Hi guys,
Today I wanted to give my top tips on networking with other wedding vendors! These are really catered towards wedding photographers, but really could work for almost any wedding vendor. As many of us know, word of mouth is one of the best ways your business can be advertised! However, sometimes it can feel overwhelming or intimidating to know where to start with networking. Not only is networking so important to me (and should be to you too!) for referrals but also it’s a way to make your work days (aka wedding days) so much more enjoyable and fun! So here are my top tips for starting to network and build relationships with other wedding vendors.
1. Join your local business owner group
This could be a Facebook group or your local Rising Tide group. If you don’t know where to start looking, ask other business owners if they know of local networking groups! These are great because they are literally there to help you meet other local business owners and learn about what services they offer and vice versa. Make sure to interact with other members and truly get to know them. Whether they are a wedding vendor or another type of business owner, it is great to get to know your local entrepreneurs.
2. Host a styled shoot
A great way to network with other wedding vendors is to host or co-host a styled shoot! If you’ve never participated in one before, it’s the perfect way to meet other vendors, gain photos to showcase your work, and reach a larger audience on social media. You typically will have one wedding vendor representing each aspect of a wedding day; photography, a venue, hair and makeup, florals, etc. You (and your co-host if you have one) will come up with a vision for the styled shoot and all of the wedding vendors will help to execute it. Then all of the vendors will get to use the photos for their own marketing purposes, while also tagging all of the other vendors that participated! So their audiences will get to see your work as well. This is also a great way to get creative and have some fun between shooting real weddings!
3. Attend bridal fairs
When you think of bridal fairs, you may think of networking with engaged couples only but this is also a great time to meet other wedding vendors! Especially because many couples will probably be hiring a mixture of vendors they meet at these fairs, so you very well could end up working with them. When I go to bridal fairs I actually spend the last hour or so of the show going around to other vendor booths, handing out my info, getting theirs, and just chatting with them! It’s a great way to naturally meet so many vendors.
4. Be considerate
This is a simple way to not only be a kind person, but to get to know wedding vendors on a personal and professional level! While you may work as a solo person, wedding vendors are almost like co-workers in a way, even if just for the wedding day. So take time to be considerate and get to know them! Save them a seat at a table during dinner and ask them to sit with you. Grab a plate of food for a vendor who may not be able to sit down, like the DJ. Ask them questions about their business and themselves and make an effort to work as a team during your wedding day.
5. Share your gallery
Always, always, always share your couples’ wedding gallery with the vendors who participated, unless your couple has requested their photos not be shared. This is a simple way to help out wedding vendors by giving them access to professional photos of their work, and gets your photos out to a wider audience as well! I always just ask that they tag me for photo credit when sharing or using the photos.
There you have it! Those are my top 5 ways to start networking with wedding vendors. Above all just be yourself and focus on creating real and meaningful relationships with other people and you’ll do great. And feel free to reach out to me because I’d love to connect with you!
-Liz
