In my posts a couple of months back about album marketing I suggested that you need an entry-level price that doesn't scare people. That prompted Darlene to tell a good story... "If a bride has a Mercedes budget and your prices start at Ford, she won't even come look at you. I've seen that in action with some of my clients. "One guy from a rust-belt town was charging $1500-3000. He told me, 'I can't sell your albums – they're too expensive and I can't get $5000 for a wedding round here'. "I told him he'd be surprised to learn, then, that one of his competitors (20 minutes away) was using To View More >>

Most of the albums we make are now printed and bound by us, but the guys from Front Room have chosen a road less traveled – Self-Mount Digital albums. There are pluses and minuses to DIY but (strictly from our own point of view) it sometimes feels… a little distant. We never get to see what goes into those books! But Front Room buy a lot of albums, so we thought we’d ask them to share. Recently they ordered a two volume 15x12 Rose Buckram set. Which is great for everyone: the clients obviously loved the images, and the studio's made a nice sale (and had 40% discount on the second cover). To View More >>

Photojunction ran an interesting post a day or two ago. Danny referenced a report from theweddingreport.com that spending on wedding photography in the US may be in decline. It prompted Sonya to mention anecdotal reports that UK photographers, also, may be in for a rough ride for a while – bookings down etc. Yes, times may be tougher next year. If they get tough for you, we’re concerned and sympathetic. Bad stuff happens in business, and if you’re affected, we are too. But... Don’t sabotage your long-term business in order to survive! What do I mean? Queensberry has always stressed the To View More >>

Yesterday we packed for a tradeshow we're about to attend in Australia. One of the things I enjoy about packing is browsing through our sample albums as we work. Not often are there so many in one place. Looking through them all yesterday got me pretty excited about my own album. I was reminded that there's something quite special about seeing something you're buying in the flesh. Just as you may use a crafted slideshow online, to show off your work to prospective clients in the hope they'll come in to book, a (real) sample album has some serious pull when you're face to face. Sending clients To View More >>

Every now and then we see a sample album with images from several weddings in it. We call them "Greatest Hits" albums. Even after discounts a sample album can be a big investment – we know that, especially when you're starting out – but this is not a good idea for at least three reasons. 1. Because it's not what your clients will be buying, it's hard for them to relate to. A bit of a puzzle. 2. Even worse, it's not convincing evidence that you're up to the job. Couldn't you find enough good images from one wedding, they'll be thinking... 3. What an album does is tell a story – of their day, To View More >>

Andrew Gardner posted a thoughtful comment on a recent post of mine in which I talked about a member of the public asking if I would sell her a Queensberry album. He's concerned that Queensberry's aim to build their brand amongst brides might turn the albums into a commodity and encourage discounting (eg "click here for cheapest QBY albums!") His thoughts probably reflect the concerns of many photographers. He says, Obviously we can't be complacent and we should always be thinking of unique and original ways to make ourselves stand out. But I have a niggling feeling that what Queensberry thought To View More >>

After two weeks on the road (four for the PJ guys) - some of our team were a little worse for wear when they got back. Long hours, foreign bugs and a huge amount of travel, but they're safe and sound, and they really enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with you. It was a successful time at both WPPI and FOCUS and I'm sure you'll hear plenty of stories in the coming weeks, but let's start by announcing some winners! Everyone who signed up with Queensberry at either show went into the daily draw to win their Starter Kit free. All up we had 7 winners, so here they are: WPPI Monday: Trina Knudsen Photographer To View More >>

Just a quick reminder that we do not offer albums with more than thirty pages (60 sides) inclusive of Wings and Flips. If your 12x12 or larger feature album design requires more than 30 pages (60 sides), you will need to order two volumes. We offer a second cover at 40% discount. With so many pages in them the albums become very heavy, and the purpose of the page limitation is to ensure their structural integrity. To View More >>

Is it just me or are we all (suppliers to the wedding industry) suffering from our clients' "fear of commitment"? The numbers of bookings are down, the time between booking and getting married is getting shorter. "It's the Recession," we cry, and it's almost true. It's not the recession, it's the fear of it. How can we overcome that fear? This is just a question, but ... are we better to say, "We'll give you a 20% discount" or, "We can be flexible?" What does "flexible" mean? It might refer to payment terms. It might mean they can start with a 'shoot only' package and add the trimmings later – To View More >>

Have a range of products to buy. Good. Better. Best. Or do combo deals. Three for the price of two etc. (You'll need to create a separate "product" as the store won't let you discount.) Next tip. Danny (sales coach) To View More >>