Wedding season peaks from late spring through fall, but where do all those weddings start? Proposals and engagements are the first steps on the path to the big day, which means engagement season is prime time for photographers to connect with new clients. To help you get ahead of the curve, here are 7 great engagement season tips for photographers.
Get the Rings Ready!
The holidays aren’t just for cozy gatherings and twinkling lights—they’re also prime time for popping the question. From late November through February 14th, proposals skyrocket. According to WeddingPro.com, 70% of couples start wedding planning before they’re even officially engaged! So, if photographers are looking for new potential clients, getting an introduction to a couple as soon as they decide to tie the knot is key.
When couples start their search for a wedding photographer they might look at multiple resources like Google, Instagram, or industry listing sites. They also might ask friends and family for referrals, or reach out to vendors to find out who they like to work with. Photographers looking to fill their calendars need to be available in all those spaces with the right information and at the right time.
7 Great Engagement Season Tips for Photographers
Attracting potential customer during engagement season isn’t just about showing off great wedding photos, it’s about connecting with what couple are looking for and making it easy for them to see what makes working with you the right fit. It’s also important that your business is geared up and ready to meet the needs of the next wave of engaged couples. Here are seven tips to ensure that you stand out and get connected with all the newlyweds you desire.
1. Freshen Up Your Website
Your website is your storefront, so make sure it’s in top shape. No need for a complete overhaul, but a few strategic updates can make all the difference:
- Showcase ONLY your best, current work. The T-Rex chasing the bridal party across a field trend is over, lose that image.
- Highlight engagement sessions with featured stories about couples you’ve worked with. Include details about their proposal and wedding day plans. People love reading about what everyone else is doing.
- Refresh your “About Me” page. Include a great photo of yourself and craft an elevator pitch that focuses on what you bring to the table. Skip the generic details and focus on what makes working with you unique.
- Show the full range of services and products that you offer including images of professional wedding albums.
2. Location Location Location
Don’t make couples guess where you’re based. Add your location and service areas to your website, social media, and Google Business listing. Of the 7 great engagement season tips for photographer, this has to be the easiest one. Being searchable as “photographer near me” is a game-changer!
3. Be ready for the proposals!
Couples are investing more time and money in to their proposals. Crafting a personalized proposal experience may mean hiring a photographer to document the magic moment. If you are there for the “Yes!” you’ll probably be there for the “I do!”
To get into the proposal game, share a blog about proposal session tips, and add a section about proposal planning to your next newsletter. If you are new to proposals, do a model call for recently engaged couples to reenact their proposal.
4. Simplify Contact Options
Make it easy for potential clients to reach you. Whether it’s email, phone, or a contact form, ensure it’s front and center on your site. Don’t forget an auto-response to confirm you’ve received their inquiry and let them know when to expect a reply. Quick follow-ups are key to securing bookings!
Be ready to communicate face to face whether that be in person or via a virtual meeting app. People like to see who they are going to be working with on one of the most important days of their lives so don’t be shy about talking face to face.
5. Build Vendor Relationships
Inner industry referrals are the best. People like referring people whom they like to work with. Reach out to those vendor friends with a text or a shout out on social media to be sure that you are top of mind when opportunities to collaborate arise.
6. Prepare for Future Costs
Number 6 of our 7 great engagement season tips for photographers is managing costs. Wedding photography inquiries coming in now could be for six months down the road or 16 months. Be sure that your pricing is updated for next year and beyond.
Take a look at the products like professional wedding albums, save the dates, andwall art that you are offering to clients. Evaluate what works for you and what doesn’t. Is it time to retire a product or try something new?
7. Update Samples
Speaking of NEW, it’s important to have updated samples on your website, on social media, and to show clients when you meet with them. Don’t get caught off guard showing clients a professional wedding album from 2015 that has a product detail that’s no longer available.
Samples get handled more that regular client albums and they can start to looking worn out over time, especially if you attend bridal expos. A professional wedding album that shows wear and tear doesn’t send the right message. Get update before meeting with new couples.
Also, don’t skip showing off parent albums and engagement signs in books. Customers need to see what the value that you bring to the table with professional wedding albums of all styles and sizes.
Preparing for engagement season can seem like a fresh start on a whole new year with a brand new group of clients to work with. Get excited! Couples often look for photographers who feel approachable and authentic—let your personality and expertise shine through!
It’s exhilarating and revitalizing to plan for the next season. So take a deep breath, use these 7 great engagement season tips for photographers, a be prepared to book. Before you know it, you’ll be deep into the wedding season with back-to-back bookings and clients looking forward to getting their beautiful wedding images into professional wedding albums.
