Handing out business cards at a wedding you aren't shooting?

9 years 7 months ago #397346 by Kelly Lambert
The bride to be is a good friend of mine, she was telling me yesterday that there are a number of other soon to be bride and grooms at her wedding and that "it's a good opportunity for you to hand out business cards".  I have a rule about handing out business cards when I'm not the photographer hired for a particular job.  In this case, the bride has made it a point of suggesting I do so.  I'm still not sure about this.  Although I could always use more business, I don't feel right about this.


What would you do?  Go for it, because you have permission from the bride, or don't hand them out?  

Nikon D700: 50mm, 14-24mm, 85mm, 105mm 70-200mm, 150-500mm (Sigma), SB-900
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9 years 7 months ago #397402 by photobod
If you have a personal invite to hand them out then go for it, if you feel a little awkward have a quiet word with the official photographer, tell him what the bride has suggested and just say you hope he doesn't mind, if I was the photographer I would say fine no problem.

www.dcimages.org.uk
"A good photograph is one that communicate a fact, touches the heart, leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective." - Irving Penn

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9 years 7 months ago #397417 by effron
I still wouldn't do it. Ask the bride and groom to refer you, but handing out the cards there is low class....:(

Why so serious?
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9 years 7 months ago #397437 by Harrison J
 Well, it's nice that you have permission from the bride.  I don't agree it's "low class" seeing that the bride brought this up.  If you were attending a wedding out of the blue and handing out business cards there, that would be a different story.  Your situation sounds like the bride might have some referrals lined up for you. 


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9 years 7 months ago #397472 by garyrhook
No.

If the bride knows brides and/or grooms that are attending her ceremony, she should/could pass along a referral for you. But doing that yourself undermines the hired photographer, whose pictures are the ones the bride and groom will get, and others will see, from that ceremony. You aren't really involved here, are you?

One presumes that you were not hired because you're a friend/relation/guest, and that's fine. But regardless of what the bride says, I think that would be classless. Plus, you're not there to promote yourself, you're there to celebrate the nuptials. Focus.

Final question: do you want others doing marketing at your gigs?

Notice that I did not write the incorrect "irregardless" :-)


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9 years 7 months ago #397511 by Kristy Blake
I would be flattered, but would want to just enjoy the wedding.  


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9 years 7 months ago #397545 by Sandy Smith Photos
Oh no.  I would be attending as guest only.  If there were referrals to be gained that the bride had in mind for you.  Ask that introductions be made after the wedding.   OR before the wedding.  


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9 years 7 months ago #397620 by Robert Chen

Sandy Smith Photos wrote: Oh no.  I would be attending as guest only.  If there were referrals to be gained that the bride had in mind for you.  Ask that introductions be made after the wedding.   OR before the wedding.  



+1

Nikon D300 24-70mm f2.8
70-200mm f2.8
50mm f1.4 & 50mm f1.8
105mm f2.8
2 SB800

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9 years 7 months ago #397668 by Roy Wilson
+1  regardless of who said what, as a common courtesy, I wouldn't hand out any cards during the wedding.  If there were any intentional introductions, as mentioned already, I would ask for a pre-wedding or after introduction. 

Canon 5D Mark II, 30D, 40D, 50 1.2L, 16-35 2.8L Mark II, 24-105 4L IS, 24-70 2.8L, 70-200 2.8L IS, 85 1.8, 4 x 580 EX(II)
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9 years 7 months ago #397740 by Soccer Mom
:agree:  

Canon 7D, 18-55mm, 55-250mm, 70-200mm L f/2.8, 100mm and 17-55mm f/2.8
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9 years 7 months ago #397751 by ubookoo
In general, a wedding is a social event and not business event. I would only hand out a card if I got into a conversation with a guest and they asked what I do for a living. I feel this also applies whether I am a photographer, accountant, or real estate agent. Not the right time or place in my opinion.

However, if the hired photographer is smart, they will create an app for her wedding and have guests use their phone while at the event to text a keyword to a short 5 digit number. This will instantly give the guests a link to view her event app and the photographer will capture a complete marketing list. After the wedding the photographer can send out a text message to this list with a link to view the images and buy directly from their phones.


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9 years 7 months ago #397770 by Overread
+1 


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9 years 7 months ago #397773 by Don Fischer
So you have a rule but now your questioning it? Don't do that, Next thing you know there won't be any rules.


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9 years 7 months ago #397859 by Moe
Follow your gut on that one, I'd leave the cards home ;)


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9 years 7 months ago #399046 by W Cage
If you were the photographer on hire for this job, how would you feel if someone was soliciting others for business?


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