Pictures Forming a wedding photography business plan. Looking for different perspectives.

|Zach| · 05-10-2009, 09:47 AM

Hey folks, as most of you know one of the hats I wear is that of a professional photographer. I do a lot of different stuff. I do a little bit of fine art but have made a lot of my money doing portraits and even more doing live event type work. My portrait work had produced some good results and a lot of people have been on me about shooting weddings. I never really wanted to take on weddings because it is a whole different business venture with so many unique things about it but after doing one and seeing the results as well as understanding how much money is out there I have decided to take it on. I am hiring on an assistant to help out with some of the organization type stuff leading up to the event and during it so I am able to focus on a little more on the shots. Aside from all of that...

I am trying to put together my business plan and am having a tough time deciding which avenue to go down. Do I offer a CD of the photos to the bride+groom and just price that into the package? Or do I try to go more towards print sales? Or do I offer the ability to do either?

Offering CD
Pros: Really really easy to do. My revenue stream would be more known or absolute. Brides love it.
Cons: Even providing the CD at a premium cost can often mean less money than print sales. You have no control over the quality of the prints being produced from the CD.

Print Sales
Pros: Ability for huge sales is a possibility. Quality prints are guaranteed because my service would be used.
Cons: More of a hassle. Could mean small revenue because money is pretty tight after a wedding is done. Some brides see not offering CD as a deal breaker in todays market.

I would love to have one way and stick with it but I keep going back and forth. I hear a lot of horror stories associated with print sales like...so and so didn't buy any prints because they don't have much money anymore. Or just general problems that come up. With the CDs I know what I am going to make...with print sales it seems that I would generally make a little bit more but not always the case at all and I am adding more steps in a process that is already a long one.

Thoughts? I appreciate any perspectives or advice. I know a lot of you are going through or have been through this process.

**Bugeater** · 05-10-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Some brides see not offering CD as a deal breaker in todays market.

That surprises me, I would think most young people these days probably have the means to scan them and burn them to a CD themselves if they really want that.

|Zach| · 05-10-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That surprises me, I would think most young people these days probably have the means to scan them and burn them to a CD themselves if they really want that.

That is true. However your quality takes a pretty big hit. Unless you have some nutsos scanner. But its more of how they are looking at it. They would rather have the whole buffet than do a la carte. They want it all.

**The Bad Guy** · 05-10-2009, 10:06 AM

Have a set price where you offer all the prints to the bridge and groom - with all the image CDs offering various black and whites, sepia (I'm sure I spelled it wrong) and color.

There is no bigger pain in the ass for a family or wedding couple than having to go back to the photographer if you want any extra prints.

|Zach| · 05-10-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Have a set price where you offer all the prints to the bridge and groom - with all the image CDs offering various black and whites, sepia (I'm sure I spelled it wrong) and color.

There is no bigger pain in the ass for a family or wedding couple than having to go back to the photographer if you want any extra prints.

Prints come in so many different shapes and sizes...I couldn't begin to assume what they would want print wise and trying to do so would be a bad use of resources. That CD allows them to repeatedly get prints of their choosing at a time of their choosing.

|Zach| · 05-10-2009, 10:09 AM

See this is the great thing about this board. You guys are throwing out angles I never really thought of.

**The Bad Guy** · 05-10-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Prints come in so many different shapes and sizes...I couldn't begin to assume what they would want print wise and trying to do so would be a bad use of resources. That CD allows them to repeatedly get prints of their choosing at a time of their choosing.

You could just do one uniform album of 8x10s. That's what our photographer did.

**The Bad Guy** · 05-10-2009, 10:11 AM

I think the prints are necessary because you are going to have some old family members that just want to take the print to a CVS or a Walmart and have someone make a duplicate at the size they want.

|Zach| · 05-10-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

You could just do one uniform album of 8x10s. That's what our photographer did.

Gotcha, so 8x10s of all prints were provided and you had the ability to get more if you wanted them?

|Zach| · 05-10-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

I think the prints are necessary because you are going to have some old family members that just want to take the print to a CVS or a Walmart and have someone make a duplicate at the size they want.

Heh, which is illegal. I know it happens...like downloading .mp3's but still.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 05-10-2009, 10:12 AM

Charge them more, give them everything and be done with it. I did a bit of wedding photography and hated every second of it.

**DaFace** · 05-10-2009, 10:13 AM

I have some friends who are in their second year of getting into wedding photography. They were facing the same question recently and opted to give out a CD with each "package" that includes pictures sufficient for printing 4x6 prints, but nothing higher (unless you are OK with blurry pictures). However, when people want high-quality larger pics, they have to order through their web site. That way, people can have a copy of all the pics for computer distribution and for scrapbooks and the like, but they can make a little extra out of the big prints.

