Lessons
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
1Class Introduction
38:16 2Costs and What You Pay Yourself
25:41 3Marketing to the Affluent
18:21 4Contacting Clients: Pre-Wedding Meetings
32:20 5Shoot: Simple Engagement Shoot
35:45Shoot: Roof Top Grunge Engagement Look
39:56 7Shoot: Roof Top High Fashion Engagement
37:35 8Equipment: Look and Feel Like a Pro
31:00 9Equipment Q&A
18:47 10Let's Talk About Lighting
24:06 11Creating a Stress Free Timeline Part 1
35:44 12Creating a Stress Free Timeline Part 2
14:41 13Creating a Stress Free Timeline Part 3
36:02 14Shoot: Bridal Suite
30:59 15Shoot: Utilizing the Veil
18:28 16Shoot: Bridal Portraits
20:29 17Shoot: Ceremony
26:15 18Shoot: Post Ceremony in Outside Light
21:32 19Shoot: Family Posing
28:22 20Shoot: Bride Post Ceremony
19:42 21Shoot: Bride and Groom Post Ceremony
20:35 22Shoot: The First Dance
26:05 23Managing Workflow and Social Media
11:37 24Albums and Storybooks
23:52 25Retouching and Sales
19:02 26Marketing Q&A
25:35 27Pricing Structure
30:21 28Pricing Q&A
21:28 29The Disc Debate with Q&A
15:49 30Marketing to the Industry
09:05 31Becoming Industry Approved
25:19 32Collaborating with Vendors
28:12 33Shoot: Post Wedding
13:20 34Engagement Album Reveal
16:12 35Storybook Q&A
14:24 36Wedding Album Reveal
30:02 37Final Q&A
09:58Lesson Info
Marketing to the Industry
On day one way spoke about marketing we spoke about print marketing, elektronik media your website spoke about bridal fairs what you doing with those three traditional areas ofthe advertising is you're targeting the bride now targeting the bride we know it can be expensive print advertising is expensive having a great website with a website that was developed by a web designer can be expensive bridal shows your capital outlay for a bridal show can be expensive you are also targeting a bride who is going to be in the industry is going to be somebody who's looking to buy something in an industry for probably around eight months to a year in terms of her shopping experience, then she's going to leave that market and go on to the baby market or you know the housing market's going to look for a house or she you know it's going to go have a baby she's not thinking about weddings anymore so she's only in the industry for a very short period of time so you're spending a lot of money targeting ...
somebody who's only going to be around for a short amount of time now you are going to get results with those traditional avenues off advertising, however the easiest cheapest, most effective not fastest way off advertising your services or marketing yourself to to become a successful wedding photographer long term is to market yourself to the industry and when I say market yourself to the industry, I'm talking about your relationship with other vendors and with other suppliers within the industry. Now I really need you to think about what we were checked about earlier on about being the change in the industry that you would like to see, so I want you to be mr nice guy, I want you to be the one that everybody says it is so nice working with that person I can't wait to do another wedding with carlos or with cynthia, you know it needs to be is a positive reinforcement of your brand and you know, I understand that in this industry is a lot of sharing. There are a lot of photographers who like to share their information. However, there are a lot of photographers who are very cagey about their information, and I know that there are a lot of photographers out there who I don't like what I'm doing, they feel that we're giving away trade secrets. Why are we helping the opposition in terms of elevating their brand? And you know, I'm not going to stand here and lie to you I do make money out of that I run workshops that I get paid for, so it is for me sharing is about making money as well because I am going to get paid for that knowledge, however, if the whole industry gets elevated if I can get you guys to charge mohr then I can charge more that old chinese proverb a rising tide lifts all the boats so if we can all up our game that's fantastic I don't want to be hiding mine information so that only I can you know have access to that knowledge so be it if somebody asks you questions be the nice guy that they can go and talk about your reputation and elevate your brand for you so marketing to the industry it seems like it could be a very easy thing to do or it seems like it could be a very difficult thing to do but the type of thing I'm talking about is very very simply something like this about four months ago I was shooting a wedding that's in june I was shooting a wedding with a new videographer entering the market her name was is lauren oliver and she wrote to me saying hi there my name is lauren oliver and I'm going to be working with you at the wedding tomorrow I just wanted to introduce myself to you before I was at the wedding because I know things can be a bit hectic I really look forward to working with you and if you need anything off we're getting in your way please let me know I haven't even met this girl I'm conway to work with her because I know she respects me and, you know, she's looking to forge a relationship within the industry fantastic, I write back to her and I say fantastic lauren, I look forward to working with you too. Likewise, if I get in your way, just kick me so what I'm really saying to her is like, I don't have any heirs and graces, we'll just kick me I'm just saying, you know, it's cool, we're way we're on the same team so us against you, you guys know that I love road running on and there's