Anyone ever approach bridal shops for business?

[ominblue]

Hi to veterans n pros here,

just to check with you n also seek opinions from you all...

Have anyone of y'all starting your AD wedding photo shoot business
thru approaching bridal shops to have them engage u for the job?

Just wanna learn from your experience, like how you went about doing it n how's the return rate for doing so. Need advice.

Cheers,
Jack.

 

[mnjohar]

Hi to veterans n pros here,

just to check with you n also seek opinions from you all...

Have anyone of y'all starting your AD wedding photo shoot business
thru approaching bridal shops to have them engage u for the job?

Just wanna learn from your experience, like how you went about doing it n how's the return rate for doing so. Need advice.

Cheers,
Jack.

The only way for them to see your porfolio is that you were shooting one of their customers by chance and then they will have a look at your work because you shoot their outfit and make up. I started out this way, shooting my relatives/friends before they "open their eyes" to my work.

Hope this helps.

 

[ominblue]

The only way for them to see your porfolio is that you were shooting one of their customers by chance and then they will have a look at your work because you shoot their outfit and make up. I started out this way, shooting my relatives/friends before they "open their eyes" to my work.

Hope this helps.

thanks

 

[catchlights]

basically bridal shops only want to deal with a wedding shooters supplier, don't want to deal with individual weekend warriors.

they want somebody has a lot of kakis, someone got enough manpower to handle 10~15 assignments for a super hot wedding date, someone can take wedding assignments within very short notice, like inform you a few hours in advance. someone can tahan six months late payment from the bridal shops, (FYI, the head will pay their kakis once they pass you the CD of the assignment they done. so we are talking about a few thousands dollars of outstanding payment)

so usually bridal shops won't pass assignments to an individual, unless you are super good in dealing with nasty customers, and super cheap, or some assignments being rejected by wedding shooters supplier, if not, they won't call you.

 

[phazed1]

basically bridal shops only want to deal with a wedding shooters supplier, don't want to deal with individual weekend warriors.

they want somebody has a lot of kakis, someone got enough manpower to handle 10~15 assignments for a super hot wedding date, someone can take wedding assignments within very short notice, like inform you a few hours in advance. someone can tahan six months late payment from the bridal shops, (FYI, the head will pay their kakis once they pass you the CD of the assignment they done. so we are talking about a few thousands dollars of outstanding payment)

so usually bridal shops won't pass assignments to an individual, unless you are super good in dealing with nasty customers, and super cheap, or some assignments being rejected by wedding shooters supplier, if not, they won't call you.

Good advice. Think better to stand on your own then depend on others. It's not easy but being a photographer is never easy at all.

 

[ominblue]

basically bridal shops only want to deal with a wedding shooters supplier, don't want to deal with individual weekend warriors.

they want somebody has a lot of kakis, someone got enough manpower to handle 10~15 assignments for a super hot wedding date, someone can take wedding assignments within very short notice, like inform you a few hours in advance. someone can tahan six months late payment from the bridal shops, (FYI, the head will pay their kakis once they pass you the CD of the assignment they done. so we are talking about a few thousands dollars of outstanding payment)

so usually bridal shops won't pass assignments to an individual, unless you are super good in dealing with nasty customers, and super cheap, or some assignments being rejected by wedding shooters supplier, if not, they won't call you.

thanks so much. This is really broadening my knowledge n also an enlightenment to me:thumbsup:

Good advice. Think better to stand on your own then depend on others. It's not easy but being a photographer is never easy at all.

 

[ckuang]

from my early days of wedding photography, I came to learn that there is a lot of dirty tricks used by wedding studios (not all, some are ok), so be very careful and if you want to work with them go in with 2 eyes open. Some of the dirty tricks i have come across in the past include

1. They will ask for your portfolio album on the premise that they will sell you, then they will claim your works belong to their "in-house" photographer, and so when clients want your pics, instead of calling you, they will get some photog from JB to come in and do the job at 1/5 of what they would pay you.

2. They will withhold payment from you and always have a few bills outstanding, then they will say, after you shoot this one, we will pay you the past bills, but they will always keep one or two bills outstanding so you have no choice but to keep shooting for them. so you will be forever stuck to being paid very low

3. they just pay very very low to begin with (i've heard of rates as low as $250 for a full 14 hour day) with promises of more work in the future. in most cases, if you do the proper math, you will end up losing money if you are based in singapore. why do you think so many of the shooter they use are from malaysia/johor?

There's quite a lot more dirt in the industry, but these would likely affect you most.

If you are doing wedding photography to make money, i think there's really no shortcut to finding a viable and profitable model. My experience with photographers who have come for advice in the past and then ended up going and shooting for a bridal studio, after about one year, as they say in singapore "no sight no sound."

