Gift for Bride and Groom

Kevin CTMP

Hey Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on gifts to give a bride and groom from there photographer. I like to give them just a small gift as a congratulations on getting married, and it seems to keep them happy and coming back .....but I'm tired of giving picture frames and coupons for "free prints!".....does anyone have any idea a little more unique that is still nice and not so cliched?

thanks!

Kevin

www.ctm-photography.net

Mox

What kind of price point are you considering?

smc1972

I like to take an image from the wedding and print them a keychain. They cost me less than $5 and brides love them.

LUCKYSHOT

If you mean at the wedding itself I dont know but for a gift when you deliver the proofs , try one of these
http://longislandimage.smugmug.com/prints/ceramic-tiles

Just a thought, I love giving these, they are inexpensive, Its your picture and its great advertising
All the best
Chris

Sam

smc1972 wrote:

I like to take an image from the wedding and print them a keychain. They cost me less than $5 and brides love them.

The first thing that pops into my mind is: A key chain! Wow is that cheap oir what?

The bride just spent an enormous amount of money on her wedding. She spent thousands with you the photographer. A thank you gift should reflect this.

That said as a side item (token) the key chain along with the DVD, etc. would be nice.

Sam

orljustin

Why would you, the hired help, give them a gift? That sounds nuts.

promoguy

orljustin wrote:

Why would you, the hired help, give them a gift? That sounds nuts.

I love seeing all of the postings and the c and c as I get started working with my new dslr. But am amazed at the business acumen of many on here, like the statement above, who I'm guessing is a pro photographer. In my business, I'm always giving out what would be called a gift as a thank you and of value. Successful people do that.

Actually, I like that idea of the ceramic tile, but I'd do a few for bride/groom and the inlaws with the image of the bride / groom. Nice touch.

Sam

orljustin wrote:

Why would you, the hired help, give them a gift? That sounds nuts.

Been in business long? Didn't think so.

A good wedding photographer is soo much more than hired help I would be hard pressed to know where to begin!

A gift / or a thank you for your business extra, IS a good idea and a very common practice in many businesses.

Sam

Kevin CTMP

orljustin wrote:

Why would you, the hired help, give them a gift? That sounds nuts.

I ALWAYS give the bride and groom a gift, its a common business practice, it lets them know that I think more of them than "just a client"....and although I am the "hired help", I am often treated as a guest. I recently had a bride and groom ask me to join them and the bridal party during dinner! Giving them a small gift says that you really are happy for their new marriage, and they WILL remember the way you treated them when they refer you to others.

Mox

orljustin wrote:

Why would you, the hired help, give them a gift? That sounds nuts.

I think, in any profession, the more you think of yourself as the hired help, the more you will be treated as such.

I also think it's a classy move to give the bride and groom a gift.

bendruckerphoto

I've heard that people give out gift cards. For young couples who don't have much in the way of an established home, home and living stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Sears, or even Target are popular. I've also heard of some photographers who give gift cards to local restaurants.

angevin1

Gifts can be hard to figure out, for anyone.

I recently handed out two cards good for a free massage to a client that booked. From a very respectable (and well known to me) massage therapist.

Then I gave a free sitting to a gal who wanted some boudoir photos for the fiance'. Sitting free, photos purchased!

I have given free 11x14 prints framed to display at the wedding reception.

And the list goes on even though I have done so very few Weddings.

Gift Giving is a normal part of life in general. And when engaged to do a Wedding, I prefer to think of a relationship being formed, and forged. So gift giving is normal.

All of my gifts were given after the fact of booking, or sitting. So the gift wasn't an enticement, it was a revelation of what a good relationship should be.

$.02:D

ChatKat

Show off!
I give anything that shows off my work - a photoframe, a mini album, a folio with some small prints for a desk. If it gets my work seen, it's good advertising for me and unexpected from the client. There are some gift prints that work great depending on the shoot - bookmarks, calendars, mugs....things I don't sell but they would like.

promoguy

As a guy in the promotional business, all of these suggestions are a good way of showing appreciation for the business received. But may I make a recommendation? I will anyway. There is something in my business called ROI, or return on investment and in our case it's how many time does a client look at the item and identify your company with the product, ie wedding shoot.

One of the reasons I liked the tiles and the idea of giving them out to the parties in the wedding is this. On those tiles, you are able to imprint your name and telephone number. If you don't do that the item over time will have little value. On frames with the photo as a gift, do the same thing on the frame. So although you should give a thank you gift, make sure it shows on the gift that it came from you. Gift cards don't do that.

orljustin

Sam wrote:

Been in business long? Didn't think so.

A good wedding photographer is soo much more than hired help I would be hard pressed to know where to begin!

A gift / or a thank you for your business extra, IS a good idea and a very common practice in many businesses.

