Forget Engagement Sessions?

[skyoftexas]

Originally Posted by kayumangi

Actually I don't care what you will say about my engagement sessions because you're not paying for them and you're not my target audience.

Are you telling me you care more about your client's opinions than you do for mine? Outrageous!

[Hanky]

I wish I could have had Leslie with me in the Phils when I popped simply cz I know she's tops and my honey would love to have those pics.

[lyncca]

LOL, Marius, I came to say the same thing :)

Those that don't want to do engagement sessions.... that's ok with me. That's more clients for those of us that do!

Different things appeal to different clients. That's why we can all be successful.

[suerenee]

I think what I like most about this forum is that we can all share our different thoughts on how our businesses run. Hell, I still shoot posed photos. Why? because that's what will end up hanging over my client's couch. It's not my favorite type of photography but it's what my clients like and what my clients buy.

With the thousands of weddings that occur each year in each of our market areas there are so many types of couples out there we can't be all things to all people. I am not a craigslist photographer. My packages include engagements and 2 shooters for each wedding. some brides want that, others don't. I don't want to shoot 52 weeks a year so I only have to get 20-30 brides to want to book me.

I think engagements are ESSENTIAL to my biz. It might not be to yours. whatever. That's the joy of owning and running your own company!

[sioleabha]

I am not a wedding photographer, but I am at that age where everyone I know has been getting married over the last five years or so. My grandmother's fridge is covered with "save the date" cards and magnets, all featuring my cousins' engagement photos.

[Nena2007]

I think to fear loosing the wedding over a bad engagement session means that you probably shouldn't be shooting weddings in the first place. This isn't a game of "trick the couple" I don't feel the need to fish for clients and lock them in and fear that they will back out. Maybe you have been burned before - I don't know, but I think that is ludicrous. I treat my clients like gold, giving them exceptional customer service, great quality portraits and we have a great time. I would be horrified if I knew someone I was hiring wasn't confident enough in their skills to shoot an engagement session for fear of being out of money. That's just me though....

[lyncca]

Originally Posted by Nena2007

I think to fear loosing the wedding over a bad engagement session means that you probably shouldn't be shooting weddings in the first place. This isn't a game of "trick the couple" I don't feel the need to fish for clients and lock them in and fear that they will back out. Maybe you have been burned before - I don't know, but I think that is ludicrous. I treat my clients like gold, giving them exceptional customer service, great quality portraits and we have a great time. I would be horrified if I knew someone I was hiring wasn't confident enough in their skills to shoot an engagement session for fear of being out of money. That's just me though....

I absolutely agree, but gave up on this person. I wanted to go on more, but I will leave it at that :) He does not need to be in this business if he runs it this way.

[StevenGWebb]

Geez man, why shoot anything at all if there is such a fear that your results are going to so repulse people and why be in business if you fear your personality alone will cause people to hate you. It might be a good time to re-evaluate your career goals.

Engagement sessions appear to still be a profit center, as do weddings and post nups.

[csa]

Bingo, Marius!