Bridal Expo

Hi there,
I will be doing my first Bridal show coming up and I am looking for creative idea's for handouts or draws.
I will be up against 6 other photographers and would like to stand out.
I have my booth built already as I did a booth at the Childrens' Expo.
thanks for your help.

I don't think drawing are a good idea because they devalue your service. However, I would keep the handouts very clean and print them on white cardstock instead of photopaper. Also keep it simple 1 handout and your business card.

thank you for replying.
what I mean by handouts is chocolates, pens or something neat or original.
I did see colorful fortune cookies.

I don't think the brides will really care about chocolates, pens, etc etc if they are looking to hire a wedding photographer its all visual. Also when they visit 30+ booths and are just throwing things in a bag they aren't going to remember that you gave them chocolates. They are going to look at the handouts and compare prices and pictures.

I agree with MrsOpie to a point but part of the reason the brides come to these things is for the freebies. Think of your job at the expo as not to book brides but to get them to come to your table, pick up your info, and take it home and compare it. Your booth is your cover letter and your services are your resume, so to speak.

If you have a great giveaway that has them coming to your table to pick it up, something they will wait a minute for, see other people with and ask where they got it, etc., then you've done your job very well. If you have something that you can attach your info to to ensure that they are getting it, too, then that works well.

Draws are great for gathering contacts, but brides will just as quickly enter a draw for a set of photo frames as they will a draw for your services. If you go that route, be sure to have someone there to greet each person and pass them your information.

I hope to be doing a show too, so I am wondering the same things.

A drawing for a complimentary product is a good way to build a client database for further marketing efforts.

I'm signed up for 3 wedding shows in January...
drawing for a free wedding may be a bit much, but potentially something you could do through the organizers of the event, like an expo-wide draw. great publicity that way...
For your booth, maybe just have a draw for a free E-shoot? Free album? A draw definitely is good though because you get all kinds of info from evryone who signed up -- you can then follow up with those.

Hmm, engagement comes with all my weddign pkgs so that wont work for a draw.
hmm..

If you are just looking for contact info, then seriously, trust me, most people start filling out the ballot before they even know what it's for.

I have never done a bridal show.....I have thought about it many times. Has anyone had huge success/failure with shows?

What is the best, cheapest way to hang photo's on a wall?
Framing is too expensive. not sure how to have them mounted.

is it your own wall that you're bringing with you or theirs? Depending on the facility/organizers, you may not be allowed to attach anything to the wall, even on those partitions they set up.

no no, it's my own 8ft wall i'm bringing in as my background.

you could check the dollar store for cheapie frames if you're not going bigger than 8x10. Or what about buying mats then "matting" the pictures and mounting that to the wall without a frame? Sort of a poor man's frame?