todd1664878707 Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 For those of you without a studio, how do you handle meeting with clients that live more than 30 minutes away? I recently expanded my advertising and I'm getting inquiries from people who live an hour or more away from me. Since I don't have a studio, I have been traveling to my client's homes to meet with them. If I was definately going to book the client, then I wouldn't have a problem with traveling an hour each way, but since it's an initial meeting I don't know what to expect. How would you handle it? And no, the answer isn't to just advertise locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrim8 Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I don't have a studio either. A lot of clients will offer to meet at a half way point like at a coffee shop or something. Everyone loves coffee! hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
think27 Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I do have client's that come from 30-45 min away. They come to my home.I meet with them in my living room. It's a nice comfortable, well decorated environment. You might consider meeting half way at a hotel lobby or a Starbucks. I'd go for the hotel lobby. Hotel's don't usually even know if youare a guest or not so it's a great place to meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonphotographics Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Agree to meet at a halfway point if possible. I am in the same situation, and utilize a local Starbucks that always seems to be in the vicinity. Unti I get a studio up/running, this has worked for me up to now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holly mikel Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 If you put prices and galleries on your website, then 90% of the time when they want to meet with you they have already decided to use you. (in my experience). I travel to Houston (about 45 mins - 1 hour) to meet with clients all the time at a local Panera Bread (coffee shop) or Starbucks. These locations have wireless internet capabilities, along with comfy couches and coffee tables to spread out your albums. I don't like to meet at their homes due to distractions. Kids, pets, whatever. :) It just seems more professional, if you don't have a studio, to meet in a neutral environment, buy them a cup of coffee and relax. Not to mention it's a lot easier to find than a house in some obscure subdivision. Basically, if you want the business in the nearby cities, you have to be willing to travel to meet with the clients. You win some, you lose some, but hopefully gas money for the meetings is also included in your general expenses, and you charge enough for the weddings to cover it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd1664878707 Posted November 8, 2005 Author Share Posted November 8, 2005 That's what I have been doing, but I recently received an inquiry over e-mail. The woman asked if I were available and I replied yes asked a few details about the wedding. She replied with the details. I replied once again and offered to meet her in a town that was 1/2 hour in the middle of us (she lives about an hour from me) and I never heard back from her. My gut feeling was she thought it was unprofessional of me to ask to meet in some coffee shop. That's what I have been doing all along and it seems to work pretty well. I guess this was the "lose some" part of "you win some, you lose some". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacy Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 At WPPI last year we went to see Alicia and Brooke speak and I was surprised that they don't have a studio- I mean- these people charge $7000+ for weddings. But he made a point of "qualifing" people first over the phone and he said he would drive 4 hours sometimes to meet potential clients if he felt like he could book them. It was interesting... We meet in Mary's living room. It's a seperate room all wedding-ed up. And we seem to book more if she serves this certain type of cookie- no joke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff_henry Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Okay Stacy, what kind of cookies and can I get the recipe? Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry_davis___st._louis__m Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Not having a studio (and this might be controversial)lowers cost! We state we are a residential studio, thus we pass the savings onto you (the customer). We are not trying to undermine them, it's just that we simply have lower cost. Frame your statement that you are a "Residential Studio" and at every opportunity you try to pass on the savings and then meet them in your home office (a nice display room) or the local Starbucks. Most of our backups are Studio folks, its a great community, we are all at different levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ_butner___portland__or Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I know the location of every Shari's & Starbucks, within one hour of me. :-) Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Starbucks! I hang out a lot at my local Starbucks anyway, always carry a camera with me, and sometimes go through stacks of proofs or contact sheets while drinking my morning coffee. I meet a lot of people there and have picked up some photo jobs that way, but so far no weddings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timcorridan Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 yeah stacy, i was thinking of giving a certain type of brownie myself, i hear clients can't get enough of em...they always seem to stare at the photos longer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medina photography cherry Posted November 9, 2005 Share Posted November 9, 2005 Same thing here. My home is way to small and 4 kids running around, way to noisy. I have a few places I meet at and so far it has worked out for me. One place I meet at is a little small that serves smoothies, I sit at the same table everytime (right next to the blender) can be a bit noisy at times. I would love to have a studio in the future though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holly mikel Posted November 9, 2005 Share Posted November 9, 2005 "One place I meet at is a little small that serves smoothies, I sit at the same table everytime (right next to the blender) can be a bit noisy at times." If it's noisy in that spot, why do you always sit there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurenm Posted November 9, 2005 Share Posted November 9, 2005 Tim, I'm sure your photos come across more artsy that way too! I've only done one "client meeting" so far and we met at a 99 Restaurant (their choice). I like the hotel lobby idea though as it is quiet usually, attractive area with comfy chairs and a coffee table. Some coffee shops can be a bit noisy and crowded. (though I guess hotel lobbies can be too) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darice michelle Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Hi Todd, I have booked with clients who are out of state but coming here for their wedding, so meeting for a consultation meeting isn't an option. I have done everything over the phone, sending collages of weddings via email, showing them my website of course and giving them access into our proof events for them to see an entire wedding. I have also given them referrals if they are really nervous about booking through someone they have not met personally. So far, it's working wonderfully. Darice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medina photography cherry Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Holly - Cause I am stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacy Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Tim- we're going to start a side business of selling "lucky" cookies to photographers- only $50 for 10 in a cute box...guarenteed to improve your luck within 3 months or you can send the cookies back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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