ishmail_mehmet

Check out this site, it will help.

http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/

 

This too is very handy:

 

http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-techniques.html

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

All your comments have been extremley helpful. I hope that this thread has helped others in this area. I do now feel reminded that not all clients are desirable and that more time is needed in pre qualifying them over the phone or email prior to the meeting. With this I can see how we can see the need of client and give them what they want, or close to it.

Perhaps $100 is not a big enough deposit, however my prices are not cheap. What do you reccomend as a percentage for a deposit?

Thank You to all your contributions. I certainly dont feel so alone with this challenge.

Hi Everyone, Ive been slowly building my photography business over the last 3

years.

My question is regarding a recent experience with prospective clients.

After meeting with a very young couple and congratulating them I gave them one

of my complimentary DVD vouchers, which is my latest marketing idea that im

currently executing.

I then showed them my folio which they appeared quite pleased with.

We then went over the packages which they chose the Silver.

We then went over times as to when and where I will be on the day.

I then went over my agreement which they understood (which is very simple

release form and covers not being liable in case Aunt MArie wasnt around for the

group photo).

Now from here you would imagine that all said and done that I would get the

minimal $100 deposit and say see you then.

I then said "So your happy to go with me?" The bride to be's reply was that she

was happy however they want to see some more photographers and that they would

get back to me. Now I know how this sounds, like she's brushing me off.

However if you were there you would see how comfortable they were with me and

that I established myself to them as being a very relaxed photographer unlike

what they had experienced from past weddings of their freinds.

Its very frustrating and is a concern when your offering something for free (2

DVDs) they like the work, have built good rapport, the price is reasonable.

 

What do you have to do to get their commitment, then and there?

I explained that their wedding was only 2 months away and that more bookings

would be made (sense of urgency)

 

Perhaps I should not have asked and simply assumed, confidance breeds confidence.

 

I can understand that when your buying a new car you shop around but when your

confident and you get that far the mind boggles.

 

If anyone has read this, thank you for your time. I believe this must be a

problem with other photographers when meeting new clients.

If any one has any closing tips please share as it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. Hopelessly Confident Ishmail.

I too have a day job and find that after a quite while has passed between gigs I get nervy. Just did one last weekend and second one today. I decided that I was going to put myself at ease with the Bride and Groom prior to the day. I did that by breaking the ice over the phone with them and regarding them as friends of mine rather than clients. With this as my mentality I met the family for the pre ceremony shots and made myself at home by being warm with her family and just being human. Being a Wedding Photographer is not as easy as people think. You not only have to have all the technical skills but you have to organize large groups of people while building a good rapport. As you have shot weddings before you obviously have these qualities. So my advice is simply be yourself and think of your clients as friends and have warm thoughts of them as you would a freind that you had'nt seeen in a while prior to the day.

I would over compensate for the flash, dial on the left of the 7D. Giving you a correct exposure for the backgroubd and the right exposure for the couple. You will obviously have to do some test shots to see how many flash compensation stops you'll need to get a good balance. These settings would mainly be for if the sun is at eye level and directly going into the lens. I did have an experience like this but it was at the end of the day where the sun was going down and right behind the bride and groom. Hope ive helped in some way.

I simply use XP. Select all your prints in a folder. This will bring up a print wizard, then choose contact sheet. This will print all the selected images with their file names or numbers as well.

I did my first wedding 2 years ago. Face the fera and do it anyway. As long as your in the moment, aware of lighting and your composition; all will be fine. Your sure to feel empowered by doing this. You will be fine.

Interesting link trying to explain the cause of the problem. But really who says it cant happen again. It took me 2 years for my sensor to go belly up.

Ishmail Mehmet , feb 18, 2006; 05:39 p.m.

Im surprised not to find anything on the forum about the world wide

recall of sensors for certain cameras. This would not affect recent 5d

or 7D KM models. I have a KM Dimage A1 that has recently had its

sensor replaced free of charge regardless of being out of warranty.

The recall is for certain cameras made form 2002 - 2004 if my memory

is correct. A friend of mine has also encounted the same problem and

he has a Sony. So I thought i'de best post this if anyone out their

has encounted a blurry purple image when they view thier images. Dont

fret if you do have this problem your sensor will be replaced. I

originally sent Konica Minolta an email with an attatched image and

they promptly replied and told me who to contact locally. When I

originally discovered my camera fault it was not easy to find out that

this recall was going on, so I thought I should share this with anyone

who has this problem with their camera; your sensor should be replaced

free of charge.

