If your wedding photography business plan included booking luxury weddings, but you are unsure about how to book high-end brides or how to attract them to your brand, then this blog could help guide you in the right direction. The ‘luxury’ in luxury weddings could stem from many things – a grand venue, show-stopping details, and even imported floral arrangements! But more than the money, as a wedding photographer, photographing high-end brides and luxury weddings is all about showcasing the larger-than-life aspect of those weddings. However, not everyone manages to develop a clientele like that. A great portfolio, unique brand identity, and the right marketing skills are just a few of the strategies you could adopt to find yourself booking and photographing more high-end brides.
Top 5 Ways to Book High-End Brides
1. Your Brand Identity Matters
Creating a brand identity is one of the most critical parts of a wedding photography business checklist. Not only does it help establish you in the market, but it’s also one of the tools you are going to use to attract high-end brides. If your brand reflects what high-end brides are looking for – whether it’s breathtaking destination wedding photographs, detail photos only a pro can take, or whimsical weddings that look nothing short of a fairy tale – then it might just increase your chances of being hired by those brides. To reiterate, high-end brides are not all about how much money they spend on their venue or their dress. It’s the experience they are looking for.
When you are brainstorming ideas on how to book high end brides, check if your brand identity aligns with their vision, and if not, see what changes you can make for it to do so. If reinventing your whole brand is not possible, you could modify or introduce new things that specifically cater to high-end brides.
2. Market to the Right People
The marketing techniques you use for your wedding photography business can also attract or turn brides away. Narrowing down your target market should be your priority when strategizing how to book high-end brides. Marketing to everyone is not only an inconvenient strategy but also one that won’t get you too many results yet take up a lot of your time. Whether it’s your social media marketing strategies or digital and print advertising, you have to know exactly how to reach those high-end brides to market your brand effectively.
Figure out what social media platforms your ideal brides use most, what online platforms they turn to for inspiration, and even where they shop – you shouldn’t just aim to make your brand visible but also make it stand out. Besides your wedding photography skills, the services you offer and how you choose to market them also matter to brides.
3. Photograph More Weddings
As a wedding photographer, photographing more weddings is probably your top priority (and if it’s not, let us know what is in the comments section below!). Even if you don’t start with photographing luxury weddings, you could consider establishing yourself in the industry as your first step to reaching those high-end brides.
Photographing more weddings is not only good for business, but your wedding photography gigs might even give you the chance to meet other potential clients, some of whom may even be high-end brides. Having more clients will also increase your credibility in the market. Word-of-mouth marketing is still one of the most effective ways to increase your brand’s reach. Therefore, the more couples you book, the higher your chances of meeting your ideal bride.
Related Read: Top 10 Tips To Book More Weddings in 2021
4. Improve Your Portfolio
The answer to how to book high-end brides also heavily depends on your portfolio. In a visually-driven industry like the wedding photography industry, what you do with your vision and equipment speaks for itself. You need to have a solid portfolio to book any bride in general but to book high-end brides or luxury weddings, you need to add an extra layer of excellence and elegance. Choose your best photographs, i.e., ones that are specifically reflective of luxury. And if you are yet to photograph any high-end brides or grand weddings, then think about organizing styled shoots. They give you the creative freedom to create your own wedding. If you are trying to attract high-end brides, then put together a wedding that would look like something they’d plan themselves and photograph it to add that ‘wow’ factor to your portfolio.
5. Promise a Luxury Experience
A wedding photographer’s job is not just taking gorgeous photos but also telling a story about the couple’s grand romance. Each photograph put together – from the getting ready pictures to the final exit – must serve the purpose of telling a story. A luxury wedding is all about the experience, and the experience you offer your couples will also help you carve your niche.
If you are a wedding photographer that thinks outside the box, uses their creative vision, and believes that wedding photography is more than just documenting the setting, high-end brides are more likely to be impressed with your skills. How you use your creative vision will also play a role in the client base you build. Your couple might have spent thousands and millions of dollars on their luxury wedding, but can you do justice to that through your photographs? Focus on giving your brides an unforgettable experience, and you will slowly make your place in the luxe wedding photography world.
The Promise of a Memorable Experience
In conclusion, there is no simple answer to “how to book a high-end bride”. Different wedding themes hold different meanings for every couple. Similarly, high-end and luxury may have different definitions for different couples too. As a wedding photographer, you have to make the experience count. So, you could consider focusing all your energy on documenting the wedding in a way that elevates the luxury experience for your bride.
If you are just entering the market, then start with the basics. Rethinking your marketing strategies and improving your portfolio should undoubtedly be your priorities. You might have already established your brand identity, but if you are planning to cater to high-end brides, your brand should also reflect that in some way. The key to booking high-end brides lies in giving them a luxury experience through your photography skills. Your passion is eventually what will prompt them to hire you.
Further Read: Traits Brides Look For In A Wedding Photographer
At ShootDotEdit, we are passionate about helping you grow your clientele and leveling up your wedding photography business. We are also happy to take editing off your plate to give you more time to focus on your business. Check out our pricing plans to learn more about how we can help.