Bridal Shows - Do you do them?

[imported_ChrisP]

I couldn't get into the most local bridal show this past spring, but about 30 miles away I can get into 2 (one east, one south). I visited 2 bridal shows to see what other photogs had for handouts/displays, and also to see how well attended the shows were.

So do you or have you done bridal shows?
Is it worth it - I figure to do both shows next year (january and march) will cost me $750 plus handouts ($150 at least) plus whatever i do for a booth/display. Probably $1200 all said and done.

Knowing I'm newer so I have quite a few available dates and am lower priced than most of the competetion leads me to believe this will be money and time well spent, er, invested.

If you have done bridal shows, what worked best has handouts? (brochures, photos, DVDs, ??)

[MarkLawley]

Been doing bridal shows for years.
Your response, (return) will be determined to a big degree on how you present yourself through your booth, materials, and personal presentations.
BIG key is to look GREAT in comparison to everyone else. How are you going to stand out?
If your work is good, and your booth looks about the same, you'll book weddings if your prices are as you say, lower than the others. However, if you are too low, you'll get passed over at better shows.

What works is anybody's guess.
Some shows we have had success booking at the shows, but more often it is being remembered that night or the next week when they are going through the sack full of material they picked up at the show.
Here, you have to put some real forethough into what you are showing and giving out. You need to be consistent with the booth, message and handout.
One of our images is currently featured as the cover of a bridal magazine. That magazine was being handed out at most of the shows we did this year. We made sure there were copies of the mag on our tables, AND we had the album containing that photo displayed. When no one was at that album, we made suure it atayed open to that page. Our handout included that photo, AND our card is based on that photo.
Get the idea.... they see our card, our handout, or even that magazine, they remember us.

Show your best 'stuff'!!!

Mark

[a4photography]

Did a big 3 day show last year.You need to have something that is different to the competition and stands out.I had the Italian GraphiStudio range of story book albums.Other photographers were also displaying them but according to brides who booked me said my style of photography and layout was more appealing.I got about £9000 of business for 3 days work.I just got some small leaflets and business cards done up which I can still use.I think if you have a good product it will sell itself.
As for pricing its not what everyone else is charging its what you need to make a reasonable profit
from what really is hard work.

[jkantor]

The big advantage of a bridal show is that you actually meet prospective clients face-to-face. Saying hello and giving out handouts isn't much better than direct mail or the internet - but you don't have time or the right atmosphere to book them. What you want to do is make a connection with them and set an appointment. (And them a nicely printed reminder card.)

Also, you have to have a good products - but products don't speak for themselves. You have to present them in such a way that the clients appreciate the artistry and work that goes into them - and see you as the only person that could do that kind of a job.

"Hopscotch!"