2010 Bookings...Poll at DVinfo.net

Tom Sessions · December 16th, 2009, 02:00 AM

Every market is different, but here in Houston our wedding bookings for 2010 have nose-dived. I usually have 60% of the next years booking set by this time of the year. I'm at 20% of normal...at least for the $2500 - 3500 price range.

I have a budget package, but not even a querry for that one.

I noticed the same thing with the guys that shoot the $1000 - 1300 stuff usually have a good 15 set for the following year. For 2010, the main low-baller has only 1 booked.

I always thought this was a recession-proof industry...I guess not.

How is it in your neck of the woods?

Dimitris Mantalias · December 16th, 2009, 03:01 AM

In Greece, where the economic recession hit red, we have booked till now 14 weddings (and we turned down more), at a price no less than 2800 Euros (4000 dollars), but it's not standard. In some of these bookings the price includes photographer's fees and album costs. In some other high-end destination bookings that we go strictly for video, the prices is 2500-3000 Euros plus expenses. It seems that a wedding is always so important that defies any recession. That's why I like tradition! :)

But those prices do not represent the situation 100% because we are pretty expensive. The truth is that you can find and book a package that contains, photography, video AND album for 400 Euros! The result will be mediocre (at best) but strangely the B&G always expect the best!

Travis Cossel · December 16th, 2009, 04:13 AM

2009 was a tighter year for us, but midway through it we were already halfway booked for 2010. So for us, 2010 is looking A LOT better than 2009, and A LOT better than any other year we've had. Crazy.

Richard Wakefield · December 16th, 2009, 05:56 AM

Like Travis, 2009 started to look a bit tight, with the announcement of the credit crunch. But I considered myself lucky as I had nearly all my bookings for 2009 taken before that announcement.

Then (coincidence or not?), they began to say on the news that the recession was improving, and all of a sudden, bookings came flowing back in once more. perhaps it gave people the financial confidence again to book us videographers, PHEW!

And now, thankfully, 2010 is pretty much booked out for me (absolute limit of 4 a month before i go insane!), with even numbers in low to top packages - although nothing yet for 2011.

i hope things massively improve for everyone, in every country. If you survived the recession, then it was 'meant to be' and you'll reap the rewards again soon :)

Chris Harding · December 16th, 2009, 06:35 AM

Hi Guys
So far for me 2010 is strange. I usually get 4 bookings in January but so far just 2!! However September and October are fully booked already!!and Feb thru to April are normal. We don't get a lot of June/July bookings here as it's Winter and cold and wet!!!

2009 was VERY busy !! I normally try to have just 4 a month but November had 8!! However at this time last year I had September to December free and had most brides book around Winter.

I still think that it's on average, a pretty recession proof industry!! Our median price for a total wedding jumped from $25K in 2008 to $37.4K in 2009

Chris

Scott Hayes · December 16th, 2009, 06:40 AM

only 4 here so far, it should escalate quickly within the next 6-7 weeks.

Vince Baker · December 16th, 2009, 07:07 AM

I tend to book most of my weddings in the same year (20 - 25), but this year I have booked 16 so far for 2010 so I guess people in the UK are not fearing the credit crunch or not really feeling the pinch...

Most are still going for my middle package (which is the most popular by far) at about £1500 ($2300)

I just hope there is not a wave about to break on us....

Chad Nickle · December 16th, 2009, 11:38 AM

Hey Tom, up the road is Austin things are looking about the same, Our prices start at about $2000 and I have 3 booked for 2010, January always seems to be a great month for booking, however.

Will Tucker · December 18th, 2009, 09:29 AM

Lets keep the Texas theme going guys....In the Fort Worth/Dallas area there are huge bridal shows in January and that is when brides in this area usually start calling. I book most of my events right after the shows so January is when I'll know how good my year will be.

December 16th, 2009, 02:00 AM	#1
Tom Sessions Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 154	2010 Bookings...Poll Every market is different, but here in Houston our wedding bookings for 2010 have nose-dived. I usually have 60% of the next years booking set by this time of the year. I'm at 20% of normal...at least for the $2500 - 3500 price range. I have a budget package, but not even a querry for that one. I noticed the same thing with the guys that shoot the $1000 - 1300 stuff usually have a good 15 set for the following year. For 2010, the main low-baller has only 1 booked. I always thought this was a recession-proof industry...I guess not. How is it in your neck of the woods?

December 16th, 2009, 03:01 AM	#2
Dimitris Mantalias Major Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arta, Greece Posts: 342	In Greece, where the economic recession hit red, we have booked till now 14 weddings (and we turned down more), at a price no less than 2800 Euros (4000 dollars), but it's not standard. In some of these bookings the price includes photographer's fees and album costs. In some other high-end destination bookings that we go strictly for video, the prices is 2500-3000 Euros plus expenses. It seems that a wedding is always so important that defies any recession. That's why I like tradition! :) But those prices do not represent the situation 100% because we are pretty expensive. The truth is that you can find and book a package that contains, photography, video AND album for 400 Euros! The result will be mediocre (at best) but strangely the B&G always expect the best! __________________ "A successful wedding videographer is the one that offers for viewing some excellent videos and some boring videos, and gets positive reviews for both".

December 16th, 2009, 04:13 AM	#3
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	2009 was a tighter year for us, but midway through it we were already halfway booked for 2010. So for us, 2010 is looking A LOT better than 2009, and A LOT better than any other year we've had. Crazy. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

December 16th, 2009, 07:07 AM	#7
Vince Baker Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 118	I tend to book most of my weddings in the same year (20 - 25), but this year I have booked 16 so far for 2010 so I guess people in the UK are not fearing the credit crunch or not really feeling the pinch... Most are still going for my middle package (which is the most popular by far) at about £1500 ($2300) I just hope there is not a wave about to break on us.... __________________ capture it as it happens...with motion and sound. http://www.creative-films.net

December 18th, 2009, 09:29 AM	#9
Will Tucker Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 51	Lets keep the Texas theme going guys....In the Fort Worth/Dallas area there are huge bridal shows in January and that is when brides in this area usually start calling. I book most of my events right after the shows so January is when I'll know how good my year will be. __________________ Sony HVR-Z5, Sony PD-150, Canon HV30, Adobe Creative Suite 4

December 16th, 2009, 05:56 AM	#4
Richard Wakefield Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Surrey, UK Posts: 680	Like Travis, 2009 started to look a bit tight, with the announcement of the credit crunch. But I considered myself lucky as I had nearly all my bookings for 2009 taken before that announcement. Then (coincidence or not?), they began to say on the news that the recession was improving, and all of a sudden, bookings came flowing back in once more. perhaps it gave people the financial confidence again to book us videographers, PHEW! And now, thankfully, 2010 is pretty much booked out for me (absolute limit of 4 a month before i go insane!), with even numbers in low to top packages - although nothing yet for 2011. i hope things massively improve for everyone, in every country. If you survived the recession, then it was 'meant to be' and you'll reap the rewards again soon :)

December 16th, 2009, 06:35 AM	#5
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Hi Guys So far for me 2010 is strange. I usually get 4 bookings in January but so far just 2!! However September and October are fully booked already!!and Feb thru to April are normal. We don't get a lot of June/July bookings here as it's Winter and cold and wet!!! 2009 was VERY busy !! I normally try to have just 4 a month but November had 8!! However at this time last year I had September to December free and had most brides book around Winter. I still think that it's on average, a pretty recession proof industry!! Our median price for a total wedding jumped from $25K in 2008 to $37.4K in 2009 Chris

December 16th, 2009, 06:40 AM	#6
Scott Hayes Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 692	only 4 here so far, it should escalate quickly within the next 6-7 weeks.

December 16th, 2009, 11:38 AM	#8
Chad Nickle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 84	Hey Tom, up the road is Austin things are looking about the same, Our prices start at about $2000 and I have 3 booked for 2010, January always seems to be a great month for booking, however.