Speaking of Client Meetings.......

[MyKey]

How do you go about it when you have a client meeting.

1. Meaning what do you wear?
2. What do you show?
3. If you show your work is it actual photos prints or digital?
4. If prints what size?
5. If Digital how do you display?
6. Do you show any wedding albums, if so what companies?
7. Where do you met your clients at?
8. What do you try to display your business as, meaning business, casual, relaxed, etc.

More on a curious side of me wants to know but also interested in how others go about thier business in an effort to get the same results as we all want - A booked client.

[Holly]

I wear what I would wear to photograph the wedding ceremony. Suit jacket and all.
Show sample proof album (10 x 13 - 12 up), sample parent albums (8 x 10 and 4 x 6), a few enlargements if they are interested. (usually the big ones stay in the car). Show them the contract and what all it entails...and of course the package lists. Been meeting at coffee shops lately, from the local Hastings "Hardback Cafe" to Starbucks to Panero if they are from the Houston area.

I guess I try to show myself and my business as professional, yet comfortable. We usually end up talking about them a lot, how they met, what type of wedding they are looking to have. Helps to give me an idea if we are right for each other or not. (I learned that lesson the hard way by taking on a client I didn't feel "right" about, ended up being the most challenging wedding I have ever shot - physically and emotionally)

[MyKey]

1. Meaning what do you wear?
Normally very dressed down, shorts, flipflops, t-shirts, even ball caps to be honest. We explain to the client what we can wear during the event and leave that up to them

2. What do you show?
3. If you show your work is it actual photos prints or digital?
4. If prints what size?
Prints in 8x10 format but getting away from this
Digital on Laptop and the Espon P-2000 if needed
6. Do you show any wedding albums, if so what companies?
Wedding Albums from Graphic Studio and Leather Craftsman

5. If Digital how do you display?
On HP 14 inch laptop as a general rule - including newly developed and designed wedding albums

7. Where do you met your clients at?
Normally at Coffee Shops in the Brazoria County area. If we are meeting in a large city we try and meet at Panera Bread since it has free Hi-Fi Web Access and we can show the client our website as well as hidden pages we have on our site just for client meetings.

8. What do you try to display your business as, meaning business, casual, relaxed, etc.
Main thing - FUN
We are relaxed by our dress, our work speaks for itself, or at least we try and display it as so and explain to them we are a little different than most so if they go with us there are no rules, no guidelines, no photo lists to go by (minus the few needed special family ones) and explain to them that they need to trust us to get the photos for thier special day. For them to relax and if needed we will play body guard to the drunk uncle who wont leave them alone or Aunt who got pissed off due to not being in a prime location in the large family picture. Basicly you see what you get with us, if you like it great we are going to have one heck of a time and if not we will gladly turn you on to many other wonderful photographers to suit their needs.

[Erin Kathleen]

1. Casual but cute...friends of mine are trying to teach me a sense of style. I'm an engineer and it's hard going, but I've been told I'm getting there. Mostly just trying to make them comfortable while still looking professional. It's a hard balance and I don't know if I've found it yet.
2. Right now I show them a portfolio album and the contract (of course). I'm working on a Zookbinder album which I'll be bringing to show (and try to sell). I've also ordered a proof album from Miller's for my meetings. I've had clients ask to see one entire wedding and to see what the proof album looks like, so this should acomplish both at once.
3. Actual prints
4. My portfolio album thingy has prints sizes 8 by 10, 5 by 7 and 5 by 5. The Zookbinder album that I'm working on will be a 10 by 10 album.
5. NA
6. Not yet. See above. I'm also considering an album with Art Leather since some clients have requested sometihng more traditional.
7. Usually Starbucks. I live (and work) out in the country and it's a long drive for some clients. I also don't have a studio so it doesn't make sense to meet them at my office (aka my house). I find a Starbucks reasonably close to them that isn't too ridiculous for me to drive to. They're open all hours that I would be meeting, I buy them a latte or whatever and we're comfortable. A few are a bit too loud, so I try to avoid those after I know about them.
8. Mostly I try to project a relaxing, customer-oriented business but very competant. They need to feel comfortable with me. I take pride in the fact that all of my clients have come up to me sometime during the reception or just afterwards offering to refer me to people and telling me to have people contact them if they have any questions about me before they see the photos. Thankfully, they're even more happy after seeing them, but they get to know me in the months before their wedding so they're very comfortable with me and confident in my abilities.

[Gordon]

sort of an aside, but I've found over the last few years that people react much more strongly
to prints, than to viewing files digitally. On a few workshops I've taught or been on, when we project images, there isn't much discussion, but when someone has a print in their hands, they show it to other people, talk about it and generally get a whole lot more engaged. (and thus have a better impression overall)

I would think this would apply equally well to wedding clients - something 'real' and tangible is I think a good way of showing your end product. (even if the client also wants digital versions)

[LoungeLizard]

1. Meaning what do you wear?

Clothes - business casual.

2. What do you show?

Portfolio representative of type of work they're interested in: weddings, bridals/engagements, portraits. We try to show a good mix of formal, casual, creative, and "effects" (color, B&W, sepia, etc.) We'll show them albums too - whether digital samples or physical as we acquire them.

3. If you show your work is it actual photos prints or digital?

Both - prints and digital.

4. If prints what size?

At least 8x12, but moving toward 13x19 matted on 16x20 mats

5. If Digital how do you display?

Notebook or tablet PC.

6. Do you show any wedding albums, if so what companies?

Right now, Art Leather, but soon GraphiStudio, Asukabook, and possibly Leather Craftsmen.

