THE WEDDING GUIDE - BUSINESS ASPECT # 1
It doesn’t mean the whole family are shooters, there are simple things kids can do like stuffing envelopes, helping with the setups, and most learn to solve computer problems faster than we do. Spouses can do the bookkeeping, letter writing and so forth. Make them part of the plan. It will always be a tossup as some families are teams and some are dysfunctional in nature and you might be better off yourself.
If you wish this to become or sustain a family based image in your work, understanding, implementing simple, efficient and sound strategies for all to participate in and a cooperative environment is essential for the legacy to continue. And the key to family participation is based on growth. You get bigger, you need help. You have two choices, keep it in the family or enlist outside help. If your bookings and business are not on the increase, if you don't know look at your calendar, if it's empty, it’s a mote point and look for a day job.
I know more than a few part time shooters, (I hate that "weekend warrior" label), who had fifteen bookings last year and then the economy hit bottom and nothing this year. It's depressing yet some have innovated, acclimated,restructured and expanded in other agendas.
Strategic Planning means the establishment of goals and includes the pathways and time lines to achieve success.
Timelines create focus and focus means sticking to the task. Tasking on times means not wasting resources. It’s your Responsibility. As a family business owner and if this is your day job much of that money goes to feeding those folks you live with. If this is a job you use to support your “habit”, and photography is very habit forming, then it doesn’t matter. You’ll work when you feel the pressure of the bills you get each month.
Growth may be achieved in a number of ways.
One of the simplest is by developing new products, or expanding existing territories. The latter initiating travel expansion, or to work with others in other states or territories and feeding each other leads. Start your own circle of referrals.
OK, here’s reality. You might have noticed that Weddings have slowed down based on the economy or at least trimmed down a notch. Again that empty calendar is usually the first sign.
Maybe there is a similar product using similar skills to Wedding Photography that would either fill in the gaps or perhaps even expand the business.
Think out of the box using your tools.
Quinceañera’s
Here’s one we’ll discuss. Latin American people celebrate the 15th birthday of a young lady. It’s her coming of age. Similar to Jewish tradition when a young man of 13 enters into the community thorough a ceremony called a Bar Mitzvah. For young Jewish girls it’s called a Bat Mitzvah.
Like Weddings, both societies celebrate from the old days the entry of the young man or lady into the circle of adults in their society with expectations of them performing as adults and leaving childhood behind.
And the extreme to which they will go is about as diverse as a Wedding depending on their financial plateau. I know of photographers who have covered twenty-four thousand dollar Quinceañera parties and I have seen and attending Bat Mitzvahs which have exceeded that.
Now think of the opportunities here in photographing a Quinceañera. Let’s explore what it is and how we adapt.
To avoid confusion another similar term is "Quinceaños". This refers to the birthday of the celebrant. Break it up into Quince (15) Anos (Years). Quinceañera’s refers to the celebrant.
PROS:
- Gap filler - Adding Quinceañera’s to your Wedding days that are open or on days you normally don’t do Weddings like Friday evenings and Sundays.
- No stranger in Church - The services at the Church generally are short and sweet, sometimes without a Mass and less restrictive on flash. Priests generally keep it that way, similar to a Baptismal. Of course we do have exceptions and you know you are in trouble when he starts off with the The Reading of the Gospels of Everybody and Last year’s Unabridged Version of the Phone book.
- New Territory - Another critical point is opening new territory. Kids have friends at other schools both public and secular. Kids have cousins and they will be at the party. In some ways there are more opportunities here than at a Wedding and less hassles.
- No Time Limits - The young lady has friends and guaranteed they might have a birthday coming up within a two year span for several reasons such as age difference. Girls are more flexible than the guys as to friends age and some of the girls may or may not be Latino. That’s another point, if they don’t have Quince Anos Party then they sure will have a Sweet Sixteen, so that adds a year and more possibilities.
- No Season – Based on the Sexual Habits of three hundred thirty million people in the US, we have deducted that Kids are born year round and there is no season. No rushes during June and November. It’s a 365/24/7 winner.
- Whereas the Spanish ceremony is rooted in the Church, the Sweet Sixteen is rooted in popularity and usually that can work for you. The popular gal has a lot of friends and followers, and the not so popular gal is trying to break into the scheme of things.
DIVERSIFICATION
I will expand those sections in my online book on this section since I'm rewriting the Wedding Guide now. I know I will be doing additional sections on Seniors, Quinceañera's, Bar Mitzvahs, and Confirmations. Then we will delve into Corporate and Business Photography. In conclusion, alternate choices using the tools you have, survival in this day and age means simply put: be diverse, think out of the box, look for new territory, expand your horizons and start wearing boxer shorts with patterns and color.
Think about it. All the above topics are about either “coming out” or "going into" a community or for communication with a community in the case of business photography. There is business there for the smart one. And it's not surprising when I wrote to be successful in this business you need a split personality. Not just a shooter but a business person.
NEW TOOLS and TIPS
We will delve heavy into the double dipping Jacobs Perfection Bracket. Two strobes allow mass transfer of light in the wide such as when shooting large Bridal Groups. Large is defined as either six persons (Or Heifers) per side or more or four weighing 300 pounds apiece. You get the idea. When you need light, you really need wide light and wide light is easy. Just move both of the flashes 10 degrees offof the center. Voila! W.I.D.E. L.I.G.H.T.
Another interesting trick with the JPB is to set one flash straight ahead diffused and the other to bounce over the head of the subject. Thus no need for any Tupperware or other gizmo. One stand, one battery two heads used directionally so it doesn't look like a grenade shot. Flat 360 degree light is boring. You need modeling light or light that promotes depth. And the dual setup still uses less power than a runaway Fong which defaults your flash to full and eventually runs down the battery and the flashtube. Good luck both Canon and Nikon repair stations love you.
Canon was right up front pushing heavy on dual flash rigs. Two 580's into one softbox and umbrella. Yippee!!!!! Sure for 1000 dollars. BUT WAIT! Two Vivitar's and one Jacobs Perfection Bracket and you can have FIVE double rigs for the price of the Canon. The demo was right up front with on site modeling photography. I will emulate the setup and show you how to do it for a ton less in dollars. (See Perfection brackets)