Happy Monday and here's to hoping this week yields great things. Like a delicious nonfat ice cream, unchippable nail polish, and a cure to cancer. But not in that order. If anyone is working on making these things a reality, feel free to let me know because I'm here to help in any way possible. Speaking of helping, sometimes I blog and it leaves readers wanting more information. Almost like I ended a sentence with a… and then failed to follow up with a cohesive way to tie up loose ends. My bad.

Often times I've referred to attracting your ideal client (caveat: there is no such thing as a universally ideal client…what works for me may drive you crazy, and vice versa). A lot of times photographers will follow up with questions relating to the HOW. Namely, how does one attract her ideal client? Now, I don't have a concrete answer, but a key component is showcasing images of what you want to photograph…not merely what's available to you. This statement is usually met with reasons why IT WON'T WORK (and, Internet, resistance is the easy way out), but here are three examples of ways you might get started.

Misnomers for Attracting YOUR Ideal Client
1. But I only shoot in churches…
A lot of times, I get feedback from photographers who spend most their weekends photographing the wedding and reception in one location: the neighborhood church. And this isn't a bad thing (y'all know I love me some God), but it can sometimes prove difficult when wanting to get creative with preparation photos. For the most part, bridal prep rooms at a church leave little to be desired and the lighting is atrocious difficult to work in. When/if this happens, I suggest asking for permission to photograph the details outdoors…yes, including the dress. Natural lighting is more complimentary and even if the space is small, challenge yourself to make things work. A couple weeks ago, my bride opted to prep at her church due to an early morning ceremony, so I asked for permission to move about and shoot how I thought best. Without hesitation, she said yes. I had a 10-foot patch of grass, a tree, and a small wooden footbridge to work with, so I did the best I could.

At the end of the day, I'm proud with what I produced because the alternative was a dimly lit room and beige walls. My bride's trust and support helped us reach a place of benefit for everyone involved.

2. But I don't have enough time to shoot the wedding details…
I'm usually asked how long I've given to photograph wedding and reception details, but the answer varies per wedding. A rough estimate is 15-20 minutes, but if it's a large wedding and/or is detail-intensive, I need more time. Always. When I arrive, I immediately map out the location and figure out ways to photograph details beyond the allotted time given in the timeline. Translation: I find ways to give myself time to shoot details in 5-minute increments in between the day's progression (example: as the family waits to gather for formal pictures, I'll leave JD to organize the group and I'll run off to shoot the placecard set up before guests remove them). This usually happens just before cocktail hour and since JD and I are in sync, a simple nod lets him know he's in charge for five minutes while I'm balancing our objectives.

This is just one small way we make time on the wedding day. There are tons of ways to make the timeline work in a favorable fashion that are also conducive to how you manage your time.

3. But I don't know how to get more of the type of client I enjoy working with…
I've said this before, but it bears repeating: my largest marketing component is word of mouth. My clients–and their friends–are staunch supporters of what I do and they're the reason I'm able to do what I love. Without them, I'm nothing. One way we connect with the guests on the wedding day is photographing the cocktail hour, if time allows. I want to ensure my bride gets photos of her guests and cocktail hour is a great time to capture candids and complete her wedding day portfolio. I have a blast shooting during this time because chances are the bride's guests are a lot like her…and since I love my brides, I'll likely love her friends too…and if any of them are single, I want them to give me a jingle! HOLLLLLA!

In all seriousness, I love what I do. I adore connecting with people and capturing them in their element…photos of guests during cocktail hour allow me to do just this and I feel so blessed to do what I love. It makes the bride happy, it makes the guests happy, and this–in turn–makes me happy too.

I hope this helped connect some dots…and if you have suggestions, questions, or nonfat ice recommendations, feel free to drop in comment box!
Stay Fabulous,
j*