WOWZERS Y’ALL! Ok today was totally going to be the “Tell you whats in my bag and what I use each lens for wedding day”–but my weekend got away from me and I wasn’t able to get that blog together in time. But if you are waiting for that post…its my number one goal for next week. So stay tuned!

But for today, I want to do something a little special…a little different: I get numerous messages in my inbox and Facbeook business page everyday asking little questions. Questions that maybe don’t need an ENTIRE Try Me! Tuesday blog post dedicated to it….but yet I still feel they deserve answers. These questions are actually exactly WHY I came up with this series in the first place.

Despite my every effort and best attempts, I sadly CAN NOT get to everyones questions in the timely fashion they deserve. So today, I am going to answer some questions that have come in over the past few weeks that may help a lot of you at once if you were all wondering the same thing : )  (I am going to leave the names of who asked these questions anonymous per request of some of the questioners : P )

1. “Kaitlin—Do you shoot weddings alone or do you have someone you shoot with all the time? Is it really important to have someone else there?

I ALWAYS shoot with someone else. Oh my goodness, when I FIRST started I shot 2 weddings alone and it was a bloody nightmare. I couldn’t be everywhere at once, I was missing vital moments…it was a hot mess! From that moment on I knew I had to have another photographer there. One that I could trust with moments I would be missing. Luckily for me I found a few great second shooters….my main one being the ever FAB Mike Sperlak and he is just perfect. We compliment each others work nicely and I 110% trust him with my clients and the shots I am placing in his hands. This takes time finding someone you get along with like that and finding someone whose shooting style compliments your as well…but once you do….ITS LIKE HITTING THE LOTTERY! So, yes I always have another shooter with me, THAT I TRUST, and I 100% recommend that even if you are the head shooter, than you have an assistant or filler shooter to grab a few shots here and there that may not be 100% needed….but would be nice to haves. Does that make sense?

This is your clients most special of days and they want every part of it accurately and correctly captured…so never take a chance…always have extra hands on board and be OVER prepared : )

 

2. “Kaitlin—Your seriously get the prettiest clients ever. They also seem to be really nice and awesome couples. Lately I feel like I am getting clients that don’t even want me their to take their pictures. More like I am in the way! How do I get clients like yours?

Well, first off thank you so much. My clients really are beautiful on the inside, but the real awesome part is that they are THAT beautiful if not MORE beautiful on the inside! They are genuinely nice, caring, spirited people. So this is a very loaded question but I am going to answer your question with a leading question if you don’t mind: How are you presenting yourself and who you are to clients and what market are you catering to? If you are trying to get clients that are happy go lucky and value photography at their wedding, your marketing needs to be reflective of such. Happy people attract happy people. For example, if there is  photographer that just wants to shoot and burn, they are not trying to build a relationship with their clients. They arent booking based on their personalities or the wedding experience as a whole with them….they are simply there as a vendor with one job and thats it. Those type of photographers tend to get clients that say “I just want pictures–go take them!” Eeeeek….though there ARE people out there like that, I already know they aren’t my client. They may be beautiful, they may be able to afford my packages…but are they someone that I will be close friends with…someone that will value the time it takes to make a shot list, a time line, and put creative effort into images? No. They will think of photography as time away form their day….not PART of their day. My brides are fun, happy people that are ready to invest in what I think is the most important part of their day, photography, but they are also investing in me. Someone they can trust. I am not a huge corporation or company. I am just Kaitlin. And I love it that way. I get REAL clients because I market myself as a real person…meaning… there is no fake propaganda going on here. I am who I am and I am very open with my clients. They are happy about their marriage and want gorgeous images to show them off. They look so happy and beauitful in their images for the simple reason that they are happy together and they trust me enough to be who they really are as a couple in front of me.

Advice: Present yourself how you want others to see you and how you want to see yourself. Be personable, yet professional. You still do have a job to do and it ISSSS serious work…but its also a fun and happy day. Let your clients know you care about their photography. You have a vision for their day, and you are eager to capture it. Authenticity on your part results in authentically gorgeous clients.

 

3. “Kaitlin- When I shoot indoors or basically anywhere inside, my pictures all come out pretty yellow and they dont look the way I see them that day. What do you to get your images so real to colors and light and bright?

