The Lunch Club Podcast
A space for wedding vendors and creatives. We are offering you a seat at the table as we share all the behind the scenes and details to get you feeling creative and celebrated.
The Lunch Club Podcast
Growing Your Business Through Vendor + Client Relations With Jenny Pearl Photography
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This episode covers all the big questions! How to grow your business, creating better vendor. experiences, setting yourself up for success with clients, and more!
Find Jenny on Instagram @ jennypearlphotography and check out her upcoming workshop HERE
Entrepreneurship and Wedding Photography Insights
Speaker 1Welcome to the Lunch Club Podcast , a space I've created for entrepreneurs . Come sit with us as we share the highs and lows of building and maintaining successful businesses . I'm your host , andrey Zahoggan , and let's get into it . Okay , I am here with Jenny Pearl Photography and I'm super excited . Go ahead and tell us a little bit about you and what services you offer . All the good stuff .
Speaker 2Hello , I'm Jenny and I've been doing photography for seven years , kind of full time . That's crazy , that's a long time I know it doesn't feel that long , but yes , I started in I don't even know the year , but it's been like seven years and then I specialize in weddings and couples . But I do literally everything . I've done real estate , I've done births , I've done everything you can kind of think of , but I specialize in weddings .
Speaker 1And then you do offer like do you do workshops for other photographers too , right ?
Speaker 2So I do a lot of workshops education which I kind of just got into more recently . This is my third year of doing workshops . Do you enjoy it ?
Speaker 1I think it's so fun . I love teaching and I don't know why I love teaching .
Speaker 2I hate the aspect of selling and I feel like that part I don't love . But after I get the tickets sold then I'm like let's do this .
Speaker 1Yeah , it's like a lot of pressure running . I also hate feeling like a salesperson . I'm like I don't want to pressure you .
Speaker 2Exactly when I'm like . If you want to buy , buy , but if not , that's fine .
Speaker 1Yeah , and then you're like , oh what if no one buys it ?
Speaker 2I hate that aspect or no one's going to show up to your party .
Speaker 1Yes , that part is not fun , no , it's crazy .
Speaker 2I love everything else I love about doing the education part .
Speaker 1That's super fun . So what made you want to start your business ? What made you be like yes , I love the chaos of weddings .
Speaker 2I honestly didn't even think I would start photography .
Speaker 1Really .
Speaker 2Yeah , it wasn't ever something that . It was something that interested me because I had a sister all growing up that did photography and I was like , okay , this looks fun and she would just use us as her little giddy pigs for models and stuff .
Speaker 1So I was like this looks fun .
Speaker 2So I got a camera , like I think it was in 2016 , and I just did it for fun , here and there . Just random stuff , yeah , for my family and random stuff , and I actually went to school for physical therapy assisting , wow and so I thought I was just going to do the healthcare field . Definitely a turn Way different . So I did that for a while and then I just did photography on the side for fun , and then I kind of just picked up and I was like , oh , I can make money off of this Right .
Speaker 1I feel like that's a lot of wedding vendors . It's kind of funny . I feel like it's rarely our first choice .
Speaker 2Yeah , like not in a bad way , but it's like .
Speaker 1it's like oh yeah , you can make money .
Speaker 2This can't be a career . I'm not like what I do Exactly .
Speaker 1I think rarely you can get both yeah .
Speaker 2I feel like it's over-lucky that we like doing that .
Speaker 1I know exactly it's genuinely my hobby , but it's a profitable hobby .
Speaker 2Exactly , and that's where it ended up being the perfect career , because , especially right as I started having kids , it's when I kind of shifted all into photography .
Speaker 1Yeah Well , and I feel like it's perfect because it's like a lot of weekends so it's not as hard to like get help yeah .
Speaker 2Your schedule is just kind of the opposite of the husband . Exactly , it works out nice .
Speaker 1It's like the ideal and I feel like a lot of the computer work for me . I'm like , well , I can just be sitting on the couch and answering all my emails , yeah exactly I don't need to go somewhere to do it . It works really well . Okay , so what would you say is one of your biggest pain points in the photography industry , like either right now or just generally ?
Speaker 2I feel like trying to be relevant on social media kind of sucks Amen . Trying to like keep up with all the trends and like the algorithm and posting every single day , or else your business just slowly sinks if you are absent on social media . Seriously , and that part , I feel like it's just hard to keep up , and the other one I feel like just the market is so crazy . Yes , keeping up with the market and like Utah's market is just so different .
