Work in progress....

The last few months, I've been weighing up whether to stick with my existing website host, or whether to start afresh elsewhere. As much as I like my existing site and host, there are elements of it which are somewhat limiting to my business.

I've eventually settled for a host, and I'm working on the template designs, tweaking it to make it a bit more me.

It's a little while off final completion, and very much a work in progress, but I thought I'd share this little screen grab. I've incorporated a new photo of myself, taken by Rosie Woodhouse recently at a meet-up we had in Glasgow.

Really looking forward to being able to share it when it's finished!

New Moo!

One of the things about running a small business, is sometimes it involves buying new things. Not all the new things though are things I can show off, they're just necessary outgoings, such as external hard drives and memory cards and batteries.

However, every so often, I'm able to indulge in things that are exciting. This morning, I received a little package from Moo with all sorts of goodies in it!

I do like Moo products... it's the stationery nerd in me. I love their presentation, the options, and the promising possibilities for what I can do with them...

So I thought while I unwrapped my package, I'd photograph it as I did so.

This was a particularly hard part of the process - I love ripping things open and tucking in straight away!

It contains:

• a Moo business card holder;
• a Mini Moo card holder;
• 2 boxes of log in and password cards for guests at my upcoming weddings; and of course...
• new business cards (I opted for curvy edged ones).

I love the Moo branded parcel paper! The "yay" sticker on the back of the tissue paper was also a lovely little addition - I just love how everything is wrapped up and packaged... it makes the whole business expense experience a lot more fun!

The Show Must Go On....

Today I'm going to write about wedding fairs, as I've been thinking a lot about my own stand at a wedding show later this month. I've been trying to work out what to put on my stall which is reflective of my brand, and make it work. Visiting other wedding fairs over the last six months has given me an insight to see what I think does and doesn't work and to see it from a potential bride's perspective.

From experience, for me what makes a good wedding show or a good wedding fair is a mix of things. I like them to be well lit. Some shows or fairs don't always have enough extra lighting, and it can make some of the stalls feel a bit dull, like a dark corner that I don't want to venture into. I like plenty of space as well, if a fair gets busy, then I need space to get round other visitors. Its very easy to feel claustrophobic if the aisles aren't wide enough, especially when you add a few buggies into the mix. Good sign posting is absolutely vital. There are some where I've had to ask directions once I've entered a hotel or building - to me, that's not good. It immediately makes me wonder whether to go ahead with visiting, or whether to go and get a coffee instead.

However, most importantly, a lot of how I feel afterwards is a result of the suppliers and how they behave. At some fairs I've been to, I've come away really having enjoyed meeting the vendors and suppliers. I've felt relaxed and open, made some great contacts and chatted and told them who I am and why I'm there - I don't pretend to be a bride, I'm quite open that I'm a wedding photographer. They don't mind me having a look, they chat to me, and it's been a really good experience. However, that's not always the case and my heart goes out to any bride who's felt uncomfortable at wedding fairs.

I remember one fair I went to and as I walked round, I started to find I had leaflets thrust at me. I'm not talking about actually pausing at a stall -  I was walking down the aisles between the stalls and I actually sped up to get away. I moved constantly, going round corners not out of curiosity, but purely to keep moving and escape. I felt like a real-life incarnation of Pacman. It was horrible. I stopped, for a second, at a crossing, because I had my purse in one hand, a plastic carrier in the other, a hand full of leaflets, and wanted to put my purse away into my handbag and my leaflets into my carrier. I thought it was a safe spot to stop. While I stood there for those few seconds organising myself, another three suppliers lunged forward from the corner stalls and thrust more leaflets at me. There was no actual verbal contact beyond "have a leaflet". Thrusting leaflets into my hand when I'm trying to put my purse into my handbag is invasive of my personal space and rude.

Unfortunately when people start pushing leaflets at me, I find myself being abrupt, with swift "no thanks" responses. It reminds me of how I felt when I was standing in the queue to go up the Eiffel Tower, and there were hawkers circling the queue, looking for the smallest eye-contact as an excuse to try and sell one of the metal Eiffel Tower miniatures.

Had I been a bride, I honestly wouldn't have hired any of them on the back of that.  I would assume any flyer in my bag that I didn't recognise would have come from one of those pushy vendors.

At some wedding fairs, I've been asked about who I am - so I find vendors opening with questions such as "are you the bride to be?", or "have you set a date yet?".  This is actually something quite useful - you're asking an open question, that invites visitors to talk back to you. The answer can be as short as "yes I am the bride" or "no date yet", but it can also be a bit more indepth, it allows people to give more indepth responses if they want to.

At some wedding fairs, meanwhile, I've been asked "have you got a band yet?" "have you got a photographer?", and I don't respond well to that. Those are very simple closed questions - yes or no answers. "Yes I have". End of story. They don't elicit additional information; they don't "invite" visitors to talk to you. 

Asking "Have you got a band?", makes no sense to me, if I've decided to have a DJ, or I don't know whether you're a band that covers pop, rock, or you are a ceilidh band, or even if you're prepared to travel to my venue or are available on my particular date.

This has given me a lot to think about in terms of my own approach. Often its the negative experiences that teach me as much as the positive about what I want to avoid. I think what strikes me is the insistence of suppliers to give me a leaflet, without so much as a discussion. Everyone likes to talk about themselves (as I am currently proving) - I always think it's better to get potential clients to talk about themselves and their plans first; it's flattering. Who am I? Where am I getting married? Am I getting married? Have I set a date? The little things that actually, as suppliers, we can learn from and listen to.

I've had stalls at wedding fairs before. I'm not a big fan of talking myself up, so tend to take a more softly-softly approach. I have a rule of waiting and giving them space to browse my albums, before I move in and talk to them. If they look at a couple of pages, then I strike up conversation. My aim is to let potential clients get to know me a bit; if they feel they enjoyed chatting with me, then they might be more interested in booking me. That's what I use it for - it's face to face contact, and that's something I can't get through magazines, adverts or online listings. I'll be honest, my softly-softly doesn't always work. That's ok though because I know I'm being true to myself and what I represent.

