If you came up to me at the start of WPPI in 2008 and asked me if I did predesign, I would have looked confused and then laughed. I think too many photographers fall into the same situation we were currently in. Giving our couples the upper-hand in planning their album layout timeline. Learning a lot in Las Vegas that year, I came home full of energy (as many of us do). I was prepared to make changes. Predesign would be a reality.
Sure, we come home from WPPI each year full of ideas for new exciting techniques and possibilities. But I made it happen. Old layouts were caught up on, couples were chased down, rules were enforced. And in the 2009 season, predesign is real.
In case anyone is confused, what I am referring to is presenting your client with an album layout before they have a chance to choose any images for their book. Many photographers have different approaches to this. Do you present them with a layout as soon as you can after posting their proofs? Do you present them with a layout before they see any of their images whatsoever? Do you simply ask them not to choose any images and tell them you are going to design it yourself?
I think the truest advantage to predesign is not the upgrades you can sell to your clients, but truly making them happy with the product you are delivering to them. While they make think a certain group of images is their favorite, they have no idea how those images will work lumped together in a book. And many times, thy don’t work together at all. By predesigning albums, you are educating your clients about what works well. You are educating your client as to what a great image is. And if the reminder they take home of your work is the best it could possibly be, why would they not come back to you?
I’m interested in taking the advantage of predesign one more step and would love to hear from some photographers that might want to give it a shot. But in general – I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts and methods on predesign and album layout!
Hello darling, I was wondering how you would have responded to the idea of a pre-designed album for our wedding, and if/how your opinion has changed now that you’re working in that area. -your husband.
I think I would have welcomed it. I know you think I was too controlling for it ;0) , but I think you bring up a great point….probably why I married you.
It seems for so many brides (myself included), the album design process is so stressful and overwhelming. If I had been presented with a layout before I even had the chance to think about it, I probably would have welcomed it with open arms. Or at least been easier to deal with. It was the idea of not knowing and feeling like it was my responsibility that led me to designing our wedding album, and then, wedding albums in general. But – not every bride is a designer. I have actually been told by brides that they were losing sleep over the album design because they thought they HAD to come up with changes or they HAD to narrow down 900 images to the perfect 50-60 images. Brides are overwhelmed with emotion. Help them out and present them with the best of the best in their album.
hmm. this is very very interesting.
want to try it out?
yes