5 Strategies For Working With “Difficult” Wedding Pros

By Christine & Rich Yodsukar

Have you ever finished a wedding day just been thankful it was over because you worked with the most difficult vendor known to man?

Well, we’ve all been there at least once and it’s inevitable that the moment we swear never to work with them again, we find out that one of our favorite clients has booked the both of us.

So where to go from there? Well, you’re in luck as we have several easy, sure-fire ways to make working with challenging colleagues a breeze for both you and for your clients.

1. Woo Them

Send a simple, straightforward email introducing yourself and express that you’re looking forward to working together.  This opens up the line of communication in a friendly and professional manner and sets the bar for how you handle yourself.

Make sure to throw in there that you are really excited about working together as a team for your client, so they know that you view this as a collaboration.

2. Lay Down the Law

Now, it’s time to establish the commitment to communicate early and often. Your client has hired you for very specific reason, so don’t hesitate to share anything you do that might affect them, as well as what you need to get your job done successfully.

The key is to have a team mindset, welcoming any ideas or feedback they might have, and thus creating a positive tone.

The biggest issue I hear from my fellow photographers and cinematographers is that one vendor will monopolize the client. For maximum efficiency, as well as for the sake of the client, it is up to both parties to communicate anything from the client that may affect them.

3. Keep Communicating

Communicating on the wedding day is perhaps the most important thing any vendor can do to achieve the best results possible. Lack of communication is perhaps the number one cause of missed opportunities on a wedding day.

“The DJ didn’t tell me he changed the timeline and I was in the bathroom during the Father Daughter Dance!” or “The church didn’t tell the Bride no photos were allowed during the ceremony, so now I have to break the news to her… on the way to the Reception!”

Whew! These nightmares really do happen, and we have all encountered similar moments. And while they can always pop up and surprise us, communicating on the wedding day with each vendor can really cut the chances of anything like this happening.

Make sure you let whoever is in charge of the timeline know about any changes as soon as you are aware of them, and also be sure to share that information with other vendors it might affect- like your fellow Photographer or Cinematographer.

This can be a life saver! Vendors helping each other makes everyone look good, and it really gives your client the best wedding experience possible.

4. Become Blood Brothers

Now that the wedding has come and gone, keep in touch with this vendor and form a community around the amazing work you’ve achieved together.

Don’t forget how important each piece of the puzzle was in perfecting that wedding day, and let the other vendors know how much you enjoyed working with them and looking forward to working with them again soon. You’re proverbial wedding blood brothers now! And who knows, maybe you even get a referral or two from your new friend-or!

It all comes down to remembering that you and every other vendor are a part of one team all working together for the same client. While we will come across obstacles on any given wedding day, power in numbers makes conquering those issues that much easier.

Think of the people you are working with as your allies, your next referral base, and your newest social media sponsor!

Christine Yodsukar and her husband Rich Yodsukar are owners of Photography & Cinematography company The Yodsukars that specializes in imaging for luxury clients. In just three years, they took their wedding business from $100 weddings to a 6 figure income using the techniques they teach their Mentoring clients today.

 

 

Photo credit: OUCHcharley via photopin cc