I'm not saying I know it all, I really don't. I'm learning. I'm learning as a self-employed photographer not just about sales, but also marketing, advertising, administration, book keeping, website maintenance... a whole load of roles. In terms of sales, part of what it is about, is finding out what people need, before you offer a solution. It's about communicating, finding out who they are, then where you can fit in their lives.

At the moment, I'm viewing my own forthcoming wedding fair as an opportunity for learning. It's a new wedding show I've not yet worked with, so it is in part an experiment, and I'm really looking forward to it. It will help me to get my name out there. It will make me a little more familiar, it will give me an opportunity to talk to people, and to meet people I don't otherwise have the chance to meet on a day to day basis. It will be a good experience to learn from. I may well learn what doesn't work as much as what does work. The money I spend on my stall I could easily spend on going to a course to find this out, I just see it as a real life lesson. It will never be a failure if I learn something new from it.

To use the quote which is often attributed to Thomas Edison:
"I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work."

My attitude towards my forthcoming wedding show is that it is a means to find out what to eliminate  or what works for me.

I think its important to understand the purpose of the fair or show isn't about us wedding suppliers, or making sure we break-even on the overhead costs we've put into it. The people who put these fairs on are trying to get brides to come along to see lots of suppliers in one place, and I think it's a duty of suppliers to make sure that we don't end up putting them off. To me, wedding fairs are a bit like a mini shopping arcade aimed solely at the wedding market. At some fairs, suppliers have been very positive - they are there because they clearly love what they do, they enjoy it and they genuinely take pride in their products and services. Their enthusiasm doesn't feel like a sales pitch - it's more than about making money, it's about offering something of value to the customer in exchange.

I'd love to hear from you what your experiences are of wedding fairs and wedding shows. Have you ever felt like you were being pounced or preyed on by suppliers? Do you have any tried and tested techniques that work for you as a supplier?  Have you learned anything interesting from shows or fairs you've enjoyed? How do brides and grooms feel about going to wedding fairs and wedding shows? I look forward to reading any comments you have on this.

Collaboration

So sitting watching Grand Designs this evening, I was watching how a stone mason builder renovated a 19th century Cornish industrial building into a home. One of the things that struck me, was how much he used favours and bartering to get assistance from other tradesmen to build his dream home.

The reason I bring this up, is I've been thinking about how the wedding industry as a whole, is almost like a village of artisan craftspeople. We've got all sorts of different people, all with their own speciality. One of the big things about being self-employed, is the draw towards doing the sort of work you love. In that regard, there's a lot to be gained from outsourcing things that aren't your speciality. So, for example, I found an expert graphic designer Tom Holmes to create my beautiful logo for me. Rather than spend a fortune on a printer, inks, specialist paper, and a long time calibrating said printer to get expert tonal ranges, I outsource my printing to a professional printing lab. It might cost me money, but effectively it frees up my time, and allows me to get on with doing what I do best. It means that I'm able to spend more time earning, than spending time doing work which doesn't pay. You don't imagine the captain of a ship in the engine room; or multi-millionaire CEOs out washing the windows on their skyscraper offices. Those jobs are delegated and outsourced, it allows the CEO and the captain of the ship to continue to do what they do best.

This gets me on to my point. As a photographer, I don't just buy photography equipment. There's lots of things I have to buy, including stationery and sundries. I use a template to design a gorgeous DVD case for my clients and have it printed, but I know there are other photographers who don't opt for a printed DVD case. Depending on their personal brand style, I know some photographers who opt for natural fibre based DVD sleeves for their clients. No plastic jewel casing, just simple card and paper casing.

A photographer I know has been asking where, for example, she can buy DVD sleeves like this:

Source: shadrachlindo.com via Claudia on Pinterest

It's rather pretty, actually. As photographers, we don't always buy things in "bulk". We may want a small number of units, but we are perhaps more likely to be regular customers and clients. We talk a lot too. Seriously! Photographers are a chatty bunch when we get the chance. We ask each other constantly "where do you get this?" "where do you get that?" "how do you do this?". There's pockets of us, all asking similar questions constantly. Photography magazines and press don't have a section recommending where we can source different types of stationery. We trawl the internet, we search and look. When someone tells us about a new product and a good service, we jump on it. We are an unbelievably contagious group for viral marketing and word-of-mouth campaigns, and, if I may be so bold, we are vastly untapped. There are lots of photographers. I know this, all photographers know this. What we want, is products that help set us apart, that make us look special, that appeal to our clients. And if you're a wedding stationer, then chances are, you know those clients as well as we do. At the moment, the best places to go for DVD and CD boxes is U.S. suppliers. Companies like http://www.loktah.com/ make gorgeous DVD slip cases from natural products. I love what they do, but it perhaps highlights where international companies have found a gap in the U.K. market that U.K. suppliers haven't spotted.

There's other things we like too. Photographers need ways of presenting their physical prints. I give my couples their prints in a gift box, with a ribbon and a personalised gift tag. My 2012 package will also include my couples receiving an introduction folder. Sourcing these folders was surprisingly tricky. I knew exactly what I wanted, I just didn't want to order 1000 folders. As photographers, it's not simply about handing over a DVD; for a lot of us, we have to consider the presentation to our couples.

It struck me that this was perhaps an area that wedding stationers may be able to assist. Could you design a range aimed at wedding photographers to pass on to their couples, or a bespoke product for a wedding photographer to use as part of their signature brand material? I'm not suggesting this is a freebie, a barter or a "favour for a favour", unless there was a service you wanted in return. We could be actual paying customers to you; we could be a regular paying customer. Potentially if we build up a good solid working relationship with you, we could end up recommending you to our couples, or on our blogs or websites.

This could potentially go further than just photographers and stationers doing business to business work for one another. Could wedding planners, with their expertise in organisation, help put together photoshoots, bringing in all their contacts to collaborate on one day? Could people who make favours employ a photographer to photograph their products for their website? Could stationers and photographers work together to create a collaborative, bespoke range for couples of save-the-date and thank you stationery, featuring images from engagement and wedding photographs? Could jewellers and dress makers work together, to make brooches that match dresses or elegant pins to hold together  pashminas? Could someone who makes bespoke favours develop a corporate "gift" for other wedding suppliers to buy as gifts for clients?

