What % of your expected 2012 weddings have you already booked?

[dho81]

I shot 10 in 2011, which was my first year shooting weddings. Hoping to ramp up to 15 or so at a higher price point for 2012 now that I've built up a good kit and better portfolio. I've got 8 booked so far, but 4 are for friends or friend of friends so they're slightly discounted. So I guess I'm 50% there-ish.

[Arman's Photography]

Originally Posted by Peacefield

One of my biggest competitors in NJ shoots 50 weddings/year. And he does portraits and commercial work, too. I keep an eye on what brides are talking about on forums and he comes up often. While his photograpy is pretty decent, there are many complaints that his turn around for images and albums is very slow.

It seems to me his prices are too low for a full time professional photographer.

What is very slow turn around? to some is 2 weeks too long , what do the brides say?
I will be honest I have booked 12 weddings by now, not what I would like but it's OK I guess.

[Peacefield]

Originally Posted by Arman's Photography

What is very slow turn around? to some is 2 weeks too long , what do the brides say?
I will be honest I have booked 12 weddings by now, not what I would like but it's OK I guess.

6-8 weeks. That's slow for some, it's actually quick for others. What I'm hearing is that he's slower than promised. That's a problem no matter what the number.

[rhommel]

this would totally depend on what it says in the contract.

if the couple signed the contract stating the final products will be delivered within 6-8 weeks, then they can't say it's slow. it's unfair for the photographer

if the photographer delivered outside the contract (let's say 9 weeks), then that's different.

it's like you subscribed to dial-up internet access then complain to everyone your internet is SOOO SLOWW... you knew what you were getting when you signed up

[Peacefield]

Originally Posted by rhommel

if the photographer delivered outside the contract (let's say 9 weeks), then that's different.

I know we're getting off topic, but wanted to say that my contract very specifically does NOT indicate a target delivery time.

I generally guide the couple's expectations to a three week turn around of their initial images. During my busiest months, that can slide another week or two. I always let couples who book for those months know this. However, my contract states explicitly that there are no guaranteed turn around times. I've never had a single client question that clause.

[Arman's Photography]

I would agree , it all depends what was promised to the couple my contract is up to 4 weeks for proofs and additional 4 weeks for prints and up to 6 weeks for albums and photo books.

[ImagesByInku]

I have 16 booked, 17th pending. Target 25 for 2012. Average booking so far is around $5K for 10 hour SB with e session.

[tnis0612]

so...3 months later...let's get an update from people. I had 5 booked in December when I started this thread and now have 7 with 1 more pending.

[Peacefield]

I'm now at 14 for 2012 plus a couple of conversations going on right now that should yield a few more. And my October is still surprisingly open so I'll probably end out just shy of 20.

[helloagain36]

I'm now at 21 with two more out on the table for 2012. Which is pretty much right where I wanted to be. I assume there will probably be a few more stragglers coming in through the year but if not I am happy where I am.

@Robert...my October is pretty booked...however August is completely wide open...which I thought was strange as well...yes its ungodly hot in August...but that has typically been a pretty popular month for me in past years.

Should be an exciting year though...I have weddings booked in Florida, Lake Tahoe, Mexico and Maine...a big travel year for me.

[SMP_Homer]

Originally Posted by SMP_Homer

Between end of May and end of Sept, 16 of 19 Saturdays (84%) are booked... 3 Fridays and 2 Sundays as well in that same time period...
The 1st 4 months of 2012: 2 weddings.
Last 3 months of the year: 3 weddings - Based on last couple of years, I suspect this will grow to 8 or 9

since posting that, I've booked 1 more summer wedding, 2 more in Oct/Nov

and now up to 8 2013 (7 summer, one Feb) booked...

[memoriesoftomorrow]

I was booked out effectively by the first week in March for all of 2012 with 35 booked (I had hoped to book out sooner). I have stretched on my max limit (35) and am currently on 37 for 2012 and will possibly take 3 more.

I have 6 booked for 2013 and expect a couple of more bookings for 2013 over the next two weeks.

[umphotography]

Originally Posted by memoriesoftomorrow

I was booked out effectively by the first week in March for all of 2012 with 35 booked (I had hoped to book out sooner). I have stretched on my max limit (35) and am currently on 37 for 2012 and will possibly take 3 more.

I have 6 booked for 2013 and expect a couple of more bookings for 2013 over the next two weeks.

WOW Peter

Your Kickin some Butt

We are almost booked out for 2012. have a couple spots left for November and December. But since the thread started we are at 22 for 2012 and that's where i wanted us to be at. We have 6 booked for 2013 and believe it or not one booked for 2014. Lots of girls attend those bridal shows

[memoriesoftomorrow]

You are fairing pretty well there yourself Mike.

The best thing I have found it that as effectively booked out for 2012 quite early there is now a real urgency from couples booking 2013 dates (they don't want to miss out). I've had a few bookings now where people are booking me a day or two after getting engaged.

I think I'm nearly at the limit as to how far people generally will book in advance though as the average engagement time out here is 12-18 months. It would be nice to book out for 2013 before we reach 2013 but I doubt it will happen.

[Peacefield]

Originally Posted by memoriesoftomorrow

I was booked out effectively by the first week in March for all of 2012 with 35 booked (I had hoped to book out sooner). I have stretched on my max limit (35) and am currently on 37 for 2012 and will possibly take 3 more.

I have 6 booked for 2013 and expect a couple of more bookings for 2013 over the next two weeks.

Sounds like it's time to raise prices.