I conducted my own survey which poses questions to potential or previous wedding photography clients. I have to admit that I was surprised by some of the answers. Here are the results and how you, the clients, answered:
1. Would you hire a professional photographer for your wedding?
76% answered yes. Most people recognize that weddings are very special occasions, and that they need a professional to capture those once in a lifetime moments.
2. How important would you rate hiring a pro to photograph your wedding?
68% said “highest priority on the list” or “very important”. There’s a lot involved when planning a wedding. There’s the guest list, tuxedo rentals, finding a church and reception hall, and many other things. The majority of those surveyed felt that hiring a pro photographer was a top priority.
3. How would you expect to find your photographer?
Over half (53%) would get a recommendation from a relative or friend. Which is very indicative of how our business works…referrals. Not all photographers are the same, so it’s important to contact a pro who has been praised by someone you know.
4. How much would you pay for professional wedding photography services?
$500 – $1000 was the most common answer. Honestly, most people are in for a surprise if this is the case. Wedding photography is not cheap, and $1000 might be at the lower end of the pricing range. Expect to pay upwards of $1500 in most areas.
5. What would be deciding factors to hiring a professional wedding photographer?
Price, referrals, and reputation were the top three answers. This is somewhat counter-productive to the above answers on price. A good photographer is not going to work for a handshake and some wedding cake. Professional photography is one of those businesses where the old adage usually holds true: you get what you pay for.
6. What be your preference for choosing prints?
47% responded with “online ordering/image gallery” over a traditional wedding album. The vast majority of photographers have gone to digital, and upload proofs to an online gallery these days. This makes it easy for clients to log into a website and select what they want.
7. What other types of products are you interested in?
The top three choices (in order) were:
- DVD of images
- Wedding album
- Slideshow playing during reception
These are all things offered by most working professionals, and all excellent choices.
8. Would you prefer pre-set package deals, or making your own custom photography package?
88% of customers want to create their own. This is one that I was surprised by. I figured that most clients would find it easier to pick from option A, B, or C as opposed to making many individual choices. Overwhelmingly, that is not the case. This is important, because it gives the customer more options to pick from.
9. If you previously hired a professional wedding photographer, were you happy with the service you received?
Most answered yes. The survey was split almost right down the middle between those who answered “yes” and those who have not worked with a wedding photographer before. Only 9% answered that they were not happy with their wedding photos. In other words, just about everyone who has hired a pro was happy with their decision.
10. Would you disqualify a wedding photographer who did not have their own website?
58% said no. This is also an interesting result. It means that almost half of the people surveyed would not work with a professional photographer who didn’t have a website. And really, I agree with them. Personally, I find it hard to believe that someone could take their business seriously and not have a website these days.