My point is, I think it's important for wedding professionals within the industry to look next door, to our neighbouring wedding professionals. Find out what we can do to help each other. Can we help one another? Can we outsource to one another in the areas where we lack expertise, where we lack knowledge, where we lack a certain amount of coordination, which in turn frees up our time to work on the thing we wanted to do in the first place. We all have a similar client base. We therefore have an understanding, a joint understanding, of the aesthetics, of the styles, of the trends and fashions. Lots of people can produce office-friendly products, but it takes someone who knows the wedding market and reads the magazines, the blogs, and sees whats happening, to produce wedding-friendly products.

I'd love to hear from anyone already in the wedding industry who thinks they could, in some way, work with us wedding photographers. I'd love to know what you think you could do for us, what service you could deliver, what product you think you could offer. Have you got an idea? Something special?Are you a wedding photographer? do you see a gap in the market?

Trust me, if it's good, wedding photographers will find out.

Birds of a feather

There's been an interesting blog story circulating recently, written from the perspective of a wedding photographer. The blog entry discusses the issue of wedding blogs (and yes, I'm aware of how terribly navel gazing this is!). It's actually quite an interesting piece.

Today, I've been reading that, plus other blogs, tweets, and Facebook comments of people responding. It's had quite a mixed reaction, but almost everyone has had a reaction.

http://hindsightbride.com/2011/10/10/open-letter-wedding-bloggers/#axzz1aYNhxLX1

The blog entry addresses some issues which have, to be fair, been addressed by wedding bloggers previously. The main issue, is that wedding blogs, in their quest for quirky, unusual weddings, have effectively become a caricature but also perhaps exclusive from the majority of weddings, brides and grooms. While they go out hunting the peculiar and amazing and off-the-beaten-track, they leave behind them in their wake a tide of brides who either don't have the time, or inclination towards those styles. The focus becomes heavier on the detail, and less about the actual people involved, and if you don't "fit" into that style, then it can feel like a rejection. All of a sudden, you're not going to be part of the new Cool Bride Gang. You're simply too ordinary.

From the photographers perspective, this can be frustrating. The wedding you photograph might not be a bloggers paradise, but as long as it's special to the couple, then that's important. I think we can all agree that blogs aren't as important as the special commitment two people make, in front of all their loved ones. For photographers, blogs are important to us though too - they're fast taking over from wedding magazines as a means of reaching out to potential new couples and a great way of showcasing our work. What's interesting to me, is the reactions. There's been quite a bit of discussion about "who" the target market is, and that it's not actually photographers. There's a truth there, but we want to work with bloggers, wherever possible, sponsor posts, run competitions, you name it, we're in there. We use blogs too, for our inspiration with our work. We recommend your blogs on our Facebooks and websites and our blogs to our couples.

But here's the thing. Who writes blogs? Brides to be, married women, wedding planners, photographers, stationers... we've all got blogs. Most of the blogs though, in fairness, are about looking at "look at this thing I found" "this is a new thing". It's very... magaziney, with lots of people becoming what I'd call experts in the field of weddings, or at least enthusiasts with a lot of useful wedding knowledge and fingers on the pulse. The people who allegedly dictate - the readers, the brides to be - the majority of them don't have blogs. Most brides-to-be have enough other things on their plate, with work, personal life, and wedding planning, to sit down and write an online blog about their experience. There are some, as I've said, but there aren't that many. At a guess, I'd put the number of brides-to-be-bloggers in the tens, rather than the thousands of actual brides-to-be out there. Blogs aren't as ubiquitous as Facebook accounts. So how do they get through to the wedding bloggers what they want? Do they have to sit there, write a response to each post? Should they vote with their mouses and switch off? How do they convey that information? Should they email wedding bloggers and say "look, I'd really like to see more imaginative ways of turning a hotel function suite into a gorgeous dinner reception than look at a cornfield with wrought iron tables and deckchairs and paper lanterns, please"?

The thing that was interesting about that particular blog article, was that as it's written by a photographer, perhaps we're the ones who are actually more in touch with couples on a day-to-day level. We speak to them, they hire us, we are their photographers, we build up a special bond with them, and when you read photographers saying that couples lament that their wedding isn't "blog-worthy enough", maybe we're the ones out there hearing it. They might not be tweeting or writing their own blogs about it, but it doesn't mean they aren't feeling and reacting and saying these things. People say things out loud that they might not feel they can commit to writing. And how do bloggers respond to those brides and grooms if they say "could you write more about X, please?". What are your responses? Sorry, no, it's not my style? Do you turn them away? do you point them in the direction of the "blog description" and suggest they find something more appropriate to their style? Do you take what they say on board? Would you? I understand that each blog has it's own style, and style and taste are a very individual thing. You're bloggers, after all. You're not being run by a publishing company with directors and shareholders. You don't have a sales team pushing to get X thousand sales each month. You weather the dips, and ride the peaks of your readership statistics. It comes completely from within, I understand that. You're creatives, effectively; social media written creatives, self-employed, and you need to stay true to who you are. There are countless bridal magazines out there, with very polished, traditional and contemporary styles of wedding photography, venues, cars, details. You're doing something different because there isn't a "Quirky Bride Magazine" published and sold every quarter from WHSmith, but there is enough for you to have a regular readership every day/week/month. But if you're a blogger claiming that the true compass is the reader, I'm curious to how you're engaging with them, how you're monitoring that, and how much they can and do and are able to choose the direction.

I have to admit, I have read blogs who have addressed this previously. It's not new. This isn't some under-current that's just popped up. Of course it's about the bride and groom's big day. It's not a competition for who can have the most peacock-swan-feathered, birdcage, teacups and posies, chantilly lace tableclothed, blackboard, fake mustached, gingham, candelabra, save-the-date-gold-leaf-toilet-paper, cupcaked wedding in the land. I know bloggers know that, and I know there are those that have addressed this issue, and they're lovely about it, and supportive of brides regardless of their personal wedding. But that blog entry on Hindsight Bride did point out a few things that are true. It's stirred debate; it's resulted in some quite polarised reactions, and I think it's one of the few times that's actually happened, to that scale, from my perspective. That's why I'm writing about it.