7. Where do you met your clients at?

Wherever they want to. Their home, coffee shop, restaurant, bar, wherever they want.

8. What do you try to display your business as, meaning business, casual, relaxed, etc.

Fun loving, casual, flexible. We strive to be "invisible" during the event, make the subject comfortable, and not add to the stress of the event. That's what we try to convey.

[dab94]

1. Meaning what do you wear?
Depends on the feeling I get from the potential client.
Sometimes nice jeans and a cute top, sometimes a bit dressier with slacks and a blouse. Always comfortable!

2. What do you show?
Uhm, images. Prints, proof magazine, and soon an album or two.

3. If you show your work is it actual photos prints or digital?
Just prints, for now. Working towards getting a laptop so I can show slideshows as well.

4. If prints what size?
Mostly small prints, but putting together a collection of 11x14s matted to 16x20

5. If Digital how do you display?
See 3

6. Do you show any wedding albums, if so what companies?
Soon! Looking into a couple of different companies.

7. Where do you met your clients at?
Either at their home or a coffee shop. I've been 'office shopping' though, hoping for a good location at a decent price, so I don't have to travel to clients and meet at coffee shops anymore. I've had several no call/no shows where I drove more than 30 minutes to meet.

8. What do you try to display your business as, meaning business, casual, relaxed, etc.
Casual, relaxed and fun.

[Gordon]

Another random memory floated up over lunch.

I got married about 4 years ago, and spent somewhere around $3000 on the wedding photography. Main decision over and above did we like the pictures was did we want
this person to be at our wedding. Several of the people we spoke to had okay to
good photographs, but came across as annoying, arrogant or just generally someone
I wouldn't have wanted to be at my wedding, and certainly not have paid for them to
be there.

The person we did pick has ended up a good friend of mine and I've gone on to do
photographic work with since then.

Point being, it isn't so much the pictures that are on display, as you, when you meet
with clients.

[MyKey]

Originally Posted by GordonMcGregor

...Point being, it isn't so much the pictures that are on display, as you, when you meet
with clients.

I could not agree with you more Gordon! Our goal is to have someone who we end up being friends with by the end of the event and not just hired help!

[mramos]

1.Meaning what do you wear?
business casual

2.What do you show?

I take a laptop with a slideshow, portfolio with 4x6's, and one print of each size I usually use. wallet-11x14

3.If prints what size?

see above

4.If digital how do you display?
see above

5.Do you show any wedding albums?

not yet. coming soon

6. Where do you meet your clients?

If opposite end of Houston, will meet half way. Has been from my house, to hotel lobby at the Galleria, coffee house, IHOP, UH campus. Anywhere they feel comfortable.

7. What do you try to display your business as?

Relaxed and easygoing. Wether they pick the largest package or the smallest, they will get more than expected.

[Will Raybourn]

1. Meaning what do you wear?
Casual clothes...golf shirts, nice jeans...nothing fancy.
2. What do you show?
Portfolio of 8x10s, DVD Slideshows, some digital images on laptop.
3. If you show your work is it actual photos prints or digital?
Both.
4. If prints what size?
8x10s
5. If Digital how do you display?
Slideshow and laptop.
6. Do you show any wedding albums, if so what companies?
No albums yet to use for samples...just switched to wanting to use the albums through Millers, preferrably the Legend series from Northwestern.
7. Where do you met your clients at?
Their homes, coffee shops, restaurants...I leave the choice to them so that they are in a comfortable environment.
8. What do you try to display your business as, meaning business, casual, relaxed, etc.
Relaxed and caring. The most important thing I try to do is show my respect for Wedding Photography and show that I care about the job. The other is to make the couple relaxed about the concept of the photography.

[ladydiva]

How do you go about it when you have a client meeting.

1. Meaning what do you wear?
Whatever I have on, usually something casual unless I'm coming from work, then dressed up, business casual.
2. What do you show?
3. If you show your work is it actual photos prints or digital?
4. If prints what size?
Sample albums- 4x6, digital proofbook and loose prints in a slick little box.
5. If Digital how do you display?
Displayed on 17' widescreen in slideshow format.
6. Do you show any wedding albums, if so what companies?
I show wedding albums but I dont know the name of the company.
7. Where do you met your clients at?
Studio, coffee shop, restaurant, etc. Anywhere which is convienient except for my home, thats off limits.
8. What do you try to display your business as, meaning business, casual, relaxed, etc.
I want my business to be portrayed as me at face value~~very laid back and casual, with a sense of humor.

[Elsaspet]

I just had my first solo client meeting yesterday. Whew was I nervous! I had been referred by a much more experienced wedding photographer who had already been booked, but who thought the clients would like my stuff. The bride arrived with her very leary Mother. Mom wasn't too keen on the idea of a newbie wedding photog. I showed them my stuff, a pathetically slim album of 8x10s and 5 x 7s, and asked alot of questions as to what they were looking for. I'm glad to say it all turned out well and they ended up signing on and leaving me with a nice deposit check. I'm still not sure what it was that ended up softening the Mother's attitude towards me.
I'm really glad to see this thread. Just this morning I was telling my husband that I thought it would be cool to do a slideshow presentation to compliment the album stuff, but first I'll need a bit more photos.
Anyway, I feel like I got a lot of good information from this thread. Thanks so much for posting it Mykey!

[Elsaspet]

Oh hey! I just noticed that I finally got a thousand posts. Cool! In under a year too. Maybe that's why my hubby refers to me as "Chatty Kathy". Hehe.