Raymond, how would you get most of your enquiries? 80% client referrals, 20% natural search online? Or different?
so far, for this year, i have 7.
5 are referrals
2 are off forums (one of which a member from another board recommended me to the bridesmaid who told the bride).
I got like a few off a single Bride (Ruth, remember her?), I met up with her last week to catch up as she has just had a little baby girl. She emailed me out of the blue to ask to meet up and in the email she asked if i do family pics. I was going to email her to congratulate her on her little girl anyway and surprise her with my offer of a free shoot....so since she asked, I said I would do a photo shoot for her and her baby girl as my gift to her. She has been a great client, the best a photographer could ask for, even AFTER the wedding. So I would be glad to photograph her family. Only not yet, as the baby is tiny at the moment, I said wait until she can sit up by herself first, it would make the photos more interesting. I believe in Karma, and it is also the least i can do.
For 2011, and in the past couple of months i have had quite a few inquiries. turned down 1 (indifference, gut feeling foresees trouble), 2 clashes/potential double booking, turned down another due to a prior engagement (not wedding related). But I have met 2 brides already, 1 signed, 1 about to sign, and should have 2 more, so 4 i am hopeful for so far.
But for 2011, i have had quite a few randoms, as for 2010, most of those have been a friend of a previous client but for 2011, some inquiries just straight off my site with no reference of previous clients. Like yesterday i got one asking for pricing for 2012 with no reference of where the wedding is and how she found me.
Side note, Bride Magazine called me back in March ! They wanted to do a feature, like 1 tog per county to go on their cover CD for June/July and they picked me for my area, all sounded great until they asked for £300......sales call alarm bell ! So i politely declined. I also got random bookmakers calling me to be my supplier too, and the local Ad Mag called last week! All this without advertising!
Last edited: