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Back to Workflow Monday #4 Slideshows |
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| biz & tips | AUG. 24, 2009 |
| Hey there people! Thanks for stopping by for this week's Back to Workflow Monday. I hope everyone had a great weekend of amazing weddings, editing, album designing, or just enjoying time with family and friends.
Today I'll be discussing my workflow for creating reception slideshows from images captured during a wedding. Reception slideshows are easily one of the best and most powerful marketing opportunities available for building your business. Just imagine having the chance every weekend to gather together a room packed full of prospective clients willing to give you their undivided attention and watch your best images projected on a large screen in a darkened room. That's exactly what's happening as your bride and groom, their families and their friends watch the wedding day unfold before them in a beautiful slideshow. They get to relive the wedding while the emotions of the day are still fresh, it's a beautiful thing. This is the ideal time and place for your images to have the most emotional impact. You have no way of knowing who will or will not see the images days or weeks later, more than likely on a small computer screen. This is your best shot at having just about everyone connected with that wedding see some of the best you've got. From a marketing perspective it doesn't get any better than that and what's more, the bride & groom will absolutely love you for doing this. When I first considered projecting slideshows at wedding receptions I have to admit I was a little hesitant. The last thing I want to do at a client's wedding is appear to be grandstanding. It's their day and the focus should always remain on them. So I discuss it with my clients during their consultation and make sure they're comfortable with the idea. Once they learn that it's also complimentary, almost all jump at the opportunity. Who wouldn't want to see images from their day right then and there, it's a no brainer. You'll be amazed at all positive feedback and raves you'll get once the slideshow finishes. It runs the gamut from the gushing couple congratulating you for nailing those killer images they wanted of their wedding, to people asking about availability for upcoming weddings, to inquiries about additional albums, portrait sessions, you name it. Have lots of business cards on hand! I'm always blown away, each and every time, by how powerfully these slideshows effect people. As an added bonus all the ego stroking doesn't hurt after a long day of bust-your-butt shooting ;-) Here are a few things to keep in mind about reception slideshows: • Discuss including a reception slideshow with the bride & groom during their consultation, get them excited about it and make sure you get their permission. • Keep it free and most client's will happily agree. Why should the clients pay, that's just a great reason for them to say no. Think of it this way, how much would you have to pay in advertising dollars to reach all those people? It's well worth the time and effort, do it free of charge. • Be sure to coordinate with the venue, event planner and DJ. Plenty of advanced notice for all parties is a must, nobody likes surprises. • This is a jpg workflow. There's absolutely no time for downloading and converting large raw files, no way, no how. If your a raw shooter you'll need to capture both raw files and jpgs for use in your slideshow. • You can bring your own gear (projector, replacement bulb, screen, power-strip, 50' & 25' extension cords, etc.) or rent it from some venues. This is helpful for destination weddings. • Speak with the DJ about the music you'd like played during the slideshow. Let them handle it, most are happy to oblige and it's one less thing you have to worry about. Approximately 3-4 songs should cover it. • Keep your slideshows short and sweet. 50-100 images, about 3-4 songs long. • This workflow also applies to laptop presentations but they lack they lack dramatic impact of projection. (For all that work I want the drama!) • Make sure you have a strategy in place for dealing with the gear in a multi-location shooting situation. • Insure your gear. |
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| Resources:
Lexar Pro UDMA Card Reader (I stack four of these bad boys together so I can download four cards simultaneously) LaCie Rugged External Hard Drives RPG Keys Kevin Kubota Lightroom Presets Cottage Breeze Lightroom Presets (In addition to Kevin's amazing presets I use this great set created by my friend, the very talented, Kim Sayer of Mill Cottage Photography. Be sure and check her and her Tools For Busy Photograpghers out. Use the discount code "corsentino" and get $20 OFF any purchase!!) Canon Realis SX6 Projector Epson Duet Ultra Portable Projector Screen |
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