The Say Less Podcast

028 - Finding Your Perfect Fit: Why Choosing the Right Vendor Matters

• Alex & Grace • Episode 28

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In this episode, hosts Alex and Grace dive into the nuanced world of vendor-client relationships, emphasizing how crucial alignment in personality, style, and expectations is for creating a seamless and joyful wedding or creative experience. They explore how transparency, authenticity, and understanding your personal style can lead to better matches, happier clients, and more fulfilling work. Whether you're a bride, groom, or creative entrepreneur, this episode offers insight into avoiding mismatched expectations and building genuine connections.

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Arisa Haus Creative Marketing Agency

Grace & Andrew Cacho provide clarity to businesses and personal brands by means of Brand Message Clarity, Audits, Brand Strategy, Content Creation, Photo & Video, Web Design, and Social Media Management.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, everybody. Today we are talking about a subject that can I think be a little bit controversial, a little bit touchy. Um, but I think it's really important. Again, we're talking about this again. Important for like brides to know, vendors to know.

SPEAKER_02

And I think this topic specifically can go like so many different directions. So I'm praying my brain fog will clear the Celsius will help enough that we like make the point of we want to really drive home today of why choosing the correct vendor for you matters. If you're a vendor, what we want you to hear is why choosing the right clients matters. But then in the in the same breath, a third branch of this could be for any creative entrepreneur, as you are every employee and running your own business. And this could apply to you as well. So this isn't only like wedding vendor related, but for sure. You're marketing yourself and trying to find your clients, and that can matter for any creative entrepreneur. Absolutely. So that's what we're gonna be talking about today. I'm really excited. The reason that this has been really, and I always say heavy on my heart, it's not heavy on my heart. It's like uh it's like blaring like a siren inside of my brain, I guess is like what it is. I guess what it is. It's hard because I feel like when you first start out as a vendor in early days, you're just like desperate for business. I totally understand that. You're just like taking anybody and everybody. And then you're doing the jobs for anybody and everybody. Like I said, and I've talked about this before, I used to take pictures of babies and my friends' dogs and just like whoever, which like I'm kind of a like a dog hater, which is another story for another day. I like my dog. So let me be clear. I like my dog. But I'm just saying, I'm like, I don't want to take a picture of your dog, but you don't know that until you're down the road and kind of figuring out what you like and what you don't like. In the beginning, it's hard whenever you're like desperate for business, but then you're doing the job that you were so excited to have and it's not the right fit. And then you start to think, maybe this job isn't the right fit. Yeah. Maybe I'm not doing the right thing. And it's like you are, you're just going down the wrong avenue, right? Okay, so this is why. This is why the alarms are blaring. Have you seen? Um, did you watch SpongeBob when you were a kid? No, I was one that like wasn't allowed to. I knew you were gonna say that. And here's why I'm not judging Mama Mel. Here's why. Because my children are also not allowed to watch it at all, at all. And my child loves the minions, but like she is not allowed SpongeBob.

SPEAKER_00

She's not allowed.

