Sarah Dickerso wrote:
Chuck, after my first response I heard back from a planner that I'm super close with - I usually get 5-7 weddings per year from her. There was a bride super interested in me, and was a couple hours out of town so we'd just been conversing via phone and email. She called me a bit over a week ago while I was with my accountant all morning. She called like 4 times that morning, but I wasn't going to be rude and ditch my accountant to take a call. I called her back at lunch when I was done, and got her voicemail. Called her the next day then two days after that, no response. Befuddled, I emailed my planner, who I knew was working with the bride. I told her I hoped she didn't give up because there was a THREE HOUR STRETCH where I wasn't answering my phone. She responded that the bride loved my work, a lot, but in the end went with a local photographer because she was worried about me being able to make it if the weather was bad (February wedding) :/ Seriously? Venue is an hour from home!
In any event, I agree with everyone that at least they gave you the courtesy of a response. Those that do not book with me often don't bother to respond even if we meet. Here's one more doozie for you: had a bride decide to book, about a month after we met. She scheduled a time to drop off the contract a couple of Saturdays ago at my studio. I was making a special trip to the studio to meet her only. I showered and got ready, and as I was literally gathering stuff to head out the door an email comes across my phone that she had a migraine, and could they reschedule? I responded immediately with a yes and when I'd be around, and nothing. To this day, nothing. That must be some migraine but even worse? I had another bride who wanted that date and I was SMART and WAITED to get in touch with her until I had bride A's contract in hand. She called me the day before Bride A's set meeting time with questions, too. If I'd told her sorry, date's booked based on the SCHEDULED contract meeting, I'd be SCREWED and would probably hunt Bride A down. Luckily I booked Bride B.
Migraine, seriously? You can't just tell me you changed your mind??
Kittyk wrote:
i know it hurts. but i guess you will do fine with that whiskey :-). i would be more interested (since we are on topic) in three things
1) what do you answer to that
2) do you ask the couple who rejects you, who they went with?
3) is it wrong to book 90+% of consults? I am trying to keep moneys out of all decisions or even consult (we do it mostly after the fact) but booking so much can also mean we undervalue our self? Or just our presentation is so good that we address couples which fit us? I would die to know what went through the head of some of couples we booked after they booked us....Show more →
great questions!
1) Here was my response:
"XXXXX,
I have to admit, I'm bummed! I sincerely loved meeting you guys. You two
are a great couple and will undoubtedly have a FANTASTIC DAY!
I wish you guys all the best! If there is anything I can do for you guys,
do not hesitate to ask!
Chuck"
2) I dont really care who they went with. Its just not that important to me. I'll never ask that question.
3) Good question to which I do not know the answer. I think I do a good job communicating everything I can BEFORE the consult so that by the time they are at the table, it is about ME (not my images and not selling).
thanks all for the words. i'm really ok with it all. we actually had an inquiry for the same date that i lost before i went to the consult so we contacted them today to set up a meeting.
I'm not sure if this translates from the commercial world to the wedding world but for the most part business is business.
If I was getting 95% of the jobs I bid on I'd think my prices were too low and I was leaving money on the table. OR, and its a big OR I have so perfectly narrowed down my marketing so I there is a perfect match for both me and my client.
When clients don't choose me many times they don't tell me, there is no communication until the next bid comes up, and I have to assume I won't be doing the job... The decent ones will let me know that they have "gone in a different direction". One of them actually puts "gone in a different direction" in quotation marks as it has become a cliche line
But for the most part there isn;t much of an emotional connection between me an my clients as in weddings so maybe that is why the clients say things to soften the blow...they are nicer.
I have been booking around 40% lately. something is wrong.. my photos suck, my personality sucks, or my presentation sucks- 2 of those are relatively easy to fix. Mostly it is price (I am among the more expensive in the area). Count your blessings.
Andrew Welsh wrote:
I have been booking around 40% lately. something is wrong.. my photos suck, my personality sucks, or my presentation sucks- 2 of those are relatively easy to fix. Mostly it is price (I am among the more expensive in the area). Count your blessings.
Dude don't feel bad. My bookings are around 60%. I questioned my work many times but each time I deliver my work to a client they tell me how much they love them, makes me forget about the ones that haven't booked me. And I am too, more expensive than my competitors who will do anything to get a booking, hell one of them even offered my client free photography if they get hired. She simply said "look I don't care about my videos as much, but photography is very important to me and I have my photographer picked." talk about LMAO!
As for Chuck, you're good. Your work is excellent and don't let 1 rejection get you down. You'll get more rejection in the future and just like that, you will also get clients that truly want you for your work.
I haven't read all the replies, but if you're booking 100% of meetings, you're most likely underpriced. The only exception I can think of would be if you've already been through a lot of back and forth on the phone or with email, so the meeting is simply a formality to sign a contract.