In fact, for many years before WPN came about, wedding day,both actual and pre wedding was at the mercy of the bridal studios because many photographers in the industry depended solely on bridal studios to bring in the business. That was the heirachy back then. I am glad to say i the last few years, wedding photographers in Singapore have made huge advancements and are less at the mercy of the bridal studios. they can now set their own prices and can survive off walk in customers. As a result fo this the qulity of worked being produced as sky rocketed too.

In short, starting through bridal studios is not a path i would walk if you plan on doing it for the long term. bad for you, bad for the industry.

 

[catchlights]

agree with kuang.

TS, please read this thread. is a very long thread, but also very entertaining.

LOUSY wedding photography

tell me what if you are the photographer shooting for bridal shop, how would you feel if you encounter customers like this?

btw, the sample photos post by the thread starter at his last post are very decent photos, not fancy, but passable, are photos what you should received from a $200 wedding day photographer.

 

[yqt]

from my early days of wedding photography, I came to learn that there is a lot of dirty tricks used by wedding studios (not all, some are ok), so be very careful and if you want to work with them go in with 2 eyes open. Some of the dirty tricks i have come across in the past include

1. They will ask for your portfolio album on the premise that they will sell you, then they will claim your works belong to their "in-house" photographer, and so when clients want your pics, instead of calling you, they will get some photog from JB to come in and do the job at 1/5 of what they would pay you.

2. They will withhold payment from you and always have a few bills outstanding, then they will say, after you shoot this one, we will pay you the past bills, but they will always keep one or two bills outstanding so you have no choice but to keep shooting for them. so you will be forever stuck to being paid very low

3. they just pay very very low to begin with (i've heard of rates as low as $250 for a full 14 hour day) with promises of more work in the future. in most cases, if you do the proper math, you will end up losing money if you are based in singapore. why do you think so many of the shooter they use are from malaysia/johor?

There's quite a lot more dirt in the industry, but these would likely affect you most.

If you are doing wedding photography to make money, i think there's really no shortcut to finding a viable and profitable model. My experience with photographers who have come for advice in the past and then ended up going and shooting for a bridal studio, after about one year, as they say in singapore "no sight no sound."

In fact, for many years before WPN came about, wedding day,both actual and pre wedding was at the mercy of the bridal studios because many photographers in the industry depended solely on bridal studios to bring in the business. That was the heirachy back then. I am glad to say i the last few years, wedding photographers in Singapore have made huge advancements and are less at the mercy of the bridal studios. they can now set their own prices and can survive off walk in customers. As a result fo this the qulity of worked being produced as sky rocketed too.

In short, starting through bridal studios is not a path i would walk if you plan on doing it for the long term. bad for you, bad for the industry.

Oh Damn ........... like this I kenna con liow, they only pay me $150 for the shoot but I also play smart, they say will pay me at my next job as not collect full payment from the couple yet, I took back the films ( undeveloped ) and tell them that I'll give them the films at my next job also :bsmilie:

 

[yqt]

On a more serious note, if you're thinking of shooting for bridal studio for less than peanuts, I think you'll be much better off working for some of the bridal photographer here in CS even if it is for free as a tag along/3rd or 4th photographer or just as an assistant.

 

[snowspeeder]

That's why I always advise my frens and clients that if they take up a 3 - 4k package fr a bridal studio that comes with the studio/outdoor shoot, wedding car, hand bouquet as well as the AD photographer...then they should not expect too much fr the AD photographer's work..as mostly likely the freelancer is being paid only $250 for the entire day's work. :bsmilie: Anyone who can shoot better or knows his worth will never get paid in this peanut amount.

 

[xMetalx]

Sometimes got a call.

Event
wedding

Last minute low paid ($150~250). What to do no money have to take the job because I am doing full time.

The lousy and pity part the person who engage me "how much he was paid"? I dun know.

And also pity to the couple or event organizer got an ad hoc photographer which they do not know. They thought I am employed by so call this guy. hahaha

Plus the person who hires me don't even bother to see my portfolio hahaha

 

[garagez]

someone can tahan six months late payment from the bridal shops,

so so true

 

[garagez]

got a friend boasting about his bridal package , makeup was good, outfit was good...but everything in the album :thumbsd:

 

[earthling82]

Hi everyone

I am a $250 photographer that works with bridal studios. For the volume, I can compromise with the low rates.

However some things i do not compromise - for example equipment and energy. I use 2 pro-cameras of different focal lengths with 2 flashes mounted. And any videographer who follow me for AD are fortunate that I can cue special moments and poses for them. The couple would also be pleased that I can engage their whole family in fun and laughter. In the evening, the express highlights always show some of my photos at the climax.