SPEAKER_02

I'm like, there's too many innuendos and like change it. I mean, it's just so overstimulating. And so, but like as an adult, I love Spongebob. Just so, just so we're clear on the podcast about that. Okay, so you weren't allowed to watch this, so you're not gonna know. But if someone that's listening to this doesn't know, Spongebob, yes, and so I'm going to make the reference, anyways. There's like a scene where like SpongeBob is like just having kind of a crazy day, and I can't really remember like the full circumstances, but it goes into his brain, and there's like a bunch of file cabinets, and they're all like little Spongebobs, and they're like getting into the file cabinets, and that's like how his brain works, right? And it's kind of like joking because he like deleted all the files and someone's like, What's your name? And then it zooms into his brain and it's like, find the name, find the name, Spongebob. And it's all these little Spongebobs like looking in the file cabinets. Anyways, that's the reference I wanted to make because like that's where this topic lies in my head is like burning down file cabinets, like little Spongebobs running around and getting it. And here's and here's why. I'm like, I promise I'm like going to get to the point. The trends in this industry are crazy. Wild. I am like getting ready to set fire to the file cabinet in my brain, storing all the trends, making me like put pressure on myself as like someone with a bunch of experience and like passionate about my job of I need to focus on this trend. No, burning the file cabinet down, telling SpongeBob, burn it down. It's driving me crazy. And the one that kind of I'm gonna roll into this topic about is, and I love it. This is not like slandering the photographers that are this way or the brides that are wanting this style, but I want to be clear that like sometimes you can't have it all. But the trend right now of the organic, flowy, documentary style, bride and groom like really enjoying their day, the photographer really present, but in the background, more so of like capturing the really non-traditional events of the day. We're not doing a first touch, we're not, we're just like existing together on our wedding day and celebrating all day. And I love that. And when I have couples that are like, we're really non-traditional, we're doing it different, I'm like, I love it. I can't wait. When I have couples on the other hand that are like, we're super traditional, I don't want them to see me, we're having like a Catholic Mass, we're having a bot, I love it.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And I'm fine with that. But you can't have both. Yeah. That's what's like been killing me. Yeah, and I I'm not thinking about anyone specific. As a reminder, if you're new to the podcast, we're not speaking directly to or directly about any of our clients, any of our brides, any like personal experiences, but more so what we're witnessing in the industry. Yeah. And I will say I have seen that a lot more of even just conversations with current brides of showing me stuff of look at this influencer that got married and like they had this and this and this. But also they have 30 people for a family spot list. And I'm like, it can't be both.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

There isn't the time to be like organic documentary style, having this like sweet, candid moments, and also have like an hour-long list of photos. I can't have a lot of photos.

SPEAKER_01

My brain is like exploding with all the diff all the different things. What you're talking about being able to like slow down and stuff, that kind of goes back to a timeline episode a little bit. Yes. You have to make space in your day if you want documentaries about it. And if you have 30 people, 50 people in your uh family photos, you need to do your first look before the ceremony. There's just no if, ands, or buts about it, or you need like 10 hours of coverage. Like you there's there's just things at that point where you have to decide what you like really, really, really, really, really want. And then I also think luxury wedding photographers and people that have been in the industry, I say for like 10 years, whatever. Yes, uh the people that are doing celebrity weddings, influencer weddings, like on the reg, maybe they live in LA, maybe they live in Nashville and they're doing all these things. The people that are like in front of our faces all the time on like TikTok and Instagram, they're setting the standard for the trends and not just for vendors. Like, we're trying to keep up, y'all. We're trying to try to keep up, but also it's setting like unrealistic expectations of what you can get for let's just throw out a number, a $3,000 photography wedding package versus like absolute thousand dollars. They probably have a team of four people that you can't see, probably also like some sort of content creator, like there's so much, it becomes a production. And again, I feel like we're just touching on all the little things that we've talked about in the past.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, we're bulletponing all of them. Yes, yes, it's all like come together for us to have this conversation.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. But I think there are just like unrealistic expectations being met. And so this is just us as photographers taking the opportunity to educate a little bit because a bride usually has never been married before. Usually, yeah. Um, and so when you come to us, when you go talk to your vendors, of course we want to please you. Of course, we want to do everything in our power to like meet every wish that you have, and we will do everything we can to do that. But there are limits to our superpowers.

SPEAKER_02

Completely, completely. I think it's common right now that people have like a team of two, as far as like photographers. That's like really common. It's very rare that I see like a solo photographer these days. If it's like a backyard wedding, maybe right, right. And like I'll shoot by my yeah, I've shot a backyard wedding like by myself. And uh, that's totally fine. But even then, I don't even really want to do that because I love the like different angles and different just experience that like a second photographer can bring. Like you can be doing one thing while I'm, you know, with the couple, etc. You know, I don't have to tell you. But what exactly what you touched on is the point. It is those I don't want to use the word luxury. I just won't use the word luxury. And I actually want to circle back to that eventually because I'm like, what qualifies someone to be like a luxury photographer? Yeah. I think like they're just saying that so that they can like make their price 10k plus. Right, which I mean make your price.

