portfolio & meeting with clients

[FireHeart Photography]

I don't show any digital images at all - I show prints - canvas - mounted prints - different type papers - before and after's for retouching and 4 albums. bring the contract with me and if they sign right then - I give them something extra...

[lyncca]

Francie, that is good to know. Like mentioned above, I'm still getting everything down on meeting clients. I show all the sample products and I have stopped bringing the digital ones since I have so many on my site now (and I am carrying in enough as it is), but I wondered about the contract.

I've been 50/50% on booking with giving them the contract in advance vs. after we meet and they make their decision. I didn't want to be presumptious, but I also wanted them to know what my terms were before saying, "I am ready to sign".

Offering an incentive to sign immediately or within say, 3 days sounds like a great idea. Many of my brides have their parents review the contract and/or pay the deposit, so they just can't sign on the spot. I typically get them booked, but it is taking longer than I like to get it done. I would like to improve the turnaround for sure.

[JenJohnson79]

Definitely bring examples of albums. Holly is right, getting their hands on something is way to go. I bring a portfolio with several prints from e-sessions, bridals, and weddings (I think there are about 30-35 prints of different sizes in there), then I also bring two albums, one that I put together of several different weddings and bridal portraits and one that is a complete wedding from start to finish that is a copy of a client's album.

[FireHeart Photography]

I go over my contracts with the clients while they are there - I request that the person who is paying for the photography be at the meeting. I go over each piece of my 3 page contract so they clearly know what we are discussing - they need to clearly know that if they do not show up in time for pre-wedding photos - it's not my fault and if uncle Bob tries to take my shot, I will polietly tell him not to, etc. I don't offer anything beyond signing at the time of consultation. I also request that if they are looking at other photographers that I be the last one they meet with. The only thing I send them ahead of time is my package pricing. I close about 90% of my deals at the time of consultation. I want the decision maker (money person) there at the consultation. I want to close them - I will make adjustments to the packages on the spot. I know my pricing ratios so well that I know what I can switch out and what I can not. I go over the contract before I ask for the gig. I want to insure they understand anything. My closing is something like... if you book with me now, I will provide you with ______ what ever it is that seems to be the stopping block for them... usually about a 300. value. Small parent album, extra photo credit, pocket albums for thanks you's to the bridal party - or upgrade album... that ususally does the trick. hope that helps...

[PhotoDude79]

I have Prints, Albums and a mofo -ing IPAD..... They love this thing.

[khanhfat]

lol at the Ipad reply .. yea , iPad can increase your chance of booking too :D.

[lyncca]

Originally Posted by FireHeart Photography

I go over my contracts with the clients while they are there - I request that the person who is paying for the photography be at the meeting. I go over each piece of my 3 page contract so they clearly know what we are discussing - they need to clearly know that if they do not show up in time for pre-wedding photos - it's not my fault and if uncle Bob tries to take my shot, I will polietly tell him not to, etc. I don't offer anything beyond signing at the time of consultation. I also request that if they are looking at other photographers that I be the last one they meet with. The only thing I send them ahead of time is my package pricing. I close about 90% of my deals at the time of consultation. I want the decision maker (money person) there at the consultation. I want to close them - I will make adjustments to the packages on the spot. I know my pricing ratios so well that I know what I can switch out and what I can not. I go over the contract before I ask for the gig. I want to insure they understand anything. My closing is something like... if you book with me now, I will provide you with ______ what ever it is that seems to be the stopping block for them... usually about a 300. value. Small parent album, extra photo credit, pocket albums for thanks you's to the bridal party - or upgrade album... that ususally does the trick. hope that helps...

Thanks Francie, this is really helpful! I think I'm going to give it a shot too :)

[oldfotopro]

What is an IPAD ?

[JStrattonPhotography]

I would LOVE to get an IPad, those things rock!

I booked the wedding. It is last minute and only for a few hours.

Putting together a few actual printed albums is high on my to do list.

[lyncca]

Originally Posted by FireHeart Photography

I go over my contracts with the clients while they are there - I request that the person who is paying for the photography be at the meeting. I go over each piece of my 3 page contract so they clearly know what we are discussing - they need to clearly know that if they do not show up in time for pre-wedding photos - it's not my fault and if uncle Bob tries to take my shot, I will polietly tell him not to, etc. I don't offer anything beyond signing at the time of consultation. I also request that if they are looking at other photographers that I be the last one they meet with. The only thing I send them ahead of time is my package pricing. I close about 90% of my deals at the time of consultation. I want the decision maker (money person) there at the consultation. I want to close them - I will make adjustments to the packages on the spot. I know my pricing ratios so well that I know what I can switch out and what I can not. I go over the contract before I ask for the gig. I want to insure they understand anything. My closing is something like... if you book with me now, I will provide you with ______ what ever it is that seems to be the stopping block for them... usually about a 300. value. Small parent album, extra photo credit, pocket albums for thanks you's to the bridal party - or upgrade album... that ususally does the trick. hope that helps...

I just wanted to say, "THANK YOU!" I met with a bride today and followed your advice about telling her to bring whoever she needed to make a decision and that there was a huge incentive to book when we met. She brought her mom (spanish) and the bride was translating to her mom. Mom LOVED my stuff but had a bit of a coronary about the prices. The bride just said that she hadn't been educated about it previously. Still, she didn't leave without signing and putting down her deposit.

The package she selected came with a bridal or engagement, and I told her if she booked then she would get both (valued at $300). She wasn't letting me out of her sight without signing! Oh, and by the way, I had also just raised my prices by $200 too.

This was my first bride to book on the spot!

[bthompson]

Right now I have a large flush mount album, a press printed engagement album, an album full of random 4x6s which is in dire need of an update and two 5x7 bridal albums (one before wedding, one trash the dress). I plan on getting a second flush mount and then ditching the 4x6s. I think that most people have viewed your online portfolio and that it's better to show them an album with a whole day's timeline. Plus, I agree, it's nice to have something to see. Plus, if you want to sell albums.. you want to show them samples of what they can get. :)

[mramos]

I prefer to show prints. The couple usually starts by looking through some of my art books, than I go through the different print sizes. If I'm meeting somewhere I go from wallets to 11x14. If at home office, I go up to a 20x30. I prefer large prints so they can see the quality of the image. I explain that I can make any size file look good on the web, but it takes a quality file to make a large print.