But personally, I'd be really curious to see a blog post about how to customise a hotel function suite and make it amazing. I'd love to see what a blogger could do with that subject matter. I feel, if I had to, I could turn even a small garden into an incredibly exclusive quirky reception venue pretty easily. I feel rather confident in that, and I've never been married or been involved in planning a wedding. That I could do.

The real challenge would lie in making something that's used every day as a wedding venue unique to the couple. Honestly, if there's a wedding blogger reading this who fancies it I'd love to see what you can produce. Now that, I think, would be a truly unique creative challenge.

Chris Hanley Cherish the Dress Workshop

A couple of weeks ago, the amazing Jaz Ampaw-Farr who runs a Facebook group for photographers, had a competition. The competition was open to all members of the group, and the prize was a place on a workshop run by the amazing Chris Hanley who as well as being one of the top wedding photographers in the country, also brought to these shores a product known as Cherish the Dress. And guess what? I, along with ten other people, won a place on this course! Hurrah! It was a week later, in a lovely village on the outskirts of Manchester. I was pleased that my good friend, and fellow photographer Hannah Webster of Lifeline Photography in Nottingham had also won a place on this amazing course, as I hadn't seen her since 2007 which is frankly, a stupidly long time ago.

So off I went, south of the border for the second time in less than a month, to Chris' Cherish the Dress Workshop.

A few years ago, the trend for "trash the dress" came to the UK from America. The idea was it would feature the bride after her wedding, and it had a much more high fashion, editorial feel. Some photographers were doing amazing things with Trash the Dress - I remember seeing one photo of a bride appearing to be on fire, on a beach. (I should point out that she wasn't actually on fire - Photoshop has its uses and no actual brides were burned in the making of that shoot). The problem however, as Chris discovered, was that British women don't do trashing. You've spent a lot of money on a gorgeous dress, do you really want to destroy it? Many women recoiled in horror at the idea. So instead, Chris decided that this all had to go in a slightly different direction, and introduced Cherish the Dress.

The idea of Cherish the Dress, is that it's indoors (so no horrible, windy, rainy elements to contend with), and it's all about being gorgeous, elegant, and beautiful. It's about getting that editorial, high-fashion feel for the dress in a shoot that you might not have time to do on your actual wedding day. Wedding days can be fairly stressful, and are always busy and action packed, so this idea allows the bride to take some time out afterwards and indulge in a fantastic photoshoot.

Chris spent the morning talking us through the business aspect of Cherish the Dress, and how it came about. He talked about it's growing popularity and also what makes a good Cherish the Dress shoot work - not just in terms of the technical aspects but also importantly, how well he treats his brides during their Cherish shoots. He also talked to us about two other products of Cherish, a Vintage Cherish (which is set in a vintage era location), and Fantasy Cherish, where the imagination and amazing stories come to life.

In addition to Chris and his amazing wife, we also got advice from Claire from English Weddings Blog. Claire talked to us about how we as photographers can make the most of social networking, blogging, but also of course, talked about submitting photographs to wedding blogs. She also mentioned my friend Alison Tinlin, from Plans and Presents, and recommended photographers approach her with potential shoots. I wondered at the time if Alison's ears were twitching at the time.

In the afternoon, we went out with one of Chris' previous brides, Jayne, who kindly agreed to model for us while ten photographers swarmed round her photographing away. We headed to a disused mill, and Chris kindly set up the shots for us, explaining what angles would work, what settings would achieve what looks.

Some of the techniques were unbelievably simple, but like all good techniques, sometimes it's the simplest ones which end up being the most effective and most dramatic. And like all good techniques, it can be a case of "why didn't I think of that before?" (followed by a bit of a forehead slap). Plus the added advantage of simple techniques, was it doesn't end up being a time-consuming shoot involving more time spent playing with camera and lighting settings, than actual shooting.

So. Would I recommend a Chris Hanley workshop to other photographers wanting to further their skills? Absolutely. In his role on the day as a photography mentor and tutor, he's very down to earth, he knows what works, and he knows how to make it work and he shares that with others during the day. He's very good at explaining too, which is a rare talent that not all photographers possess and without that ability not all photographers are actually suited for running a course. It's not always enough to be a good photographer Chris however, is one of those exceptions who can teach, who can explain, and who can take stunning photographs.

Finally, I'd just like to say thanks to Chris and his wife for their hospitality and advice; to Jayne our amazing model for the day for being so patient and kindly letting us photograph her; and Claire from English-weddings.com for her words of wisdom. I'd also like to say a big thanks to Jaz, for selflessly putting the Shutterrock photographers group together, and making it the sort of place where big fish and little fish can swim around happily. It's the sort of photographer safe environment where amazing people like Chris can and do share their knowledge, and people like me can benefit and learn. Thanks folks!  

Stand and deliver

I've been thinking a lot recently about what it is I'm trying to deliver for my couples, and how I can improve their experience of hiring me as their wedding photographer.

 I think it would be reasonable to say I come from a family where people are important. My grandparents, and great grandparents were very much people-orientated. They helped others, regardless of their own situation. While there wasn't much money on my mother's side of the family while she was growing up, the kitchen was the hub and from the stories I've heard there were always plenty of visitors. Their wealth could be measured by the closeness of friendships they formed and the bonds of strong relationships within the family.

My own parents are people-orientated too. My dad was always more people than money orientated through his work, and actually, he's had a very successful career as a result. He can still remember the names of people he studied with at college, or worked with throughout his career and he's always got a story to tell. It's been interesting growing up with those influences in my life, because it's been made so clear to me how important it is to build good relationships, and that a few good relationships outweigh hundreds of ones where you're just an acquaintance.