SPEAKER_01

I think that needs to be another episode, like redefining what luxury is. So I'm writing- Okay, well, write it down, write it down.

SPEAKER_02

But but actually, but actually, we're gonna talk about it. Nothing, but nothing about me is like giving luxury. And like I I I will not advertise myself as like a luxury photographer. In fact, like my friend Sarah, she listens to this podcast too, and she's a photographer. I would say she's luxury. She like is professional top to bottom and brings a large team. And I actually don't know what she charges, to be honest. So I'm like, I won't speak on that. I do think that the luxury speaks more to higher price, tra well traveled, and maybe like more published, like in vogue. Like if you've like been in vogue, like you're probably like a luxury photographer. Okay. But I'm like, I'm not, I'm not luxury. I like am going to show up like wearing my cowboy boots with my black jumpsuit, and like I am going to join in on the festivities and meet you right where you're at. And I want to fit in like a family member that's here to serve you. Yeah. I like want to feel like a bridesmaid that's going to be working my booty off for you. And you have a great time. You have a great time. I love what I do. My couples have a great time with you. My couples have a great time. I like establish these relationships that turn into year-long experiences. I had a bride that I shot at her wedding three years ago, and this coming Monday, days from now, I'm going to her house. She just had her first baby. It's been three plus years since I've seen her, and she talks to me like she's known me forever, and I talk to her. It's like that's how I want to be. I can't think of like a single word for it. Family. That's all I can think. I want to feel like a friend or a family, and I want to like jive directly into your day. All that to say, this is like the perfect fit. When you're hiring a vendor for your day, and you touched on it, and I think it's really important because it is those luxury, air quote luxury photographers that are setting the trends. It's the, it's the LA, it's the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders' weddings. No hate, no slander. You know I love the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders more than I love anything else. But I'm saying it's those $100,000 plus weddings that are setting the trends. Brides thinking, I want that photographer, I want that style, I want that cake, I want that this, I want that, that. And then it's not a good fit for you on your wedding day, which ultimately leads to not the best. I mean, maybe you have a great time, but I mean, like, what's the word I'm looking for when like it doesn't meet your expectations? It doesn't meet your expectations because it it wasn't the right fit for like you and your spouse.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And that's my point. And that's my point because I do think that people are watching the trends, watching the influencers, watching people that they know. And while I do benefit on referrals and word of mouth, and that is how my business goes, yeah, I want them to know me. Yeah. I want them to know me. And I want you to talk about that post that you sent me about like the quiet photographer. Gosh, it's been a while.

SPEAKER_01

I it honestly was just covering, you know, I think it was speaking more to what uh quiet wedding photographers or quiet photographers in general. Um I shoot with you a lot, Alex. And you just like, especially when I was first starting out, you set the bar really high for me and my own mind of like how you show up for your people, how you present yourself to your people. And so I didn't necessarily strive to be like copy paste Alex A-stone photography. You're right. But I there there were things that I gleaned from that was that were like, I don't know, just uh professionalism. But then there's that other part of me that's like, I am actually like when you're having one-on-one conversation with me, um, I can be not so quiet and reserved. I feel like any introvert could completely, you know, get to know me and I'll talk your ear off. But yeah, I think when it comes to social settings, even if I am the one kind of like quote unquote in charge, I am a super quiet uh individual just by nature. And the feeling that you have to be the loudest one in the room to be able to like be good at your job if you're not already that way. Um it feels just as forced as it probably looks, first of all. Um, and I kind of learned that I I specifically jive with couples who are also very like not necessarily touchy-feely, but just um just kind of quiet and reserved, you know. I but then there's also the other side of me that can show up to wedding day um and have a really fun, boisterous having a good time couple, just super in love with each other. And I can be a fly on the wall. And it their their day is still happening and they're just having the best time. But I think it just uh not being afraid of looking different than probably everything that you see online or yes, second shot with lead photographers. There is a part of you that if you're a lead photographer, you have to change you have to take charge. Yeah, you have to be comfortable like stepping in and telling people what to do and directing. And so there is that part of it, but I uh Alex and I are not the same. We have different personalities and we have different ways of approaching things, and it can all be done really professionally and kindly and like whatever, but uh we're different, and so Alex has different couples than I have at the end. She gets different kinds of inquiries than I get. And I think that is just years of establishing yourself and kind of getting to know yourself. I think even this topic has caused me to realize when I first started wedding photography, I didn't know what kind of photographer I was. I just kind of learned along the way, like, okay, I really jived with this couple. What was it about this couple? Why do I want this to happen? Like copy, paste, rinse, repeat, and then other kinds of weddings. I don't want to do these. And like there's a place for those. Like just because I don't have couples that are like Alex's couples, and I'm not thinking of anything specific. Right. That doesn't mean that the couples that I don't jive with and maybe don't want to work with me based on personality, whatever, just beyond style. That doesn't mean it's inherently bad because another photographer will probably jive with them. Yes, and no, and it's for somebody else.