Speaker 2It really is , than any other state where I'm like you get people to charge in super high and then you get people charging hardly anything . It's so frustrating . And then clients are just like well , which one do I go with ?
Speaker 1Yeah , well , and I feel like . Then it creates this mentality of like , oh , people are ripping me off because and you're like no , I know , this is actually how much it costs . I just actually want to make money . And you know so and so is hard . And I feel like it's hard because I think I was there . I was in the position of like . I'm charged so cheap , so people will book me when you're just starting out .
Speaker 1And I feel like it's hard to recognize , like , oh , but I still have a value . Exactly , I'm better than this Susie's aunt who is going to be the alternative .
Speaker 2Yeah , and a lot of clients like they don't see through that very well . So then it makes it hard to like justify why you're charging what you're charging versus this other person .
Speaker 1So defeating when someone like I feel like it's like extra salt in the wound with someone's like well , this person gave me a quote for this , much yeah you're like that's good . I know I'm sad for me , but also I'm really sad for that person who is not making any money . So that's something that in the floral industry we've been working really hard to be really open about what people ? Should charge . Just because we're like , you hurt the whole market .
Speaker 2Yeah , and that's how it is when you don't hurt .
Speaker 1And people just don't get it . Like I'm like it's just silly right , like if you could be making the same amount as your best friend like , why would ?
Speaker 2you not ? I know that's where I'm sitting . Like some people , though , would rather take 50 weddings and make the same amount . It's crazy . Then just charge a little more and take 25 weddings where I'm like I can't imagine how overwhelming editing would be in that scenario .
Speaker 1Yeah , like I don't even know . I have so many galleries like that takes so much time . Yeah , not that I really know , but like .
Speaker 2It is , it's time consuming and I'm like people need to charge more .
Speaker 1I feel like we kind of talked about this . So what's something you really love about your job ?
Speaker 2I feel like I love working with people . I'm like a very people person and so I love getting to know the couples , getting to know their love story , getting to know their families . It's funny .
Speaker 1I feel the same way . Oh really , yeah , like it's just so fun . It's so fun , just sweet people ?
Speaker 2Yeah , because I love learning about different people and their stories . So , I feel like that part is super fun for me .
Speaker 1Well , and I just feel like weddings are such a fun happy time . Like yes , there's a lot of stress and chaos .
Speaker 2But it's such an exciting day , but it's literally their happiest day , and so you get to like peek into that ?
Speaker 1Yeah , it's about the booking process or maybe like a client's day of timeline Things that clients don't take into consideration .
Speaker 2I feel like the lighting part is something that clients don't really think about Because , like with winter weddings , the sun sets out like four or five . So then like most summer weddings , they want to start the ceremony around like four or five . But then , when it comes to winter , they're like , oh , let's just start the ceremony at five .
Speaker 1I'm like no , it'll be dark .
Speaker 2So trying to like keep in the lighting consideration , which I feel like I'm really good about , just communicating with my clients .
Speaker 1So do you usually tell your client about like yeah ?
Speaker 2I'd be like the sun sets at this time on your wedding day . I would plan for your ceremony to at least be at this time so you have enough time after the ceremony to take all your family photos before it gets dark . Yes , so , winter , it's like you have to like have a really early ceremony .
Speaker 1Oh yeah , well , I think it's just again one of those things your clients not thinking about , especially if they're getting engaged Exactly . They're not going to think about that July yeah .
Speaker 2They're just like oh , dinner is around seven , so let's have our ceremony at like four or five .
Speaker 1Oh my gosh . Yeah , You're like yes , yes . These are the things that I think about that no one else . That no one else . These keep me up at night , and no one else cares .
Speaker 2Take your family photos in the dark .
Speaker 1I mean , you can , you're just going to have the flash .
Speaker 2You're not going to love them , it's not going to be as cute oh for sure , because I've definitely done it and I'm like , ok , this isn't cute , it's not the ideal scenario . It's not the ideal .
Speaker 1Ok , so we kind of talked about social media , so this might be along that group of things , but what is something that you feel like helped grow your business in meeting your goals or what's helped you stand out in booking , because I feel like you're a name that a lot of people know and I feel like a lot of times it's hard for someone who's just starting and they're like how am . I ever going to get there so any easy tips or just generally what's worked for you in that growing your business ?
