how to find your ideal wedding photography client, finding your ideal client, booking your ideal client, ideal wedding client

3 Tips for Finding your Ideal Wedding Photography Clients

Finding your ideal wedding photography clients is something almost everyone in the industry is ranting and raving about right now.  Last year everyone was obsessed with destination weddings and “how to attract destination wedding clients” was the big thing; now it’s a bit more broad and focusing on “ideal clients” in general.  When you find your ideal clients your job will be infinitely easier and more enjoyable but honestly, it’s not the be all and end all of business.

I do have some tips for finding your ideal client but the biggest and most important message is at the end of this article.

Finding your Ideal Wedding Photography Clients, how to find your ideal wedding photography client, finding your ideal client, booking your ideal client, ideal wedding client

Tip #1: Have an authentic brand

Your brand should be build upon your own values; you’re your own boss right now and that’s awesome!  So build your brand based on you.  Clients value authenticity so be yourself.  If your brand truly reflects who you are then when you meet with a client who felt comfortable with your brand they should also feel comfortable with you.  If you’re constantly getting amazing client inquiries and consults but not as many people are securing as you’d like, you may have a dissonance between your in-person self and your brand.

Reflect on yourself, your brand and how your ideal client fits in with that brand.

Finding your Ideal Wedding Photography Clients, how to find your ideal wedding photography client, finding your ideal client, booking your ideal client, ideal wedding client

Tip #2:  Showcase images that reflect your ideal client

Show the world what you want you want to shoot.  If you don’t want to shoot in banquet halls then don’t post anything in a banquet hall.  If you only want to shoot people who look like models then only post that online.  If you only want to shoot quirky brides with unique looks, don’t post any traditional brides, etc.  Before you add any image to a blog, to social media or to your portfolio, ask yourself “If I had to shoot this image in this location with this couple a dozen more times, would I still be as excited and inspired on the 12th post as I am the 1st?”  If the answer it yes – post away!

Finding your Ideal Wedding Photography Clients, how to find your ideal wedding photography client, finding your ideal client, booking your ideal client, ideal wedding client

Tip #3:  Know your plan for what to do when a not-quite-ideal client walks through the door – and FOLLOW that plan!

Now, tip #1 and #2 you can find anywhere online the minute you type “Finding your Ideal Wedding Photography Clients”.  It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that knowing who you are and posting only what you want to shoot are 2 ways to attract your ideal client, but #3 is the thing that I really came here to write about.

If you’re going to outline who your ideal client is, you HAAAAVE to know what to do when a not-so-ideal inquiries or sits down at a consult with you.  Will you accept the client?  And if you will, can you do as great as a job at their wedding even if their esthetic or their location isn’t “ideal”?

If you don’t think you can shoot a banquet hall wedding as beautifully as you can a cottage wedding – don’t take the client.

If you don’t think you can shoot a plus-size bride as well as you can shoot a smaller bride – don’t take the client.

Whatever isn’t “ideal” about the client, you need to assess whether or not you can still work with it.  Let’s face it – life isn’t ideal and business isn’t ideal.  Sometimes we have to work with people who are just totally okay.  Positively pleasant but our relationship with them ends when coverage is done.  We’re not going to become best friends with all 30+ couples we shoot every year.  In a perfect world we totally would be but there’s nothing wrong with having really nice, sweet clients who have really nice wedding days.  Not everything in life has to blow you mind or make your #blessed.  But if you can’t produce beautiful images unless you’re #blessed and #mindblown then you need to be able to say to your client “I’m so honoured that you’re wanting me to shoot the wedding day but the day you’re designing is quite different than what we normally shoot and I’m not sure I can produce the types of images for you that you’re expecting me to produce.  I think you’re be better suited with my colleagues x, y or z.  All the best on your wedding day.”

So when it comes to finding your ideal clients, it’s really only half the battle.  Knowing what to do when your not-so-ideal clients walk through the door is an important part of the game plan that no one seems to talk about.

If you want to learn more about finding your ideal wedding photography clients…

I’ve never been afraid to push the boundaries and talk about some of the things that really need to be talked about in our industry.  I’ve been in business for nearly 10 years and each year has grown stronger and stronger.  I’ve learned a lot in my years and a lot of those lessons were learned the hard way.  I’m more than happy to share my experience with others and help provide proper education in our industry.  If you’re interested in learning more about targeting ideal clients, how to manage client expectations, how to deal with upset clients and even how to price yourself so you can not only survive but save for the future, consider taking my Business 101 workshop!  Early bird tickets are $199 until May 1st.

Finding your Ideal Wedding Photography Clients

 

 

 

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