SPEAKER_02

Exactly. It's a win for somebody else, exactly. And that's the if you have that ideal like client alignment, like your clients are aligned with you, you're aligned with your clients, it's gonna be a better experience, and like the results is just gonna be stronger for everyone. But the issue, not the issue, my issue is an additional issue, it just like another issue. I'm like, let me bullet point the issues that you're talking about. My though, this one, this is like literally the forefront file cabinet. I mean, Spongebob is like screaming at me, going, shut up. Because like my main issue is like I am who I am. Yes. And like I, I, and I know we've talked about this. I do think that I'm good at reading the room and like alleviating tension and stress and blah, blah, blah. But this voice booms. This voice is booming, this loudness is louding, and like I just am who I am. Yeah. I am who I am, whereas you're better about molding to what's needed. And my sister Savannah is this way too, and I've always talked about it. Like, she can just like walk into a room and she just like meshes with everyone. Like she's just able to just like mold, and not in a bad way, where like you're kind of like like people don't know who you are because like you're just like molding, not like just completely agreeable and like and you know, try like people pleasing. Like, it's not that. It's just that you're able to know exactly what you said. If they're gonna be boisterous, blah blah blah. If you want to take a step back, it's like I can't do it. If they're being boisterous, I'm gonna be boisterous too. Like it just is what it is. That's what I'm saying, though. Yes, which is which works sometimes, which works sometimes. But this is this is why um, if you're a bride, if you're getting married, if you're looking to hire a creative entrepreneur, so if you're the client's side, this is why getting to know your vendor or whoever you're hiring prior to is really important. This is why I stand on business for a consultation call. Yes. If I can, if I can present myself enough and make the time and space for a FaceTime, I'll even do that. Yeah. Let me look you eye to eye. Let's, I'm very, I talk with my hands, I have a lot of expressions. I'm like, let me look at you and you look at me and let's talk. And are we the right fit? And let's find out. And let's find out with like having conversation and being able to connect on the phone. Let me find out if we're the right fit. I think that's really important. And it's not just stylistic match of, oh, they shot this wedding at this venue, and I just want them because they've been here before. And it's not they shot this wedding for so-and-so that I follow on Instagram and they did a great job.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And that may work and that may be fine for you. But getting the like connection and like the personality match is going to be more important. And then as a vendor, when you're able to kind of get to that point, I have had, like I said, I'm not gonna be specific. This is not whatever. I've had some calls and I have like hung up the phone and been like, that's not the right match for me. Yes. And I know that's not the right match for me. And it's not even so like I didn't like them or I didn't like what she had to say. It's more so like what she's looking for is not what I'm offering. Yeah. And um, that's that can be a really hard conversation to navigate. I don't even know if we get into it. Um, but that can be a really hard thing to navigate of we're not the right fit because I've done this for 10 years and hundreds of times, but this is your first time hiring a wedding photographer. And if you hear from your wedding photographer, we're not the right fit, that can be an issue. And of course, I don't intend on hurting anyone's feelings. I am a self-proclaimed weirdo. So I'm like, there's nothing wrong. Like, I'm not thinking you're weird and I don't want to hire you. It's just you're looking for what I don't offer. And it usually comes with a I know what, I know somebody who could like fit what you're wanting. And let me recommend you to so and so that's going to deliver the exact product that you want. I had I had a childhood friend, lifelong. Our parents were friends, blah, blah, blah, getting married. And she was just like standing on business, wanting like this certain style. She was wanting digital and film. I don't offer film. She like really had like a certain specific and vibe vibe in mind, but she really wanted me as her photographer. And I had to say, I love you, and I've always loved you, and I've been loving you for 30 years, but I'm not your photographer. And I'll be there to celebrate you, and I will do all that I can. But this is who you need to hire. And that's who she hired. It was a friend of mine who offers film and digital, and it just all worked out perfectly. And she loved her photos, and she had a great experience. I was there, I witnessed it. But it was like, but I'm not your photographer. And that was a win for everyone. I knew that she was having the experience she wanted. A colleague of mine was getting to have this like dream client who she was serving exactly what she wanted to serve, and the client was receiving exactly. I mean, it was just a win for everybody. It was a win.

