#1 – NOT ENOUGH CANDIDS!
This is by far the number one complaint by brides after receiving their wedding photographs.
When shooting a wedding its easy to get caught up in capturing the mandated shots and forgetting to capture enough candids. Now you may wonder, Why worry about candids? Dont most brides focus on the main pictures of everyone smiling at the camera?
Although it is important to get the main events of the wedding on camera, its also a nice surprise when the couple sees all their loved ones enjoying themselves at the wedding. Shooting a wedding can get frantic quickly, which is why candids are easily overlooked; however, its always a good idea to capture the guests and couple enjoying themselves on their special day.
No one ever wants to forget their wedding day, therefore candids are an excellent way for the couple to look back on and remember the joy and love felt during the wedding. That said, do not spend all your time focused on candids. It is still important to get the expected, posed photos. But having a variety of shots will look excellent in the photo album.
#2 – NOT ENOUGH TIME SPENT WITH THE BRIDE
Believe it or not, it is possible to not spend enough time with the bride. Many clients are from out of town, making it harder to invite them into the studio for viewing sessions. The easiest way to contact out of town clients is by email. Normally, this is how they receive their final galleries; however it is important to get away from email and have an actual conversation with the client as they view their photos for the first time.
Id like to get away from a simple email and educate them beforehand on my process of being with them the first time they view their photos. Scheduling a skype call when they view them at their house so I can walk them through my thought process of each portrait adds SO MUCH value. -Marcus Anthony
Clients really appreciate it when you manage to find the time to sit down with them and go over every detail. Whether it be in person or over skype, being able to speak with your client is a key factor in wedding photography. The more time you spend with the bride, the more satisfied clients you will have.
#3 – NOT ENOUGH VARIETY IN THE POSING
When shooting engagement photos and the wedding, it is automatically expected that the photographer arranges all the poses. One of the biggest issues with this is coming up with new ideas for each shoot. As a photographer, you want to make every brides photos unique; however, the more weddings you book, the harder it becomes to come up with creative ideas.
Yes, every wedding and every couple is different, but the general idea is not. Couple- two people in love. Wedding- huge celebration of love and marriage. The overall objective is to capture the love each couple has for each other on camera and make the pictures as beautiful as possible. So the question is, How does one make each couple’s photos unique?
One of the best ways to make a photo shoot unique is to incorporate some of the couples interests into their photos. Figuring out their interests and hobbies help spring creative poses and shots. Maybe a couple bonds by reading together. A great way to include that in their shoot is maybe by using some books as props, or even take a few photos in a bookstore. Downtown Wilmington has an old, popular book store with excellent lighting. It’s not as difficult as you might think to steal away from the reception for 20 minutes and snap a few photos at a quirky venue.
All in all, the most important thing to remember when coming up with poses is VARIETY ! Having the same pose for every single picture will become boring and dull. Come up with new, interesting, creative poses for each shot and you cant go wrong. Maybe even throw in a few silly poses just to get the couple giggling and loosening up. And remember…Pinterest is your best friend.
#4 – DIDN’T DELIVER PHOTOS ON TIME
One of the most important parts of shooting a wedding is to deliver the photos on the day and time that is promised. Its key to be consistent with the delivery as clients expect to receive the products promised as soon as possible. This concept goes along the lines of running any type of business as society now expects quick and easy access to what they want. Delaying delivery time can agitate clients, sometimes resulting in loss of referrals.
The easiest way to solve this is to set expectations as soon as possible. I tell all of my clients that they should expect to see their wedding photographs in 2 weeks. However, my goal is always to surprise them with an early delivery!
#5 – LISTEN AND COMMUNICATE
The most important thing when working with a bride is communication. It can not be stressed enough the importance of communicating with your clients and preparing them with what to expect.
Same thing with albums and prints. They need to be prepared that once they get their digitals the transaction isnt over. Its then time to choose which photos they want either for wall portraits or arranged in an album. I cant just spring that on them last minute saying, okay, now its time to spend another $1000 on your album. They need to know that going in.- Marcus Anthony.
This is a great explanation of what was mentioned earlier. Clients do not appreciate unpleasant surprises such as having to spend yet another $1000 on something they assumed was already included in the price they had paid. The best thing to do when working with a new client is to lay out all the details and go over everything. Its crucial to talk of what they should expect and the prices they are going to have to pay.
Once business with your client comes to an end, communication still plays a major role. Staying in touch with the couples you photograph is a great way to show that you actually care about your customers. People are always looking for companies that take time out of their busy schedules to make sure their customers are doing well and satisfied.
One of the best ways for a wedding photographer to stay in touch with clients and show that they are still cared for is by sending a text, email, card, ect on their anniversary. Even this small gesture demonstrates what a friendly business you are running. It makes people feel important, not to mention its a great way to get recommended to other clients.
Despite the importance of communicating with the bride, it is also crucial to listen to their opinions as well. Customers appreciate it when they feel as if they are being heard. Listening to what the bride expects and what shots she desires will not only help guide you in shooting her wedding, but it also results in another satisfied client.
That’s what Marcus Anthony Photography is all about!
This blog post was guest-written by Kim Lucas, a local Wilmington artist.
