Surge in inquires...

[HotHolly]

So, is it normal to have a surge in wedding inquiries after the holidays? I have a few requests this week alone for July weddings. I'm wondering if thats normal for this time of year...

[Steelsun]

Yep - all those Xmas proposals.
Plus July, one of the most popular months for weddings, is at about the "6-month" window now.

Divorce filings go up after the holidays also.

[LadyShutterBug]

not only the christmas proposals... but this is generally a "get stuff done" time of year for people. all their year-end business dealings are over, and they are through with holiday stuff.

[Clint_Smith]

Holly we booked 3 weddings on January 3rd and met with 2 others.

[HotHolly]

Thanks guys. I'm nervous b/c we are opening a new studio in a few months. I was thinking about raising our wedding prices, but wasn't sure if this surge was a surge.

A new phenomenon is occurring here. The other photogs in town have LOWERED their wedding prices to $750 WITH digital negatives! Last year they were all flocking around the $900 price point. Some are newbies, some just need classes or something. Only 1-2 people are actually good. But thats my market.

I wasn't wanting to shoot a wedding for less than $2K - it isn't worth it. But the market trend is making me leery of the price hike.

What would you say the surge pattern is for the next few months? When does it taper off again?

THANK YOU!

[Elsaspet]

Holly,
Don't concern yourself with what others are doing. RAISE your prices until people STOP calling. Then back off to the last raise.
According to the Knot, Novemeber and December is the largest proposal months of the year. Go with it!
Mike and I have only 4 bookings more for 2007. We have just opened 2008.
Don't get into the cheapy war. You can't win. There is always someone willing to do the job cheapcheapcheap. Separate yourself by your work. Show them something they wont find anywhere else. You will have them beating down your doors.
Best of luck to you as well as the other TPFers.
Hugs,
Cindy

[HotHolly]

Wow Cindy! How are you getting clients? Bridal Fairs? Billboards? ????

[Elsaspet]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

Wow Cindy! How are you getting clients? Bridal Fairs? Billboards? ????

A few small adverisers and word of mouth. :-)
We get x amount of calls each week, and fortuantely we book 99.9 percent of them. Having nice photos help, but I'm convinced that most of it has to do with sales. I know a lot of GREAT photogs who aren't booked hardly at all.
:-(

[photobykim]

hee hee holly, I was just wondering the same thing. I have 2 weddings in may on the books and that's it. I've got no surge here!

[LadyShutterBug]

whenever i have raised prices, i have always offered a promo with the new prices so that people who have looked before but not booked don't get sticker shock ;)

i raised prices considerably in december, but i'm running a "book by 1/31 and receive a 20% discount".

it's a considerable amount they're saving, but i am still making more than waht the previous price points were.

[HotHolly]

Thanks for the tips...We hadn't had prices listed on our website until this year...so no one knew what they were last year. They just thought we were "expensive."

[Doug]

me too, got several in one week after hearing very little in Nov and Dec.