Im surprised not to find anything on the forum about the world wide

recall of sensors for certain cameras. This would not affect recent 5d

or 7D KM models. I have a KM Dimage A1 that has recently had its

sensor replaced free of charge regardless of being out of warranty.

The recall is for certain cameras made form 2002 - 2004 if my memory

is correct. A friend of mine has also encounted the same problem and

he has a Sony. So I thought i'de best post this if anyone out their

has encounted a blurry purple image when they view thier images. Dont

fret if you do have this problem your sensor will be replaced. I

originally sent Konica Minolta an email with an attatched image and

they promptly replied and told me who to contact locally. When I

originally discovered my camera fault it was not easy to find out that

this recall was going on, so I thought I should share this with anyone

who has this problem with their camera; your sensor should be replaced

free of charge.

Hi Guys, Ishmail from Gold Coast Australia here.

I have a minolta Dimage A1. The sensor recently died. Now ive only had the camera for two years and we all know SONY make the sensors. Their was a world wide alert that certain cameras may have the same fault (blurry image, lots of purple). Im happy to say that even after being out of warrenty my Diamage was fixed with the sensor being replaced within 4 weeks totally free of charge. This does give me some comfort and confidence in Sony. Im about to purchase the KM 7D, regardless of them not making the model under the KM name as it will probably be released next as the 9D by Sony. After doing lots of home work the 7d is currently in my opinion the best D SLR on the market.

Hello there, Ishmail from Gold Coast, Australia here. I had a similar problem. What I did was I ran a comp at the local councel where the first 2 callers got their wedding for FREE. Yup free. I was'nt thrilled about doing that, however it has payed off. With their freebee they simply go the images on CD. They were so appreciative that I got a testimonial from one couple thats on my website. Since doing the first two for free its helped to show some work which has led to more wedding work. Ive been going for 2 years now for myself. I know I could get a job working full on for another company but I know how much money I would be loseing. So my advice is short term loss and longer term gane. I love shooting weddings, I feel it's a real privelage to be paid to capture and share a very special day.

So run a local contest to get your folio happening and visit lots of co ordinators, which is what im currently embarking on. Good Luck. Ishmail Mehmet.

Hello everone, Im writting from Australia and I think that its great to share ideas and experiences within the Wedding industry. I have been in business now for almost two years doing photography and video productions. I have not been able to leave my day job yet bu am fighting to promote the business as hard as I can. My phone has'nt been ringing like crazy as yet but I have been told to go out and visit co-ordinators of venues and show my folio around. My recent wonderings is in relation to the "DEPOSIT". What percentage are most people asking for. I knd of figure 2o% is not over the top. I heard recently to just get a $100 deposit. Can any on help me in this area.

Perhaps it could be condensation. My 3600 flash was not fireing so I used a little bit of alcan foil (Australian term?) and rubbed it on the hotshoe of the camera and that removed all the condensation. The flash fired no problem. I dont know if this really helps you but I hope so.

Turn the pre flash setting off. I can do this with my Minolta so I would imagine its possible with a Nikon.

Hello there, im writting from Austalia where its not as late as what it says above. Ive been using the Dimage A1 and am about to upgrade to a DSLR and am happy to say that im sticking with Minolta. Regardless of them pulling out of the market, in my opinion there is no better choice. The Nikon D70 is too plasticy and all reviews point to soft images. Tha Canon D20 is really a cheap imitation of the Mark 2, but who want to pay that much. As far as Olympus goes their anti dust technology sounds great but is very entry level camera. The KM 7D is a solid DSLR, that is great for weddings or jobs that take you close to dusk with out the hassel of a tripod. Sony will still manufacture compatible gear, so as far as i'm concerned the spirit of Minolta lives on!

Hello there, Ive been using the Dimage A1 and am about to upgrade to a DSLR and am happy to say that im sticking with Minolta. Regardless of them pulling out of the market, in my opinion there is no better choice. The Nikon D70 is too plasticy and all reviews point to soft images. Tha Canon D20 is really a cheap imitation of the Mark 2, but who want to pay that much. As far as Olympus goes their anti dust technology sounds great but is very entry level camera. The KM 7D is a solid DSLR, that is great for weddings or jobs that take you close to dusk with out the hassel of a tripod. Sony will still manufacture compatible gear, so as far as i'm concerned the spirit of Minolta lives on!