Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer

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Happy new year!

I am enjoying my slow season.
I’m not exactly “Slow” because this is my chance to catch up with my other projects and hobbies.  I booked three weddings this month… possibly more clients will send in deposits.

I had two items in my to do list today.
12pm: Engagement photography session in Thousand Oaks (Job completed).
3pm: Meeting with the potential clients in Woodland Hills (Wedding booked).

The Name Game:
Groom’s name from engagement photography session was Brian.  The other groom’s name from 3pm meeting was Bryant.  Their names Brian & Bryant were somewhat confusing.  I had to be extra careful to avoid a potential disaster (If I get the names mixed up).  Both Brian and Bryant called me before the meeting to juggle their schedules.  I was kept making sure I was talking to the right person.

The engagement photography session went smooth.   The bride brought her parents (I told them to bring the family).  I photographed some family pictures as a bonus.  Oh, they had a one year old daughter.  I wonder if she can be trained to be a flower girl this Summer

1  hour later, I met Briant.  We met in San Fernando Valley.  The bride and groom came from Glendale.  The Starbucks Coffee we scheduled to meet was closed for some reason.  We had to re-arrange the location.  We had a fun meeting.  I felt like I was doing stand up comedy.  They were laughing everytime I said something.  They came to the meeting with the deposit ready.  That’s the kind of meeting I like :) .

Oh, by the way, the wedding will be at San Bernadino area.  I expect to drive 4-6 hours.   I hope the wedding will be as entertaining as the meeting we had. 

I had a productive day.  I’m happy.  My customers are satisfied.  It’s all good.
Happy new year everyone.

** 2008 **

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I booked four meetings for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday.
They are all wedding customers.
I should check to see if people are asking for same date.

On Friday & Wednesday, I need to go straight to the meetings after work.  I hope the traffic will be OK.

Saturday, I will go to Oxnard for Mexican Independence Day celebration.  I need to mix with my Hispanic network.  It's all for fun, and it's all for business. Muy Bien (that means "Very good" ).

On Sunday, I have a wedding at Long Beach.  So I need to drive 90 miles an hour back to Ventura County for a meeting.

So, again, I will have absolutely no rest this weekend. 
I will get my first weekend off late November.
Wish me luck~!!

Update: It's Wednesday night and this is what I have.  From 4 meetings one person flaked out.  So I only had three meetings.  From three meetings I booked all three weddings.  And I booked one additional wedding from the meeting I had 2 weeks ago.  So I had 100% closing rate from my 3 meetings (and some).

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I had to get off work early to take care of 2 jobs.

I went by a camera repair shop and picked up my second camera and dropped off my third camera.

I am over-hauling all my 3 film cameras for optimal performance.  My cameras are pretty clean, but I cannot take chances with wedding photography.  I do routine checkup every year or so.  And I do complete over-haul every few years.

After picking up my camera, I went to the city of Reseda (San Fernando Valley) to meet a possible wedding client.

We met at Starbucks.

The meeting lasted about 1 hour.  The entire meeting seemed like a stand-up comedy session.  We cracked a lot of jokes (well, I did).  

Some people come to the meeting all serious (with a notepad full of check-list).
Some people come to the meeting with the signed check in the hand (decision already made).
Today's bride and groom spent long time researching for wedding photographer and they spent enough time communicating with me via email.  They have already made a decision to hire me before coming to the meeting.  They came to the meeting to confirm that John Park exists, so they can make a deposit.  Wedding was booked on the spot.

The bride is an artist.  I am a little nervous about that.  It's not that normal folks don't know photography.  I am nervous because artsy people have specific taste (preferences).  

During the meeting I showed her different styles of photographs.  She told me what she liked and what she didn't like.  I took a note.  :) 

Wish me luck.

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I had a meeting with a potential customer at Culver City.
405 Freeway to Culver City was not that bad on Sunday Morning.
All and all, it was 2 hours round trip.

