You’ve just finished editing the last of hundreds of images telling a complete and beautiful story of your couple’s wedding day. Wipe your hands and move on, right? You’re all done, right?
NO!
I have found time and time again that couples recommend me and appreciate me more when I’m just a decent human being. To most people, the little touches of kindness and compassion are more important than nailing every shot every time and being technically flawless.
There’s a few things I do during the process of planning for my couple’s wedding — a thank-you bag with gifts, Pinterest board full of tips, random messages just to say “hi” and “how are things” and talk about their kids, their cat, their birthday.
Afterwards, I keep it going. I love it when my clients feel like my friends.
1. The first thing I do, usually the day after a wedding, is send a thank-you message, text or e-mail to my couples. All about how lucky I am (which is true) to have been selected by them, to have been a part of their day. Maybe even one specific memory I have that I’m relishing in that moment.
2. I make sure to post a couple of sneak peeks up on social media (with their permission) as soon as possible. Sometimes, it’s that night or the next morning. It’s always within 48 hours. A few images that tell a teensy-weensy bit of their day. Any caption or details I make about them, not me, too. Again, not my wedding day — theirs!
3. Take the time to reply to any comments. If you recognize someone from being at the wedding, send them a photo of them or them and their significant other from the day (with the couple’s OK).
4. When I do a blog post, I again try to carefully use words and my images to tell a complete story of their love story. I want someone to feel like they’re swaying their hips to the first dance song, that they can see the excitement in her eyes when she saw him at the end of the aisle. I want people who weren’t there to really feel as though they were. And if someone reads it who was there, I want them to be nodding their head in agreement, smiling at the memory.
5. I usually send my couples a thank-you gift, too. Something small but either customized or personalized in some way, whether with their wedding date or wedding colors or even their new name. I used my talented friend Jess of LitasBoys on Etsy for some cute signs this year.
6. And even if their wedding was nine months before, I send my couples a Christmas card to let them know they were a special part of my year. And my goal for 2016 is to do the same for first-year anniversaries, too.
If you’re good to people and you manage to capture the smallest details and biggest moments of their day, you will tell a beautiful love story and will in turn be a phenomenal wedding photographer.
Did you know this is part of a wedding series? Be sure to check out the articles leading up to this final post!
- An engagement session to set the scene- 6 Tips for a Successful Engagement Session
- A successful day starts with a timeline – Creating a Wedding Timeline to Avoid a Disaster
- Communication and creativity with other vendors- Brilliant Ideas for Working with Wedding Vendors
- To First Look or Not to First Look- The Great Debate: A First Look or No First Look
- Must-Have Pictures of the Bride – 6 Must Have Pictures to get of the Bride
- Capturing Moments with the Groom- 5 Pictures to Capture of the Groom
- Quick and Easy Family Portraits – 6 Tips for Quick and Easy Family Portraits at a Wedding
- Keeping Bridal Party Photos Smooth and Fresh – 6 Tips to Keep Bridal Party Photos Smooth and Fresh
- All About the Little Things — Details of the Day 68 Details To Photograph at a Wedding
- Wrapping it up with kindness and care 6 Tips Photographers Need to put the Final Touch on a Wedding
Guest Blogger: Wendy Zook
Dany says
It’s true. The final touch is important.