Building a Stronger Wedding Business with Slideshows

Intro by Skip Cohen

There's so much incredible content in the Photodex Blog archives.  Just take a scroll and you'll find one helpful post after another, each designed to help you raise the bar on your presentations. Technology is changing every day and thanks to Photodex you have so many ways to present images beyond prints, albums and just sending a client digital files.

This post by Lisa Robinson presents a terrific foundation into ramping up your product mix for bridal clients. In fact, we did a podcast with Lisa last year that's also worth listening to. Just click the banner on the right to connect to the podcast.

Here's the point I want to make with today's post: Digital technology and the Internet have changed everything in the way we share photographs today. Every consumer can not only share images themselves but view photos from friends in their network.  As a professional photographer, you've got a chance to make your work stand out by telling each client's story in a unique way.

We're a word-of-mouth business and what better way to build a stronger reputation than to create incredible presentations? Even better is the fact that Photodex has created the vehicle for you to do it. And, for those of you who just feel you don't have the time, read Lisa's comments below.

Don't miss the opportunity to build your business with slideshows. And remember the younger the bride, the more friends she has who will be getting married. A bride excited about a slideshow her photographer put together is your very best ambassador!

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by Lisa Robinson
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Although I’ve been shooting weddings for nearly a decade, I have only just recently started incorporating slideshows into my workflow (and consequently, left myself wondering why I hadn’t done it earlier). I like to think of slideshows as moving blog posts that are able to capture my clients’ emotions through the addition of music and when we can captivate emotion, we are able to be more profitable at the same time as increasing client happiness. Win-Win, right? Yep.

Now, if you’re one of those (like I used to be) who said “I just don’t have time to add one more thing into my workflow”  let me try to tell you that thanks to Photodex & ProShow, you don’t need much time at all! After you’ve already pulled your favorites for your highlight archives, or for your blog post, just upload those to ProShow, pick a song, and within minutes you’ll be ready to go! Of course, you can tinker around for ages, playing with transitions, title slides, searching high and low for the absolute most perfect song, but I’ve found that ProShow’s default options and contained music library offer really great options that I don’t have to spend much time tinkering with. It’s just easy.

So, now that I’ve dispelled the time consumption myth, what are some ways you can use slideshows to enhance what you’re already doing?
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• Use them as a “sneak peek”. I deliver images within 4 weeks of a wedding date. In that time, clients are understandably excited and looking forward to seeing the photos. You can put a show together of some of the top images and privately send it to the clients as a surprise before the final due date. You could also take advantage of social media and upload it online, tagging clients, so that they (and all their friends) take notice of the amazing images you’re presenting.

• Use them as a sale “Add On”. Many people will find the value of an add on slideshow because, like an album, it’s an easily digestible form of imagery compared to sifting online through hundreds of images. However, unlike an album, the costs associated with a slideshow are considerably less. It could be a great fit for clients who aren’t in the market for a fully custom album, but still want a takeaway other than a USB or CD.

• Use them as a “Thank You”. You could flip the order completely and surprise your clients with a slideshow as a thank you gift after all is said and done. They will be surprised at the unexpected detail.

• Use them as a marketing strategy. If you don’t share your images with the other vendors you work with, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Not every industry is as lucky as we are to be able to provide their marketing with amazing photos and they need to rely on us. Working out a good relationship with a vendor who uses your photos (with credit) only furthers your own marketing.If you create a slideshow for them (with your branding on it of course!), you’ve just handed them an amazing marketing tool for their business. They’ll show potential clients who will see your work, the extra mile you went, and your branding. Plus, chances are that vendor will talk your services up and we all know a word of mouth recommendation is worth more than any ad purchase will ever be!

These are just a few suggestions that may work for your business. I encourage you to try one and come up with one of your own and see how it will work for you!