SPEAKER_01

I want to uh touch on the uh the trendy words that people are using, and I feel like enough people have acknowledged it that we're starting to back off of it a little bit. People are like, Yeah, I probably should reword this on my website. If you have, you know, if you're if you're a bride looking for a photographer and you go to five different photographers' websites and they all say things like documentary, timeless, all of the buzzword things that people are trying to be because they saw so-and-so do it on their website, or Chat GPT wrote all the copy on your website for you. No, just change it, just change it all. Just no, just change it all. Um, how confusing for that bride. Because all of those different, all those photographers have different personalities. But what makes you stand out? We're not talking about websites, but also you can incorporate your a little bit of your personality onto your website, but that just shows the importance of one as a vendor. Um, what makes you unique? That is like client-facing. And then as brides, couples who are looking for vendors or anybody, again, this could be any industry. You have to talk to the people, like you're saying, like get on a FaceTime, like schedule a call, make sure you jive beyond just, oh, they offer film and they say that they're documentary and the price is right. Not all of those things price is right. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

I could not agree with you more. And it's that's really interesting. I I'm like, my my file cabinets are like on fire again because I'm like, you keep bringing up so many things. But one thing that I do always quote to like my brides too is literally like in some cases, some of your wedding vendors are going to spend more time with you than like your significant other on your wedding day. Like, you may encounter your wedding photographer or your wedding planner more than if you are going a really traditional route of not seeing them all day, and then you just see them at ceremony and like into the night. You will spend more of your day with your wedding planner, with maybe your DJ, with your wedding photographer and videographer for sure. I mean you're going to like your city other. Yeah. I I don't know how many times I may be holding your dress while you're trying to pee. You exactly. All of the above. And I'm like, and I'm the bathroom buddy. I'm the bathroom buddy, and let me hold your dress and make sure. That you're not peeing down it and I'm there for you. No, and I I want to go back to what you were saying about the website stuff because you've been with me, and I know we've already recorded an episode on this, so I don't want to go over it too much, but you've been with me since the beginning of my rebrand that I'm working on for like my 10-year is coming up. And uh my first, I know I've like already been talking about it, but like my first logo and concept and everything was really trendy. And it was the kind of like the old money style font, and I was using like a deep, like egg damp purple and like a red wine color, and I was really going towards the trend. I wasn't meaning to. Honestly, like I fall into the trends. Hello. Like, of course, I'm a consumer at the end of the day, but it took a while. It took a little bit of like a conceptualization restyle in my brain of where I was like, I want everything that I'm putting out and brand new. I want it to be everything that I am. I want it to scream from the mountaintops that I am bold and bright and colorful and happy and passionate and joyful and enthusiastic and loud. And I just wanted it to be me. And so I completely scrapped all that. I'm sticking with the name. You know I'm sticking with the name. Sticking with the name, but I'm going for more myself. And yeah, I think 10 years ago, Alex 10 years ago would have been like, What are you doing? What are you doing? Because it's like, it's so hard to stray from this photographer that's getting hired and this photographer that's having all the success and is published and awarded and shooting these celebrity weddings, and this is what they're doing, and I need to be doing that too. And it's no. Yeah. It's no. You need to be doing what's right for you.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