I also think about my experiences as a consumer. I think about how I feel when I go into shops what the relationship is like there. About nine years ago, I changed hair salon. I had been going to one hair salon for years, and one day my regular stylist had left, so I had a different stylist. I really didn't like his attitude. He gave me a very distainful look when I arrived; he made comments about my hair which came across as insulting more because of the tone he used; and afterwards I hated his "funky" haircut, which was not what I had asked for. (I should point out, whenever people use the word "funky" to describe my hair, it means its a really bad haircut). So what did we have? Negative facial and body language, curt words combined with a less than friendly tone, and someone who simply didn't listen. I didn't go back. I changed salon immediately, and since then, I go somewhere I genuinely have a good customer experience.  Now, if we were to work that out in monetary terms, if over the space of 9 years (since I changed salons), I actually went every 8 weeks as "recommended", and spent an average of £30, then that works out at £180 a year, or £1620 over the 9 years. That's a lot of money, and all lost by the first salon in the space of a 45 minute negative experience, and gained by my current salon because they know how to make me happy.

My mum bought a new car last weekend, trading in a faithful 16 year old estate for something newer. Actually, the dealership was over an hour's drive north, but some friends had recently been there and bought a car, and came back with such positive stories, that it actually inspired my parents to go there looking for a new car, even though there was a showroom closer to home. Now, it wasn't just a case of handing over the keys, smiling a lot, being a bit friendly. The salesman gave my mum a bouquet of flowers, and a fantastic break-down kit for the car, as well as the shampoo and cleaning set. he was fun, he was pleasant, and where my parents needed a few things done specifically, he was more than happy to help without so much as a deep sigh. It wasn't so much about getting "something", and throwing in lots of extras, but it was all about how special the experience made her feel.

So bringing it back to business. I'm constantly trying to work out, how I can make my couples feel like that.

Even when I started out on my portfolio, I used to send out one print (albeit of my choice) to my couples, as a small wedding gift. I did this because I understand that not all couples actually get round to printing their photos, and I wanted them to have one photo that they could have as a wedding photograph, and have it framed.

I did a survey last year, finding out more about how married couples viewed their wedding photography experiences. I posed the question, that if couples received a disc with the images from their wedding on it, had they printed the pictures afterwards? 9% had printed most or all of the images, 36% of respondees had printed less than half the images from their wedding,  and 9% hadn't printed any of the images at all. I should add for clarity, that 46% of respondees hadn't received a disk at all. This may be because digital photography and burning images to discs is a fairly recent phenomenon. I'd go as far as to suggest digital wedding photography is probably still in it's infancy in terms of what we are probably going to discover over the next few decades.

Getting back to where this began, which is the thinking process. Thinking about how and what makes a good customer experience. And that's why I've been thinking about my 2012 wedding photography package. My aim is to give my couples a really special package, not just full of lovely photos, but also full of good feeling and make it about them. It's that combination of making people feel good, and enjoying their wedding photography and being happy, and focusing (if you'll forgive the pun) on them as people, not just on "wedding photographs". It's what you deliver and how you deliver it that counts. Nothing quite takes the shine off a new purchase like an unpleasant customer experience.

So 2012, I'll be carrying on a few things that my 2011 couples have been happy with.  I've had really positive responses to my DVDs and their presentation boxes, and if you're doing something right, people let you know. However, I'm also planning on bringing in an introductory pack, which will cover all the main things my couples need to consider, for example advice on engagement shoot preparation, photographer's schedules (what, where, when for the wedding day), but also a few extra things, just to make it that little more easier and clearer.

But the question is, what would be the "ideal" package for a couple getting married? if you could add anything to the mix, what would it be? If there were no limitations on getting the experience right, what would make it perfect? What would be the dream scenario? feel free to leave a comment, or to email me directly with any ideas or thoughts.

Reflections

I thought today, I'd write a bit more of a personal blog entry. This is more about life as a photographer, businesswoman.

I formally started my business just over a year ago. Prior to that, I was out getting experience as an assistant, building up my portfolio as well as studying.

Being in Year One has been a huge learning curve. I had a lot of support from Business Gateway, and attended a lot of their seminars and workshops which are designed to help new businesses with aspects such as marketing, book keeping, and search engine optimisation. The thing about being a photographer, is how much time I'm actually "photographing". I do a lot of photography, but with that comes the editing, preparing images for client viewing, archiving, storage, and so on. I also have to think about contracts, legal aspects, book keeping, receipts and invoices, sending out letters, and maintaining my website.

It's all been a learning curve, particularly when a lot of things all happen at once. I consider myself to be fairly organised and good at administrative tasks, which helps. However, there are times when I identify a change required to make things more efficient, and that can be fairly time consuming. All new businesses and projects take a little bit of time - I think you need to go through it once to see what the process is actually about. Even with all the advice I've received, the curve comes from working out how that all impacts upon my business and my clients.

It's also been a good year for identifying things where additional training has been useful. It's been a year of learning how to research effectively too - finding out what products suit my business.

I'm fairly happy with the way things have been over the last twelve months. I've learned a lot about myself, as a person, as a business woman and as a photographer. I've pushed myself, and risen to the challenges set.

I've also been fortunate enough to build up a wonderful client base, who frankly, without them, I'd just be a girl with a business model. The thing that's been reassuring, is how some of my couples have gone from being "client", a person with a need where I fulfill that need (as their wedding photographer), to being people I've become friends with. For me, that's been one of the landmarks to let me know I'm doing the right thing. I think I've been able to attract the right couples by being myself. And actually, since that's how friendships form naturally, I've come away feeling a lot closer to my couples as a result. The thing that has been interesting though, is seeing the amount of similarities between my couples, in terms of traits or personality. It's interesting because it makes me wonder if that's a reflection of me - if I too have those similarities, and I suspect I do.

 This comes a lot into my branding - my branding is all about being me. Sometimes I think we all have an ideal as to how we want our branding to be perceived, but maybe it's not true to who we are as people.  Sometimes there's no better way of identifying your own brand than having your clients and friends as a mirror to your personality.

I also don't get too upset at "not" getting every booking. Not all people are well-suited together. I know those brides and grooms will find someone better for them, more suited to them. My personality and their personality may not be compatible, and that's not something anyone wants to discover on their wedding day.

