5 ways to elevate your wedding client experience

Knoxville, TN & Tampa, FL

There are so many amazingly talented wedding photographers out there today! How do you set yourself a part from the rest and find couples meant for you? Here are few tips and tricks to elevate your wedding client experience.

Communication

I have said it a hundred times, communication is key! Instead of booking clients and then disappearing for 6-8 months. I check in throughout the year to enhance the wedding client experience. Here are a few tips to help you stay engaged with your clients leading up to their big day. Set an automated email list and send updates or thoughtful messages. One month after booking, send email reminders to book their engagement session. I like to send an engagement guide to help them with choosing a location and the best outfits! Four to three months before their wedding date, I send them a wedding planning guide. This helps with the wedding client experience, timeline, and special details they want captured throughout their wedding day.

Most clients have a wedding coordinator for their master timeline. I love prepping and planning and getting ahead of the game especially before busy seasons like spring and fall. One to two months before their wedding date, I set up a call to go over final details. During this call I always confirm location, coverage, time arrival & departure. We also talk about family photos and any other details I need to know before arriving!

Respecting Client’s Privacy & Wishes

After being a full-time wedding photographer for 5 years, I have learned that every wedding is different. This is my client’s dream wedding and I’m here to support them in the best way that I can. Respecting their wishes enhances their wedding client experience. If my client doesn’t want the flat lay detail photos then I don’t do them. We can use that time elsewhere. I’ve also had clients who don’t wish to have their photos posted on social media. I always respect their social media wishes because it’s important to me that they can feel comfortable.

Trends can be fun but every wedding is different and no two couples are the same. I try to understand my clients so that I know what they may or may not be comfortable with. I want to capture what matters most to them instead of following a trend to post on Instagram. Social media does play a big part in my business but I always put my client’s wishes first.

Personal Touches

When I started my business, I knew that I wanted to have a connection with my clients. I wanted to get to know them and form a relationship with them so that I was familiar to them. Building a strong relationship improves the wedding client experience. I believe this makes couples feel more comfortable around me and in front of my camera. This is why I include a free engagement session with my eight hour and up wedding packages. I love meeting my couples in person. This also gives them a chance to feel more comfortable in front of my camera.

After their wedding day, I usually have a keepsake box customized with their names and wedding date engraved on it. I love doing this because then my clients have a special place for trinkets and photos from their wedding day. Personal touches like these can greatly enhance the wedding client experience. I like to include 5×7 prints and USB drive that will also have their final gallery on it.

Linking the shop I use to order my keepsake boxes!

Planning for the Unthinkable

I am a HUGE planner and I’m very passionate about my work and my clients. I handle every client’s wedding as if it were my own wedding. Planning extensively ensures an exceptional wedding client experience. This means I’m showing up with two extra camera bodies, lenses, flashes, and loads of batteries. Trust me when I say I always come prepared. I keep snacks on deck for any brides who skipped out on breakfast that morning. Don’t forget the emergency kit in my camera bag. Just in case we need things like scissors, sewing kit, deodorant, or band aids. Trust me I have sewed a few things the morning of weddings for brides and bridesmaids because you never know! If I don’t have it then I’ll find someone who does.

Being Present

My biggest advice is being present and actively listening when it comes to couples and elevating your client experience. A wedding photographer is basically a couple’s shadow. I am focused on my clients but also on what’s going on around them at all times. When I work a wedding I am in the moment at all times. Keeping track of their timeline and checking in on my clients throughout the day. Meeting their friends and family and also enjoying the time I get to spend with them.

Rachel Ily Photography

At the end of the day, clients choose you based on price, your work, and who you are. I have always been passionate about documenting my clients and preserving their memories for years to cherish. Rachel Ily Photo aims for a professional but thoughtful approach when it comes to their wedding clients. I understand how important these once in a life time moments can happen. An excellent wedding client experience is crucial, as I understand how important these once-in-a-lifetime moments can be. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer please contact me here. I’d love to be considered and help you create the most magical wedding day (and ease a little of your stress)

Xo, 

Rachel Ily