You're gonna find your client base that serves you well. I I literally am so proud that I can say that I have done that. The weddings that I'm shooting are for the people that I want to be shooting for. And I just feel like I have found my like pocket of the world of these, to be honest, Western weddings that I love. I'm not super Western, but like I am loving where I'm at with my clients. And I think it, I mean, it took me this long to get here. Yeah. I have like certainly had clients in the past where I've been like, it's not personal, but we're not a good fit. Yeah. That the solution to the problem. Like I always try not to like just beat around the bush, but the solution to the problem is getting to know them prior to booking. Yeah. Not being so excited about a booking before getting to know them and what their needs are and if you are able to serve them well in order to be successful on your end and meet their expectations on their end. Can we just the fit matters?

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. Can we maybe just uh rapid fire some? I I mean, I didn't write any of these down. They're just are a couple living in my head. But ways that one vendors can, you know, ensure that they are representing them well before themselves well before a client even reaches out to them. And then even well, let's do that first, and then I'll say the other thing if we get there. But what do you what do you think? I mean, we we can bring in the idea of like websites and social media and all that stuff, and there's like so much. But I'm like, what do you think are some of the most important or maybe you know, places you've gotten inquiries in the past? I don't know, just how you kind of present yourself that's different from everybody else.

SPEAKER_02

I will say I always lead with. So on my on my website, I it's a lot about me personally. And of course I have like a lot of uh good photos, and it's hard not to choose the best ones, right? Yeah. But in the same breath, I lead with full galleries. Yeah. So I don't show styled shoots. Yeah. I do them. I love to do them. I have a lot of fun. I like meet other photographers. Um, I may post them on social media and put this was a styled shoot curated by blank, blank, blank, Caitlin Hayes. What's up, Caitlin Hayes? So I'm like, by who, by whoever or whatever I'm doing, and I'm having a great day. But I lead with, I really lead with this is who I am. This is why I'm passionate. This is my pricing bracket.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And here are some full galleries that I've shot recently. Yeah. I pride myself. That seems like a little dramatic. That's like too much. I'm like, I really lead with, I pride myself, I lead with. I edit true to color. Yes. So I feel like a lot like if you're for shooting in blue hour, if it's post-sunset, if I've shot sunrise, as you know, I've had breakfast weddings, I've had riverside in the middle of the day weddings. I've had all these different, and I my first email to brides is here's me, here's how long I've been doing it, here's why I'm passionate, here's my pricing bracket. Yeah, I'm not hiding it. It's completely transparent. It's on my website, it's everything. It's like, here's what it costs, and here's some full galleries. Engagement session to the last minute of reception, scroll through. Yeah. All different, all different, all different styles, all different types of days, all different shapes, sizes, colors of couples, all different seasons, all different. And I usually have about five. And I like change them out as like I finish new galleries. I'm like, ooh, top spot. And I'll put that like in my email. And I feel like that's been like a key thing for me. And I feel like it's really important because I I kind of touched on this, but my website is highlighting 15 photos. You know, there's like not that much of like my top photos, of like my favorite moments, of like my most quote unquote viral hundreds of likes. Here it is. Yeah. And I feel like the full gallery is better. It just really shows like here's every single part of the day, and here's how I captured it. Here's everything I caught, here's how the gallery works. And I I receive a lot of positive feedback about that.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

That's my advice.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Even on social media, you can only post like, well, I think it's like 20 photos now, but it's only 20 photos. It's only 20 photos. Even a sneak peek gallery is gonna have more than that.

