rosina_dibello

<p>I agree face to face with you Sister in Law - and the contract should be signed by the one paying the bill - not the bride and groom - i only deal with the client that writes the check. Any other details to be worked out with the B&G should be dealt with after a deposit has been made.</p>

<p>Sounds like they have you down as a subcontractor and will send you a tax form for the income at the end of the year - i know you have to make over a certain amount - but some companies request it anyway so they have it for their records.<br>

You might want to get a tax ID # - it's easy and the form can be filled out on line - you can then save yourself the trouble of handing out your SS#</p>

<p>The client should be communicating that to the photographer. I have an option for the client to have a spiral proof book - which is easier for the clients to flip through and choose images. I also place the images in categories on line for eg. "bride getting ready" "bride with mom", etc. Then my client receives a form with the top 3 images of each category that our studio can work off of the create an album design.</p>

 

<p>If you have experience in the "food photography" or "product photography" field - I would say the test run is out of the question. I have never done a "test run" for any client - but if I felt it was going to lead to something Lucrative - then i would stipulate that it is just that - meet show them some images - but I wouldn't do any post production and spend hours of time/ travel/ work/ with no guaranteed compensation. <br>

You might want to offer them recommendations from other "product Photography" clients that your studio has shot for in the past.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>What type of photo session is the client requesting? Please be more specific.</p>

<p>Kristy,<br>

As a professional business owner you need to accept of reject jobs on the standards that you set for you studio.<br>

"I verbally booked a wedding" you need to have a contract in place and a downpayment in place for anything to be officially booked.<br>

"she only wants me for 1-2 hours" You have to decide if your studio has a minimum of hours for booking events - my studio has a 4 hour minimum and if it is less - they still are required to pay for the 4 hours.<br>

Be firm and clear- She obviously felt your flexibility when she dictated to you what the changes were.<br>

Have a contract in place for your studio bookings - you might need to visit with a lawyer to help you write this out - it should include a "change in date" by the client, a "cancellation policy", etc. All of which should be fair to both parties and clearly stated in the contract.<br>

Any deposit that is accepted by my studio "in case of a cancellation" is kept for the new date- provided we are available, or for any other sessions available at our studio.<br>

Hope this helps</p>

 

<p>I would recommend that you might consider working for another professional wedding photographer before making the plundge youself. You can learn a lot like how to get control and keep it in a professional way. How not to let guests interfere with your work. You can also learn to "stiff arm" effectively guests running up to take the shot that you've set up. (ha ha) For ex. If I just set up a bride and groom in front of the cake - my assistant is clearing the way of guests that will be in the way. </p>

 

<p>I would remove the bracket - use a bounce card on the flash - and the pocket wizard is triggering off camera flash for room light.</p>

<p>Bring you lighting set up and backdrop. You can do all the formals and bride and groom pictures with that.</p>

 

<p>The clarity of the image is good, however the guests and the orange chair are very distracting - a different angle might have made for a less distracting background.</p>

<p>One suggestion for further orders - I print out every single page - color copy and have the bride initial the pages to approve them and they stay in a file in my studio.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>She might want to go with manual on the flash (rather than ttl) at 1/2 to 3/4 power so it doesn't drain the flash right away...<br>

and change her setting to 1/60 - was she bouncing flash? if so she might want to try angled with a bounce cap-</p>

 

<p>In Response to the "table shots" - really a thing of the past. I think brides are realizing that they don't want to fill their album up with table shots- that seemingly upset the guests no matter how nicely you ask them. Experienced professional photographers have a list of formals and group shots that usually are taken prior the the beginning of the reception. As per every consultation with my bride and groom a detailed itinerary of the evening is laid out... I always recommend that my staff and I will be taking as many group shots of the guests as possible at the reception, but keeping the focus on the activities of the bride and groom.</p>

<p>In Response the the "photographer leaving early" - also this should have been laid out in the contract as to the time frame that he was hire to cover.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Adrienne,<br>

I recommend also that you go with you gut instinct and RUN the other way!<br>

She is asking for trouble and it's not going to be worth the aggrevation- refund her money and let her know that she no longer meets your requirements for the type of clients that you do business with... turn the tables on her.<br>

I do not do business with people who are like the woman that you described and I let them know that I will not be available to shoot their wedding and recommend that they find another photographer...<br>

She is setting you up for trouble.<br>

Let her know that her demands are unreasonable, and she isn't being cooropertaive in allowing you to capture the photo's in the time that YOU need set aside.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The city will stop you from soliciting on their public beach. Unless you have required licenses that most beaches require from professionals using their property. <br>

I too am local to a beach area and know that they require permits as do other locations such as parks.<br>

You might want to check with the City - parks and recreation dept. to see what is required - so you don't have to go through the embarassment of being asked to leave.</p>

 

<p>I recommend you give this wedding to a professional... it sounds as though you've never shot a wedding before and this is not the way to learn...</p>

<p>You don't want to go any lower than F/11 - possibly even f/15<br>

The key is additional lightining... rent another flash - or set up strobe lighting with an umbrella to shoot through for soft light.</p>

<p>Do not use the 50 mm... you'll be on the back wall of the church... go with the 17/85 or 17/50 whichever one is sharper.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I have a question:<br>

Are your images models or real brides?</p>

What a dream studio!

 

I'd turn it into a boutique/ viewing room...

 

As you have your clients viewing their images... they can also browse your boutique offering your latest in photo gifts... christmas cards... girls love to shop!

It depend on the height of the ceiling and the size of the room... but I would hold open the option of setting up two strobes with umbrellas set up in a way to provide clean light.

In my experience Christmas Cards are not the product to make a huge profit on...

1. because they are going to be too expensive for the client if marked up too much

2. they can bring the clients back - if we price them reasonable.

 

you should be charging a rate for the sitting fee, not including it in the package unless you have the packages already set up...

 

at any rate you need to price it so your paid for the sitting fee - lets say it was an on location shoot... $150.00 which would include your design time.

 

Then the products sell a-la-carte

Your prices are very fair and competitive.

 

However I would recommend that you choose price packages... it is very difficult for some clients to see the value of what they are purchasing (all your time and post production), but if you give them package prices the see so many prints, dvd to music...

 

I recently changed my price list from a-la-carte to packages and have seen a big difference.

I am a shooter first and foremost and yes, have always had questions on meeting clients, my personal presentation to them... because business is my secondary learned skill...

 

But thanks anyway for your input.

 

Continued success to all of you!

John,

 

I'm sorry... I was talking regarding the sales presentation... of course I chat with them like i would my sister... we talk about the event the reception the dress style... bouquet... all that fun stuff and everything gets put in at the appropriate time... so yes I do make my bride feel very comfortable even to the extent of offering refreshements and snacks...

 

 

I was more looking for "What does everyone else do for their presentation?" so that I can compare and add and delete as needed.

 

Thanks

I have just opened my studio/office outside of my home. Yeah! finally...

 

I want to make sure I'm on track with my presentation to my clients.

 

I have various prints on the walls... I talk about my style of photography... my background experience...

A slideshow presentation - brief will be viewed showing engagement images, wedding images, and some album

design layouts...

 

I will have a sample album displayed... some save the date cards... ideas for pre wedding stuff for them to purchase

from their eng. pictures...

 

Then the session fees are presented...

 

And review of the contract...

Am I missing anything? I am more a "not so pushy" person and don't like to push the sale on the initial call... but it

seems that brides are shopping around more these days....

 

Thanks in advance.

Rosina