HELP!! they just cut me a deal on a bridal show and....

[LeesaB]

they cut the table price in half to get us there..they just called..I have NOTHING prepared..it's this weekend..I do have a DVD Demo, i can play on repeat on my laptop. I have flyers...I have some proofs in a book I used to use...and a basket of candy....WHAT ELSE??? any suggestion is helpful..

thanks

[xtravaluemeal1]

testimonial Emails/correspondence
business cards
Your booking calendar for 2007
Free drawing for a discount for a free Engagement Session? Opportunity to get emails/drum up interest?
Wedding Photographer tip sheet: top 10 ways to generate best results on camera

I think these are simple yet effective ways that you can add content to your booth.

[tim]

Backdrop.
Framed enlargements.
A few albums or slide shows on a few laptops.
Prints.
Hundreds or thousands of fliers, probably with prices.

[picturecrazy]

if you can't get it prepared in time, then I'd skip it. Appearing unprepared is worse than not going at all.

But there are tradeshow display specialty stores/consultants around. They might be able to get you set up really nice in a short amount of time.

[newgenphoto]

Everything above is awesome suggestions but let me also help you with another one. If you do the "Free E-session" give away then call every person in that bucket and tell them they won. Shoot the e-session and then they will more then likely book you. It WORKS I promise!

[jessiper]

Everything above is awesome suggestions but let me also help you with another one. If you do the "Free E-session" give away then call every person in that bucket and tell them they won. Shoot the e-session and then they will more then likely book you. It WORKS I promise!


That's a good idea. I offer free engagement sessions to hook people.

[Expressisvestudios]

Go to Mpix for some poster sized prints for display - they get them done and shipped overnight! They rock on speed and quality.

[LeesaB]

Great ideas and thanks..we hit a snag with the insurance so I am waiting to hear from them...they want me to cover like 1 million in insurance...I am like WHAT? so we will see...COI, I just had my business insurance changed to cover my equipment, so now they are telling me 500 more dollars..ya know..sometimes I want to just scream.

[jbstudios]

what is this?
Wedding Photographer tip sheet: top 10 ways to generate best results on camera

For my tips i am getting tins and filling them with candy and attaching my business card. brides are in love with wedding favors so i'm hoping this will be something they will keep rather than toss.

mrs jb

[PIXI_666]

For things to get done quickly...
Coupons!!!!
"Book me today and you will recieve 15% off your prints" or something similar....
And maybe just framed photo's of your faves printed up to put around...keep the frames black and simple...
Del
GOOD LUCK by the way

[Banbert]

Strangely enough weve just ended up with the same thing this week, got an offer yesterday whilst I was out for a show this Sunday, its only a small one at a local venue and theres no backdrops required just table items and stuff so weve said what the hell even though were not prepared or anything were gonna go for it and weve got a few days to prep so lets give it a bash :)

Thanks for the items mentioned in this thread, very useful !

[xtravaluemeal1]

jbstudios: what I meant by the top 10 tip sheet would be things like:

1) be on time (duh) to allow the both you and the photographer to work at a comfortable pace...
2) during engagement shoots, the best clothes to wear are __________
3) You don't always need to look at the camera...
4) be ready for lots of PDA
5) don't forget to pack some extra food because you will be hungry
6) most importantly...have fun! blah blah blah

I mean, these aren't ground breaking things, but it could go a long way to identify oneself as an expert. Also, if she was looking to put together some additional materials quickly, I thought that this could be a great way to add content to her table.

[jbstudios]

oh i get you. just didnt know if you made it up to look important or if it was from some site =)

[LeesaB]

Printing, Printing and more printing...

OK..got the insurance...WHEW..

Now I have made some really cute coupons for so much off each package if they book by 2/28.

I also have made a ton of registrations for the engagement session...

order pic's from Mpix. Going to printers tomorrow for a ton of brochures and flyers...

Got some really cute frames...Laptop and slide show ready..

Date book...

anything else?

ooo and a basket with candy...

Not sure about Hugh pics...not sure what I can do there..

this is not a HUGh show...last year they registered 800 brides..so I am making plans for 1k. If I do that and even if I run short, I have backups to run to.

So....we willsee..Maybe I will take my camera and take a few pics of me and my daughter there...

[mackb]

Not sure if you use Cord Camera up there, but they have $1.99 8x10's right now

[LeesaB]

Hi mackb. I have a cord camera kinda close..I can check that out tomorrow..Thanks for the update on that..

I am getting pretty excited, I am sure 800 brides is not a big deal to most, but me...It is really a step out of the dark and into the light...