SPEAKER_02

So well, I mean galleries. We won't do that. I sneak my sneak galleries have like a minimum of 75. For my spring weddings, because I had so many this spring, I delivered like well over a hundred because I was like, I know this is gonna take me forever to edit. So, like, let me really deliver, let me give you like a stout sneak peek because like I'm still working on editing those. So yeah, yes, for sure. I love that. That's been key for me, to be honest. And um, at the end of the day, and it is kind of like a tough pill to swallow, clients are looking for the pricing and they are looking for the right fit in the right style, but like usually the budget is the forefront. Because especially like a lot of the brides and grooms aren't paying for their own wedding. So they know their budget. They know we have $3,000 or up to $5,000 or whatever they have to spend. So I'm like, before we even get into the trenches and into the thick of it, let me just let you know what I charge. And if I'm not even close to your budget, yeah, we're not the right fit. And that just is what it is.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And the people that really want to work with you, they will make it work. Make it work.

SPEAKER_02

So they have and they do. Yep. And they have and they do. Or I can recommend someone on like the lower end. You know, if I if it's like a thousand plus out of range, I'm like, fine, let me recommend to someone to you that like I know will be the right fit for you and that's more in your price range. Yep. And that's like a totally understandable thing too. Yes. But it can just be it can just be hard to kind of like find that alignment and seeing like, are we genuinely aligned? So I, in my opinion and in my experience, it works the best to be fully transparent up front. If I receive an email, you're referred to me, or you know, I shoot a lot at Sparrow Creek Ranch. So I get referred there a bunch, but like, oh, you've shot here a bunch of times and we want you. I want to lead immediately with here's how I am and here's how I work, and here's, you know, everything that they need to see. And I feel like that helps. And then from there, that's when I schedule a call, consultation call, if possible, a FaceTime of let's look eye to eye and I want to hear about your day. And it's gonna be me asking questions more so. And I'm happy to answer questions. I've already know that I've done that in my guides and in my email, like I've answered the questions. So, like, let's just talk. What are you planning? What's your day gonna look like? What's most important to you? And these are questions that I like to ask to get to know and see if that's gonna be the right fit for me too.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And brides, I don't care what you see on social media, as far as like the photographer that you want and the pictures that they post, ask them questions and not just like what TikTok tells you to ask. Like, what are the things that you really care most about your day? And even if they're an amazing photographer, um, you still need to ask really good questions. Yeah, the experience needs to line up with what they say they're going to offer. So, wow, that's a lot. And honestly, I feel I just wrote down like four different episode topics that could like stem off of it.

SPEAKER_02

I love when we do that. Yep. I love when we do that. But yeah, really, like the general bit of this, the like the takeaway, in my opinion, is this industry is very saturated.

SPEAKER_03

Yes.

SPEAKER_02

And in my opinion, too, it's gotten a little out of hand as far as like price because of the trends, because of social media telling you you have to have this and you have to do this. And I feel like we've I've I feel like I've driven this message home in like a few episodes now, but I always just assume people are maybe listening to it at this episode, and it's like the first episode they've ever listened to. But what's important to you? What's important to you as a bride, as a groom, what's important to you as a vendor, making sure that like the connection is prioritized so that everything aligns, so that everyone's expectations are met is the most important. Figure out what's most important to you, and everything's gonna be good as gravy. Really? Good as gravy.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, really, no. Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy, truly. Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Um, do you think we found the the files that we needed from the files are good? I yeah, Spongebob found the files and I didn't have to set them on fire today. Okay, then I'd win. My life, my live files are on fire. The like vendor selection podcast files are perfectly aligned. Message delivered. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, truly. Well, we're we're so excited to like continue this conversation. As always, if you have any questions about anything, reach out to us. Yes, connect with us on social media, please, Facebook, Instagram. We want to hear from you. All the things. All right, guys, we will talk to you later. Until next time. Bye. Bye.