I haven’t had a bridezilla in eight years

I haven’t had a bridezilla in eight years

I haven’t had a bridezilla in eight years, actually no I have had one but she wasn’t really my typical client!

Considering the fact that I have literally shot hundreds of weddings, this is a pretty amazing feat as when I go into certain photography forums I am often shocked at the amount of photographers having a huge moan about their clients online.

My Mom always taught me to never write anything down that could incriminate you or hurt someone’s feelings as once it’s down on paper or in cyber space you don’t really control over where it could land up.

I’ll be the first to put my hand up and say I’ve slipped up here and there but I don’t have the need to complain about my clients because they are awesome!

How did I do that?

Crystal Barn Destination Wedding in the Natal the Midlands shot by top South African Wedding Photographer Jacki Bruniquel

Step One

I’m unapologetically myself in my work and what I put out online. When people resonate with my work, they have already seen into a bit of my soul. If they connect with my photos, they are responding to the way that I see the world.

My clients are not choosing me because I am the cheap photographer. They choose me because they like my vision and the way that I express myself.

This means that there is a respect.

I have found that the more I charge the less hassle people give me. My clients trust me to deliver. A trustworthy reputation is earned over time.

So my advice is to only put up work that is YOU. Don’t put up work that you think people will like, or work that everyone else is making. Put out the work that you want to attract and make sure that you know what you are all about and who you want to work with.

Step Two

Before I even take on a client I always ask them to tell me their story.

This is the next step in forging a connection. The more information my clients give me about who they are and what they want, the better I can serve them. When people open up about who they are, then I am able to tap into their energy and so the bond begins to form. It is vital for me as an artist to be able to connect with my client’s heart space so that I can shoot from my heart. This is where I find my inspiration.

Step Three

I educate my clients about the way that I work and what I need from them. It is important for me to set the expectations. Failed expectations = the mother of all disappointments.

Step Four

When I shoot a wedding I am totally present and 100% there for my clients. Nothing else exists to me on their day.

Step Five

I am more than a photographer on the day of the wedding, I am there to serve my clients and give them an incredible experience. This means we will fetch them water if needed, find a headache pill if needed and calm frazzled nerves if need be. Many of my clients have in fact become friends after the wedding.

Step Six

I am upfront about how long it will take for the images to be ready and my attention to detail is razor sharp from the beginning to the end of the process as I am not shooting 45 weddings a year. I am only doing a maximum of 15, which means I can give every client the attention they deserve for the price they are paying.

Step Seven

Let’s face it my work is a bit offbeat. Yes I photograph the shoes and the décor and all those details if required, but my clients generally hire me because they want something more than an album of what their wedding looked like. I’m sure that is why I don’t attract the bridezillas. My clients are cut from the same cloth as me. We’re slightly offbeat and we love beautiful, bright images filled with creative soul. We love images that move us and tug at the heartstrings. We love images that are silly, humorous and painted with quirk. When people hire me because of me – I know that it’s going to be a special working relationship!

Check out my Facebook live where I talk about this topic.

Hurdhi Celebration with holi fight at the Ayoba Zimbali part of a five day hindu wedding shot by Top South African Wedding photographer Jacki Bruniquel

Thanks to all the wonderful couples who have graced my lens. I am so incredibly grateful to you all!

If you would like to learn more about how to attract the clients who resonate with you I still have a few spots free on my upcoming Unstuck Yourself Creative Photography workshops, which are happening in:

Jozi on the 5 + 6th June 2019 – Bookings close 30th May – Only 5 spots left!

Durban 26 + 27th June 2019 – Bookings close  25th May – Only 4 Spots left!

Click here for more information about my Unstuck Yourself Workshop.

I’m currently offering a “Friends Special” – where 2 friends booking will pay R8000 each for the two-day workshop as opposed to the R11.5K price.

Click here for  a bit more info about that.

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Tips for choosing your wedding photographer

Tips for choosing your wedding photographer

Remember that once your wedding is over and all the flowers have died and the champagne has been drunk the only tangible thing that you will have is your new spouse, your wedding rings and your wedding photographs! It is therefore advisable if you are on a budget to rather allocate more to the best photographer or package that you can afford and hold back in other areas.

Choosing-the-right-wedding-Photographer-Jacki-Bruniquel

  • Decide what style of photography you and your partner enjoy and choose your photographer accordingly. It is a good idea to spend a decent amount of time looking at photographer’s portfolios on the web to get an idea of your likes and dislikes. Some photographers are more creative than others while still capturing all the special moments, while others concentrate on capturing more posed magazine type images. Make a list of your favorites before contacting them for quotes and other questions.
  • Find out how many years of experience and what qualifications your chosen photographers have. With the advent of digital photography there are many fly-by-night photographers out there. You want to ensure that your photographer has the knowledge and experience to be able to capture all the moments of your big day no matter what the challenges are.
  • If you like creative photography perhaps choose a photographer with an art or design background.
  • Ask your chosen photographer what type of equipment they use. A true professional will have a full frame high end camera with various pro lenses and lighting units. This level of equipment is extremely expensive and is often reflected in their quotes however these tools offer far better results and enable photographers to shoot in all conditions.
  • Find out exactly what kind of album your photographer offers. Old fashioned “paste-in” albums may be cheaper but the pictures almost always land up falling out and in my experience the albums themselves can sometimes end up loosing pages etc. Some coffee table albums are made with substandard inks and papers which mean that photographs may fade in the future. The best flush mounted and coated hard covered albums are expensive and take a lot of time to design beautifully, but this is a book that needs to last your lifetime and your children’s too! A true professional will offer you a good product. It is really worth investing this extra money.
  • Ask your photographer how many hours they spend editing each wedding and designing albums as this will greatly affect the price. With digital photography, the real work of the photographer begins once the wedding has been shot and true professionals will spend many hours on each wedding to ensure that every photo in your album is perfect!
  • Consider a photographic package that offers an engagement shoot. A good photographer will be able to capture images of the two of you that tell your real story. At the end of the day we don’t spend every day in wedding attire so an engagement shoot is a fantastic way to get some relaxed, honest pics of you both in a conceptual manner which suits you. You can of course have your make up and hair done before to ensure that you look your absolute best. An engagement shoot is also a fabulous way to get to know your photographer and the way that they work before your big day so that you are more comfortable in front of the camera. It’s also a way of reducing time spent on your creative shoot on your wedding day so that you can spend more time with your guests.
  • If you want to reduce time on your creative shoot so that you aren’t away from your guests for too long you could also consider having your creative shoot the day after. This has become a big trend overseas but isn’t everyone’s cup of tea!
  • Good photographers get booked up in advance so don’t leave booking your photographer to the last minute. Also ensure that you mention your wedding date and venue when sending off that first email so the photographer in question can check their schedule before responding. This will save you lots of time and trouble.

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