How are your wedding bookings going? at DVinfo.net

Jeff Kellam · April 28th, 2009, 02:12 PM

This type of thread came up a while ago and I thought I would ask the question again for an update. How are your wedding bookings doing?

I think the recession has sapped the funds of my older and generally higher event revenue clients. Activity has certainly slowed at this point.

What are you guys seeing?

Joel Peregrine · April 28th, 2009, 04:09 PM

Hi Jeff,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Kellam

This type of thread came up a while ago and I thought I would ask the question again for an update. How are your wedding bookings doing?

I think the recession has sapped the funds of my older and generally higher event revenue clients. Activity has certainly slowed at this point.

What are you guys seeing?

I'm seeing a lot more bargaining attempts and people waiting to book. I'm booked solid from May through October, but I have more jobs at a lower average than last year. I made an attempt to structure the packages so the hourly wage is the same, i.e. less of an investment but also less total hours involved on my end.

Laurence Scott · April 29th, 2009, 10:17 AM

Since I'm doing videography part time I only planned to do 3 weddings this year but as things would happen - I got 2 more requests for this year. So I guess I can't complain.
On the flip-side of things -
I'm actually getting more requests to re-edit wedding videos taken by family or friends to remove bad cuts, abrupt stops and starts, random shots of the ground and shakes.

Noel Lising · April 29th, 2009, 11:04 AM

Things started slow for us, but it eventually picked-up. I find that couples tend to book last minute this season, 3 weeks ago May was empty, now I have 3 Weddings for May, hopefully the trend continues for June as I am zero that month. Fingers crossed.

Monday Isa · April 29th, 2009, 05:32 PM

Hey Jeff
Business has been down this year for me. 26 for 2007, 21 for 2008. I'm hoping to hit 15 and am at 9 so far. May is the only booked month with the rest of the months only with 1 or 2 jobs. Definitely a slow year for me.

Monday

Brad Cook · April 29th, 2009, 06:44 PM

This will be my first year as a wedding videographer as a part time gig, and I was realistically thinking I would only get a couple of bookings. Not really getting my hopes up, but not being pessimistic either.

I've got 2 signed and 3 more to sign soon, and it's early in the year. I'm surprised actually because my 1st video is just now getting around and I'm relatively unknown. Getting excited.

Jason Robinson · April 30th, 2009, 07:52 PM

I have 5 deposits, two fully paid, and two on the line that I'm hoping to book. The problem is that this is the same amount as I had last year and this year I'm full time (instead of relying on a nice $50k / software development job to pay the mortgage).

As far as number of bookings, I'm about the same as last year. I barely raised my prices this year (mostly just some adjustments).

It is not looking like I'll be sustainable with a max income of $6-8k for the year. :-(

Fortunately, I spent all last year's income to purchase equipment, so now I have very little new equipment needs (probably none are essential). Especially since there is no way I'm jumping to HD this year (or next year). So all receipts will go towards the mortgage. The down side is I'll actually show a profit this year and have to toss away 30% in taxes and waste dozens of hours trying to figure out how to issue a W2 to myself and do all the federal & state with holdings.

Walt Paluch · April 30th, 2009, 08:01 PM

We are booked solid through the year and 1/2 year for 2010. We are busy than ever, with no down turn at all. We have actually raised our prices. If you keep lowering your prices thats what your clients expect. Keep your price where they are. Work on your sales techniques. Remember sales and Marketing are not the same.

Tipp Hill Photo/Video

April 28th, 2009, 02:12 PM	#1
Jeff Kellam Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 656	How are your wedding bookings going? This type of thread came up a while ago and I thought I would ask the question again for an update. How are your wedding bookings doing? I think the recession has sapped the funds of my older and generally higher event revenue clients. Activity has certainly slowed at this point. What are you guys seeing? __________________ Panasonic HMC150/Canon A1/JVC HD1/Sony Vegas 8.0c

April 30th, 2009, 08:01 PM	#8
Walt Paluch Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Syracuse NY Posts: 65	wedding bookings We are booked solid through the year and 1/2 year for 2010. We are busy than ever, with no down turn at all. We have actually raised our prices. If you keep lowering your prices thats what your clients expect. Keep your price where they are. Work on your sales techniques. Remember sales and Marketing are not the same. Tipp Hill Photo/Video

April 29th, 2009, 10:17 AM	#3
Laurence Scott Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 61	Since I'm doing videography part time I only planned to do 3 weddings this year but as things would happen - I got 2 more requests for this year. So I guess I can't complain. On the flip-side of things - I'm actually getting more requests to re-edit wedding videos taken by family or friends to remove bad cuts, abrupt stops and starts, random shots of the ground and shakes.

April 29th, 2009, 11:04 AM	#4
Noel Lising Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 789	Things started slow for us, but it eventually picked-up. I find that couples tend to book last minute this season, 3 weeks ago May was empty, now I have 3 Weddings for May, hopefully the trend continues for June as I am zero that month. Fingers crossed.

April 29th, 2009, 05:32 PM	#5
Monday Isa Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 913	Hey Jeff Business has been down this year for me. 26 for 2007, 21 for 2008. I'm hoping to hit 15 and am at 9 so far. May is the only booked month with the rest of the months only with 1 or 2 jobs. Definitely a slow year for me. Monday

April 29th, 2009, 06:44 PM	#6
Brad Cook Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shelbyville, IL Posts: 59	This will be my first year as a wedding videographer as a part time gig, and I was realistically thinking I would only get a couple of bookings. Not really getting my hopes up, but not being pessimistic either. I've got 2 signed and 3 more to sign soon, and it's early in the year. I'm surprised actually because my 1st video is just now getting around and I'm relatively unknown. Getting excited.

April 30th, 2009, 07:52 PM	#7
Jason Robinson Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,997	I have 5 deposits, two fully paid, and two on the line that I'm hoping to book. The problem is that this is the same amount as I had last year and this year I'm full time (instead of relying on a nice $50k / software development job to pay the mortgage). As far as number of bookings, I'm about the same as last year. I barely raised my prices this year (mostly just some adjustments). It is not looking like I'll be sustainable with a max income of $6-8k for the year. :-( Fortunately, I spent all last year's income to purchase equipment, so now I have very little new equipment needs (probably none are essential). Especially since there is no way I'm jumping to HD this year (or next year). So all receipts will go towards the mortgage. The down side is I'll actually show a profit this year and have to toss away 30% in taxes and waste dozens of hours trying to figure out how to issue a W2 to myself and do all the federal & state with holdings.