Jenn M
Veteran
Aug 31, 2006, 12:17 PM
Post #1 of 8
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I need to vent some good stuff for a change!
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Shane's DWF post hit some very interesting points - and I agree, I do believe it is more difficult for a videographer to come into the market over even a completely green aspiring photographer. Why? Perhaps b/c we have some advantage as we've had real shooting experience. We aren't as 'in awe' of the seasoned photographer. We already have a referral base of clients. Or is it that other photographers realize that we have an advantage over them, knowing both mediums and being able to provide both services well...
We met with a couple last night who said exactly that. They get it. They're an older couple, this is their second marriage, and they sat here and told us why video is so much more important and why we, offering both services, have an advantage over other companies who specialize in only one service. Needless to say, I asked the groom if he would be willing to do my sales calls for me! 
But they get it b/c they've been through it. The bride said she had a wedding album from her first marriage and she knows exactly where it went - in a drawer. They are a 'video-family', she said. Over the years, they've documented every milestone, every vacation, every family gathering with the camcorder and they watch those hi-8s far more often than they look at any photos. They paid to have all their old home movies converted to DVD. They get it.
The groom also went on to 'explain' to me that we have an advantage by offering both services b/c there is 'synergy' - exactly the word I've been using in my marketing and literature. One won't interfere with the other - instead, they will work together to get the best of both. I wanted to jump up and down and scream, "Yes! You get it!" They also said they've been to a good number of weddings where the photographers were, in their words, 'obnoxious' and pointed out that a majority of the photos those couples ended up with were unnecessary and hardly worth the distraction on the wedding day.
Like I said, if only he could do our sales calls for us. Doesn't matter though - it's hard to convince young couples of these things b/c they haven't lived life yet. This is usually the first really dramatic event in their life and they go overboard with traditional notions like photos b/c that's what they are 'supposed to do'.
Anyway, I'm so excited - we are doing our first photo-only job in October (well, it's for free - coverage only - but I'm calling it a job). It's a really small wedding - no dancing at the reception, dinner only. They were going to skip a professional photographer all together, but a videographer friend of theirs, who is doing the video as a 'gift' for them, hooked us up. We met with them earlier this week and they are really excited, and so am I. They even want to do engagement photos, and her family owns a horse farm, which is also where they got engaged (on one of the trails), so I suggested we do it there. She LOVED the idea and we're meeting in September. Finally, some samples! The ones we have are so scant and disjointed - taken on the sly while the photographer wasn't looking.
I'm also assisiting another photographer in September a few times - the only photographer who not only agreed to my request, but actually answered it. It's interesting, though, b/c she's far newer to the wedding industry than we are and I've already given her advice on contracts, etc. So, at least we are on somewhat of a level playing field. I find the newer photographers are a little less egocentric and more willing to share info as they are still somewhat excited about what they are doing.
So it's finally happening. finally. It's been frustrating b/c over the past few weeks we've met with at least 2 other couples who seemed interested in having us do both... until we didn't have any real samples to show. It's almost not fair b/c if a photographer were adding video, they could get away with not showing anything b/c who really cares about video. Problem is, most couples have much lower expectation of video and, once again, this works to the photographer's advantage.
But hopefully that will change. Like the groom said last night, "Within a year, I expect you to be so busy with this b/c you will be able to offer the superior product." I hope he's right.
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