Do You Have A Business Card?

I just got my new business cards in from VistaPrint the other day so I thought I would share a few secrets with you all about business card design and use.

Why have a business card? Everybody knows who I am and I can just give them my email or phone number if they ask...

What's wrong with this statement? This person is expecting clients to flock to him like a rock star and start begging him for his email or number like crazed teen girls. Unrealistic. People won't flock to you, especially when you are first starting out. You need to flock to THEM! That means network. Talk about your business every chance you get and then pass out a business card.

Business cards are the first investment you will make with your advertising budget. This is the first introduction that people will have to your work and talent. You will be giving these out to everyone you talk to even if they are not interested in your wedding photography. Then you can spark up a word or two about your business when you hand it to them.

Essential elements of a successful business card:

• Complete contact information - this includes: Name, title, name of business (if any), address, at least one phone number, email, and website. If there is room put a 3-4 word description of your business under the business name.
• Portfolio Image - if you're a photographer (and I assume most of you reading this blog are...), you need to have at least one of your best images on the front of your business card. The card is like your mini-portfolio that you are handing out to show people. It also would be ideal if you can find a photo with some negative space to accommodate contact info layout. (My card above is a good example as her dress is considered negative space)
• Website and email - VERY important in the year 2009! If you are not a techy type, get someone to make you a Facebook or MySpace page and put it here, but try to work toward buying a domain name and creating a simple website with your info and portfolios. The sad truth is that many potential clients won't consider you to be a professional if you don't have a domain name (.com). Read my post The Power of the Domain Name that I recently wrote on The Horse for more info about web domains.
• Thickness of the card stock (paper) - believe it or not, thicker card stock gives you more credibility. Every aspect of the card links with you and your business, so if your card is on flimsy 8 or 10pt. paper someone might think that your business ethic is flimsy...

If you hand me a flimsy card, with perforated edges, I won't even consider doing business with you.

~ Doran P: a marketing agent and printer by trade.

Introduce yourself everywhere you go with your business card. Get it in the hands of as many people as possible. Hand your card to the receptionist at the doctors office, the hostess at the restaurant, or the technician at the auto repair. These cards may find their way into the hands of a decision maker and they are certainly being put to better use than sitting on your desk at home.

The point is: get some professional looking and feeling business cards made TODAY! And start seeing the results in your advertising.

Traditional vs. Photojournalistic Wedding Photography

The profession of wedding photography has evolved over the years from a simple one or two shot posed portrait (photo by Erica_Marshall) into what it is today, where the bride has almost endless options of how, who and what she wants photographed on her wedding day and the line is being blurred between "traditional" type wedding photography and a more photo journalistic approach to the wedding day. Here are some characteristics of each:

• Traditional Wedding Photography - is more portrait based. Scenes and shots are usually set up in advance during, before or after the wedding. The subjects are posed using tried and true / pleasing to the eye arrangements.
• Photojournalistic Wedding Photography - is more candid and photos are captured spontaneously to show once in a lifetime moments and emotion. Much like photojournalists for the media, wedding photojournalists present a story through the use of photographs.

Advantages of Traditional vs. Photojournalistic Wedding Photography

• Traditional Wedding Photography creates more classic and commercial / frameable type photos that a wider range of people will enjoy (ie. close ups on faces, family portraits, well framed staged events like the cake cutting).
• Photojournalistic Wedding Photography creates more of a reality capture and true feel of the day as the photographer stays out of the way and shows details that would usually be missed. He also captures the action as it happens on the spot, bringing the emotion and fun of the day to light. While these pictures may not be classically framed or lit, they are always very artistic and bring back memories for the couple.

Most brides these days want a combination of the two styles so they can get traditional family pictures for their relatives AND have some great artistic shots for themselves.

Another evolving type of wedding photography is the Fashion Style wedding photography. This is a combination of both traditional and photojournalistic where the photographer creates pictures that look like they are inspired by editorial fashion photography as would be found in magazines like Vogue or Vanity Fair. This type is usually more involved and more expensive since the couple usually have to go to different locations either before or after the wedding with the photographer and have shots done with studio style lighting, fashion posing and professional makeup and hair.

An easy alternative to a fashion wedding shoot is another interesting trend called Trash The Dress. This involves a post wedding photo shoot where the couple dress up formally and go to grungy locations for a contemporary fashion shoot. Some also jump in the water with their dresses or explore caves and forests. These can be done with studio gear but available light (because the shoot is outside) makes these look great. Convince your bride (and MOB) to do a Trash The Dress and you'll both have a blast and some great looking pictures!