Speaker 2For me . I feel like it had to do with a lot with how I showed up for weddings , Really . So the social media aspect is awesome . Just being super consistent , showing your face , showing your personality and trying to grow your social media definitely helps . But I feel like the bigger thing that helped me get more weddings was actually creating relationship with my clients , the vendors , and that I feel like got me more weddings than social media really . Wow . That's like really so I don't feel like it's necessarily the followers that helps you get weddings . It's more of outside of that and how you show up to your weddings , Because I have friends that only have 2,000 followers and they're fully booked out Because they are so good at showing up for their weddings and having those relationships .
Success Beyond Instagram Followers
Speaker 2So I feel like when people see a photography account and they have all these followers , that immediately thinks peer success .
Speaker 1But it's just funny . I was talking to another friend of mine about this . It's like a lot of people value their success at what their Instagram looks like , whether , like you said , followers assuming like oh well , unless I have 10,000 followers , I'm not legitimate or people aren't going to want to book me , I'm like , but a lot of those followers like clearly 10,000 people aren't booking you .
Speaker 2No exactly , and I feel like you shouldn't even base your worth or how much you should charge based on your followers either , like you should show , like base it off of what work you're providing and what experience you're providing for your clients , and not your follower account , because I feel like people with so much worth on their follower account and I'm like that's not how it is .
Speaker 1I'm not going to pay the bills .
Speaker 2It's your art and how you take care of your clients and your client experience , that's going to get you bigger weddings . And if you build those relationships with , like , all the vendors , the clients , they're going to tell all their friends , the vendors are going to refer you and that's , I feel like that's like a real person .
Speaker 1Yes exactly .
Speaker 2And people are going to take word of mouth over . Oh , you have this many followers , you must be legit .
Speaker 1Yeah , well , I think it's like a better way to look at it . I had like a full social media meltdown in the summer where I was like nothing I do is getting traction on Instagram and it just felt like I was putting so much time into it where ? I was like this is not fun and I'm so miserable . And then I had to take a step back and look at it as , like this is really just my portfolio . Like this isn't need to be like . Feeling like this is generating clients Like this is just where I'm going to put the stuff .
Speaker 1I'm proud of . Where people can see what you do . Yeah and I will get , because I started asking clients as well , like how did you hear about me ? I took me forever to do this and I don't know why I didn't start asking sooner .
Speaker 1But I would say , like over 50% of them say it's a referral from a friend and I had a client book recently actually , from like she said the bride who referred her was someone from like four years ago , like not even a recent wedding , where I'm like wow , like I'm so glad that four years ago , four years ago , is still like bringing clients you never know what impact you'll have on a client or the vendors they work with , that they'll think of you again , and I'm just so glad you brought that up because I feel like it's something people don't .
Speaker 1Yes , they think so much about like I need to book people , unless about like how am I gonna show up ?
Speaker 2Yeah , exactly , and like if you're taking good care of them , they're gonna refer you to other people , and if you're just doing an okay job , they're not gonna remember you , it's just gonna be like oh yep , she took our photos .
Speaker 1Yeah , she did what I wanted to do . They're good . I think that's the thing , like if you do something a little above and beyond .
Speaker 2Yeah , above the expectations , then they're really excited . They're really gonna remember you .
Speaker 1Okay , what is your favorite ? Do you have like a favorite experience or moment you had within your business ? Whether there was like a big client that you booked or I don't know like a goal that you had that you met , that was just really exciting for you .
Speaker 2I feel like I got my first international wedding .
Speaker 1So that was fun . That's so fun , oh my gosh .
Speaker 2Yes , so that was exciting Cause I feel like last year I had to put travel on hold because I had a baby and that comes first . So I just said now to all travel , which was really hard .
Speaker 1Cause I'm like I thought it was like one of my big goals .
Speaker 2Then this year I opened it up and I got my first international wedding , which was super fun . That's so exciting . I feel like another moment in like my education space was one of my attendees from my workshop , like , reached out to me and was just telling me how impactful the workshop was and how she is where she is now and she's super successful . Wow , because of what she ?
Speaker 2learned at the workshop and kind of just that lesson that I taught , which to me I didn't think it was impactful , cause I was like it was like one of my first workshops . I'm like I don't know what I'm doing , hopefully people are learning and then ended up being like super impactful for her and now she's hosting her own workshops and she's like killing it , things like mean so much Like , especially when like it's something you're nervous about .
