WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY CONSULTATION 2023 TIPS

If you're not sure what questions to ask or how to get hired by engaged couples, this is the post for you!

First and foremost, and I cannot emphasise this enough, HAVE A PLAN! It is critical that you approach each client appointment with confidence and attention.

This are the few procedure i have learnt and guilds me through wedding consultations.

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1. GREETING

I prefer to meet potential clients in public places. I greet them and ask what they want to drink (my treat) once they arrive. I'm not a coffee drinker, yet I'm always fascinated to see what other people prefer and try new flavours every time. I normally break the ice when we have our drinks by asking how their wedding planning is going.

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2. ASK ABOUT WEDDING PLANNING

"So, how's wedding planning going?" is usually my first inquiry. People enjoy talking about themselves, therefore by asking this question, I am doing just that. I'm letting them talk about themselves, their wedding, the vendors they've already booked, and generally getting them enthusiastic about the process. Next, I'm looking for commonalities since I know that the more a bride trusts me, the more likely she is to hire me.

During a client appointment, tell them whether you've worked at their venue before or if you've worked with another vendor they're employing for their wedding (florist, caterer, DJ, etc.).

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3. ASK HOW THEY MET AND HOW THEY GOT ENGAGED

“So how long have you known each other, how did you guys meet?”?– the bride usually likes to answer this one. This time I am trying to see if I can find similarities outside of the wedding world and connect with them that way as well. Like if the bride?mentions a place I’m familiar with, or if their story reminds me of something that is relevant, I make sure to mention it. Then, looking at the groom, (I intentionally try to include him in the conversation) I say:

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“How and where did you propose?”?– again, I try to find a way to connect with them through their story.

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4. TALK ABOUT THE?ENGAGEMENT SESSION

After listening?to their engagement story, I usually ask something like?“Do you have any ideas for your engagement session?”?Then I go more in depth about?what an engagement session entails.

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Notice that up until this point I haven’t said anything about myself or my business!!

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Next, I tell them what they can expect from their engagement session. Things I talk about are:

·??????how long the session will last

·??????how many images they can expect

·??????the turnaround time

·??????what to wear to the session

·??????how to pick a location

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5. SHOW SAMPLE ALBUM

After that, I transition from going over the engagement session details to showing them our albums. I explain to them why albums are important to preserving memories.

Their wedding album will be their first family heirloom! This is also a great opportunity to showcase my portfolio. I also talk about the designing process and what all it entails.

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6. TALK ABOUT HOW THE WEDDING DAY UNFOLDS

Next, I go over what to expect on their wedding day. I talk about my approach and how long each part of their big day takes to photograph (details, family formals, bride and groom and bridal party photos, etc.). Here is a list of things I make sure to touch on:

·??????coverage

·??????timeline

·??????first look

·??????digital delivery of images

·??????ordering of prints and canvases

·??????how many images to expect

·??????the turnaround time

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I also make sure to ask if they have any questions about wedding photography, what their needs are, and what expectations they have for?their wedding photographer.

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7. WALK THROUGH THE CONTRACT

I find that I don’t do this as much as I used to, but I still believe that slightly touching on each paragraph in your contract is a good idea. You want to make sure that everything is clear before they book with you. This is also a great time to remind them what they need to do in order to book your services (sign the contract and pay the retainer fee).

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8. CLOSING

I usually end with the following question:?“Do you know when you will be able to make a decision?”.?I?don’t push my clients to book on the spot. More than anything, I want them to be happy and confident with their choice. After that, I thank them for coming, wrap up the meeting and give them a gift (optional).

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Most consultations run between 30 minutes and an hour.

I hope this information gives you the kick to walk into your next client appointment with a good plan to lead you through the entire process!

follow #becomingthatphotographer O VISION MEDIA and AWOYOMI Ayodeji for more tips