Post wedding presentation...

[tombramwell]

Somewhat of a silly question and I apologise if it's been asked before but ...

How and when do you present your final images to clients after their wedding?
Up until recently I have been literally posting out Dvd's and/or albums a few weeks after weddings but iv come to realise I'm missing a trick, surely I would be better off meeting up with clients.

I don't have a studio so I'm considering either meeting clients in a hotel bar or coffee house after their wedding. I don't currently have a laptop or MacBook pro as I do all my editing on my powerful dual monitor pc so this is another issue I'd have to address. Of course it may be simpler to just invite couples to my house but I don't really want to have to do this, I just understand that meeting clients in person would allow me to present the final images to them and then do a bit of an upsell on the choice of prints, albums etc..

[Peacefield]

I present them with their disc of images but, of course, there are too many to review so I take out 150-200 and build it into a slideshow hosted on Zenfolio. That's what they see. And they can share the link to that slideshow with friends and family which drives traffic and print sales.

There's no two ways about it, though, you DON'T want to just send them the disc. As the old saying goes, don't take the sale, make the sale. A lot of these purchases are emotional buys and emotion never runs more in your favor than when they first see their pictures.

[tim]

Customers come to my office after their wedding, I show them a slide show set to music on the 40" LCD in my office, and I give them the proof disk to take away. If it's a CD package they get the CD in a nice leather folder. If their package has an album they might come back once or twice to do edits, then they come back and pick it up when it's done, which is 6 weeks or so after it's confirmed and paid for.

[Your Story Photoart]

Yah you definitely have to build from the excitement. Remember this is the biggest day of their lives. If you post their albums and just hoping they'll order something, more than likely they won't. Getting them in front of you with their images gives you the opportunity to help them understand why they need a physical album and prints.

I have a "highlight reel" DVD that I put together that's about 5-7 minutes long that has about 50-75 of my favorite images. I show them that in studio. And make sure to have plenty of Kleenex!

After that's over I start asking them about album options. If they purchased a collection that included the album then I start talking about upgrades.

Yes, you need to have them in your home. I understand where you're coming from working from home. But you'd be surprised at how a few large canvases and prints and some esthetic changes can turn your living room into a studio space for meetings.

I met clients at home too at first. It's kind of a pain but if that's your only option then you have to or your sales numbers will never go up.

Another photographer also taught me to always ask for the next job. And when they're in your home, that's your opportunity to bring up newborn sessions or future family sessions.

Hope that helps.

[tombramwell]

If you post their albums and just hoping they'll order something, more than likely they won't. Getting them in front of you with their images gives you the opportunity to help them understand why they need a physical album and prints.

Yes, you need to have them in your home. I understand where you're coming from working from home. But you'd be surprised at how a few large canvases and prints and some esthetic changes can turn your living room into a studio space for meetings.

Thats great advice, thanks. I've currently only got the one lcd tv on the wall in my bedroom but they are so cheap I may look into buying one for the living room. My study would be the most ideal place to show clients their wedding photographs because its a professional environment and the walls are covered with my work.. unfortunately its a bit small.

[Your Story Photoart]

Thats great advice, thanks. I've currently only got the one lcd tv on the wall in my bedroom but they are so cheap I may look into buying one for the living room. My study would be the most ideal place to show clients their wedding photographs because its a professional environment and the walls are covered with my work.. unfortunately its a bit small.

small is cozy though. You can really make any space inviting for clients if you do it right!

[tombramwell]

you havent seen my office! :lol: its modern and looks great with my two 22" monitors and a bookshelf full of my work.. however there is only room for one desk chair! clients would have to sit on the floor! haha

[siddr20]

Customers come to my office after their wedding, I show them a slide show set to music on the 40" LCD in my office, and I give them the proof disk to take away. If it's a CD package they get the CD in a nice leather folder. If their package has an album they might come back once or twice to do edits, then they come back and pick it up when it's done, which is 6 weeks or so after it's confirmed and paid for.

He doesnt have an office to show case all the work so easily.

[PeaceFire]

This is a good point. I always just ship out the materials after the wedding because I don't live near most of my clients (I do most of my work in Minnesota, California, and destinations while I live in Phoenix). But now that I'm moving back to California and will have an office/studio space it would make sense to have the local clients pick their materials up from there. My only concern on this, though, is that it's not convenient for the client. I know I'm a busy person and I'd rather have something mailed to me rather then have to go somewhere to get it, but for someone who prefers face-to-face service having an office pick up is a great idea.