Wedding photography – products delivered to clients
I often get asked what album company I use, and what other products I offer my clients. When I first set up my business as a wedding photographer, I was completely green when it came to branding, marketing, as well as the products I could deliver to my clients. Albums, prints, cards, canvases, and all sorts of deliverables I could offer.
I was overwhelmed by all the options I found at the various photography trade shows. So many album companies and print labs. Without much of an idea of branding and consistency, this overwhelming variety of options carried over into me initially offering a 6 different album options to potential clients. I thought it would be a great idea to let clients choose. Then they could choose a wedding album according to their taste (and budget).
This was a big mistake, for two main reasons: Wedding clients look towards you as the wedding photographer / vendor, to offer them the best choice. Show them what you think is the best option … with maybe one or two alternatives on offer. With 6 different album companies that I offered, the clients were as confused and overwhelmed as I was at the trade shows – there’s just too much going on!
The other big mistake in offering too wide a variety, is that it dilutes your brand. It diffuses who you are aiming to be, and the level of service that you want to offer. I knew my own talent, and the style that I wanted to achieve and perfect – clean, classic lines. Simplicity in composition, and elegant lighting. The products that I wanted to deliver to clients, had to match that vision.
Wedding albums
The upshot of this was that within two years of starting, I had stripped down the options to the best album company I had been using – PictoBooks. Superb quality and superb binding.
Their customer service is tops as well – a few times I have made a mistake in ordering, they contacted me the next day to question it, and confirm whether I really wanted it the way I had ordered it, or if I had made a mistake. It really helps when your vendors are on your side to help offer a fluent service to your own clients in turn.
With PictoBooks I settled on three lines – and those are all that I offer in terms of album options. All just from the one company. The albums look great, and I can proudly offer them to my clients.
Oh, another benefit to keeping things simple, is that the ordering process is now consistent. You become familiar with it, and this speeds up your workflow. Compare this to the convoluted setup, ordering through six different companies, and having to get used to each one in turn again.
The photo above is of a sample album – I left off the names and wedding date so that the album remains contemporary.
Delivering the digital files
For a while I delivered the digital files on a Lightscribe disc – a DVD with an image of my clients on the front. It looked pretty sexy! But with the changes in technology, clients now prefer a USB memory stick.
I now use this elegant looking wooden USB thumb drive by USB Memory Direct. They will add your logo or any other kind of branding on it. Check them out – they offer a large variety in USB drives. I settled on the bamboo look. Elegant. It has a bright and airy feel.
The USB memory stick option is also faster to do than burning DVDs (and the image on the reverse side). The faster workflow is always welcome.
Press-printed products – Thank you cards & Bookmarks
I use the textured linen paper for a luxurious feel to the cards.
With the thank you cards, I have an image in the front. The inside might have text, or just an image, or be left blank.
It is a nice keep-sake, and less likely to be thrown away like a business card would.
Press-printed products – Signing books
For the signing books, I use Miller’s.
I once had to get a signing book ordered in a very short time. They came through with less than 3 days from ordering to having the album delivered to my doorstep! Insanely fast.
Summary
As you can see, I don’t offer a myriad of products. My pricing and info that I show to clients during consultation, aren’t loaded with options. I have kept it simple and streamlined – but have aligned myself with quality products that I offer my clients.
Let us know which vendors you use, and why you prefer them.
Neil, thank you for sharing this info! One question about Pictobooks: what is the resolution the albums are printed in? Is it 300 dpi or less? I ask this because the album company I am using right now is printing the albums (on photographic paper) at 200 dpi. It does not look bad, but when I compare the same photos printed in the albums or just as a single print I can see a clear difference in sharpness because the single print is printed on 300 dpi.
I emailed PictoBooks to ask them:
Neil can you tell me which book from MPIX Pro you use for the signing book? We use MPIX Pro also but I can’t figure out which book you are using. Thanks
Joe, it’s the “12×12 Layflat Custom Hard Cover on Stock” … which Mpix Pro doesn’t offer anymore. So now I have to use Miller’s for exactly the same product. I’ve amended the text to say that now.
Thanks Neil
Do you offer wall prints? There you have at least canvas and frame, plus 1 or 2 more types.
Valent … I should mention this in the main post.
I use Zenfolio for print fulfillment.
What size USB do you provide? Great work btw.
I’ve standardized on 8Gb.
Would you mind sharing how you deliver that USB drive.
I can only assume that you don’t drop it in a white envelop and lick a stamp.
Do you have a presentation case that you recommend, I’m always at such a loss trying to find a
professional way to package these USB drives for shipment.
Thanks!!
Hi Neil
Just ordered a quantity of the USB drives and am a little disappointed in one aspect. While I dealt with a pleasant lady in the USA right up until the moment of dispatch (I am in Australia – a global warming contributor and home of the dismal Tony Abbott!) – and thought that the drives were made and fashioned to my specifications in the USA – it turns out that they dispatch from China. While I have nothing against China I think it would have been useful for the company to have made this transparent because – and we’ve all experienced it – sometimes what comes out of China isn’t always the best quality. Btw – I used the same company as you mentioned in your article.
Yup, that would be an unnecessary commute – China > USA > Australia
Hi Neil
USBs arrived. Very impressed and very satisfied. Already getting plenty of positive feedback re them. Seems my fears were misplaced.
Thanks again for moving my photography in the right direction!
The bookmarks!! Such a brilliant idea, and like you said, it’s unlikely to be thrown away.. but would I keep a book mark of a couple I know? After the link has been visited and prints ordered, that is. But I guess it doesn’t matter, as it’s done what it’s supposed to do I guess! Thanks for sharing Neil :)