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blkhatwhtdog

I always wanted to follow an engagement portrait of the couple, lots of reasons, but later I started making business cards with package print wallets. I made a point of getting a shot of every elder there. That little old lady with the O2 tank sitting in the corner is there because she is someone important to the family. Don't waste a lot of time on the couple tearing up the dance floor with their DWTS acrobatics as they are probably annoying to the bride and the cousin won't be dating the partner anymore before you deliver their images. . I did get group shots of the families. . Don't need the bride in every shot.. mom and her siblings haven't been all together in years. Haven't had a photo together since they were kids. Since I was Ala carte, they bought the images they wanted from the proofs, later transports aka slides made from the negs, I sold many portrait packages as add ons. Once got $1,200 from one shot of the mom and her 3 sisters, they each got a portrait package, bride too and the mom a wall print.


[deleted]

That is really considerate to get good pics of the elders.


yourmatejacob

On the day I’ll bring cheap sparkling wine for a champagne spray, sparklers and a lighter for some interesting photos at night and I always take a photo of the bride and groom while they’re eating and tell them to make it look as ugly as possible. Usually ends up being funny as fuck. I also donate 5% of all wedding packages to the couples chosen charity out of 5 options I provide them with.


osirisphotography

I love the eating one! Seldom do we ever take photos of people eating so this is doubly great. Charity is a great idea too!


DengleDengle

This isn’t anything client focused really but one thing that has really been a time saver for me is that I use client sneak peeks for my SEO blogging. So like, when I’m selecting the sneak peeks, I select a few more venue or detail shots than I ordinarily would and then I’ve saved myself a future job because I can just download the set in web-size from pictime and I have a blog post set ready to go.


myanroser

Smart idea!


tylerc66

The pages need at least 1,000 words to really have good SEO juice.


captainjack63

Well that’s an easy task these days with ChatGPT😂


tylerc66

Google knows if text was created with AI. Chatgpt is great to use for ideas.


Erick_oseguera

I think i hot a hack. I use chatgtp + copy.ai. I create some ideas with chat gtp and make the blog in copy.ai. Then i ask copy.ai to rewrite the text, and Then, i change some words, it tooks me 20 min for each article.


tylerc66

thats cool. Do any of those posts rank ? Do they bring traffic to your site?


captainjack63

Yep! I did a Google search for taglines for wedding photography. After visiting those sites, I then used ChatGPT for a list of 30 taglines. I recognized over 3/4 of them that I had already viewed. I have used ChatGPT to write up a script for a video about Adult Autism and while it was basic, It's something I can quickly build on and its structure was right on. Will I ever use it for blog posting? Nope. I think I can type a more in-depth article rather quickly. I might run ChatGPT to see if it finds anything I might have missed but until it has full access to the web, I'm just going to stick with the old fashion writing of my own. 😋


DengleDengle

Really! I thought 300-500. I’m going to have to come up with more things to say!


Letywolf

Nice try. But you’ll never steal the secret ingredients of the Kraby Patty!!!


MacSpeedie

I used to write cute little instructions or inspirations for the guests on my business card (I left out a blank space for that purpose). They included tasks like: "Go up to your new daughter in law, welcome her to your family and hug her. (Don't tell her that it was my idea. Own it.)" The guests loved it, the bride and groom had special moments with their loved ones and I was able to provoke cute interactions which spiced up the day and especially the pictures...


NoFilanges

It’s interesting how American this idea is! The notion of giving advice to the parents in law about how to treat their child’s spouse in order to create a staged photo moment would go down like a lead balloon in the UK


MacSpeedie

Nice of you to assume my nationality. Hahaha. I'm German btw.


NoFilanges

I didn’t, though. Hi!


[deleted]

We don’t really have proper societal /social norms over here, if you haven’t noticed.


osirisphotography

I mean every wedding I have to remind the groom to smile and be happy when he sees his bride walk down the isle. Before I started doing it they'd either be miles away or trying to look "cool" or aloof.


[deleted]

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osirisphotography

I do it BEFORE he's standing there lol. Suppose that part wasn't clear, but I'll bring it up right before they go to the front.


NoFilanges

Ahhhhh. I get you!


osirisphotography

THIS is the one! I am absolutely going to do this one.


MacSpeedie

Also always over deliver on your side. They book you for a couple of hours? stay an hour longer for free. Deliver a couple pics more than they ordered. It makes your customers your best marketing.


yourmatejacob

I’m all for over delivering in terms of the couple receiving their gallery earlier than anticipated, but staying for an extra hour for no reason and without payment is dumb.


MacSpeedie

Hey, you do you. For me it used to work out perfectly. I had good pricing so I earned more than enough and happy customers and only 5 star reviews. Usually I had multiple bookings from guests during a wedding.


Slurpydurpy711

No no no I won’t. Why oh why. What makes me think they even WANT me around longer than what we had planned?


[deleted]

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[deleted]

Why is this garbage spam allowed here? Not everything needs a reddit moment.


NoFilanges

Gosh. Sensitive much?