[poloman]

I have designed and produced trade show exhibits for the last 20 years.
The most important thing is to have a good magnet. Something that will draw their eye in your direction. One of our local printers can print on continuos roll vinyl. If you can produce an attractive design showing some of your work and get it printed in time you could use it as a sign above your booth. (Check show regulations)
A few tips.
Don't eat in your booth.
Don't smoke at all. (People find the smell offensive)
Don't cross your arms and stand out front "guarding" your booth.
Don't sit in your booth.
Smile and try to catch prospect's eyes as they pass.
If you can read a name tag, wait until they pass and say their name. Now introduce them to your service. Complement them. Ask questions about them.
It is tough to do more than 4 hours on the show floor. It is exhausting. If you can, get some help.
One exception to the sit down rule. If it is a large show, you can invite likely prospects to sit in a comfy chair and relax while you gently pitch them.
Hope I helped.
Have a great show!

[Banbert]

We did ours yesterday, it wasnt so much a wedding fayre as a wedding open day at a local venue where they lay the room out as if its for a wedding and then also invite a Photographer, Bridal wear supplier, mens outfitters, Cake maker and a few other individual suppliers along to show their stuff to the B&G's that go to have a look around and also for the fashion show that they run.

Because were very new it was a nice way to do our first show as there were no other photographers displaying for the B&G's to compare us directly with, at the end of this year with the weddings we have booked already we will be in amuch better position to do a full show.

This is what we did to get our cards out there, the room was laid out as for a wedding so we put these at every place setting and there was very good take up of them from there and also from our table..... and only one person asked us how much it would be to supply them with a 100 for their daughthers wedding :) and even she then went on to talk photography with us.

Was very useful anyway, 3 confirmed bookings and quite a lot of enquiries to follow up for this year and some for next.... cheers to everyone that provided some tips and advice in this thread.

http://www.nickruns.org/coppermine/albums/uploads/2007wedfair/IMG_1253.jpg

http://www.nickruns.org/coppermine/albums/uploads/2007wedfair/IMG_1254.jpg

[LeesaB]

GREAT Ideas....I really like the box...ooo those jordan almonds YUK...but it was really cute..and I may try something like that...we are already planning for next year...

There are SO many "crafty" and intelligent people in this list...WOW

[Eoseni]

Lisa, Be sure to report on how it went! I've never done a show, and was wondering if they are worthwhile at all,...

I really like NewGens idea: free engagement raffle and make them all win! Genius. But you must be willing to work for free, at least for a few...I suppose. All the best.

[Banbert]

GREAT Ideas....I really like the box...ooo those jordan almonds YUK...but it was really cute..and I may try something like that...we are already planning for next year...

There are SO many "crafty" and intelligent people in this list...WOW

What went down best (but I dont have a photo of them on me) is the little sweetie lovehearts that have messages written on them (dont know if you have them in other countries), we did bags of those like the ones above, plus pink smarties, extra large foil covered rolo's, (the little boxes above had rolos in too) and the lovehearts were the clear favourites amongst our brides .... although a selection of different things was a good idea I think as we always had something someone would like.

[LeesaB]

OOO I think I have seen those hearts....I don't eat alot of sweet stuff..but I think we call them coverstation hearts..mostly like a pressed sugar thing with words in purple printed on them....and we have the smarties too...

really cute...well..next year..we will be better, jsut like each year with photoraphy.

[Banbert]

Yup there the ones, same as what we have in the uk by the sounds of it just different name.

Same for us, was sooo last minute we didnt have enough time to prepare properly but it was still very worthhwile. Our poster sized prints we had ordered didnt arrive in time we didnt really have enough albums or much time to work on our slide show ..... so we disguised all our shortcomings by giving sweets away :)

We got some great experience out of it though and I reckon probably at least 6 bookings.... probably a few more ... ajd hopefully the venue will invite us back next year instead of their usual photographer...... at which point we will be much better set up to make the most out of it.

[LeesaB]

Our show called us last minute, Monday in fact, they had advertised for months 100 venders..they only had 70 some..so they gave us the deal...i was thrilled...we had a bad spot, but, I kind of expected that, next year I will request a better spot. Still all in all...we did good.

Same as you, my posters did not come, I did not have any books, but the old time proof portfolios, but we sat them out, I made a new slide show...BUT that was crazy....a radio station hooked in two booths up fromus...sucked our power...so taht took an hour to hook up..then the screen saver kept coming on, so we called it the wiggle all day long. But you know...you never know till you do it and this list helped alot.

I am actually looking forward to next year.