Delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Wedding Seminar @ Loxley Colour on Monday the 25th of October. Details to follow. In the meantime places on our LIGHT TO INSPIRE seminars are going very fast so we now only have limited places left so call or email soon!

Another couple of our images from Sunday’s workshop. We are now considering a larger SHOOT IN THE CITY workshop for up to 20 delegates. Taking place on a Sunday with transport by mini bus around the city  to several locations throughout the day and an affordable day rate for all. 2 Bridal models and a groom. More soon but email for advanced notice if you are interested.

Sunday saw another SHOOT IN THE CITY workshop in our series. Unique, couture workshops limited to only 4 delegates. A wonderful day, though a bit blustery, with very enthusiastic and hard working delegates. Starting in the Financial District of Edinburgh before moving onto more traditional pillars and steps then down to the Leith area for lunch in a local Italian before starting the afternoon session this time aiming for a more urban feel to the images. Then down to the blue bridge at the harbour before ending the day outside a wonderful boarded-up shop on Leith Walk to capture an image that I had long planned but never got round to so this was our delegates lucky day and I do know that one delegate managed to create a stunning image which I hope to be able to share with you soon together with other images created by our delegates. Steven and Zoi, or bridal couple for the day were outstanding despite the conditions and it was an ideal opportunity to demonstrate what can be done on the wedding day with the weather against you.

We are planning on hosting another SHOOT IN THE CITY workshop on Sunday the 26th of September, again in Edinburgh and limited to 4 delegates and  £295.00 inclusive. To reserve a place please email; trevor@yerburystudio.com

One of the subjects we covered in Monday’s workshop were the pre and post wedding shoots. Now I do know that some photographers seem to think that they invented this additional service however I must disappoint and say that many studio have been offering this add on since the early 80’s and possibly before. Its like the wheel, its been done before, will be done again all you have to do is throw a new twist on it and that will reinvent it again.  Pre wedding, or engagement, or E Sessions were originally simple, studio based sessions that produced a nice portrait as gifts for the immediate family in celebration of the engagement. This, over the years, became an opportunity to work with your wedding clients before the wedding giving you time to get to know the couple and to see how they worked in front of the camera. You could give them tips and pointers for the day, show them how to relax and pose etc. In the 90-‘s we used images from the engagement session for our Romantica Signature Mounts which we then took to weddings for guests to sign. Now these pre wedding sessions are becoming an integral part of any wedding photographers service either as an additional service or as a inclusive part of the wedding package. Now, taking this a stage further we can offer the Wedding Book through suppliers like Loxley. 10×10 custom designed books, image of the couple on the cover, date and wedding info on the inside followed by several pages, some lined for signatures and some left blank for drawings, poems etc. In addition why not add additional images of the couple at random staged throughout the book, some full page some half page some even positioned randomly on the page. On the back of the book have your studio name and contact details discretely but obviously positioned. All wedding photographers should take advantage of modern technology to add value to their wedding packages and profit to their business.

Then we have the post wedding session but we will leave that topic until tomorrow.

Delighted to hear that our talk on the 6^th of July for the London Portrait Group is sold out. Faye and I are very much looking forward to our return visit.

Today’s image is a sample cover for The Wedding Book. Taken way back in 1987 on a Hasselblad with a 150mm lens on T Max 100 and used as the cover shot for a magazine.

We had a wonderful day with delegates from the MPA Wessex Region with some travelling down from other regions. When we were asked to speak to the region I said that while taking photographers of pretty girls in white frocks was a wonderful way to fill the day photographers have to look, and work at, getting these clients into their studios in the first place because without the clients there is not business. So we spent the morning with my Power Point presentation looking at areas of the wedding photography business that should be addressed and I hope that the delegates all found something from that part of the day that will be helpful in moving their business to the next level. It is unfortunate that there is so much training about to do with taking images but very few that are structured around an inclusive business and marketing platform for wedding photographers. One of the most important areas of any wedding photography business is relationship marketing. Building relationships with all your local and regular wedding suppliers, the florist, the designer boutique, the car hire company, the cake designer and of course the venues you prefer to work in. Building a close and ongoing relationship is not just about asking them to hand out your leaflets or leave an album as an example its about calling them up, introducing yourself, inviting them for a coffee one day on neutral ground so avoiding any distractions and not only telling them about your business but also learning about their business. Show them that you are interested in them it will make a difference I can assure you. This will take time to build but you can help it progress in many ways, keep in regular contact, if they have supplied for a wedding you have been asked to photograph tell them how wonderful they were on the day, mention them in your blog post and also link to their website. Send them some images and what ever you do DO NOT CHARGE THEM! I have heard some photographers expect to be paid for these images, WHY? Each associated wedding business can help your own through personal recommendation so take advantage of these invaluable contacts because if you don’t then somebody else will! Keep abreast of what these business’s are doing, check out their blog sites regularly and if they have won an award, had some local PR exposure or done something out of the ordinary then congratulate them, send them a card or much, much better send them some flowers or my favourite gift, a small box of cupcakes and those of you who were present on Monday’s workshop will know exactly what I mean!

I know that this all requires work but building any business always requires dedication and hard work in order to succeed. So next time you are browsing some other photographers website just remember that what you are doing will not put money into your bank account, stop what you are doing and concentrate on your own business, pick up the phone, introduce yourself and become motivated and inspired for your own business.

Here are a few of our images taken during the afternoon demonstration session with our delightful models for the day Michelle and Cheryl. Tomorrow I want to discuss pre and post wedding shoots and how they can add value to your studio and to your client. If you have any questions please feel free to post.

The first image is one of Trevor’s of Michelle taken at the very beginning of the demonstration. Shot on a D700 85mm prime lens @ 200 iso 2000th @ f2.4

Now one of Faye’s with Cheryl our other beautiful model for the day, again at the start of the day against the wooden wall of the engine shed. D300 with 24-70. I should perhaps mention that Faye did all of the hair work on both models.

Another of mine this time of Cheryl taken under the wisteria drenched gazebo. You will notice that all, apart from one,  my images have been processed to a warm black and white with some texture

Now Faye’s again with this image of Michelle was made at the Gazebo again with her D300

My image of Michelle walking through the beautiful woods at Exbury House. Brides love this style of image.

Another image of Michelle by Faye, under that stunning gazebo.

My image of Cheryl in a thoughtful pose, again on the D700 with the 85mm prime.

Faye’s stunning image of Michelle while in the boat shed.

This bridge must be every photographers delight but I just loved the hidden corner. Thanks to Anthony for the light control.

Faye used that gorgeous seat and space with Michelle to give a different look.

I just loved this bridge and this image I shot of Cheryl. I love both interpretations of how I have post processed the image.

Version 1

Version 2

A beautiful image by Faye,of Cheryl under a stunning and magical tree. Notice the wonderful natural light.

After most delegates had left we remembered Faye had made a ‘bridal veil/hat’ that we had not used, so we asked both Michelle and Cheryl if we could create a couple of images of them both wearing Faye’s creation. This is my take with Cheryl on the D700

Faye shot Michelle and has done 2 versions of the image.

And now a few of the day and the delegates.

We photographed a beautiful wedding on Saturday in the house and grounds of Wedderburn Castle in the stunning Scottish Borders. This coming Saturday we have a huge wedding at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh, full choir etc, followed by the reception at the eclectic Prestonfield House. Faye and I are also invited to the wedding breakfast so looking forward to the day. Monday we are down at Exbury House near Southamption hosting a wedding workshop for the Wessex MPA Region so if you are interested in coming along then contact the regional Chairman, Keith Curtis. Business and Marketing in the AM and we will be demonstrating our style in the afternoon and are delighted that one of our models has offered to drive over for the day. So with the model provided by the region and our own Michelle we will have 2 beautiful brides to work with. Today’s image is from a session a couple of weeks ago.

Just a reminder that we will be hosting a workshop at Exbury House and Gardens on the 21st of this month for the MPA Wessex Region. The exciting news is that we will have 2 new products with us which we have been developing with Loxley Colour one of our major sponsors so if you want to see some new ideas that will be attractive to your clients and provide additional income then speak to Keith Curtis your regional Chairman about booking a place. More news on our Studio Mentoring tomorrow and also dates for our talk for The London Portrait Group next month.

When I posted an image on Facebook about the above workshop which will take place on Monday the 21st of June we received some wonderful comments some of which I have taken to liberty of posting below:

“It is very rare that i see a Yerbury image which doesn’t make me wish I had taken it. In an oversaturated market place of mediocre photography,  there are very few photographers whose portraiture contains such timeless energy and elegance.
What a great opportunity.”  Bella West

“what an absolutely gorgeous image”  Chris Hanley

We are delighted to have been invited to host a Wedding Workshop for the members of the above region. The day will be split into 2 sections, the first being by far the most important  ‘BE THE DIFFERENCE’ will be all about setting yourself apart from the competition and create an individual identity in this vastly, and increasingly over saturated market. In the afternoon we will demonstrate how we work with brides to create our images. Delegates are welcome to take record shots from the side from where either Faye or myself are shooting  but the is not a delegate shooting workshop more a watch and learn! You must attend both parts of the day as the morning session is about building your business and reputation, we can all take pictures its how we sell our service to the bride and groom which is where many photographers need help implementing a proper business strategy with targeted aims.

Following on the resounding popularity and success of our BRIDAL BOUDOIR workshops we are delighted to announce an exclusive Bridal Boudoir workshop to be held at the award winning 5* Prestonfield House in Edinburgh. We have been given exclusive use of the Franklin Suite on Tuesday the 7th of September 2010. We can only offer this to 5 lucky delegates at £400 inclusive. http://www.prestonfield.com/Rooms-FranklinSuite.html