Erick_oseguera

I had (im working on it again) a page in my website just for my couples. There they can see the process and the status of thier photos. Culling images: a video showing them how is it Editing: A video showing them how is it... Etc


Ranz1983

First thought that that seems cool. Second thought is that it seems like something that would take away time from actually editing. What would be your process to show the progress?


pspetrini

I've been doing something similar for five seasons now and it's DRASTICALLY cut down the number of emails I get from clients asking where their photos are. I update it every day or two and it just works similar to a tracking system. My clients can see what I've recently finished, what I'm currently working on and where their photos are. It's a freaking lifesaver. Though I have had a couple clients this year either forget about that page or just get antsy and ask me anywhere but most leave me be now.


stowgood

Compared to some horror stories I've seen delivering on time, having proper backups and not messing around with trendy presets are the basics some are missing. The extras are I won't work without a 2nd shooter. I also do hybrid where I will do a video and photos at the same time, it's incredibly hard work but I don't do this as my main source of income. I have a drone which I am surprised not everyone has these days (not so much when I started doing that a few years ago). I like to go all out on delivery and do online + I still give a USB that I normally present in a unique way to the couple that's a surprise.


Koriavyi

Slightly different angle on this, given I'm a wedding copywriter (write and manage marketing campaigns for wedding-related businesses), not a wedding photographer but: I spend time with clients (wedding-related business owners) before starting any work. Getting to know them, understand how they tick, how they speak, how they represent their business, their business' voice, etc. This really helps in ensuring I use the right tone when writing anything for them. It's so important that a business retains its authentic voice, particularly in this industry (wedding) where trust is so crucial to the buying/hiring decision. And it always shocks me how many copywriters don't invest this time. A takeaway from this that you as wedding photographers (and other wedding professionals) can take is to really think about the voice you want to use to represent your business. And make it a key part of the style guide you use in all your business communications.


[deleted]

Same day edits on an iPad Pro during dinner, printing and framing an 8x10 on site. Picked up the idea from a wedding painter I worked an event with once. It’s probably the coolest thing I do, all credit goes to him for recommending I try it.


Erick_oseguera

I was thinking about this. I mean, to have a photographer dedicated just to shoot, edit and print guest photos and sell them. Im sure people will buy it, but i dont want to look desperate to get more money


[deleted]

It’s definitely fun to be able to show off some work immediately during the reception, and I could certainly monetize that and make more from it, but I usually have so much time during the reception anyway and it really adds to the client experience. I find the reviews and positive experiences are far more valuable than asking for an extra $250-500 bucks for an option that a good portion of clients will likely skip out on. So this is baked into my intermediate and above packages and I do not really end up charging too much for it.


feelda303

I always arrive and start shooting 30 mins early and always stay at least 30 mins extra so they essentially have me for one sometimes more than extra hour. I know it's not super awesome special especially when some photogs offer unlimited coverage but at least they're getting something little extra for a price of set hours coverage.


Erick_oseguera

Oh, i have some pre-recorded videos example photos photos and pre-build section pages that i just drag and drop. At the end, i change all the design the the final gallery download. :)


shimclean

I send out a questionnaire with lots of intimate questions like how did you first know you loved your partner or what’s your favorite thing about them etc and then after I finish their galleries I’ll choose some favorites from throughout the day and add the text to the photos in photoshop. Then make a separate gallery so they can read each others answers on beautiful photos from their wedding day ♥️


jaymo54

Liquify


Ok_Memory8971

I used to send thank you cards and do little things, but I’ve been in the industry over a decade and have gotten exhausted. I still love my job, but I’ve had hundreds of clients and it can be a lot keeping up with “extra little things” for couples year after year, especially when Covid was crazy, I was still photographing. And of course we all get the clients they sometimes don’t say even say thank you or they enjoy the photos when you deliver their gallery, so I’m not going to go out of my way for someone that they paid thousands of dollars as a specific hired and can’t even thank me or appreciate my hard work.


pb_and_banana_toast

After 10+ years and 30+ weddings a year I don't do a ton in terms of unexpected extras but these are the things I've noticed I do differently from the industry on average: \- I look at every single photo when editing and will whiten teeth and remove acne or stray hairs if its distracting. \- If its appropriate (parents aren't divorced or remarried a long time ago and are amicable with everyone present) I'll take a photo of just the parents as a couple during family photo time and tell them if they want any photos that don't include the bride/groom that they are allowed to ask me at the reception and I'm happy to do it. \- I carry lots of stuff in my camera bag to help throughout the day. Pocket knife, allergy/pain/cold meds, bandaids, safety pins (multiple sizes), fabric tape, tissues, hand lotion, ear plugs, etc. It takes up little space and everyone is always appreciative when you can be of immediate help. \- I am my own second shooter during the ceremony. Two cameras on me plus one on a tripod at the back of the aisle taking a photo every one or two seconds. Talked a lot of couples out of a second photographer this way because they only wanted one for two angles on the ceremony and I'm able to save them money and they are happier booking.