Wedding Cinematography Questions?

[Adelia Laurent]

I am in Film school. I've won film festivals and have quite a bit of experience. I'm starting to shoot weddings. I've done two now, both for very cheap. My question is, how do you talk people into paying more money for your services? I have showed them demo reels and some of my work, yet they still will not pay more than $200.

Thanks

:wink5:

 

[Eric M Hurt]

This doesn't belong in the cinematography section for many reasons, the main one being that shooting weddings is more videography and not really cinematography...but to answer your question...

Find a more wealthy clientele.

Tell them what you charge, don't ask them how much they will pay.

Turn down jobs that don't pay enough.

Get a fancy business card and brochure. Weddings are all about perfection (or at least they are in the mind of the bride), and while you couldn't pay me enough money to shoot a wedding there is a lot of money to be made if you look like the best and look expensive. A bride to be wants the best and the best costs a lot...

Realize that a lot of people are cheap and cheap people are often the hardest to please.

 

[Dominik Muench]

Its very simple, like Eric said...if you believe your work is worth more than $200....and I know very bad videographers that charge a lot more than that per day...then charge more by agreeing in a pre weeding meet with the bride and groom on your fee....if the client doesn't want to pay...show em politely the way to the door. end of story.
Wedding clients are paranoid as hell and want to be pampered and reassured....meet up with them before the wedding, a few weeks before. talk to them about their requirements, what they would like, which locations they like, the style they have in mind. show them your work samples and ONLY your absolute best samples. and then tell them your rates. They either go with it or they don't....they cant go to Target and barter over a pair of jeans either...either they pay the price or they don't. Be friendly but explain that you're not willing to negotiate rates as you have costs running your business.

 

[Wil Wong]

A lot depends on your final product. Are you editing it or simply handing over footage?

If editing, you need to customize your wedding package. For example:
- How many songs (their choice of tunes)?
- How many photos from their past (do you need to scan and colour correct or clean them)?
- What's the final product, 10 mins? 30 mins? 1 hour? 8 hours of the full event (unedited)?
- Are there montage sequences or good segments with the speeches?
- Final packaging - blue ray, DVD, 1080p computer video, Master pro res (and do you have the printed labels with photo of them)?
- Are you offering 'post shoot' meetings to show them samples and modify as they request? If so, how many?

In the end, it's a matter of how much work you do and what you give them. How many times did you meet to consult with them and show samples. All the above should be broken down into simple easy options for them. Give them like a 1, 2, or 3 option. Let them decide their budget and what they want. Be flexible and negotiate. In the end, always give them more then what they asked and they will always be happy.

That's my opinion. I've done a few in my time. Not sure I'd use an Epic/Scarlet (as the a cam) with so much footage. Tend to have to document everything at a wedding.

 

[Sabyasachi Patra]

...either they pay the price or they don't. Be friendly but explain that you're not willing to negotiate rates as you have costs running your business.

Learn to say No. Saying Yes is easier path to land up in trouble. Say No if the money is below a certain limit. Remember that you can always reduce price. But if you have established a reputation as a low priced/cheap videographer, then it would be very difficult to get out of it and charge a higher fees.

 

[Dr. Sassi]

I saw a documentary about a family and wedding photographer a while ago. She did something very well: she had defined packages. Each with a significant name and details/offerings. Of course a clear price tag, so no one felt to ask for rebate. If the budget is defined, then take a different package.

I guess no-one took the package "standard" for the weeding. (Perhaps George Costanza in "Seinfeld" would. When he was told that the cheapest packages are on the end -- he flips instantly to it, guess how the face of his partner looked like)

Stay firm with this offer. Never explain why you need a certain amount of money and that stuff is expensive, that makes you weak.