnier then LOL

[daveb]

yeah I was a few pounds less of a man then also !
BUT... I think that that I am up for the task ... we are putting the foundation in place to do it ... changing my equipment mix ... and things like that ... I think that things will be good once we actually get the marketing underway

[David Whatley]

Pick up a wedding dress at a garage sale, or borrow one from someone. Grab a couple of models and do some shots. Get creative, same dress, different models, Find a small church, that peopel still attend in coat and tie. Talk to the pastor and offer to shoot some "freee" family shots after a service if 3-4 familys will stay for an hour and be models and audience.
Watch here for the next, need help, I dont know what I'm doing and offer to be a lead or second for free.

And, now you have a book.

[daveb]

Yeah David ... good ideas I am thinking that is what I am going to do ... I am sure I can find some some wedding dresses in my friends network !

[David Whatley]

I have a beautiful size 0-1 if you have a model that size :)

[Outlaw]

You have tons of great options to play with Dave, congrats on getting back into the fray.

Don't be overwhelmed by anything you see from the 'fashionable' wedding photographers of the modern age - especially here in rural Texas, traditional wedding photography (indistinguishable from styles popular 20 years ago) is every bit as salable as the new stuff. Give yourself permission to work with what you've already got, and develop toward a style that inspires you.

To throw out some specific answers to your questions (of the many that could apply):

1) Find a mentor and assist / second shoot at their weddings.

2) You can certainly use your existing work to market with, but two decades down the road, your style may be notably different from back then. Give yourself time to stabilize your style before you start marketing a certain look or experience - you want your clients to have a clear and consistent impression of what you can do for them.

3) Almost all of the weddings I shoot come through unrelated referrals - senior photography clients, sports clients, family photo clients, etc. A strong and visible presence in your community is still some of the best advertising you can have. This is helped along mightily by a good blog-driven web site, e-mail newsletter, and daily Facebook presence. But I am primarily a portrait photographer, so I'm sure dedicated wedding photographers would have a more specific set of tactics and tools.

4) Have backups of everything. Have a simple but bulletproof contract. Take a big retainer to reserve a date on your calendar. Charge what you want and sell whatever products (prints, files on CD, albums) you want, don't let the grognards bully you. Focus as much on the experience you provide as the art and end products. Immediately partner with other local businesses that serve your target market: tux rentals, dress shops, wedding planners, caterers, florists, churches and venues, jewelers, limo rentals, etc. Use your bog to reinforce your artistic talent, your personality, and your authority in the field - make your web site a valuable, go-to, must-read resource for anyone planning a wedding in your community. Assume the title - don't be a wedding photographer, be The Wedding Photographer in your market. And remember, you don't have to be the best in the world, just the best in your clients' world.

Oh yeah, don't sweat the small stuff and have fun - you'll make vastly more money if you enjoy yourself along the way!

[daveb]

@david - Thanks I may take you up on that dress offer very soon !

@James - Good advice on all points. I do have a wedding contract that an attorney drew up for me so I am covered there. And yes the style has indeed changed drastically hopefully for the (much) better.

I am working on a refresh of the web site and blog and that is coming along ... It will have a strong social media connection when done.

It is going to take some pushing to get there but it is gonna be fun !