Wedding Photography: Tips and Tricks
Nowadays with everyone carrying around phones with decent quality cameras, wedding guests can easily take their own pictures and upload them on social media for everyone to see and share within minutes. So how do you stand out from the every-day run-of-the-mill camera wielders? In addition to offering a photography storefront to help you sell your photography online, we at Instaproofs have compiled a short list of time-proven tips and tricks for how to get those attending a wedding (other than the bride and groom) to view and purchase your photos. Read on!
1. Assign A Family Photo Coordinator
The family photo portion of the shoot can be stressful. With people running around to gather other family members and everyone wanting specific shots, it can feel like you'll never get the full picture. Plus, adding in the the fact that you are completely unaware of the family dynamics doesn’t really help either. Because of this, it may be a good idea to have the wedding couple nominate a family member (or two) who can act as the “director” of the shoot. They can round everyone up, place people in the various shots according to who’s who and where you want them, and keep things moving along in an orderly way so that everyone can get on to the party! Having a coordinator of this type will provide you with the knowledge you need to get perfect family shots, that everyone will want to purchase and cherish forever.
2. Consider a Second Wedding Photographer
While you are taking care of the larger portraits and group shots, it is helpful to have someone around to take candids and pictures of the individual guests. The cocktail party can be a great time to capture those who are not a part of the scheduled photos that are being taken during this time. Since you are not able to be in two places at once, chances are that you will miss out on taking pictures of those who wouldn’t normally care to purchase photos. In other words, by taking advantage of this time you are able to capture those who are not immediate family members or included in the wedding party, and get them excited about buying the photos that they are in.
3. Tell A Story
Successful wedding photography is all about telling the story of the day. Through a series of photographs that starts with the preparation of the day (mom helping make flower arrangements, the groom tying his tie, the bridesmaids in their robes, etc.) to the end of the reception, you are able to allow family members, the wedding party, and other guests to re-live the day.
4. Incorporate Unique Shots that Include a Variety of Attendees
One of the best ways to get people excited about purchasing wedding photos is to take memorable shots that include a number of different wedding goers! Try out new angles you’ve never considered before with the bridal party, or find a way to shoot an adorable shot of kids at the wedding with the bride. Chances are, the people in the photos (or the parents of the kids!) will be thrilled to see themselves in a fun, unforgettable picture. See some of the images below for shot inspiration!
5. Organize and Categorize
One of the great things about Instaproofs is how user-friendly it is. We have made it easy for guests to navigate the site, leading you to more purchases. A great trick that a lot of our photographers have found successful is to organize and categorize the photos they post so that guests know where to find what they are looking for. More often than not, guests who are looking at photography from a wedding they attended are not only looking for pictures of the bride and groom but they are searching for shots of themselves as well. By placing your pictures into relevant categories that are easy to distinguish, it will make it easier for your viewers to find their photographs, allowing for more opportunities of sales.
6. Discount Cards
In all aspects of life, discounts are a great way to motivate people to buy things. Everyone enjoys feeling like they are getting a good deal and chances are, people will buy more than they planned to once they start looking through your images. Something we suggest is to place a basket of coupon cards at the exit of the reception venue so that guests can grab one on their way out. If you have the URL to your Instaproofs page and the date of when you expect the pictures to appear online written on the card, it can double as a little reminder for guests to come check out the images when they're ready. Additionally, sending immediate family members or members of the wedding party small credit vouchers to use on your site will help get the most important guests to start shopping.
And there you have it! Six time-proven tips and tricks to give your wedding photography sales a little boost! Using these methods should help you sell your photos online and get all of the participants at the wedding excited about viewing and purchasing their images. Good luck, and happy shooting!