Speaker 1Yeah , where I'm like .
Speaker 2Let's hope this has any kind of impact than having someone reach out to you and say that it actually did have an impact . I feel like it was cool .
Speaker 1Well , I think it just gives more meaning to like yeah , there's a reason I do this . Cause , it's not just about the money . Yeah , I think in this industry it can't just ever be about .
Speaker 2It can't be , or else you're going to get burnt out Like you have to love it .
Speaker 1I've had a few inquiries for international weddings and I'm like one of these days someone's gonna , but I'm like at least they're they're asking about . Yeah , you know that's step one , but that is so fun . Is that like stressful for you and like being a place you've never been before and having to like plan it all ? Or does the client mostly like the client ?
Speaker 2mostly does like all the planning and Stuff like that . But I feel like it's exciting because I get you in a new place , because I've done several out of state weddings and those are always like my favorite , because I get a go somewhere new , see something new , have new experiences , and I just feel like the out of state , like going somewhere else other than Utah , just like fuels me a little bit . Yeah , just because it's breath of fresh air .
Speaker 2Breath of fresh air it's not the same venue you've shot at like a million times and I feel like it's just fun to see the different Type of people all around the world .
Speaker 1Yeah , that's super fun , so that's been fun on the note of venues , this is a random one , but do you feel like there's a venue that you really love shooting out , or that you're like , oh , like , this is one I've always wanted to shoot out , like anything like that randomly ?
Speaker 2um , I feel like one of my favorites lately there's been Sam pray . Yeah , I feel like they have a really good lighting . Yeah , they have a gorgeous like everywhere you can take pictures is like a beautiful backdrop , versatility and they're like yeah , they're wedding coordinators . They're awesome to work with and that makes a huge yes .
Speaker 1For sure for florist like , because we're kind of the behind the scenes . Yeah , if the venue staff is nice , it's like I will be there every week if I you know exactly nothing's worse than like Unkind or like where they're just like . Why are ? You , yeah , like , they're like no , you can only come for 30 minutes .
Speaker 1Oh , I'm like okay , then Okay . So these are a couple floral questions submitted by florist for photographers . If you have any tips for someone who is just trying to take photos at their house of their florals Just for their Instagram , anything like little or big that might make a difference in how their photos show up .
Speaker 2I feel like if you're trying to get like behind the scenes or just photos to present your work , if you're not like the venue or whatnot at your home , just like find good lighting . I feel like lighting is everything being like next to a close window or Any type of natural light is the best . Don't have your overhead like yellow lights on , or else it's gonna reflect that yellow light off of your white flowers . I make them look yellow . And then like don't have a lot of distractions in the background , like have a clean , easy , just neutral background and not have like all your giant mess in the background .
Speaker 2I know sometimes it'll be hard when you're a mom just buying like a clean little corner . Yeah , I could even like put up a sheet in the background . I've seen even people just literally setting up a sheet in the background , so they just have a sheet in the background just to set up their own , like florals or Well , and I feel like once you find like your little spot to do , yeah , it's like , and then you can go back to that same spot . Yeah , no , we're figured out , uh-huh .
Speaker 1Just keep doing it exactly . Um , okay , as far as styled shoots go , any advice on how you feel like a florist could get the most out of that session , whether you know they've been like reached out to to like put it on , or if they're setting it up like any advice for that and getting Photos that they're gonna be really happy with ?
Speaker 2I feel like just communicate really well with your photographer that's hosting that style shoot . Be upfront with them , be like K these are the floors I'm doing . I would like photos of this and this and this in order for it to be a collaboration . Yeah , and if you can't provide that , then just hire me out instead of it being a collaboration . Yeah , cuz I feel like if it's gonna be a collaboration , it should be beneficial for both parties , yes , and if it's not , then like , just hire those vendors . Yeah , if you don't want to provide those photos , just hire them .
Speaker 2And then I feel like just Communication , like I said , is super key . Like ask the florist how they want them to hold the bouquet , how they want , like , if it's like a floral install , if they're not doing the actual install , the photographers doing the setup , make sure the florist lets them know , like , how they want it to be set up specifically , because with installs they can be . I've I mean , we've worked in several workshops together Like I'm like always asking you okay , where do you want me to put them , how do you want the layout to be ?