Essential Gear For Your Wedding Photography Business

Photo by THEMACGIRL* on Flickr
I guess everyone needs a basic gear list to start up your wedding photog business. So, I'm going to give you some minimum recommendations for camera gear that you need in order to begin your photography business and look like (or at least pretend) that you are a professional and have spent time and a little bit of effort finding gear that will get you and your clients professional results.

Camera Bodies

You need at a minimum two camera bodies. I would recommend two DSLRs instead of film SLRs or point and shoots, but if all you can afford right now is a film camera instead of another $700 DSLR then bring what you can get by all means. I myself am not to the point of two DSLRs just because I can't afford another right now. So, I'm using my old Nikon F-4s film SLR for my backup. I always carry a decent point-and-shoot as well, as a 3rd backup.
If you are going to go ahead and get two DSLRs, I recommend that your backup body have the same sensor size and lens compatibility as the primary - it's too easy to get tripped up by moving between different pieces of equipment. This is a risk you don't have to take. You also need something that has a high megapixel count (10 Mpxl or better) (for enlargements that the client might want), quick handling of knobs and buttons, good low light (high ISO) handling, and the ability to shoot in RAW (for easy post processing). Some minimum suggestions are below for a few different brands of camera bodies:

• minimum: Nikon D70 DSLR, or Nikon D80 10.2MP DSLR, recommended: Nikon D200 10.2MP DSLR or Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP DSLR
  , best: Nikon D700 12.1MP DSLR or Nikon D3 12.1MP FX DSLR
  (full frame sensor)
  
• minimum: Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP DSLR, or 30D, recommended: Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP DSLR
  , best: Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP DSLR
• Great 2nd camera or backup: Sony Alpha A100K 10.2MP DSLR

As you can see most pros go with either Nikon or Canon. Both of these brands have the widest choice of options, lens options, flash and accessory options. They also handle better, last longer, and in my opinion are better made than the Sony, Olympus or Pentax bodies out there.

Lenses ("glass")

This is were most inexperienced photogs go wrong. They shell out the bucks for the body and then use the kit lens or buy the cheapest zoom that they can find. Do your own research but be sure to pick up some of the below lenses and know their characteristics and when to use them:

• 50mm f/1.8 - this is your low light (fast) essential lens that needs to be in everyone's bag. You can get close to macro shots with this (as close as 10 inches) if you don't have a macro lens, and the depth of field is amazing on a good one. Great for low light weddings where you can' use flash.
• ? - 300mm zoom - these usually start out at about 70mm so you can use them for your standard portraits and not get deformed faces then you can also use the 300mm side for your extra long shots in the church or from the balcony so your couple won't look like specks in the distance. Try to get the Vibration Reduction or image stabilized version to reduce camera shake.
  
• 10 - 24mm ultra wide - these are awesome for grabbing shots of the WHOLE cathedral if its a big church or outside in a large open area. These also allow some creative photojournalistic shots with their fish-eye effect.

Flash

At a minimum you want an iTTL flash that has fully configurable manual settings as well and buttons that are quick and easy to see in the dark. The i TTL will just make your life easier and you need to be able to do manual settings for creative effects. Here are some great suggestions that will last a while and won't totally break your budget.

• Nikon SB-600 Speedlight or Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight
  
• Canon Speedlite 580EX II or Canon Speedlite 430EX II
• Gary Fong flash diffusers - these are essential for getting soft lighting with your shoe mount flash without using a softbox. They attach right to the end of your flash and deliver impressive results!

Tripods

A good heavy and steady tripod is also essential for your formal and family portraits to ensure nice tack sharp photos. Listing these could be a whole blog in and of itself. Get one that tightens up and head that is versatile enough for your needs (ball head, quick release for vertical shots). I use a Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod. I would spend no less than $100 on a good, tight, stable tripod.

Other than these essentials, I would consider anything else an optional enhancement or upgrade to save time. (Which is another blog also... ;-)

Renting is also an option if you are just starting out for your first or second gig. Most top of the line professional gear can be rented from local independent camera stores for $100 - $200 depending on what you need. That way you can get some great quality shots for your portfolio and then save up to buy that Nikon D3 (mmm... yummy!)

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