Wedding Photography business questions

I've done some wedding photography and am thinking of getting more serious

about it. I have a few questions regarding the BUSINESS of wedding

photography, if you would be so kind as to answer them, I'd appreciate it.

1) do you do any contact management? i.e. identify bridal couples not yet

commited to a photographer and proactively put your name before them? This

works for the Database consulting business, but I'm not certain if it is a

viable approach for something as inherently personal and emotional as a

wedding. (I'm not talking advertising here, but sending targeted brochures to

specific people and doing cold call marketing, that sort of thing).

2) Do you use computer software to manage the non accounting side of your

business? As a database consultant, I can probably throw something together

in Microsoft Access or Visual Basic that will get me started, but I don't want

to do that if there are inexpensive options already out there that can get me

over the management learning curve more quickly than trial and error. Any

suggestions? Is it too early to be concerned about this?

3) Do you use an accountant? Do you use Quickbooks software, etc, or a

combination of both? Again, is it too early to be concerned about this?

4) How often do you review/revise your pricing structure? I assume that once

you have quoted someone a price, that price is good for a set amount of time.

But in general, do your prices remain stable for an entire year? Do you feel

comfortable with raising them in the middle of the wedding season?

1) do you do any contact management? Yes, untargeted at specific reception centers. Starting out you might consider cold calling etc: I would be wary of the perceived to actual cost benefits.

2) Do you use computer software to manage the non accounting side of your business? Everything is on computer, except my diary notes.

3) Do you use an accountant? Yes. Also a bookkeeper and MYOB; a lawyer; and insurance broker.

4) How often do you review/revise your pricing structure? I assume that once you have quoted someone a price, that price is good for a set amount of time. But in general, do your prices remain stable for an entire year? Do you feel comfortable with raising them in the middle of the wedding season?

When necessary. We do not have a `season` and if we did we would not think that way. If the price structure is to increase both the `pending` and `confirmed` clients are contacted and informed the prices which we advised are to increase, but NOT for their situation, even if `pending` are inquiring for more than a year in advance. We do this to ensure any client referees are fully aware of a price increase pending.

This last answer must be read in conjunction with this link:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Jrnr

Regards

WW