On a slightly soppy note, I do love seeing my couples getting married. I love being there. It's an amazing thing to see two people make a life-long commitment, in front of a room of people at a formal ceremony. The idea that one of those two people decided one day that being in that relationship was what they wanted. They decided one day, that this was the person they couldn't live without, that they wanted to spend the rest of their life with. This was their life partner. And so they asked the other person to marry them, and the other person felt exactly the same way - this was who they wanted to be with, this was the right person for them, they felt so happy, so loved, so in love, and so secure that they wanted to continue with that for the rest of their life. Being asked to photograph and document that for them to have for the next fifty years of their joint lives together, that's special. We always think about royal weddings as being historic moments, but actually, every wedding is an historic moment in the timeline of a family. And photographs are the keepsakes, the treasures, for generations of family to look back and see. By the time I get to the wedding, I've gotten to know the couple enough, and I genuinely want them to be happy. It's also lovely to meet their friends and family. Every one of my couples has got an amazing friend and family base around them, people who approach me at the wedding and tell me how special the couple are. Things that actually, I can't capture on a camera. The compliments your guests say when you're not even in earshot, to the photographer... that's pretty fantastic to witness too. It's wonderful to go to a wedding and see couples who love each other, but who are so loved from their guests. When you've got that sort of love and support around you, you really can conquer the world.

Being busy

So August and September have been particularly busy months for me recently. A quick review of what I've been up to the last few weeks:

• Had three engagement shoots, with three amazing couples; 
• Photographed the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research annual Glasgow Bikeathon; (my "good cause" work)
• Photographed three beautiful weddings, in Wales, Edinburgh and Glasgow; 
• Had a stall at the Fabulous Wedding Show in Dunblane; 
• Been the official photographer for the Plans and Presents Big Fat Scottish Tweet Up for Scottish wedding suppliers;
• Attended the Chris Hanley Cherish the Dress Workshop near Manchester;

And of course all that photography means lots of photo editing afterwards!

I do enjoy being busy though. It's been an interesting year, and with autumn coming up and the wedding season slowing somewhat, its been a good time to also think about doing some more portfolio shoots. In particular, I've got an especially large portfolio shoot lined up, which should be a good opportunity to exercise my creative muscles a little more.

The other part of my work of course, is the administrative work, which will be getting a strong review in October.

I'm also looking forward to revealing some more exciting things for my 2012 wedding photography packages with the introduction of some new and exciting products, as well as a few little extras specifically for my couples!

Still to blog about over the next few weeks:

• Photographs from the wedding in Wales;
• A photoshoot with Zoe Anderson, wedding dress designer, at Linlithgow Palace;
• Photographs from a contemporary Edinburgh wedding; 
• Pictures from the Chris Hanley workshop;
• and a gorgeous, relaxed Glaswegian wedding. 

Knickerbocker Glorious!

So today, I thought I'd blog about a shoot I did in Largs with Alison Tinlin from Plans and Presents, hair stylist Gail Rankin, Make up artist Sophie Edwards, with accessories provided by Wedding and Baby.

We went to Largs with the intention of doing a slightly kitschy, vintage seaside photoshoot. I wanted something that was a proper traditional seaside resort without the tackiness. Largs was a great location. From a photographic perspective, its a neat town, with very little litter or graffiti, not too many people, and plenty of wide open space to get the sky in and lots of details from it. We sought permission from Nardinis to use their interior as a backdrop for some of the photos (and they were very lovely about it all).

I've done plenty of location shoots before involving gorgeous dresses (including the bridesmaid shoot I did with Flossy and Dossy a few months ago), but I wanted something slightly different here. This shoot was less about being a fashion parade, and more about the individual - in this case, Alison. It was actually easier than some of the shoots I've done previously, as there weren't lots of outfit changes to incorporate into the timing.

I think the hardest thing I find is defining what I think my "voice" is. I have a particular style to my photographs, but sometimes when I'm up so close to the photos, I can't quite put my finger on what exactly it is. I know I like to have photos that have an element of pop - I want people to come out of the picture, to get an essence of their personality just jumping out of the image.

I wanted to get more of that from Alison. It's easy a lot of the time for people to shrink in the photographs, and a lot of people do. Camera comes out and people become shy and like wallflowers. Or, alternatively, they start throwing very awkward poses that they've seen in magazines and "think" I want from them.

What I really want, is to have fun photographs. I want fun, I want natural, candid, but most of all, playful. I don't want a fixed grin.

I think sometimes it's a bit like having a conversation with someone for the first time. I want to get beyond the small talk, the "what do you do/ where are you from" stuff, and right into the bit where there's a connection, the bit where the conversation just rolls and people start really revealing themselves. Years ago, a friend of mine referred to it almost as being like layers, numbering each layer. So small talk was layer one, then the bit where you start digging out information from the small talk is layer two, and then the really good stuff, the core, that's layer three. He'd smile when we got into a deeper level of conversation, the bit where we started to forget where we were and just got completely lost in our own world, and he'd remark "now we're here, this is the third layer". It's not necessarily about baring your soul and getting the skeletons out of the closet (or wherever else you keep them), it's just about figuring out who the person in front of the camera is, getting rid of your labels (mother, wife, girlfriend, husband, father, brother, son, daughter, work colleague...) and being all the wonderful bits of you.

So yes, that's what I want from these sorts of photoshoots. And I'll pretty much do anything I can to get people to that point. I'm not looking for the secrets, the dark stuff, I'm just looking for the playfulness, the humour, the light hearted, happy, lovely side, the bits that attract people to you as friends or romantic interests, the bits that make people care, and the bits that should make you realise how truly wonderful you are.

So, here for your delectation, the photos from the shoot.

Sophie prepares Alison's make up

Inside Nardinis

Knickerbocker Glorious!

Flying the flag

at the piano

bouquet courtesy of Wedding and Baby

Our generous host

Kicking it up in Largs

the most wayward balloons!

Alison and Largs

Bouquet

over to Cumbrae

The Wonderful Nardinis

shoes!

