Got a question for Allison and Jeff?
Allison and I were talking today and thought we would make a post for people to ask questions. Try to keep it to one question per comment please. That will keep it easier for casual reading.Thanks!
Jeff
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what will you say?
When ya'll are doing an outdoor session, what lens do ya'll like to use the most and do you use a light meter or do you prefer to shoot aperture priority?
Sorry! Posted too quick before reading thoroughly. Just answer whichever one you want. Sorry!!
Are you guys planning a workshop soon for other photogs?
Andrea,
Short answer is YES. We are planning a workshop.
The bigger question is how much lead time would you need. We have the PPA tour starting in March and we wanted to to have a workshop before then. We asked around and the majority of replies said that they needed months to plan in order to attend. I don't really think that is an absolute.
Initial plan was to have a Sunday night dinner and then an all day workshop the following day. Optional second day for one on one consults for those wanting branding or specialized help.
Thoughts?
Well, I used to use a light meter all of the time, but I don't usually carry one anymore. If I did, I would use it every time I changed placement of my subjects : like if we shot by a fence I would meter, then we moved to a field I would meter. I'm pretty aware and watching my settings in camera constantly when I shoot. I do watch my LM in my camera but I will over / underexpose to get the effect I want. Some times I'm going want to shoot wide open and I know my settings to get me there, and then sometimes I can't shoot wide open because I want to make sure everyone is within my area of focus.
Understanding what your camera can do is crucial.
There are days when I get down to flagging and I wonder if I ever even looked at my shots while I was shooting, maybe I was talking and not paying attention and I was a little over / under - but I quickly jumped back to the correct exposure. It happens - that's why you can't waste time and miss the moment with your clients bc you are setting your camera. You have to know the controls well enough to set is while you are talking and putting your clients at ease. Or walking from location to location.
Lens: 50 1.2 & 35 1.4
No on aperture priority for me - I want to tell the camera and not let it decide for me.
Thanks Clark!!!!
I am fairly new to the photography game. I have only been doing it seriously for about a year and only had a decent camera for a little over two years. I have found myself between a rock and a hard place when it comes to pricing. Because I am just starting out and nobody other than friends know who I am my prices are pretty low. The problem is that nearly every wedding I do get they choose the cheapest package. As a result of having low prices, I get low budget weddings. No joke, the last wedding I did had Dominos pizza at the reception. I want to be able to raise my prices and attract weddings with a decent budget and no pizza, but I have no images in my portfolio from a decently budgeted wedding. My fear is that raising my prices will leave me sitting at home every weekend instead of shooting. At what point will I be able to raise my prices? And, what can I do to increase after wedding sales?
I love your website designs. Do you create them yourself? Do you have any template resources that you could recommend for someone on a budget?
Thanks!
Hey guys!
Quick question about client inquiry.
When a client inquires about your services (just a general call or email to say "I'm interested."), what information (price guide, portrait agreement, etc) do you send them initially?
Kristin,
This blog is a moveable type blog. Our client site is an OLD bludomain site that is being retired at the end of this month. Our new client site is built very similar to this one. Same brand family with a different style.
options:
http://bludomain.com/
Into The Dark Room
http://showitfast.com/
Those are off the top of my head. There are a TON of sites that offer free templates for wordpress blogs you can do yourself.
My suggestion, hire a designer to do it for you.
One more question:
I remember at ImagingUSA someone talking about a lab (or labs) that will now print your press printed cards AND mail them out based on your distribution lists using their Bulk Mail Rate. I've searched around and can only seem to find marketing companies who offer similar services. Jeff, do you or Allison remember anyone talking about a Lab that offered this service?
Thanks!
Workshop woot woot! That's awesome y'all are touring for PPA! Congrats!
Feb/March is insane for me and I dunno if I could pull of going to a workshop that soon. Are there any other dates you guys have thought of?
You guys rock. I can't wait to see your new site! LOVING lbobi!
HEY Drew!
I promise I AM going to answer your question - Jeff and I have talked about it quite a bit. I need tomorrow to formulate my thoughts and I wanted to take some time to look at your work. :) More to come !!
Allison
Hey Chris :)
We usually send them a pricing guide but a good bit of info is discussed over the phone. And usually we go ahead and book our 3 appts then : consultation, session, ordering appt.
If they've emailed first we do ask if there is a good time for us to call and go over everything with them. Sometimes people just call first.
Portrait agreement is signed at the consultation.
If it is a longtime client and the consultation happened over the phone then they will sign it before the session.
Does that help?
Allison :)
Hey!
This is more than likely Marathon Press. They are a conventional printer that can use your database to mail out for you. I can confirm with them tomorrow!
http://marathonpress.com/
Allison :)
Are you guys still taking questions? Because I have one more: Do you think it's a good idea to have a page for "testimonials"? I am wanting a page for this but I dunno if that seems tacky? Thoughts?
OK. That's cool.
Andrea,
I don't see the point of a testimonial. When you view a testimonial on a site, does it really make you feel different about the photographer? It's not like it's a spontaneous outpouring of love. That testimonial was chosen and placed on the site.
I think comments on blogs are a much more powerful way of letting clients offer genuine testimonials.
You can always set comments, where you have to approve them. This can reduce the chance of something off color being posted.
cool beans :) Thanks Jeff!
I just listened to your Joy of Marketing presentation on my way to Memphis for JO's w/ my son (cue Twilight Theme). I had a question about FaceBook marketing. So it's not enough for me to tag the person when I post it in my albums? I need to send it to them via email & then they need to post it in an album in their profile? Also, do you tag yourself so you see their friends comments? Thanks y'all!
Hi! This is a cool blog by the way! Umm it's hard for me to pick just one question! I truly wish I could spend a day with a seasoned photographer just to watch and learn! Do you have any input on any type of educational DVD's or online classes to take for Studio Lighting?? Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer questions!
hey guys, what companies do you recommend for frames? this part of the biz seems so overwhelming...
What database software do you use for customer addresses?
thanks,
Denise
I would love to know how to conduct a client (pre-session) consultation. What do you ask/How do you educate? Right now, all of my bookings take place online. We correspond through e-mail and the contract is filled out online.