Their higher-end packages also include a "print credit" for people to use for choosing their prints. That way, it's all just included in the package.

|Zach| · 05-10-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Charge them more, give them everything and be done with it. I did a bit of wedding photography and hated every second of it.

This is where I am leaning...the longer the process is...the more steps there are (ie ordering prints) the more chances there are for complications and stupid shit happening that people get mad over.

|Zach| · 05-10-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I have some friends who are in their second year of getting into wedding photography. They were facing the same question recently and opted to give out a CD with each "package" that includes pictures sufficient for printing 4x6 prints, but nothing higher (unless you are OK with blurry pictures). However, when people want high-quality larger pics, they have to order through their web site. That way, people can have a copy of all the pics for computer distribution and for scrapbooks and the like, but they can make a little extra out of the big prints.

Wow, I really love this idea. Thats interesting.

Boon · 05-10-2009, 10:14 AM

Nudes?

05-10-2009, 09:47 AM
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5166768	Forming a wedding photography business plan. Looking for different perspectives. Hey folks, as most of you know one of the hats I wear is that of a professional photographer. I do a lot of different stuff. I do a little bit of fine art but have made a lot of my money doing portraits and even more doing live event type work. My portrait work had produced some good results and a lot of people have been on me about shooting weddings. I never really wanted to take on weddings because it is a whole different business venture with so many unique things about it but after doing one and seeing the results as well as understanding how much money is out there I have decided to take it on. I am hiring on an assistant to help out with some of the organization type stuff leading up to the event and during it so I am able to focus on a little more on the shots. Aside from all of that... I am trying to put together my business plan and am having a tough time deciding which avenue to go down. Do I offer a CD of the photos to the bride+groom and just price that into the package? Or do I try to go more towards print sales? Or do I offer the ability to do either? Offering CD Pros: Really really easy to do. My revenue stream would be more known or absolute. Brides love it. Cons: Even providing the CD at a premium cost can often mean less money than print sales. You have no control over the quality of the prints being produced from the CD. Print Sales Pros: Ability for huge sales is a possibility. Quality prints are guaranteed because my service would be used. Cons: More of a hassle. Could mean small revenue because money is pretty tight after a wedding is done. Some brides see not offering CD as a deal breaker in todays market. I would love to have one way and stick with it but I keep going back and forth. I hear a lot of horror stories associated with print sales like...so and so didn't buy any prints because they don't have much money anymore. Or just general problems that come up. With the CDs I know what I am going to make...with print sales it seems that I would generally make a little bit more but not always the case at all and I am adding more steps in a process that is already a long one. Thoughts? I appreciate any perspectives or advice. I know a lot of you are going through or have been through this process.
Posts: 53,496

05-10-2009, 10:06 AM	#4
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9363645	Have a set price where you offer all the prints to the bridge and groom - with all the image CDs offering various black and whites, sepia (I'm sure I spelled it wrong) and color. There is no bigger pain in the ass for a family or wedding couple than having to go back to the photographer if you want any extra prints. __________________
Posts: 23,212

05-10-2009, 10:09 AM	#6
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5166768	See this is the great thing about this board. You guys are throwing out angles I never really thought of.
Posts: 53,496

05-10-2009, 10:11 AM	#8
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9363645	I think the prints are necessary because you are going to have some old family members that just want to take the print to a CVS or a Walmart and have someone make a duplicate at the size they want. __________________
Posts: 23,212

05-10-2009, 10:12 AM	#11
Fire Me Boy! Cast Iron Jedi Join Date: Nov 2004 Casino cash: $9999900 VARSITY	Charge them more, give them everything and be done with it. I did a bit of wedding photography and hated every second of it.
Posts: 35,253

05-10-2009, 10:13 AM	#12
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $1566899	I have some friends who are in their second year of getting into wedding photography. They were facing the same question recently and opted to give out a CD with each "package" that includes pictures sufficient for printing 4x6 prints, but nothing higher (unless you are OK with blurry pictures). However, when people want high-quality larger pics, they have to order through their web site. That way, people can have a copy of all the pics for computer distribution and for scrapbooks and the like, but they can make a little extra out of the big prints. Their higher-end packages also include a "print credit" for people to use for choosing their prints. That way, it's all just included in the package.
Posts: 52,029

05-10-2009, 10:14 AM	#15
Boon a.k.a. Lenny Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Smack dab in the middle Casino cash: $9637069	Nudes?
Posts: 1,919