Good afternoon from Huntington Beach everyone! I’m digging myself out from a seemingly endless inbox of emails & read an interesting message from one of my premier Album vendors; Zookbinders. They had some really (and I mean REALLY) interesting facts about brides, their wedding photography & wedding albums.
Over the past few months, Zookbinders spent a lot of time talking to brides to find out how they want their professional photographer to service them.
Their findings were quite interesting & I’ll share with you what they uncovered along with what I do to help deliver the best red carpet treatment to my couples.
▪ They’re overwhelmed by the number of images presented to them. I tend to over-shoot & the number of photos that I’m delivering is on average 1/2 of what is typically shot. I will do various angles of the same shot from time to time to ensure that I got it “just so.”
▪ Having to choose 100 or so images for their album from over 1000 images is daunting – they’d like to see the photographer help streamline the process and recommend about 100 for their album. I’ll do my own “Artistic Edits” – which are used in my pre-design of the album.
▪ They feel there are too many choices in albums. I currently offer three & it’s absolutely perfect. Not too few & not too many.
▪ Even brides who only bought their images rarely make albums because the process is quite difficult and time consuming. Look at how much time it takes us. And… we’re the professionals that do this all the time. :-)
Sooooo… If you’re a photographer & wondering what can you do to help make the process not only easier, but “funner?” Here are a few tips Zookbinders’ and I would like to share with you.
▪ Show fewer images. You are the expert, edit out all that you don’t need and show only the best images. For me personally, I have a simple motto; “When in doubt, take it out.” Which means if I’m reaching for a reason to keep the photo(s), then they’re really not good enough for my client.
▪ Pre-select. Choose the images you’d recommend for their album. She can still see or get them all but help her move the album process along. (Isn’t it nice when a waiter suggests a bottle of wine so that you don’t have to look at a wine list with hundreds of bottles?)
▪ Educate. Explain the process up front. Show how you make the album design-bind-deliver process quick and easy and how difficult it will be if they just buy the disk. I am glad that Katherine & I had our photographer do it because if not, it would be years if not decades before our album would get done because “life” would take hold of my calendar & it would constantly be pushed to the bottom of the list.
Keep in mind, not every album order goes as planned or absolutely perfect with the design, the print or the bind. We’re all not perfect — I’ve fallen flat on my face with a couple doozies in my career. But keep on doing your best each and every time for each and every client.
If you’re a bride & would like to add to this or a photographer & have a few thoughts too, to help make the process better, I’d love to read your comments.
Or you can reach out to me anytime with the plethora of mediums that I love to use.
I’m available just about 24/7 via Twitter, Facebook, the form on my contact page, or the old fashioned phone as well at 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or 562.225.5915.
Have a super week – cheers!