This completes my busy weekend.
This weekend, I had two weddings, had two meetings, and booked one wedding.
I ate out almost all meals and I drank a lot of coffee (my ritual).
I was in Ventura, Camarillo, San Fernando, Simi Valley, and Culver City for business.
I ate breakfast at 5pm today (the first chance I've got).

People in Ventura County didn't realize, but San Fernando and Culver City was extremely hot and humid due to The Hurricane Dean. When I was taking pictures, beads of sweat dripped down on my forearms. At least I was able to roll up my sleeves. 

Anyway, the weekend is over, job well done.
I can't wait to go back to work Monday so I can take a nap at my desk, ha ha…
Actually I am not that tired.

I just need to be very careful not to get burned from my busy schedule.
I think positive, don't get angry, eat good meal, drive careful, etc…
If I hear my co-worker coughing, I don't stay at work. 
I just come home and stay home until the sick co-worker gets better or makes a sick call.
I refuse to catch anything funky.

OK back to work.
Thank you all for keeping me busy.  I love it…

Next week's schedule:
2 meetings, 1 wedding, camera repair shop, photo lab, complete 3 web albums, send out 3 print orders, keeping touch with wedding customers.

Mental note:
Watch less TV and sleep at least 6 hours a day.

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I took a day off for today’s wedding (Friday) 

Before going to the wedding, I met yet another customer and booked September 21 wedding. I met them a few weeks ago.  Today, I dropped by at his work to exchange signatures and make things final.

I came to Wedgewood Banquet Center several times before.
I am very familiar with Wedgewood  Banquet Center in Ventura.
Everything was going like clockwork.

Well, there was one minor incident.
10 minutes before the ceremony, a screw from my eye glasses came lose.
A lens fell to the ground.
I calmly picked up the lens and went to the men’s room.
I produced a piece of duct tape (from my emergency supply) and fixed the glasses.
I come prepared, you see.  That’s what the pros do.
I have a backup glasses in the car as well, but it’s really ugly.

McGuyver of Photography. Duct taped joint.
Fixed 10 minutes before the wedding ceremony. No sweat.
Lighting provided by men’s room in Wedgewood Banquet Center

Wedding was scheduled for 6:30pm.
We took all the formal pictures before the wedding ceremoney.
Yes, bride and groom saw each other before the wedding ceremony.

Wedding went smooth.
During the reception I talked to the newlyweds’ neighbors who will get married next year.
They have already booked Ventura Fairgound as a wedding location.
They were (very) interested in booking me as their wedding photographer.
We talked a little.
I have a good feeling about them. I think I can book their wedding.
Wish me luck.

I came back home 11:30pm.
I have a wedding tomorrow, so I really need to rest and get my cameras ready for tomorrow.

It’s almost 1am, so I only have a few hours to sleep.
A full day coming up.  I need some kind of energy drink… ZZzz

It’s still a lot of fun.. good time.
Thank you for your support everyone. 
I feel very good.
God bless today’s newlyweds. They looked so cute.
Oh, the father of the groom looked exactly like Lee Van Cleef.

Night view of Wedgewood Banquet Center

Wedgewood Banquet Center, Golf Course.
Buenaventura Golf Links
5880 Olivas Park Drive Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 658-13083

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Yesterday, I had a wedding at Cabrillo Arts Center in Santa Barbara.
Today, I had a meeting with a potential client at San Fernando Valley.
It turned out that they are getting married at Cabrillo Arts Center.

We had a very good chemistry, the meeting went smooth.
The groom was a computer guy just like me.
They wanted a digital only wedding package, but officially, I don’t have a digital only wedding package.
So I drew up a package for them and booked the wedding.

I ordered another digital camera.
Now I need to put these cameras at work.

Digital only packages will be available very soon.
I will continue to shoot film as well.  It works for me.
My customers will now have more choices.

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I had a meeting scheduled for Sunday morning 10am.
But, you see, I had a wedding on Saturday night.
I work full time Monday to Friday. 
So, I knew I would be very tired on Sunday morning. 