Speaker 1and , and I like that , all that stuff appreciated in that aspect . But yeah , a lot of times people don't realize like , yeah , you just need to say it , like , yeah , just communicate with them like what their expectations is and then also like let them know when they can receive , when to expect to receive the photos .
Speaker 2Yeah , cuz sometimes that expectation , if it's not clearly meant yeah the florist might be like waiting like months and months , and months and like okay , am I ever gonna get these photos , thinking that is gonna be like we received within that first week , yeah .
Speaker 2So just be upfront and maybe even have like a Written text , or I mean you can do a contract .
Speaker 2But I feel like with a lot of collaborations I don't necessarily do a contract , I just like have it all in wording with like text or message where it's like okay , you'll receive the gallery within like two to three weeks after the workshop . You can have a full gallery . I include your name and all of the tags . Whenever I post , I include your name with all the stories I post , yeah , and then I put your name in the vendor so all the attendees also have to post your name . It's nice too to like let those , if you're doing collaboration , let those vendors have some creative yeah , cuz I'm like if you have the inspo boards and you're so specific for that style , like you can be a general idea and all that , but let them have creative control , cuz then that vendor can show their creativity , yeah , and want to do it even more , because they could create something that they normally don't have that creative control with some weddings when they're a little bit having to be a little bit more strict .
Speaker 1Well , that's when I also I'm like if you don't love the project that you're even asked to do , like you should just give them full Price . And you know , that's what I usually do , is if I'm like yeah , I'm not like .
Speaker 2My heart's not , not hard , not in it .
Speaker 1Okay , like you know , bouquet is 350 and you know you're welcome to pay me . Yeah , and you know , here's some other people , but I've had to do that a few times and I end up being glad , because there's a few times when I feel like , oh Well , I probably just should , and then I just don't even care . Yeah .
Speaker 2I'm not , because if it doesn't excite you , then I like it's not beneficial for you . It's more of just a job .
Speaker 2Yeah , it's not like a good marketing yeah for me if I'm like oh yeah , I don't even care , and that's the thing too , because I like a lot of my other vendors . Well , because there are certain vendors that I'll just straight up hire out because I know that they don't really care for the collaboration , yeah , but because , like some makeup artists , they're probably like okay , well , we don't really need Some will do a collaboration , but if you want someone that's really up there and they already are super booked or like they don't care to have more fresh content , so it just kind of depends on which vendors you're going with and if they want to like use their creativity , I always just say , like you know , I think , just go about it .
Speaker 1And I'm really like nice , like hey , I'm doing this thing , I'd love to work with you , like if it meets your goals , let's collaborate .
Speaker 2If not , let me know how much your services are so I kind of give both options the option rather than just expecting it .
Speaker 1Yes , and then I felt like it goes over Better either way where they're not offended that I asked them to do it for free .
Speaker 1But also , if they are someone who we have those shared Goals , it's like great , let's work together . And yeah , and you can kind of go back to them again and again , which is something I'm sure you do and yeah , I have my , my hair and makeup artists that I'm like , oh , they're always super great to work with . Over chopped them again . Exactly what is something that you appreciate about a vendor , or specifically even a florist , that makes you want to work with them again or recommend them like something that they might do ? That's again Like we talked about going above and beyond . That you really recognize is like beneficial for you .
Vendor Communication Etiquette in Weddings
Speaker 2I feel like like communication , because whenever I see a vendor reach out to me and be like , hey , like I noticed that you did this wedding .
Speaker 2I would love to see the gallery when it's finished , here's like my information to send it over . Or like they come up to me during the wedding day and introduce themselves , sometimes , like , you don't even run like see the vendors . Like , as a photographer , it's rarely when I see the florist yeah , the floor shows up , they set up and then they leave before sometimes I even get there . Sometimes I see them , but whenever they like come up , introduce themselves , tell me about , like their Instagram handle or yeah . And then when they post my work , like Making sure to tag me , because if I took the photo , if I send them the gallery , tagging me is always yes . Or even if I like post one of my photos and I forget to tag like the florist because I didn't even know who it was , because , like , the couple never gave me that Information . Usually I try to ask , like for a vendor list from my couple , but if they didn't end up submitting the vendor list , then I don't know .
