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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Headed for the bridal shows ...

 
 


Scott Brooks
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Dec 31, 2005, 1:02 AM

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Headed for the bridal shows ... Can't Post
Starting on the 8th I have three straight Sundays of Bridal shows ... nothing really huge, although two of them will probably have 250 to 400 brides. The last one is a mall show. When I did video I tried to avoid them because I'm not in the price range that some of these gals are looking for. Now that I'm starting all over again with photography things are changing.

Would you believe ... that a starting price of $995, all files on CD, and a $250 print credit ... and I'm still higher than almost all my local competitors?

To that I'm going to offer a basic DVD for another $1000 ... only if booked in conjunction with my photography.

  • Their video will start out with a slide show of photos from the wedding day ... no video of prep ... just stills.
  • Video coverage (one camera from the balcony) begins with moms escorted in and runs through the recessional.
  • Video picks up with toasts, cutting of the cake, first dance, parents dances and one or two fast dances.
  • They will not receive any other montage or highlights.
This way for under two grand they can get photos and video. There will be essentially no editing of the one camera video, they still get great audio, and it's still better than a relative. They're also receiving a slide show (photo montage) that they would normally have to pay $250 for. AND it's only available if I'm doing the photos, so I feel pretty good about it.

I don't know if it will fly or not ... but I'll have a good idea in about another month to six weeks.

Almost forgot ... my other video package is $2400, so it's either one or the other.

Scott


Brackish
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Dec 31, 2005, 5:23 AM

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Scott Brooks
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Dec 31, 2005, 5:45 AM

Post #3 of 8 (667 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Headed for the bridal shows ... [In reply to] Can't Post
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Would you believe ... that a starting price of $995, all files on CD, and a $250 print credit ... and I'm still higher than almost all my local competitors?
 What are most of your competitors charging? And what do the gals usually get for the competitor price?
One guy in particular is a teacher. I have actually recommended him on a couple of occasions. He's charging $800, provides the files on CD, gives them 12 8x10s and 50 5x7s ... unlimited coverage.

I would say this is typical of the part time photographers around here.


Storm Crow
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Dec 31, 2005, 8:48 AM

Post #4 of 8 (659 views)
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Re: [Sparky] Headed for the bridal shows ... [In reply to] Can't Post
Sounds like a plan Scott. Let me know how it works out for you as I'm headed in this same direction also but just a bit north of you, well, more than a bit but north anyways, lol.
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Jeko
Enthusiast


Dec 31, 2005, 11:01 AM

Post #5 of 8 (656 views)
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Re: [Sparky] Headed for the bridal shows ... [In reply to] Can't Post
Perhaps you need to not be another apple in the orchard of photographers. I mean, offer the prospects an alternative, rather than more of the same with another price level.

I noticed all the local photographers had several similarities. More traditional imagery and traditional albums, with a large chunk of their revenue from orders for reprints. I went another direction....

My image shooting is less traditional than most (although I do get the posed shoots of larger groups too ==> I just keep the fisheye handy as an alternative too). Also, I am not as crafty and neat to build the traditional albums. Hence, I offer the coffee table (hard-book) type album. It is digitally edited (cleaner and more creative options), cheaper to reprint (my editing cost is buried in the package), less cumbersome than the traditional albums (again, IMO), and has great color rendition.

I didn't want to be a photo lab either, so I include a few prints in the package and then give image files to clients. I even built a board which shows them what results can be achieved at different local sources and for what prices... from Sam's Clubs to premium labs.

Of course, not every prospect is going to favor this style. But I'm also finding enough that hold it in higher regard than the traditional. They like what I like, and I enjoy doing what I do much more!

I am more prepared to plug the photography for this years bridal shows, and really do look forward to that aspect as much as video. My goal is to balance photo and video, rather than needing to lower video prices to increase business (and backlog). Photo fills in the weekends and profit margin, without generating as much editing backlog. I also enjoy our vantage point as videographers to watch and learn techniques from other photographers still.

Jeko

Sony VX2100's, iRivers, M-audio 24/96, Canon 5Ds/20Ds (and too much glass), Vegas6, PhotoShop CS3, Lightroom, etc.


Scott Brooks
Veteran

Dec 31, 2005, 12:07 PM

Post #6 of 8 (647 views)
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Re: [Jeko] Headed for the bridal shows ... [In reply to] Can't Post
My goal is to get the safe shots and then experiment. I would love to do more PJ work, but I know granny and mom are going to want those formals. I'm hoping to push "fun & relaxed" formals as opposed to those stiff, stand straight shots. I would like to do more outside and skip some of the altar return shots if at all possible. And the day that a bride tells me they want nothing but PJ with no posed shots .... well, that probably won't happen ... but I can dream.

Although I could care less about putting an album together, I have several samples made up. I will not offer traditional matte or slip in albums. I'll have one coffee table book and one that I consider more of a fine art book. I KNOW no one from here carries this line of albums.

The only marketing materials other than some 11x14s and albums will be a nice business card and a DVD slide show. I may have to print up some type of price sheet, but my goal is just to get them to the website where prices are listed.

Granted ... I've ony shot one wedding to date on my own, but I second shot with another photograper on a few weddings last year and I do feel comfortable. I told my wife I'm more nervous about going in to the shows with the right pricing than I am about shooting on my own. She seems to think I need to bring the price down to be more competitive ... at least till I get more experience.

As for myself, I don't want to put myself in a position where I'm leaving money on the table.

I don't remember the stress involved when I started out in video. I'm sure it was there, but I'm too old to rember. Unsure


Jeko
Enthusiast


Dec 31, 2005, 12:37 PM

Post #7 of 8 (644 views)
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Re: [Sparky] Headed for the bridal shows ... [In reply to] Can't Post
If what you want to do is PJ, then why pretend to do something else? I believe we enjoy that same thing... more real action stuff with just a few posed shots of groups. Even the posed shots are more active with people moving or interacting.

So I suggest that you push that which is not what the majority are doing as a "premium" package, and make the standard stuff done by the others seem lesser. If you treat your style like its sub-standard, so will your clients. If you hold it up as the target for all to reach, the public will desire it more and value it accordingly.

Jeko

Sony VX2100's, iRivers, M-audio 24/96, Canon 5Ds/20Ds (and too much glass), Vegas6, PhotoShop CS3, Lightroom, etc.


Scott Brooks
Veteran

Dec 31, 2005, 3:35 PM

Post #8 of 8 (633 views)
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Re: [Jeko] Headed for the bridal shows ... [In reply to] Can't Post
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If what you want to do is PJ, then why pretend to do something else? I believe we enjoy that same thing... more real action stuff with just a few posed shots of groups. Even the posed shots are more active with people moving or interacting.

So I suggest that you push that which is not what the majority are doing as a "premium" package, and make the standard stuff done by the others seem lesser. If you treat your style like its sub-standard, so will your clients. If you hold it up as the target for all to reach, the public will desire it more and value it accordingly.
I would love to start out doing exactly what I want ... and I will tell my clients up front how I see myself capturing the wedding. But when you're in a town of 20,000 and 10,000 are college students ... you have to work your way into it. Right now I don't have enough stuff to really show that style, so I have to work my way into it.

I will suggest to my clients between 5 and 8 groupings. I'll also suggest that we try to do them other than at the altar.

I'm going to do three shows ... one local another about 35 minutes away and a third about 50 minutes away. The one north of here definately has more money. The one south of here is about the same as local ... more of a mid to lower end bride.

I think if I can just get the first year under my belt I'll be fine. It's just trying to detmine which end of the pool to jump. Sly