Saturday night, after wedding, I worked on my website until 6am.
I thought I would take a quick nap and get ready for the meeting.
I thought I would come back from the meeting and get my usual Sunday nap…. no sweat.  

Oh my… I woke up at 9:10 AM~!!

I had 20 minutes to get ready and leave.
It was like I was back in school… late for SAT test.
I didn't shave.. I don't even remember if I took a shower.
I even forgot to bring my wallet.  It was classic. (pathetic :)).
Anyway, I made it to Ventura Barns and Noble 10 minutes early.
I found some cash so I was able to pay for a cup of coffee.

The young couple showed up right on time. I was still sleepy… my voice was totally gone. After about 30 minutes of chatting I was feeling the coffee. We had a good meeting.  The bride liked my kind of humor. At one point, we were laughing hysterically (accompanied by tears). This is why I rather be busy and tired.  Life is fun when you do what you like to do.

PS. Yes, I booked this wedding.  Looking forward to 11-11 wedding.

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A wedding client from last year emailed.
She’s going to have a baby in July~!!

October 20th wedding is booked (deposit received).

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I met 2 clients after work, 6pm and 8 pm, to deliver albums.
Both of them liked the pictures.

October 15th wedding was booked (deposit received today).

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I had “back to back” meetings on May 8th & May 9th.
Both meetings consisted of three people; bride, groom, and mother of the bride.
Both meetings were held at 7pm sharp. It was ironic.

I think I had total 5 meetings in 2 weeks.
I am getting behind on keeping record on inquiries & sales data.

I am very tired. I seriously need some rest.
I guess this is what they call a “Happy complain”

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I had a lot of activities today (many emails).

I found 2 new wedding prospects. (August & September weddings).
I also had an email communication with the existing wedding prospect. (October wedding)

August wedding will be in Riverside, and it will be bi-lingual.
I speak three languages. I would love to take that gig.
I don’t mind driving 200+ miles.
I had to charge her $25.00 for traveling.

At the end, I booked 2 meetings. (for September & October weddings).
It was a productive day.
Today isn’t over yet.

April 22nd wedding client wrote a positive customer review about me on my website

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I had a meeting with a client at Encino, San Fernando Valley.
They live in Torrance, so Encino was the mid-point.
Starbucks there was very loud with heavy traffic.
September 2nd wedding was booked on the spot - deposit was made 

After the meeting I went to Simi Valley Photo Labs to pick up April 22nd wedding AND drop off April 28th wedding.

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PS: After writing this blog, my April 22nd wedding client read this page.  She emailed and said she wanted to see a few samples ASAP.  So, I’ve decided to burn midnight oil and finish this package tonight and deliver to them tomorrow to her house.  It will be my pleasure.

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I met a client from Canada today.
I have had clients from New York, Texas, and some other states, but Canada is first.
He arrived at LAX 2:15pm, got a rental car, and came to Camarillo by 4:00pm.
He was on his way to Santa Barbara.
I’ve already booked his wedding a month ago, he just wanted to say hello.

There, I saw a real nice couple (not married) talking and kissing.
I had to give them my business card, so I walked up to them.
“When you get married” I said, “I’ll be your wedding photographer”.
I hand him my card.
The man looked at me, “But… we’re already married”,  he said with a smile.
I replied “No… you’re too sweet”
The lady lauhged out loud “Too sweet~!”

After the meeting I went back to my day job.

I booked a meeting with a prospect for Sunday.
They are coming from Torrence.  We’ll be meeting at Encino.
Sep 2 is getting warm.

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I have 9 rolls of film to process (from yesterday’s wedding)
But, I was so tired, I didn’t go to the lab. I slept whole day.
I had a busy week at my day job. AND I had a wedding yesterday.
At least I had one day off. It works for me.

I should go to the lab tomorrow (Monday) after work.

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Received a deposit for Aug 26 wedding.
There were two people going for that date.
I’ll have to break the bad news to the other person.

March 16th wedding client wrote a good review at my website.
I love it when a client leaves a comment.