Speaker 2I'm like so please reach out and be like hey , those are , I did that floor is like then , it's totally fine , I go back and tag them yeah .
Speaker 1I like just communicating . That's one of those things . A lot of times people will be like that'll assume it's bad intent if they haven't been tagged yeah but a lot of times I'm like , yeah , brides , yeah , what's going on ?
Speaker 1and we can ask them for the same thing over and over , which is why I started directly Messaging photographers asking for a gallery , because , even though it's in my contract that I like to receive the gallery , that I want to be tagged , they just don't they forget and the brides forget , and then we also forget , like because I do try to send my gallery to all the vendors , but like after when you send the wedding gallery out , yeah , sometimes just like it's out of mind .
Speaker 2It's like I've completed it , it's been sent out . And then you're like , oh wait , I need to send it to all the vendors . Yeah . But then , once the floors reaches out to me like , hey , can I have that gallery from that wedding ? Yeah , then great . And I feel like , if it's like a week after the wedding hey , do you have the gallery for the wedding ?
Speaker 2You're like no well , it's only been a week . But here's like , if I post a sneak peek , then like I'll send you the like people the sneak peek , but I'm like the gallery's not done . She definitely know better . Yes , around times or a lot longer .
Speaker 1But yeah , I feel like I've also had people asking me before , like a lot of times . It's a newer floor . It's like I never got photos and I'm just nervous to reach out . I don't want to , you know , offend anyone for asking and I'm like I don't think anyone's gonna be like mad at you for wanting to share their word .
Speaker 2No , like I'm not photographer , she will send the gallery to the vendors .
Speaker 1Yes , as long as they're being tagged , incredibly like no one's really gonna have an issue with it . Yeah , but I usually just go directly to the photographer and ask for it or , just like you said , say like hey . Just you know , I did the flowers for this girl Because , if you think about it too , a lot of times like I don't know who the photographer is either . So , like I just wait to see the bride post right , post it . And then I'm like , oh okay .
Speaker 2Now you can go to it . You're like we know there's photos available , yeah , so I can go find them . Most photographers , yeah , are definitely willing to send over the photos . I think the only really Stipulation on like sharing photos with other vendors is like if those vendors use those photos for like Advertising or advertising without crediting you . Because I've had a vendor once reach out to me be like , hey , Can I use this photo for my bill , a billboard ? Yeah , I was like , okay , well , is it gonna have like any like photo credit ? They're like well , we can either add the photo credit . So it's like you can either add photo credit or pay me , because I'm like , other than that there's no mutual , yes , well , and I type of that's one of the things , contract-wise , that vendors don't think about like I , yeah , I work for a company that this happened to one time where they used a photo for the advertisement and didn't ask the photographer .
Speaker 1and Like I , I can understand , like not realizing , yeah but I think people are unaware .
Speaker 2Yeah , like .
Speaker 1I don't know , unless you've signed a contract for a photographer , you might not know what's in it , what's included . Yeah , you know , like it's pretty easy .
Speaker 2Yeah it's like all . But I think a lot of people , yeah , are just unaware of that . Well , I think they're like oh , the bride paid for the photos , so so these photos are mine to use for whatever .
Speaker 1I want .
Speaker 2Yeah , because they're still have that . Yeah , still have some copyright laws on it .
Speaker 1So that's always good for people to know .
Speaker 2You can't just do whatever you want with the photo .
Speaker 1Exactly , um , okay , okay , okay , okay . Do you have a either a specific horror story where like something just like really did not go well with a client , or just generally something you see commonly happened that has helped you to like change your business practices Whether you change your contract or maybe how you do things with a client , to avoid it happening ever again ?
Speaker 2So luckily , like I've been doing weddings for a while , I actually don't have like any horse .
Speaker 1That's so .
Speaker 2I am very lucky like I've had like a lot of photography friends and they're telling me , like all these crazy , Stories and . I'm like well , I'm glad I've never had someone threaten to sue me .
Speaker 1Yeah , oh my gosh .
Speaker 2Yes . So I'm like I'm lucky , I've never
Importance of Vendor Communication in Weddings
Speaker 2had that . But I feel like the main thing is just miscommunication . So I feel like I'm always trying to be super upfront , because if a client , like , has this expectation and they don't communicate it to you and they're just expecting you to perform in a certain way or take certain photos , yeah , and that just miscommunication . You is not like met and you don't meet that expectation , then I feel like that's the reason why clients end up unhappy or a horror story is just usually over that , yeah . So I always like send my clients like a questionnaire . I want to know exactly what they expect , like all the details , and their family drama is important as well .