The team:
Shoot Organisation/Model - Alison Tinlin - http://www.plansandpresents.co.uk
Photographer - Kristin Mitchell - http://struvephotography.co.uk/
Hair - Gail Rankin - http://www.gailhardie.co.uk/
Make - Up - http://www.sophieedwardsmakeup.com/
Hairpieces/Jewellery - http://www.weddingandbaby.co.uk/
Gown/Shoes - courtesy of - http://angelfins.co.uk
Venue (inside shots) - http://nardinis.co.uk/

Portrait of a lady

18th Century lady, originally uploaded by Kristin Mitchell photography.

So the past few weeks, I've been kept exceptionally busy.  As you might know, I already have a collection of qualifications in photography from college, but I recently signed up to a night class for a one-off course. 

When I left college last year, there was a photograph I'd created which to be honest, was what I'd call a bit of a slow burner. It took me a while to fall in love with it, but lots of other people seemed to like it a lot.  

It's this photograph, of a kite. 

The kite photograph was originally for an advertising concept, for wind energy. The outdoor image was shot first, then projected onto muslin cloth in a studio, and a kite was placed in front of the muslin.

After leaving college, I wished I'd experimented more with projections. So, when the chance came to do another class, and a self-initiated project, I decided to use projections again.

The inspiration for my project was old paintings and portraits, how aristocrats were portrayed in front of gorgeous vistas. So I started doing some digging around and more research. I decided to create modern portraits using projections to create the idea of someone sitting in front of a gorgeous vista.

It was a surprisingly big project. Although I created three portraits, the starting point was the background. I decided to take lots of pictures of backgrounds, so that I could bring out the richness in the shadow and detail in the lighter areas, much like traditional portrait painters would have done. If you look at almost any traditional painting, even in the darkest corner, it's not actually black paint; there's tiny details, in deep, dark rich colours, so subtle but still there. I wanted to make sure this wasn't lost with a camera, and took several photos, layering them in such a way to bring out the details and make it a rich palette of colour.

Next, was the portrait. The background was projected, but there had to be separate exposures - one for the background and another for the sitter; the background needed a longer exposure time than the sitter under the studio lights.

For two of the portraits, I hired dresses from Scottish Opera.

The portrait above, drew on inspiration from the 18th Century. I also created a portrait of a one of my regular models, Vivien Taylor, using a gorgeous early 19th Century Jane Austen period costume. The inspiration behind this picture can be found on Pinterest.

Finally, I took a leap into the 20th Century. I was very much curious about this image of Elizabeth II on her coronation by Cecil Beaton. What was curious to me, initially, was the angles of the background in relation to the chair and seating position of the Queen. In closer cropped images, the background is looking up, at an angle, into the roof, while the Queen sits straight on, towards the camera. This wider angle version hints that perhaps what we see behind the Queen isn't all it seems, but maybe a backdrop.

With this in mind, the lovely Wendy from Flossy and Dossy agreed to pose for me as my regal model. Here she's wearing a dress she made, with the tiara kindly borrowed from Gioia Mia. The interior of this shot was taken inside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, and actually I think the flags and banners add an authenticity to the final image. Oh, and if you're wondering, yes, the clothes pegs were entirely intentional in the image - I wanted to show it wasn't simply a photoshop job, as people's awareness of image creation tends to become more cynical of how an image has been created.


The whole project kept me busy for the best part of seven weeks, including writing the proposal, sourcing background locations, photographing and editing the backgrounds, undertaking the research and constructing a research workbook, finding suitable dresses and props, as well as photographing and editing the images, printing them, and finally writing a evaluation. Both the proposal and evaluation had to be the length of an essay each.

So what do I get at the end of it? Well, enough credits, in conjunction with my previous college qualifications to undertake a single year's honours degree course, if I wish to do so. The alternative would have been to have spent a year full-time doing a degree course.

At this point in time, I have no intention on going back to college. While I enjoyed my time there, I don't feel that it's the right choice for me at this time. However, I always like to leave doors wide open when it comes to opportunities for the future, especially as this was very much a one-off night class. What I really got from it was the chance to explore projected backgrounds again in a large studio, and almost exclusive use of the studio for several weeks. It was also nice to do a more academic project again, and throw myself back into writing proposals and evaluations, and knowing that my work will be heavily critiqued and thoroughly evaluated by tutors.

For now though, its life back to normal and back to 21st century portraits!

Vintage darlings: Flossy and Dossy

all images courtesy of Flossy and Dossy

As part of my on-going exploration into vintage themes at weddings, I'm extremely pleased today to present talented Glasgow based dressmaker Wendy from Flossy and Dossy. I first met Wendy in September 2010 when we collaborated on a photoshoot. I was instantly drawn to Wendy's beautiful vintage inspired clothes - cute little summer dresses and ladylike floral print tops that wouldn't look out of place at a vintage tea party. What struck me most was the beautiful attention to detail and care towards vintage design.

Wendy started dressmaking and knitting initially as a hobby, making her own unique vintage inspired clothes. She started receiving compliments from friends as well as from strangers on her stunning creations and the requests started to come in from friends wanting her to make clothes for them. Wendy's confidence in her ability began to grow steadily along with her understanding of garment construction, however she knew she was onto something a little more special when her sister asked her to design and make a wedding dress.

Wendy began Flossy and Dossy in 2008. So where did the name Flossy and Dossy come from? Wendy explains "I wanted to pick a name that was fun, a little twee and playful, and after considering a few ideas I liked how it reflected my design concepts. It's also something that seems to stick in people's minds". Wendy was mindful of the importance of a good name and carefully selected a name which suited the market and brand of her business.

Wendy discusses how her business began, "I started off small, taking stalls at handmade vintage fairs such as those run by Made in the Shade, and dipping my toes in online selling, and it's all taken off from there. I also discovered early on how important it is to get good photographs, to show off my clothes in their best possible light."

I asked Wendy about where she gets her inspiration, and the personal appeal for her of vintage. Wendy says "Ever since I was little I've adored old movies, and I've always been fascinated by the how almost every actress carries herself with such poise and sophistication.

If it wasn't for Audrey Hepburn I doubt that Flossy would exist; I've always adored her impeccable, individual style. Hers is the playful sophistication that inspires all of my clothes, from the ballet pump/ full skirt look of Roman Holiday, to the glamour of Breakfast at Tiffany's. 


Behind all of Flossy's designs is a great deal of research; not only on the technical aspects of, for example, frock design, but also how a certain look is constructed. I ask myself what makes a Hitchcock Blonde so distinctive? Therefore one of my greatest influences is Edith Head, who designed wonderful gowns for Hollywood films for over forty years. She was nominated for the Oscar for Costume Design an astonishing 35 times, and the list of actresses who wore her designs is a who's-who of cinema.

When I'm designing frocks I'm mainly influenced by the 50s. I love how full-skirted designs flatter every figure and make the wearer feel feminine. When I'm working on my knitwear I'm mainly influenced by the 40s. I love the nipped-in waist and wide shoulders of knitwear from this time."

We move on to the topic of vintage at weddings. I asked Wendy why she thinks vintage has had such an allure at weddings. Wendy responds "I think that the main reason interest has been growing in vintage-inspired weddings is that people want something that's a bit more personal, and that the flavour of the whole day, from the bridal and bridesmaid frocks right down to the invitations and favours, can be elegantly themed. At a recent wedding I attended, the table decorations were handmade by the bride's mother and involved lovely little floral sprays set into vintage teacups - touches like that are wonderful.

There's also an increasing amount of inspiration on the web, from Offbeat Bride to the Etsy Wedding Blog. These websites have great style tips, and have examples of things you can make yourself which look better than the generic wedding stationery or table decorations."

Of course, vintage can go wrong. So what advice does she have to avoid the pitfalls, and how to get the look right?

Wendy replies "I think the main thing to remember is that finding vintage accessories can take time especially if you're on a tight budget. It's also sometimes difficult to blend vintage and modern and you might have to bear this in mind when picking the venue. I've seen a lot of lovely vintage style weddings which are slightly let down by the hotel decor (especially in Scotland with the trend for tartan carpets!) To get round this I'd make sure you pick out a main colour and carry it through the whole wedding; if the hotel has a blue tartan carpet make sure you pick up the blue in the groomsmen's ties, the buttonholes or a sash on the bridesmaids dress that helps tie the whole look together."

I asked Wendy if she has any advice for anyone looking to take the plunge into slipping into something a little more vintage, how to find something that works for them. Wendy explains "Vintage style clothing can flatter all shapes and sizes, Its all about picking the right accessories and being confident about what you wear. Lots of my customers have been reluctant to wear the full 50s skirt as they think its going to make them look larger than they really are, but once they've tried it on they realise the shape actually shrinks the waist it will give you an hourglass silhouette whether your slim and boyish or large and curvy. Every woman should own one."

Finally, does Wendy have any predictions for what vintage inspired clothing is going to be popular in the near future? Wendy replies "I think full skirted 50s dresses and skirts will always be popular but I do think there's going to be a rise in 40s style dresses from cotton tea dresses to glamorous evening wear. There's been a big increase in 1940s styling on the internet with lots of video tutorials showing you how to style your hair in victory rolls or how to do pin curls."

Many thanks to Wendy for sharing her insight into vintage clothing and her beautiful designs from Flossy and Dossy. Time to get practicing on those victory curls!

Follow Flossy and Dossy on Twitter: @flossyanddossy
Flossy and Dossy website
Flossy and Dossy blog
Flossy and Dossy Facebook Page

Vintage darlings: Vintage Scoops

So as part of my "lets talk about vintage" theme, today I'm pleased as punch to be showcasing the wonderful Vintage Scoops.

all images courtesy of Vintage Scoops

A year after the death of her mum, Hayley announced to her husband that she'd had enough of feeling sad, and had decided to purchase a vintage ice cream van. The ice cream van in question was a 1973 Bedford, and was named Betty after Hayley's grandmother.

Hayley had help restoring Betty from her husband and a good friend who is a mechanic and spent his apprenticeship working on Bedford vans. Together, they restored Betty to her full glory, refitting the floor, fixing the electrics, and respraying, and with the help of their friend they ensure that they keep Betty maintained and on the road. Hayley started trading in May 2010.

As her business grows from strength to strength, Hayley was chosen as overall winner by the Country Homes and Interiors 'Run Your Own Country Business of the Year” competition last autumn. Having started trading only a few months previously, this was clearly a wonderful accolade for someone during their first year of business. Hayley received a phone call telling her that she'd won on the last day of her full time job.  Hayley explains "It felt so right, like it was all meant to be. I couldn’t believe it! I was literally running round at work jumping for joy! I am pretty sure my lovely Mum had a little helping hand from heaven! She would of so enjoyed this journey I am on….. Winning the completion was such a huge boost and more than anything was reassurance that I was doing the right thing and was not totally mad!"

When I asked Hayley what inspired her to have a vintage ice cream van, she responded "I just wanted to be doing something where I could be me! Smiling and happy and an ice cream van festooned with bunting screams happiness to me. It evokes childhood memories, I sell all items, sweets and drinks that have a nostalgic feel to them".

When she's not serving ice cream from Betty, Hayley enjoys shopping and searching for vintage treasures at boot sales and flea markets.  "My own style at home is quite eclectic. That’s what makes us English girls so unique though I believe. I love colour, 50’s vintage fabrics, old cups and saucers, old glass jelly moulds, all those things that remind me of my Grandma and my childhood. To me it’s about enjoying the simple things,  things that are quintessentially English, fun and jolly. I surround myself with things and people that make me smile. Losing my mum who was only 53 has made me appreciate more than ever that life is too short for regrets."

I asked Hayley why she thought vintage has seen such a resurgence. Hayley explains "I think people are enjoying returning back to the simple things in life. In times when things are quite tough economically. We are all yearning and appreciating simple pleasures. Afternoon tea, garden parties and so on".

And Hayley's philosophy? "You only get one chance and life is for living. Follow your dreams..........."

With a van like Betty, I think Hayley's got us all dreaming of summer!

Follow Vintage Scoops on Twitter: @mrsscoops
Vintage Scoops website
Vintage Scoops blog
Vintage Scoops facebook page