Jamila

My mother works with Jamila and that is how I met her. My mom was over at my house the other day and asked me how much I charge for photographing a pregnancy. I told her $125 and knowing this was an odd question for her to ask, I asked her why. She told me about Jamila and that Jamila had originally asked her. See, Jamila has a husband in Africa. About 9 months ago she went to go visit him and came back to theStates pregnant. Her husband will miss the baby being born and never saw her during the wholepregnancy. Can you imagine? I was so touched by the story that I told my mom to get her over to my house asap. Jamila was due the day after our photo-shoot, I was quite nervous about her going into labor. My mom and I spent two days getting my studio put together. It looks awesome and I am much more comfortable inviting clients over to discuss photo-shoots and have photo-shoots. Jamila was my first client and the photos turned out, I think, amazing.

I Like Shooting Horses

My husband and I go on a lot of drives in the country. I have always loved drive by shootings and recently I have become increasingly interested in shooting horses. It is actually hard to do. Often times the horse is not near the road, so getting a decent shot is not possible. Other times, we roll up and the horse comes bounding over to me. I prefer them in a natural setting, not up in my face. The other problem is dogs. It makes sense, you live on a farm out in nowhere and you have free roaming dogs. So I get out and dogs come barking. I have to abandon my horse and get back in the car. Still, I have a series going and I am growing quite fond of it! Oh, and I photograph them only with my iPhone.

Learning Curve

I have a package that I am offering couples that is $550. I am doing this to get back into the business and at the same time, offer a package that is really worth the $550 and not sell myself short. Surprisingly, I have come across several things I need to be more clear on.

1. Travel Time and Cost

I hadn't really thought of this and it may have cost me a wedding. I live in Lynnwood and have been advertising in Bellingham. I do this because my husband has friends up there and things he can do so if we both go together, it is not exactly a cost. Well, a couple found me and we had a meeting to discuss the wedding. They were actually getting married at Peace Arch up at the Canadian border. They wanted to know what I would charge for travel up there. I admit, I was caught off guard and said the best answer I could on short notice. That answer was they would have to pay my gas cost. They were not happy with that answer. I was then lectured by the bride about how I should charge per mile and my time. They said they would pay me $30 extra for travel. Lesson Learned: I need to figure out a travel fee, stat.

2. Tell Me About Yourself

I hate this one. People want to know about me. As me in me personally. I feel awkward here because really, why do they care? They are hiring me for my photography skills, what does my personal life have to do with it? I tell them about my two degrees in Photography and how long I have been taking wedding pictures. I tell them how I got in the business and then I stop. They always look at me as if they are not quite sure if I answered their question. Lesson Learned: I need to come up with a memorized monologue that satisfies.

3. References

What? I don't keep in touch with clients. Should I? Couples are asking for references and I don't get it. Do the pictures not speak for themselves? Do my albums not clearly show that my couples are clearly having a great time and I did an amazing job? What is a reference going to tell them? Why would I give them a bad one? I feel so weird contacting a couple I haven't spoken to in forever and asking them if I can send their email to a stranger and have them answer questions. They are busy, they all have lives. They are not a former employer. Yes, in a way they are. They hired me to do a professional service for them, but its not like a 9-5 job where references are expected. Lesson Learned: Get over it. Make sure to have go-to couples who would be willing to give a great reference.

4. Changes to the Package

My hours for the $550 wedding photo package is 6 hours. What do I charge for more time? Excellent question. That is a tough one for me. The package is meant to be low budget. Those are the people I am looking for. It even states that in the ad " Wedding Photography for LOW BUDGET weddings". My 8 hour package is $1200. That is a huge difference from $550. Granted, I offer a lot more in the 8 hour package. However, 8 hours means more pictures which means more of my time overall. I will admit, I got taken advantage of. I have a couple getting close to the $1200 package for several hundred less. Lesson Learned: figure out how much an hour extra you are. Be stern when you say this and don't be shy about explaining why.

5. Thank You

I also realized that I should always email a thank you after a meeting. One client was meeting me and two other photographers in one day. Somehow I didn't get the gig but I sure wish I had sent a thank you. Perhaps it would have given me an upper hand?

Death of a Wedding

Spike and Grace were to be married on August 20th 2011. Spike had been a close personal friend since 1996. He worked for my dad doing what he loved most in this world, Iron Work. Spike met Grace through the Stranger personals and proposed a few months ago. They were so happy. Grace already had her dress, two in fact. Spike had his suit all picked out. The ceremony was to be in Pt. Ludlow Washington during the Perry Rendezvous. It was a potluck wedding. They were going to play capture the flag. They were going to ride away on their yellow tandem bicycle. Their getaway car was Blue Belle, their blue Volkswagen bus. The cake, made by another close friend, was due for tasting in a few weeks. Grace was all set up to borrow 30 vintage blue Ball jars from me. The engagement picks were on hold until the tulip festival bloomed. Grace's wedding band was complete and Spike was waiting for his tax return to finish his up. They came over to discuss the details with me, their wedding photographer, a few weeks ago. I went over everything with them. We discussed the whole day and I asked them everything. Grace was really surprised at what she still had to consider and so thankful for my professionalism. I asked her things that were crucial to making her pictures a success. We went over the shot list and the contract. I told her I would not make her sign a contract or owe me a deposit because they were like family to me and I was not worried in the least about them screwing me over.

Grace also was very organized and she wanted the whole wedding paid for by the time it arrived. She had already given me $800 of the $1200 they owed. Then I got he horrible call. Spike had suddenly died of Acute Bronchial Pneumonia. Suddenly it was all over. A loud screeching halt. I felt as though the breath had been knocked out of me. I have had a lot of things happen to me with weddings, I feel like I have it all happen. Not this though. This did not need to happen. This wedding was supposed to be in Seattle Bride, I knew it was going to be that good. It was my style all over the place. It was going to be the epitome of a Unique Northwest Wedding.

The money that they had paid me was nearly out the bank and paying for an ad I have dreamed of having. That ad is now on hold until I can scrape together another $800. But you know, its nothing compared to the total loss and heartbreak that Grace must be feeling. She asked me for the money back to complete the $1000 payment she needs to make to get Spikes ring made. there was absolutely no question in my mind that I was giving it back.

This lesson has taught me a valuable lesson in having a contract. Always have one, always have it signed. I require a $200 deposit that is non-refundable. Its is to cover the cost of meeting with the couple, finding out every bit of detail regarding their wedding, making notes, going over shot ideas, explaining the contract and making some money in the possibility that they don't get married. I knew death was an option but I never considered it. Couples generally disagree and break up leaving vendors and themselves scrambling for money. I didn't want Grace to pay me so quickly but that is what she wanted to do so it was fine. Figuring out who you need to pay after a wedding can be daunting. Realizing how much you owe can probably make you sick. Its like paying for a meal after you have already eaten it, you sort of feel, why bother? I don't give couples their photos until I have received full payment. I also don't spend the money before the wedding. I am so glad I didn't in this case.

Words simply can not express the sadness I feel for the loss of my best friend and his hopes and dreams in this wedding. This experience will forever incorporate itself into the way I do business.