Speaker 1I mean , I don't need to know all their family drama .
Speaker 2But if there's like a divorced parent and you don't know that and you go and put them in this like cutesy , like Parent pose , they're gonna be pissed .
Speaker 1Yeah , that's gonna be an awkward one , yes , so that one .
Speaker 2I'm like that's something so easy to avoid . Just ask upfront Are your parents married or divorced ? Is there bad tension ? Can they be in the same photo type thing ? So you don't exactly , because that's always an awkward situation .
Speaker 1That's one reason I personally I only will email my clients and a lot of times they want to call me and I'm like listen , I know it's fun to call , but like I need I need it in writing , and it's nice having writing too , because we forget .
Speaker 2So it's nice to go over everything Rather than trying to remember what they said over the phone , because I usually do a final cons like a booking consultation call with my clients . And then a final consultation , but then I have everything and writing on their questionnaire with everything they need and what they want . Yeah , on that questionnaire . So that's like my main bullet point . And then the final console call is mainly for like going through it all going through it all .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , and I think that's great . I do the same thing . We're like we initially chat , then I give them all the info , and then we'll kind of go back and forth for a while and then we'll touch base and usually and I'm like , okay , look at it .
Speaker 2Yeah , I make sure it looks good before we sign it . Did I miss anything ?
Speaker 1Yes , that would be super bad . Okay , any like trends or common like requests that you're getting more of right now that you're really loving .
Speaker 2I feel like now , which I've been loving , to seeing the trend as more like smaller , intimate weddings . Yeah , and I am for it . I'm like you don't need a million people at your wedding , that you have no idea who they are . I mean , it's great for gifts but , who are you doing ?
Speaker 1it for yes , exactly , so I'm like .
Speaker 2I love seeing the more small , intimate weddings where it's like they're closest friends and family , like the most important people are there and then , if they don't know the person , just send them a gift .
Speaker 1It's funny . I've been seeing a lot more of that too . Yeah , even with , like , smaller bridal parties . Yeah , I've been having more of my brides , like oh , I just have two bridesmaids , like just really cutting it down to like these are the two Most important people rather than like the obligatory .
Speaker 2I have 15 bridesmaids because , yeah , I need to include everyone . I know or you know , so what so had ?
Speaker 1me do theirs . And now . I have to do them , and I always just feel bad when a bride is doing something again like for someone else rather than for her .
Speaker 2You need to have a guilt or because you genuinely yeah , I'm like just do your wedding the way you want and not any obligation to anyone else because I feel like that's I see I've been seeing a lot more too is the brides are just like doing what they envision , what they want . Yeah , and I love that .
Speaker 1I'm like I just think , yeah , you can just see that , like the bride is so excited , yeah , and even if it's , I think for a long time there was this like I don't know . I think I don't know how to describe it , but I think a lot of brides out of fear of , like , well , I don't want this to be tacky in five years .
Speaker 2Or like oh . I don't want to be embarrassed when I look back , but I think , the more I'm like everything is dated , everything is going to go out and it will come back , like oh , yeah , but don't do your wedding in a way that's not authentic to you just because you're like afraid of how it's gonna age , going out of style , because I'm like , if I look back on my wedding , oh my gosh , it's so out of style yeah , which probably wasn't even that long ago , it was almost nine years .
Speaker 1Okay , like that's not that long , yeah , but it's like .
Speaker 2It like almost makes me cringe thinking about it because it is so out of style , but I had the best day . I'm like .
Speaker 1I had so much fun and give it 15 more years and then it will be the exact same thing . Like it's just and I think that's one of the things that actually fascinates me about I mean , it's like fashion-wide .
Speaker 1But the wedding industry is like you know , we see things go out and in and it's just so funny because , like , we'll just recycle through the same few concepts every few years and it's just kind of funny to see . Like you know , the puffs leave was the big fat joke for so long . Yeah , wedding dresses , and now it's like making a comeback . The puffs leave is like , had its big moment and like it's just so interesting , because I'm like yeah , like nothing is .
Speaker 2Yeah , and the big bows too . Those were big . The bow was like the huge , like the giant bows on the back of the dress or in the hair . They did that .