this bit of a feud, a bit of banter, banter between cyclists and runners because cyclists think that runner's run because we can't afford bikes and running running runners think that cyclist cycle because they're not tough enough to run. Okay, it's the same feud that happens between videographers and photographers is always this constant tension or battle between videographers and photographers. Now I'm looking forward to working with her now. At that wedding, I was in the front off the of the church and I was in her shot and she was filming the bride and groom saying their vows and I, you know, I had taken my shots and ours peacocking att the front of the other and I'm standing there with my, uh with my camera and she just popped her head around the corner, she just that's all sorry and I moved out the way now if I had had a bad relationship with her if I hadn't had a negative sentiment towards her, I'd be like, you know and stand in a way because you know, we had this tension but I see that she needs me to to help out so I moved for her one of the things that I've done regularly the point's off conflict with the videographer can often be uh when the bride is coming back down the aisle and I want to get my shot of her coming down the aisle and the videographer wants the same shot now whoever gets in front first, right? So what I would do is I would get down nice and low in the church and she's walking down the aisle and I'll say to them, look, let me get my shotgun then I'm gonna get out of there so as she comes down the aisle back western focus and she's coming down the aisle bang, bang, bang, bang bang she's coming towards me I turn and I'm graham, I've got my camera in the one hand, I grab the videographer by the back and I'm starting to walk and I'm pushing people out the way if they in there and I'm helping that videographer do their job, so I'm helping that videographer succeeded at their career which means psychologically that I care about them and I respect them and I'm going to help you on what does it cost me to be that absolutely nothing I'm being a nice guy I've got my shot let me help this guy out ok alright cool you go over there now are we going to do the mantelpiece shot when they come out from the from the church things like that I will go as far I will go as far as if the videographer is filming the speeches the tripods over there videographers filming the speeches and I need to get from this side to that side what I would do sometimes go right in front of the videographer but I intentionally duck down and I go around the other side I could have walked behind him but by doing that it it's an active show that I'm showing him here I am I care about not getting in your shot instead of just walking around behind them and he's like well there was nice because we had had this conflict I was to walk in front of his camera you know I mean I wouldn't do that but that's the type of thing I'm talking about you know people intentionally and we know this out there on internet I'm sure that they know that you know there's constant fighting between videographers and photographers now my philosophy is the easier I make it for them the more chance I've got of a referral from them, the more tons of god off them. Helping me at the wedding, I might be shooting something. My assistant is over there, and I'm like, I need it. And you know, and they just ask the videographers, the system, please, can you do this for me? If I was fighting with him, that would never happen, you know, make friends in the industry.
Ratings and Reviews
a Creativelive Student
Informative, inspiring and impactful. Many photographers claim to share all their info and tips to success but Brett Florens is one of the few who goes all out to help, share and give the best possible advice. His talks are inspiring, honest and to the point. The way he talks just makes sense and his explanations always result in that 'penny dropping moment'! I loved watching this and I really feel like it has made a huge impact on my business. I'll also be visiting http://www.brettflorens.com/resources.htm for his incredible dvd One Wedding. This workshop is wonderful. If you want a to up your game and turn your business around, watch it! Thank you Brett - you are amazing.
a Creativelive Student
Because of Brett's course, I can honestly say I'm a better photographer and a better business person. I've already put his knowledge to work! (Thanks for the wide angle overhead shot on the monopod!) Brett is honest (even when he's tricky!) and to the point, and his leadership in this field is very much by example. He works hard - and it's inspiring. His people skills are top notch. His professionalism leaves no doubt as to why he's on top of his game. Like other commenters below, I'm blessed and amazed we can have access to this kind of training. Thank you Brett, and thank you Creative Live!
Gregory Mink
It was one of the "Best" wedding photography on CreativeLive. Brett was totally honest with his approach on capturing the whole wedding day. As a photographer, I loved Brett's philosophy on that it's a choice to run your photography/studio as a hotdog stand or a place of fine dinning. Brett has given me the confidence to go out and open a fine dinning studio and change how I photograph. I love what he said with no fear, "I am here to make money" when dealing with his clients. Brett Florens' class is a great investment, if you want to go to the next level. Thank you Brett PS: Gregory is here to make money too, see what you created Brett, ha, ha.
Student Work
Related Classes
Wedding Photography