Great idea...I usually let them shoot after...no more...I'll let them pose their own groups and shoot first from now on. The only problem no matter what I say the bride and groom never leave enough time for photos after the ceremony. I actually have been told how nice I am (usually several times during the wedding) and how great the images are even before they've seen a single image! Attitude makes a big difference. I'm amazed how many times I'm told how much better
(friendlier, helpful etc) I am than other photographers. So I may lose a few post image sales but, those are rare anyway. I get my money up front, get many wedding referrals and make the wedding guests happy as well. Nasty never gets you anywhere in life.
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Originally Posted by deluco
I suggest that you change your perspective. If you continue this strategy, you will look bad to the guests, no matter how polite you try to be. In addition it is more aggravation than it's worth.
Get your money up front. Full package price one week before the wedding date. That way you won't be too concerned about a couple of follow up print orders that you may lose. Believe me, if you charge what your work is worth, anyone who will accept a point and shoot image will not pay you for a 5x7, even if the image is ONLY available from you.
Here's what I do: I let the snappers shoot BEFORE I shoot. That embarrasses them just a bit because they are now the center of attention and I am waiting for them to shoot. It makes me look like a hero because the last photographer who photograhed their neice's wedding (that would be Bill above), told them that they could not photograph the groups that they were lining up.
If I have to worry about a couple of 5x7's then my pricing structure is all wrong. Try not to depend on follow up orders. Be as wonderful to everyone as you can be. The only people who will give you follow up orders are the parents of the bride or groom. Everyone else is of little consequence.
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