Let's be honest, as small business owners, we've most likely been faced with prospective clients who love what you do, but think you charge too much. In fact, this was the case for me last week when a prospective bride asked for my Collections…and later responded that studio X and studio Y offered to shoot her wedding for less.

I responded to her email and said I actually really liked both studios, really liked the lead photographers, and wished her all the best.

The prospective client emailed again and asked if I might explain the differences between my style of photography and the other studios' style of photography (something I was more than happy to do). Here's my response…

Studio X and Studio Y have very similar styles. While we all aim to document the wedding day, I'd say our biggest differences are two things:
1. Style
I lean more towards editorial photography. This means I document the day the way it might be layed out in a magazine or a featured spread. I shoot crisp images in complimentary light and angle photos for the most editorial appeal. X and Y lean more toward documentary photography. They capture the day as it unfolds and prefer wider angle photos, which traditionally are described as story-telling lenses.
2. Post Processing
I prefer clean, light, and airy photos with minimal processing. I do use Photoshop, but I prefer photos to have a timeless appeal, and I've discovered that photos with a less-is-more aesthetic stand the test of time and have a classic appeal to them.

I hope this helps clear things up for you and if you have any other questions, feel free to let me know! 🙂

A few days later, I received an email from the prospective client. I was surprised to read she opted to book my services and she planned to reallocate her wedding budget to accommodate her photography wishes.

While I'm incredibly thankful and blown away, I also believe that taking the time to explain what it is we do as photographers goes a long way. We shouldn't be afraid to put words to our work and embrace who we are…and perhaps what we're not. Sure there are days when I see other photographers who use Photoshop so beautifully or others who flawlessly capture a wedding photojournalistically and I envy what they do. Yes, I said envy.

But I've come to a point in my career where I know who I am. I know what I shoot, and if, after explaining my vision to others, they want to see their lives documented through my lens, I'm honored. I believe we're all capable of the same thing.