Competition isn't the problem, obscurity is. For years now I've watched frustrated at how little most photographic associations do to promote the idea and importance of wedding photography. More often than not these organisations - run by hardworking volunteers who do great things to educate their members and promote standards - can do little to convince couples that they need a professional photographer. But I'm not going to be frustrated by this any more :) We're doing more to promote our customers I said two months ago that I believe in professional photography, and although we obviously aren't To View More >>

A series about storytelling in album design. Every great story has a beginning, a middle and an end Part of what makes a story interesting is the way it's told. It pulls you in, leads you along a path of discovery and ends with a satisfying finale. I've already mentioned the importance of chronology, and I'll have more about the middle later, but what's the secret to a strong beginning and a satisfying ending? The beginning Writers spend a lot of time on their first paragraphs. They know if they don't kindle your interest they leave you cold. If you're not sure what should go on your first page To View More >>

A series about storytelling in album design. We turn the page in a wedding album… It's night time and we're at the reception. We turn another page… We're back outside the church in bright daylight! How confusing is that? Not only is the mood of the imagery completely different, the natural flow of the story is disrupted and any feeling of the 'journey' is lost. Chronology creates flow It may sound too basic to mention, but sticking to the order of the day helps make your images into a story. It also speeds up album design by predetermining the order you lay them out on the pages. Here's something To View More >>

Right up there with the 3% rule as a Queensberry mantra is Good Better Best. We don't claim that either of them is original, just that they're common sense. In fact fundamental if you want to build a sustainable longterm career. Good Better Best is a strategy for up-selling – having products and services to tempt your clients across a range of price points. To be blunt, you're offering your customers what they want (something cheap!) while at the same time encouraging them to spend more. Simply put, it does so by offering people three choices… GOOD is your entry level – affordable if you To View More >>

The other day I proposed a way to encourage enquirers to look past your prices and make personal contact. It was partly a way to start identifying people who should be your clients, and withdrawing (politely) from those who probably shouldn't. You need to demonstrate to the first group why you’re the right photographer to spend their wedding day with! The 3% rule The 3% rule is our way of saying that you can't succeed by trying to appeal to everyone, and you definitely shouldn't try. It stems from the time, years ago, when we tried to estimate the number of professional photographers in the To View More >>

I'm often told that brides do all their research online and communicate with photographers only by email. And that it's normal to book a photographer based on such minimal interaction: "Stephen it's no use. They just want a price. It's all about the deal, so I just give them one and hope." I don't believe it. Or at least, I don't believe it's the only possibility. I wasn't going to start these posts this way, but maybe a simple response to this challenge is useful, something you can use immediately. Anyway, here's how I would reply. Rewrite it in your own words of course, but I hope it helps engage To View More >>

How interesting are your wedding photos? It depends how old they are. If your wedding was a month ago you love them. If your wedding was a year ago maybe you haven't thought about them in a while. If your wedding was twenty years ago you won't have thought about them in years! If your wedding was thirty years ago that hunk you married is someone's granddad. If your wedding was forty years ago, your grandkids are a bit impressed by the hunk that Granddad used to be … and how strangely people dressed back in the day. § After forty years those old pictures are as interesting as they were a month To View More >>

On 4 September 2009 Margaux and Renzo married in a civil ceremony in the French town of Amiens before heading off to Geneva (Switzerland) to continue the festivities with their guests. Photographer Christophe Flers was there to capture their extended wedding celebration and designed this 18x10 Duo, his very first Queensberry. To watch a slideshow of Margaux and Renzo's wedding album click here. To see more images from Margaux and Renzo's wedding click here. Cheers, Nigel To View More >>

Fiona and Joey's Valentines day wedding was shot by Gino Demeer of Cactus Photography earlier this year at Woodlands Homestead in Gordonton, New Zealand. Gino designed this 14x10 Duo and added a 7-inch copy album to complete the set for the couple. He also had another set made to for his own client sample collection. Carry case and all. Here's a few shots of his Graphite Leather album... Click here to view a slideshow of Fiona and Joey's wedding album. To see more of Gino's work check out his blog here. Cheers, Nigel To View More >>

As I have just recently gotten married - yay! - I thought I’d write a bit about planning a wedding - a nice, decent, enjoyable wedding - on a budget. Photograph by Alexander Wallace For a little background, my husband Kurt is Dutch. Now the Dutch are said to be like the Scots - just with all the generosity squeezed out of them. And I myself am very cautious when it comes to money - but at the same time I’m a designer and I love beautiful things. I came across this fantastic blog The Broke-Ass Bride which is full of great ideas on how to save money without compromising too much on the overall To View More >>