There was once though a videograher commented that for my quality of works, I should be charging about $1200+ lowest, with CD only. Well seriously i do not know also and cannot be bothered.

Despite all this, I still consider myself a novice. I am driven by nothing but PASSION and QUALITY. Pay me $250 or $2500, I will deliver the same 100% effort.

We all start somewhere ... so please dun flame me

 

[garagez]

We all start somewhere ... so please dun flame me

nothing to flame about, it's yr choice

cheers

 

[Priscilia]

Hi everyone

I am a $250 photographer that works with bridal studios. For the volume, I can compromise with the low rates.

However some things i do not compromise - for example equipment and energy. I use 2 pro-cameras of different focal lengths with 2 flashes mounted. And any videographer who follow me for AD are fortunate that I can cue special moments and poses for them. The couple would also be pleased that I can engage their whole family in fun and laughter. In the evening, the express highlights always show some of my photos at the climax.

There was once though a videograher commented that for my quality of works, I should be charging about $1200+ lowest, with CD only. Well seriously i do not know also and cannot be bothered.

Despite all this, I still consider myself a novice. I am driven by nothing but PASSION and QUALITY. Pay me $250 or $2500, I will deliver the same 100% effort.

We all start somewhere ... so please dun flame me

Hmm.. something's not quite right....

While I admire your passion, how can you ignore the $ part? I find it quite unbelievable.

My guess is if you do raise your charges, you will lose your potential customers or afraid the heavier responsibility that comes with the higher price? But anyway, since you work for the bridal company, you can't raise the price as you wish, I suppose.

 

[catchlights]

Hi everyone

I am a $250 photographer that works with bridal studios. For the volume, I can compromise with the low rates.

However some things i do not compromise - for example equipment and energy. I use 2 pro-cameras of different focal lengths with 2 flashes mounted. And any videographer who follow me for AD are fortunate that I can cue special moments and poses for them. The couple would also be pleased that I can engage their whole family in fun and laughter. In the evening, the express highlights always show some of my photos at the climax.

There was once though a videograher commented that for my quality of works, I should be charging about $1200+ lowest, with CD only. Well seriously i do not know also and cannot be bothered.

Despite all this, I still consider myself a novice. I am driven by nothing but PASSION and QUALITY. Pay me $250 or $2500, I will deliver the same 100% effort.

We all start somewhere ... so please dun flame me

yes, it is not right, what you call is your passion, but to many other photographers, you are just a stone of stumbling.

did you realize that many wedding couples will think many others wedding photographers who price their service accordingly to what they are offering are cheaters? after the wedding couples had seen your works or used you before.
and wedding couples also think those photographers who shoot weddings for bridal shops at low rate same as you are morons? since you can deliver "high quality" works at such low price but they can't.

you are in the wedding photography industry, if you take pride of you what are doing, please respect yourself, and many other fellow photographers.

 

[sjackal]

Hi everyone

I am a $250 photographer that works with bridal studios. For the volume, I can compromise with the low rates.

However some things i do not compromise - for example equipment and energy. I use 2 pro-cameras of different focal lengths with 2 flashes mounted. And any videographer who follow me for AD are fortunate that I can cue special moments and poses for them. The couple would also be pleased that I can engage their whole family in fun and laughter. In the evening, the express highlights always show some of my photos at the climax.

There was once though a videograher commented that for my quality of works, I should be charging about $1200+ lowest, with CD only. Well seriously i do not know also and cannot be bothered.

Despite all this, I still consider myself a novice. I am driven by nothing but PASSION and QUALITY. Pay me $250 or $2500, I will deliver the same 100% effort.

We all start somewhere ... so please dun flame me

I thought it was low when I was offered $350 to shoot AD for bridal studio, (did not took the job) until I read about your $250. Plus express highlights!?

The bridal studio charge the couple $600 to $800, studio pays AD photog $350 to $400, the math works out for bridal studio, but not for the AD photog.

The guys from JB can do it, driving their own cars in every weekend, on Malaysian fuel, and survive, but will be very hard for Singapore based photog.

But if you are producing high quality work, not shoot and burn, you definitely can get more out on your own.

AD wedding is hard and tough job, and the serious pros in this line is striving hard to bring up the market, which will benefit everyone. Charging below your worth in the name of passion is not cool, the market is in a way paying for your passion.

No offenses but just very frank opinions.

 

[fotoudavid]

AD wedding is hard and tough job, and the serious pros in this line is striving hard to bring up the market, which will benefit everyone.

yes well say.:thumbsup: