Scott Lahiff is relatively new to the business of wedding photography but knows that's exactly where he wants to make his living. He currently has a full time job as a fireman and after photographing a few weddings, wanted to book a lot more for the year ahead. In this interview, Scott shares how to book more weddings at bridal expos after booking 10 at his first ever bridal fair.
In addition to the ten bookings, Scott will potentially book more once he starts his follow up strategy. All weddings were booked with no pressure and no sleazy sales talk – in fact it was almost the opposite.
As you'll hear, Scott stood back and waited for prospective brides and couples to notice and approach his display and engage with him about photography. Yes, he instigated a simple strategy once he got talking but whether or not it was that strategy or his personality and photography that converted brides into bookings is something you can decide.
Here’s some of what we cover:
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What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you’d like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Scott or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
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Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Episode 062: James Day – Go Your Own Way For Photography Business Success
Episode 147: James Day – Second Shoot Your Way to Wedding Photography Success
Thank you!
Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks to Scott for agreeing to come on and sharing so much.
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!
That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
Scott….!!!!!!
Get in there Man!!
I just listened to you and Andrew and appreciate how humble you are but when I took a look at your site just now I was blown away!
If firefighting in AU is at all like it is in Canada you have a great opportunity to make a great living at FireFighting AND as a wedding photographer as you can have quite a bit of extra time. I never met a FF here in Canada who didn’t have two careers!
BUT.. you probably know that it is your humility not just the quality of your work that is getting you booked like that. Good on ya!
Hi Todd
Thanks so much for the kind words mate!
Working with the Fire Brigade definitely gives me a great opportunity to get started on the business without the financial burden and pressure of having to make bookings. Initially however, it was a little demotivating as I didn’t have to book weddings to pay the bills so wasn’t pushing too hard and was just waiting for it to happen. Still finding my feet.
Thanks again!!
Scott, your honesty is fantastic to hear, I love how you are still so unsure when it comes to pumping up your prices and how you see yourself. I have over 100 weddings now and i am still in the same boat of self doubt.
I’d agree with Andrew though, by increasing your prices now or once you have your magic number, its a great opportunity for you, but would i be right in thinking that you find it hard to see the photography part of your life as a business that is there to make money, rather you see the artistic side of it ? We have a target for the year, once its reached, we send out separate prices (up by 50%) and use the money from any weddings at that price to invest in the business. I think its a case of letting the market set your worth so to speak, if people look at your work and think you are worth that extra bit, then that is what the “market rate” is.
Great interview again guys.
Hi Paul
Thanks mate!
You’re probably right with that, I get a bit awkward discussing money and how much something I’m going to do is going to cost, so, it probably continues on from what I said in the interview, but I’m quite comfortable with what I’m charging and think the client is getting a pretty good deal so I’ve been leaving my prices alone. I’m also at the point where I’m getting a real kick out of shooting weddings and it feels weird to me to be charging so much for something I’m really enjoying doing. Having said that, I haven’t thought of it the way that you have just suggested about pumping the extra money back into the business. That’s a great idea.
Do you mind if I ask, at what point do you put your prices back down? Or do you run with 2 prices (one for the remainder of the current year and one for next year)? And, if you put that increased price out there, and people are still booking, does that just become your standard price after that?
Sorry for all the questions haha
Cheers
Scott
AHHHH Great timing for this podcast Andrew! With my first Wedding Expo coming up in two weeks, it was great to hear Scott’s hints and tips!
Hey Tracy – how did you go at your expo, any results and anything you were able to use form what Scott had to share?
Hi Tracy
Thank you! Hopefully your expo went well!!
Cheers
Scott
Hey Scott, really enjoyed the interview. Was laughing at the start though when Andrew asked if you were looking to move into this full time, or just to supplement your income, and you DIDN’T mention that all firemen have second jobs due to all the downtime, and actually sleep at night as a shift worker 😉
Anyway, love your story and the success that you had. I love interviews like this that are natural and not trying to sell us something.
As for me, I just attended a bridal show this past weekend as I’m going to be getting married later this year. Some of the experiences that I had at the other photographers booths were:
Positives:
– You get to meet the photographer and see if you’re going to click.
– You get to see samples of their best work before even talking to them.
Negatives:
– One booth had the actual photographer milling around in the back of the booth, while her helpers immediately bombarded you with pricing, asking what your date was, trying to force you to enter their draw, etc. I was really turned off by this approach as I frankly didn’t care about the price until I knew if the photographer was going to be someone that I’d want to hang out with all day, and if I liked their style. Pricing can wait, I can get all that information off their website. I’m here to meet YOU the photographer.
– As a groom that didn’t take his fiancé to the show, I found that some of them didn’t seem interested in talking to me… Strange since I’m paying for the whole thing! I guess the best advice is to not discriminate and only think you have to talk to the brides and convince them.
Anyway, great interview and I like your style. After attending the show this past weekend, I was really looking forward to hearing your interview today, as I’m also going to give the shows a shot later this year and early next year.
Chris
Yep- Expo went well. I had the teeniest booth out of the 14 other photographers. Loved chatting with the couples and meeting other vendors. I popped out a newsletter to the couples from the mailing list of those who attended the expo- had 52% open rate on the first night, so pretty chuffed with that.
52% open rate and a good time chatting – can’t beat that!
Hopefully there were some bookings in the end?
Such a great podcast guys! We are starting our wedding business at the moment and have been looking for unique marketing ideas. I’m in a similar position to Scott where I have a full time job in shift work, so I have the time to do weddings. We are planning our first wedding expo for May. Got some great lead generation tips from this podcast, thank you so much!
Scott, I totally get your price point perspective, but I think your work is awesome! Keep up the great work 🙂
Thanks Matthew – love that you enjoyed this one and that it came at a good time for you!