Got my first wedding booking so I'm chuffed to bits. Especially when they paid! lol That’s one thing I deffo like about the wedding biz…they have to pay upfront, lmao.
Its always hard securing your first booking because you don’t have any sample photos or anything to show prospective punters. And of course you cant tell them you haven’t actually photographed a wedding yet. That wouldn’t be too bright a business move, lol. Anyway, peeps aren’t actually going to know unless they ask. And fortunately most of them don’t have the sense to do that. Hell, they don’t even ask if you’re a genuine professional or how much experience you have or anything! Phewwwwwwww! lolz.
Anyway I’d had a bunch of cool looking business cards made up that give the impression I’m a kosher yowzer pro and also some leaflets. I spent a couple of evenings going round a few newsagents slipping my leaflets into all the bridal and wedding magazines. I managed to get through six major newsagents before anyone caught me and by then I must have done somewhere in the region of 150 individual magazines. So it was a very successful venture.
My first wedding booking however came from a wedding fair. I’ve always wanted to do a major wedding fair. All those dollars - oops, I mean brides ;) - passing through the doors is enough to make me drool, lol. Obviously I cant actually exhibit at a wedding show as I don’t actually have anything to exhibit, hahaaaa. So what I did was stand outside and hand my leaflets and cards out to everyone coming in and out. I also had my camera hanging round my neck too which obviously looked pretty impressive! Many punters stood and had a chat with me and I was able to explain how it would be much cheaper booking me to do their wedding than any of the guys inside. If anyone asked if I could show them any of my photographs I told them to go inside and have good look at all the other wedding photographers and then simply tell me which one they liked and I’d do them exactly the same thing for half the price.
Well one couple were really keen. They’d been given a quote of £990 for 3 hours of wedding coverage and asked if I would do it for half. I said I’d do it for half of half! lmao. Anyway they were delighted and we agreed on £250 with them paying a £50 deposit, which was awesome as it meant a great night for me down the pub! Its quite a large wedding and they were a little concerned that the formal group shots may take quite a long time. But they were reassured when I told them I’d been in the army for a number of years and would have everyone lined up, spick and span and standing to attention in no time at all. They also asked if I would do a recce of the venue in advance of the big day. Well, hell, are they kidding? How do they think I’m going to find time for that? Anyway I wasn’t stupid enough to say that to them so I just “of course, that’s all part of the service”. I mean, its not like they’re gonna find out is it? lollllllll.
I did have a little anxious moment the following morning when I couldn’t find the slip of paper I’d written down their details on. I was sure I’d stuffed it firmly into the back pocket of my trousers, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Anyway it eventually turned up inside the lining of my jacket. How the hell it got their I’ll never know, pmsl!
Anyway the wedding is this Saturday. The £200 balance arrived yesterday, so Friday’s going to be a wowzer night in the pub! I have to remember to pop into Jessops for a new camera battery on my way home from work Friday as the last time I used the camera it was going a bit dicky. I’m hoping the little pop up flash on the camera will work too, especially inside the church where it will be quite dark, because that hasn’t been popping up like it’s supposed to either. Anyway, make sure you check back next week to hear all about it and see all the cool bean piccies!
