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glort Offline [X]
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I plan the layout session at the confirmation meeting before the wedding.
Before they return, ( min 2 weeks) my wife ( she loves doing them) Does the layout. I have a minimal base coverage ( 20 sides) and each side over that is additional.
We generally plan around 60-70 pages which is above most couples budget so they tend to remove more pages than they change. It is unusual to have more than 5 Pics in an album changed typical to change less.
We do the pages as a single print which is the size of the album page which is roughly 11x14". We used to offer 1-4 Pics on a page but with the advent of Digital layouts where anything is possible, we don't usually worry about numbers, more about the pics complimenting each other and creating max wow factor.
When the the couple come back I tell them we were so excited about their pics we did a layout we would like to use as a sample album with their permission. I tell them they are free to change anything they like or keep it the same. We go through all the individual pics first ( on the computer) and I get them a drink and my wife makes up some nibbly snacks.
After they have seen all the pics ( all taken, unretouched, less blinks and outakes) we go through the layouts my wife did. As expected they will tend to cut down the number of pages but the amount of images we have to replace is minimal.
The album is finalised at that point. I can only remember a couple of change requests in all the years I have been doing weddings after this point and both times to appease parents in putting in relative pics not otherwise wanted by the couple themselves. I have certainly never had Multiple redos and approvals.
Bugger that for a Joke!!
The album is planned by the time the couple leave. Nothing goes to the lab until the extras are paid for.
No images that are not used in the album are edited, retouched or otherwise. They are given to the couple SOOC.
I USED to get the couple to design the whole album from scratch. They came in, were shown all the images and then in batches of relevance and as the day happened. A fast album plan was 2 hours, worst was about 9 over 3 sessions. Now with the pre laid out suggestion, The clients can be in and out in an hour ( if they choose) and that's with a good amount of chat other than about the pics.
I have done a good amount of out of town weddings, for several years I was doing the majority of my weddings in an area around 1:20 away and further. Selecting wedding pics is a big thing and something important enough to travel for. I have been asked many time if I can send the pics or they can select themselves and the answer has been no. They will tell you all the reasons they can't come to the studio and when you continue to say no they will tell you something like they can't do it and will have to get back to you. Record so far is 48 hours before they do and have been able to change day off, get time off, are coming to visit parents or are somehow now able to do the previously impossible.
Sameas money for albums extras. They are broke from the honeymoon/ wedding expenses/ house furnishing etc and won't have the money for months. Longest holdout on that, 3 days. Parents come good, they get a tax refund, borrow money off their pet cat... whatever. Suddenly they have the money and want to know how soon they can have their pics.
I think those that have problems with multiple album changes really have a problem with control and communication. This is one of the reasons I don't bend over backwards to accommodate every client request and am not afraid to say NO. It is important t establish who has the control in the transaction and define parameters of what is acceptable and what is not.
It's OK to give a little but you also have to establish boundaries otherwise people will play you like a puppet simply because they can.
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Mar 03, 2016 at 04:14 AM |
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