I totally feel you on that! I was there not to long ago…back when I had ZERO IDEA what white balance is. I recommend reading your manual on how to adjust white balance on your camera and I would also recommend looking into an expo disc. I dont always use it….but for churches, dark preparation rooms, it sure does come in handy!!! Here is the link: EXPO DISC.

 

4. “Kaitlin- What is your favorite part of the wedding to shoot? Is it the same for every wedding you shoot or does it change?

Hmmmm, another tricky question! : ) Usually my most favorite part of the wedding day is getting there, meeting up with the bride and get busy on the details. The First Look, whether with the brides father or husband to be ALWAYS makes me cry…like always. And the first dance…man o man. So all of these elements above get me on all different kind of levels. But truthfully…when I get to steal them away for their portraits…it takes me back to meeting them earlier that year to shoot their engagement session when it just the 3 of us, having fun. Its like a full circle for me. So sure, each wedding is different….but because I just adore my couples…I think their formals alone are my favorite because thats where and when I fell in love with them and THEIR love in the first place! : P

 

5. “Kaitlin- You have such a fan base on Facebook and seem to have such a great following– HOW do I do that?

hehe—Ok first of all….that fan base is a fan base 4 years in the making. It certainly didnt happen over night. When I first started it was all about begging your friends to share your link and begging their friends and their friends to stop by and “like” your page. There were then “like ladders” where business attempted networking by them spreading your name in return for the same favor. I also hosted a couple contests, participates in other vendors giveaways and auctions, and joined groups on Facebook. In the end though…the people who really intact with my page, who voluntarily share my page, who like my images, etc are MY CLIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FRIENDS….who guess what….SOON BECOME of my clients. And for me, thats all I could ever want from my fan base! So my advice—post statuses that get your followers to engage with your page….because when they comment, their friends and their friends friends will see and want to be a part of it as well. Yours posts do NOT always have to be strictly about photography…let your personality shine through. Give people something to connect to…relate to. Start blogging and post the link to your blog on every social media platform…invite people to follow you, and even “like” your page to stay current with your sneak peaks from sessions, wedding day tips, etc.

 

6. “Kaitlin- I hate shooting family formals and I never really see photographers showing them off on Facebook or the blog, and I dont offer albums, so do I really need to shoot them?

Okay in one word: YES! Yes, you have to shoot family formals. Just because I or other photographers dont show off family formals, DOESNT MEAN we arent shooting them….even if my clients do not order albums, we still certainly take family portraits. I have some brides with smaller families that let me know on the shot list they just want a few images and want to move on right away to their portraits as bride and groom. Every bride hates formals..they want to get the the bridals and portraits alone with their husband….though they are boring, totally traditional and totally a formality…they are 100% needed.

 

7. “Kaitlin- when the heck do you find the time to shoot the details of the day? The details of the reception without anyone in there? I am really struggling with finding time to do that and not risking the chance of missing something huge between my bride and groom.”

Ok- this entire question is based on the SHOT LIST AND TIMELINE OF THE WEDDING DAY. You can read about what a shot list is and why YOU NEED one here! The TIMELINE post will be headed your way soon! But basically it comes down having a detailed consultation with your bride going over how long you will need to shoot details prior to her getting ready. During the Timeline review, this is your chance to let the bride know where you are going to need a few minutes to shoot those details. OR….you go over with your second shooter where you need them to be while you are shooting formals…they could be grabbing those details for you, or vide versa. Know that “things happen” and sometimes its just impossible to get to everywhere at once, even if there are two of you, so be open with your bride and realistic as possible. If all else fails, ask a guest if you can shoot their place setting before they remove their napkin and such. I am sure they wont mind and the bride may appreciate your go-getter-make -the -best-out of -every -situation-attitude!

— THERE ARE SOOO MANY QUESTIONS LEFT TO ANSWER, SO IF YOU DONT SEE YOURS ABOVE…THAT JUST MAY MEAN I AM DEDICATING AN ENTIRE TRY ME! TUESDAY BLOG TO IT. So stay tuned and thank you for reading : )

xoxo,

Kaitlin Noel