Sam

Yeah, I'm doing ok, thanks.

Sorry, at my wedding, I didn't get any "gifts" from the photographer, the caterer, or the band.

If you're just going to hand them something of low value, why not just take $10 off the cost of the shoot? If you're just using it as a way to advertise (something with your name on it), then that isn't really a "gift". That's a promotional item.

bendruckerphoto

orljustin wrote:

If you're just using it as a way to advertise (something with your name on it), then that isn't really a "gift". That's a promotional item.

It's a gift if the client perceives it as such. The fact that it advertises for you is just an added bonus.

If you're just going to hand them something of low value, why not just take $10 off the cost of the shoot?

Because which looks better for the photographer:

-Here's $20 off a $2000 wedding package. A savings of a whopping 1%. Yipee.
-Here's a free set of 3 5x7s in an inexpensive frame like this for your new house. You could put it together for under $20, yet the client perceives it as being worth far more, say $50. Also, the fact that you're giving them a gift make you as the photographer seem like a friendly, and nice person and more than just "hired help", as you so crudely put it.

I think you're looking at this all wrong. If you talk this way about clients behind their back, it will show through to them when you talk to them. Whether it's photography or another type of business, you need to sell your product. In photography, your product is yourself, the photographer. A small gift can increase your perceived value by a lot. If a photographer looks at him or herself as having the same relationship with the client as one of the waiters the caterer brought (do your job, get it over with as fast as possible, then get out), you won't last in the photography business.

Wachel

Not being a pro...

I am BIG on customer service for anything or any service I purchase.

The pros can weigh in on this if it is feasible. If you are being paid thousands of dollars for a wedding shoot then how about this for a gift.

I have bought 3 inch HP digital photo frames for my family. They were about $45 and designed to be recharged and carried in a purse. I loaded them up with photos and gave them as gifts.

Spending $45 or $50 for such a high paying clients seems like a no brainer and they will perceive the value of the frame loaded with their wedding photos as MUCH higher than $50.

What do the pros think of that idea?

Chris H

Not a pro wedding shooter, but I am married. All I can say is that if my photographer had bought me a gift, my first thought would be that I'd paid her too much.

Just my tuppence. Maybe this is more of an American thing to do??

orljustin

Chris H wrote:

Not a pro wedding shooter, but I am married. All I can say is that if my photographer had bought me a gift, my first thought would be that I'd paid her too much.

Exactly.

Digital picture frame? Great! Call it a "gift" if you want, but it just sounds like part of the package to me. "Free with wedding booking, a digital frame with a set of images". Or is it that you pop it on them unexpectedly that makes it a "gift"?

more than just "hired help", as you so crudely put it.

"contracted employee" "freelance photographer" "hired help" - call it what you want. You're there to do a job. You've been hired, and you get paid. You're not there because you went to college with Joe Groom.

Kinkajou

Ok, I know that this is totally unrelated, but I thought it was fun to read the quote below and then angevin1's location: "Bible Belt".

angevin1 wrote:

Then I gave a free sitting to a gal who wanted some boudoir photos for the fiance'.

Hee hee! Just not what I was expecting

Aaaaaanyway....

As far as giving a gift with your business info on it... I'm not sure I agree 100%. I understand exactly where you're coming from and why it's important but at the same time, I would be pretty disappointed to receive a gift that is also obvious promotional material for the photographer. If the business info is on the back and not within immediate view, then it's totally fine. But if it's on the front, I don't know... I wouldn't be very excited about that as the recipient. Maybe not everyone feels that way; we all have different preferences.

I agree that gifts are important and it really comes down to how much you want to spend. That's a tough question, and it probably varies based on your relationship with each couple... I'm interested in hearing more of everyone's thoughts on the subject.

angevin1

Kinkajou wrote:

Ok, I know that this is totally unrelated, but I thought it was fun to read the quote below and then angevin1's location: "Bible Belt".



Hee hee! Just not what I was expecting

Aaaaaanyway....

As far as giving a gift with your business info on it... I'm not sure I agree 100%. I understand exactly where you're coming from and why it's important but at the same time, I would be pretty disappointed to receive a gift that is also obvious promotional material for the photographer. If the business info is on the back and not within immediate view, then it's totally fine. But if it's on the front, I don't know... I wouldn't be very excited about that as the recipient. Maybe not everyone feels that way; we all have different preferences.

I agree that gifts are important and it really comes down to how much you want to spend. That's a tough question, and it probably varies based on your relationship with each couple... I'm interested in hearing more of everyone's thoughts on the subject.

You, have an EyE for detail! And only living here could entertain you more on this subject ( Bible-belt/Boudoir..etc)

I agree with your thoughts on this. If you give a gift that is remarkable, people will ask where they got "that!" And if the client is happy, = Instant testimonial.