I just had my first client meeting (wedding) and it went very smooth. Thank you to those that posted some tips, they were helpful and gave me the confidence to answer questions without hesitation. I'm pretty jacked up and super excited to shoot this couples wedding, in addition to being honored that they have chosen me to capture their day.
I always go into the meeting with an assumption that they will be booking - not blatant or anything like that - but my mind set is - they have booked - now what will we need to do to organise the day.
I'm not a salesman - I hate the "sales" approach - this way I feel that we are jointly planning how the day will run - they are already engaged - and to be truthful - so am I - I want to shoot their wedding by the time we're done and I hope that enthusiasm rubs off.
I just met a bride and her mother this AM and they told me at the end of the meeting (which took about 45 minutes) that they want to book me. Pricing was never brought up. They spent 10-15 mins going through some photos and the rest of the time was just getting acquainted. I had a blast. They're fun people. They called me because they saw some images from a wedding I shot that ran in a regional publication earlier this year. I think they were already sold. They just wanted to get to know me a bit more.
I have never shot a wedding, but have booked 1 for July 3rd (friend of a friend)
Now I have a client meeting next Saturday and I have no wedding portfolio or album. I've told the mother of the bride up front, I am building a portfolio and that's why I come cheap. By no means am I an amateur with photography, I've just never shot a wedding before. I'm not sure how this is going to go...
They're both excited to meet me, so that's a plus.
quick update: I booked the wedding and the couple is amazing! Just be yourself, be interested in what they have to say and it will all fall into place.
filmphoto wrote:
I'm not a salesman - I hate the "sales" approach
Why the attitude about selling? You seem to be equating the sales process with the infamy associated with used cars & slick talking salesmen, but the reality is... you're selling yourself, your service and your expertise and they're buying. They already know they need your product, it's just a matter of explaining and exploring how you can meet their needs better than anybody else in your area.
It's pretty straight forward and you can be low key about it, but you should always ask for their business.
Another great author for selling is Zig Ziglar... he sold pots and pans door to door, sold cars, you name it. Check out secrets to closing the sale, it's an easy read and pretty entertaining too, and the thought process is relevant.
If you have many samples online (portfolio/blog) the meeting for them is to see if you're for real, but for you it's all about managing expectations. They need to get a strong sense of how the day will go and what they'll receive as a final product.
I'm fairly new to the business but my number one tip would be expectation managament. It doesn't matter how good a photog you are (and there are plenty better than me), but I find that if my clients understand early on what is and what isn't possible, then they end up being much more satisfied by the end of it all.
Also, I don't over-talk. I just answer their questions and try and let my images speak for themselves.
As I am looking for a person for a wedding myself, I am sitting here thinking to myself how do you even start to find someone if you don't have a recommendation, and you can't always trust the internet, and let's just be honest if you aren't really into the whole wedding thing, and you are not looking to go meet with 5 people, what do you suggest?
For me my focus will be pictures outdoor's since I want to have an outdoor wedding, and with family.
I'd suggest getting some recommendations as you say! Go ask friends and families. People who have had a good experience won't forget their photographer and likewise people who have had a bad experience will go out of their way to tell you who to avoid.