Speaker 1It's all coming from somewhere . Um okay , is there anything else that you want to share ?
Speaker 2um , I just feel like just having a good Communication and relationship with vendors . I feel like it's so important in the wedding industry and I feel like people like Regard that a little bit . I feel like they don't really care to get to know who all put their work and efforts into the wedding . Yeah , they just care about the clients . But I feel like we're we're basically a team . Yes , I feel like people don't think about Like all the vendors as a team . Yeah , it's like you're the photographer .
Speaker 2You're the videographer , like sometimes they think it's the photographer and videographer as a team and then everyone else is just on their own . On their own , and putting their work together to create this wedding . But I'm like , if you think about it , we all worked as a team to create this wedding , for the client .
Speaker 1Well , and I think that's such a big reason why it's been like such a hot topic in like the publishing industry of , like it's a big deal to give credit to all the vendors . Yeah , just like the whole team you know the main , you know photographer and planner , like it's a huge deal because , yeah , like all these vendors work so hard , yeah , on their , on their one aspect , to make , like their Multiple pieces become one big .
Speaker 2Without each one like , you're not gonna have the whole the entire wedding like it . You need all the moving pieces for it .
Speaker 1Well and I think that's also like we kind of talked about like it's Clients are gonna come from referrals and a lot of times , like clients will ask me like , hey , I need a caterer and I'm not from Utah . Like who do you recommend ? So I think vendors might even forget .
Speaker 1Like I have a lot of poll too , like you know you might get a client from me because you know she needs someone local to Utah and I have my friends , so you want to make sure you leave a good like yeah , impact on someone rather than like being rude or you know .
Speaker 2I don't know like if you have a chance .
Speaker 1I just always try , like you said , like if I have a chance to see anybody like hey , yeah , because I always go .
Speaker 2If I see any vendors , like when I show up , I always go and try to introduce myself and get their instagram handle follow them , and then if I post anything like to my story about that wedding , I try and go and tag them that night just to show that like , hey , I remembered who you are .
Speaker 1Yeah , which is so nice ?
Speaker 2Yes and it kind of just shows them like that they were a part of that wedding and it wasn't just the clients that were a part of the wedding , like we all worked our butts off to make this wedding come to life for this couple .
Speaker 1Well , and I think a lot of times too , like certain ideas might even have come from the vendors . Yeah , it might have been something that was encouraged by a photographer like hey , what if we did this thing ? And so I think that's another reason like it's so important to like give credit words , to like everyone's involved , and it's also great for , like Um , promoting yourself as well , like I know it's for the vendor too .
Speaker 2But like , if you tag all those vendors , more likely they're gonna reshare it to their story because they worked on that wedding and they want to show that wedding Also to their followers . So if you tag them on their story and they reshare it , like that's gonna benefit you as well , so it's a mutual benefit .
Speaker 1Yeah , huge reason why .
Speaker 2It's just funny to me when vendors won't Tag , yeah , I'm like , it's like it's actually benefiting both of you guys and that's like a really good way to even grow your social media . It's like tagging every vendor that's involved in whatever shoot , whatever Wedding like that you do , and it they will share it .
Speaker 1It just helps you to . Yeah , I'll show up more for potential clients on instagram who are looking to book . So yeah . I think so . So everything to what you said .
Speaker 2I agree with .
Speaker 1Um , okay , so make sure to tell us where we can find you on instagram If anyone wants to take a class from you or workshop education , where can we find all that stuff ?
Speaker 2So I my handle is jenny pearl photography and that's my main photography account , um , and then I'm also hosting a workshop that we still have a few tickets left , april 27th , which we get
Excited Collaboration in Creative Industry"
Speaker 2it .
Speaker 1Yes , great together . Work together , it's gonna be so fun .
Speaker 2It's like one that I'm really excited about , but I feel like this market's been so weird so I'm like I don't . It's more for like , being creative and creating something beautiful and , like the Slower season , I feel like I want to to be able to create something beautiful in the slower season , pretty springy yes . I know the orchard's gonna be in full bloom that week it's gonna be so cool , but yeah . I love that , so that can also be found on my page too . To sign up Awesome .
Speaker 1Well , thank you so much for coming . I am so excited that we got to chat and talk in a less chaotic scenario of like a photo shoot or wedding ? Um , but yeah , thanks for coming , thank you for having me .