Everyone loves hearing a resounding Thank You — especially your wedding clients. They love it when you tell them you enjoyed being their wedding photographer! After all, you played a significant part in their love story. Thanking your brides and grooms show them that you really care and this wasn’t just another job for you… it’s also a way to get loads more referrals!
You are the one who, through your photography, immortalizes the moments lived by them. You capture the emotions experienced by them during their engagement or wedding day and they’ve probably built up a TON of respect for the work you do. Now, all you have to do is to thank them, and there are several great ways to do this.
Read below for ShootDotEdit’s 10 favorite ways to thank your wedding couples!
Top 10 Ways to Say Thank You To Your Wedding Couples
There are many ways to say thank you to your customers. So here are the top 10.
By using these ‘Thank You’ tips, you can keep your clients happy. You stay happy too because you get more work and clients through them. Remember, referrals are one of the strongest sources of business for wedding photographers.
1. Send Them a ‘Thank You’ Note
While a handwritten note is ideal, if you have a large customer base, it’s not very practical. With email, you can still send out a letter expressing your gratitude and keep the personal feel.
2. Offer a Special ‘Discount Day’ as a Thank You
A special shopping day for your past clients featuring discounts is a perfect ‘thank you’ gift. You can turn it into a kind of ‘open house’ with some snacks and drinks while they shop. You can offer couple-portraits, mini albums, or prints to them on this day. You can give them discount points if they bring you referrals.
3. Post a Public Thank You on Your Website or Social Media
Depending on your customer base, a thoughtful sentiment can make someone’s day. Don’t underestimate the power of social media when doling out your thanks.
4. Update Them With Information Useful to Them
Information is powerful, and it’s often something you can sell quite easily. Offering useful information for free as a thank you to your customers is a sure way to brighten their day.
5. Refer Your Clients to One Another Whenever You Can
Nothing says appreciation like bringing someone more business. This idea lets you kill two birds with one stone. One customer gets a new client, another gets great service. Now, both of them will appreciate this ‘thank you’ from you.
6. Give to Charity in a Client’s Name
Take an opportunity to give back to the community, and still recognize your customers. A charitable donation in a customer’s name will get their name out there while also helping others. Make sure to let your client know about it. Not sure where to start? Check out some of our customer’s favorite ways to give back!
7. Host an Annual Party for Your Brides & Grooms
Throwing a party allows you to thank your supporters and also allows them to network with each other. It’s definitely a win for everyone. They will like to attend these parties if they enjoy a better business network for them here. This way your parties will be a hit and you will remain top of their mind.
8. Discount Their Next Order Without Telling Them
A surprise discount is a great way to say thanks. Cut a bit off your best clients’ next bills and include a thank you note with their invoice. If you have an online store, add in a surprise discount code during the checkout process.
9. Take Them Out to Lunch
A business lunch is a normal activity, but a ‘thank-you’ lunch will be an unexpected surprise. Skip the sales pitches and focus on getting to know your client as a person. This one stays in a client’s mind for really long and can be one of the most effective ways to express your gratitude. Photography by Orlando believes that the client experience is everything! He sends a Smashburger gift card to his couples when they book! See what other super awesome things he does for his clients here!
10. Send a Gift
Sending out a gift is the most popular way of saying ‘Thank You’. Everyone likes receiving a gift, especially when it’s unexpected. Tie the gift into your business to make it even more memorable.
PROTIP:Stick with your brand. Always remember to print a logo or name or your brand on the inside or bottom of your gift. This way your clients remember where the gift came from. Give something they can show off. Never print your brand name right in the front or else it would look like an advertisement much more than a gift. No one appreciates that. If you want the client and their friends to see your name right at first glance, get it printed on a side corner. It is a better option than printing it at the center, staring at them in a big font.
When Can I Send Gifts To My Clients?
It’s not only after the photography session that you can send ‘thank you’ cards and gifts to your clients. You can give your clients a welcome gift. Give them a gift on their wedding day. And of course, after the wedding when you have delivered the photographs to them. You don’t just forget them after this. You can send them gifts after a month or 6 months after their wedding, or on their first anniversary.
Trust us! The gifts received much after their wedding day would be special to your clients. Why? Because your clients don’t expect them and everyone likes surprise gifts.
1. Give a Welcome Gift
Welcome gifts are awesome. The bride and groom would feel special about receiving a gift on booking you. A welcome gift can be anything. It can be stylish copper-plated mugs with your brand name imprinted below them. Or glitter dipped tumblers with a welcome tag on the box. It can be a keychain with their image printed on it. You can ask them for an image or put one from their engagement session if you have. A classy picture frame to grace their first home as a couple would make for a great welcome gift.
Some photographers like gifting massage coupons from a reputed spa to their clients. They feel this will give their clients a glowy skin and calm mind on their wedding day.
2. Gift Them Something on Their Wedding Day
It is usual for guests to bring gifts for the bride and the groom on their big day. But this is not the case with vendors. This is where you can steal the limelight away from other vendors. You can bring the couple a gift on their wedding day. You can gift them a nicely decorated bottle of champagne kept in a fancy gift box with your brand name printed on it. Gift them scented candles in a beautiful box. This would be a perfect gift for newly-weds. A ceramic tile with their romantic engagement photograph on it would be a great gift too.
3. Send Thank You Gifts to Them Post Wedding
This could be the week after their wedding, 6 months, a year, or holiday gifts. Post-wedding gifts are good to keep your clients singing praises for you and feel really valued by you! Some people send prints, canvases, or gift cards! There are all kinds of things to do to make sure your clients fall more in love with you. These small investments are the things that will grow your business exponentially!
Image printed mugs, calendars, bookmarks, or digital frames are good options. Free photo printing coupons are nice post-wedding gifts too. A few wedding photographers like to give their newly-wed clients some home goods coupons. They believe coupons and shopping cards will help their clients set up a new house.
PROTIP:Seasonal presents are all about your clients’ climate or weather! Send flavored teas or warming candles in winter and fun champagne gummies or cooling essential oil mists in summer.
Is There Anything More I Can Gift My Clients?
Yes, yes, and definitely yes!
You can give them:
- DIY client gifts like personalized tea bags with cute tags. Homemade cookies in mason jars (your clients will appreciate the effort).
- A simple yet beautiful greeting card.
- A small, interesting book with something to do with photography (nothing technical please!).
- A camera-inspired candy or chocolate box.
- Customized client photo gallery.
- Personalized honey jar. Pillows, or pillow covers with the client’s image or initials printed on them. Send them on your clients’ first wedding anniversary. You can get their wedding date printed on it.
- An elegant handcrafted ring or a vintage hand-stamped spoon. You can do this for your high-end clients because the budget allows you.
- 3D Viewmasters with a few photographs in it for them to view.
- Mini magazines designed especially for them.
- Classy glass photo boxes to keep their wedding USBs and DVDs in.
You can visit client gifting websites like Greetabl and Marigoldgrey for more ideas. You will get good options for pre-set gift boxes, customized, and luxury client gifting.
Will You Start ‘Thanking’ Your Clients with Gifts?
Client gifts are the kind of things that you want to make sure are worth it. It’s a gamble to know if it actually adds value to your business and brings you clients. You might feel that spending so much of your business budget might go to waste but that is not often the case. ‘Thank you’ gestures, client appreciation and gifting pays back. These are the best tips to keep your past clients happy and stay top of their minds. This way they never miss your name whenever a need arises around them.
We hope our tips will help you keep your clients happy and bring you much more business in return.