Partnering with Bridal Boutiques

[SeAnCoLd]

Hi all, being a newbie to the wedding photography industry, I'm looking at partnering with bridal boutiques or aspiring wedding gown designers as I have no access to wedding gowns and this presents a big problem. However, I can't seem to figure out a way to find these boutiques or designers who might be open to collaboration with a photography company. I've been emailing several boutiques I found on wedding forums. This hasn't worked so far. Could any veterans kindly advise me on some good ways of doing so? Thanks in advance.

 

[catchlights]

they will ask you, "what's in it for me?"

so ask yourself, what can you offer to them?

put yourself into their shoes than maybe you can understand a thing or two.

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Thanks for your reply. I did think hard before sending out any emails, and in my emails I included a value proposition. I understand that established boutiques are less likely to partner a new comer like myself, thus I'm looking out for designers or boutiques that are new to the industry as well. The problem is I don't know where to and how to find these individuals/ boutiques. That's why I'm asking the experienced veterans here.

they will ask you, "what's in it for me?"

so ask yourself, what can you offer to them?

put yourself into their shoes than maybe you can understand a thing or two.

 

[daredevil123]

Thanks for your reply. I did think hard before sending out any emails, and in my emails I included a value proposition. I understand that established boutiques are less likely to partner a new comer like myself, thus I'm looking out for designers or boutiques that are new to the industry as well. The problem is I don't know where to and how to find these individuals/ boutiques. That's why I'm asking the experienced veterans here.

Most bridal boutiques have their own in house photographers. Why do they need to partner with you?

Bridal gown companies that do not not have in house photographers will want to get their name out fast and quick. A good way is to collaborate with a well known photography company. So you have to ask yourself, why your value proposition from a new comer is much better than them working with a stable or well known wedding photography outfit?

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Because there's a chance the well known wedding photography company will already be collaborating with other bridal boutiques. The new boutiques could possibly be facing the same problems as me.

I thank you both for replying, but it seems like it is the wrong place to ask this question.

Most bridal boutiques have their own in house photographers. Why do they need to partner with you?

Bridal gown companies that do not not have in house photographers will want to get their name out fast and quick. A good way is to collaborate with a well known photography company. So you have to ask yourself, why your value proposition from a new comer is much better than them working with a stable or well known wedding photography outfit?

 

[kandinsky]

The problem is I don't know where to and how to find these individuals/ boutiques.

Here's one I found via google: http://www.dolce2dolce.com/t/56/seeking-local-partners

 

[SeAnCoLd]

You're a savior! Could you kindly enlighten me on how you manage to find one? I spent the entire morning scouring wedding forums with little results. Googling was fruitless too. I prob got the keywords all wrong

Here's one I found via google: http://www.dolce2dolce.com/t/56/seeking-local-partners

 

[daredevil123]

Because there's a chance the well known wedding photography company will already be collaborating with other bridal boutiques. The new boutiques could possibly be facing the same problems as me.

I thank you both for replying, but it seems like it is the wrong place to ask this question.

Responded here to get your mind thinking... that is all. You need to ask yourself the tough questions all the time, if you want to survive in the super highly competitive wedding photography market here in Singapore.

BTW, there are many many very very good and well known wedding photography companies in Singapore. Some of them collaborate with multiple boutiques...

Boutiques will never be in the same situation as yourself. Boutiques have physical products they offer. Physical products are easier to evaluate. You are offering your services. Promise of service quality is usually gauged by portfolio, but a lot more by reputation. So at the start, the footing between a newcomer boutique is already different from a newcomer in photography.

BTW, there are many levels of collaboration with boutiques. Most boutiques you see out there maintain their own photographer staff for pre-weds. They will outsource actual day and ROM. But do note that the money paid out for actual day and ROM are minimal...

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Thanks for your reply, Albert. This is very informative. Really appreciate your help

 

[Lu Cong]

Hi, SeAnCoLd,
We are bridal bouquet founded in 2013, we provide wedding gown, evening gown as well as wedding package to customers, we have one cooperated photographer, however we are open to cooperate with more since sometimes one photographer may not be enough for wedding hot day. If you are interested, you may take a look about us (dolce2dolce.com) and let us know your advantages on photography industrial, we can discuss it further with you.
(our email address is: service@dolce2dolce.com.sg).

Thanks daredevil123 to refer us and we lucky to be searched by you.

 

[wilsonwongjw]

If you're asking how can you get bridal boutiques to pass you customers, that's very difficult. There's nothing in it for them to pass it to a completely new comer.

Here's what I recommend. If you have at least 1-10 customers, then try to upsell them to the services/products offered by the particular bridal boutique you want to work with. This means that you pass customers to the bridal boutique (perhaps for a small commission).

This gives you credibility in the eyes of the bridal boutique and builds trust between them and you. Then, in future, discuss business referrals to you.

 

[Lu Cong]

If you're asking how can you get bridal boutiques to pass you customers, that's very difficult. There's nothing in it for them to pass it to a completely new comer.

Here's what I recommend. If you have at least 1-10 customers, then try to upsell them to the services/products offered by the particular bridal boutique you want to work with. This means that you pass customers to the bridal boutique (perhaps for a small commission).

This gives you credibility in the eyes of the bridal boutique and builds trust between them and you. Then, in future, discuss business referrals to you.

Thanks wilsonwongjw, I also want to add-in something here from a bridal boutique's perspective, it might be easier for you to understand the requirement from bridal boutique and build up the collaboration between.

Your statement is correct, in a so competitive wedding industrial in Singapore, we can't give pass the customers to a new comer, we are more expecting the photographer with good technology and reputation that can add-value to the customers we get. However we also welcome these photographer beginner to work together with us, like be an assistance for our main photographer to learn the experience, and sometimes can take photo-shoot at a lower price for these budget customers.

Same as wilsonwongjw said, we all welcome referrals from photographers, so if you have some customers in hand, we can consider of refer to each other, we have two forms of collaboration with photographers:
1 is based on commission (around 20%),
2 you can sell the package to your customers (we can help you how to make it) and we can be the supplier for gowns & suits, and other services. We will give you a price and you can mark up in the package.

Hope this can help understand better of bridal boutiques' requirement. If you are keen to build up such collaboration with us, please email us at service@dolce2dolce.com.sg Thank you!

 

[daredevil123]

Hi, SeAnCoLd,
We are bridal bouquet founded in 2013, we provide wedding gown, evening gown as well as wedding package to customers, we have one cooperated photographer, however we are open to cooperate with more since sometimes one photographer may not be enough for wedding hot day. If you are interested, you may take a look about us (dolce2dolce.com) and let us know your advantages on photography industrial, we can discuss it further with you.
(our email address is: service@dolce2dolce.com.sg).

Thanks daredevil123 to refer us and we lucky to be searched by you.

Ehh, I wasn't the one who referred you...

 

[wilsonwongjw]

Thanks wilsonwongjw, I also want to add-in something here from a bridal boutique's perspective, it might be easier for you to understand the requirement from bridal boutique and build up the collaboration between.

Your statement is correct, in a so competitive wedding industrial in Singapore, we can't give pass the customers to a new comer, we are more expecting the photographer with good technology and reputation that can add-value to the customers we get. However we also welcome these photographer beginner to work together with us, like be an assistance for our main photographer to learn the experience, and sometimes can take photo-shoot at a lower price for these budget customers.

Same as wilsonwongjw said, we all welcome referrals from photographers, so if you have some customers in hand, we can consider of refer to each other, we have two forms of collaboration with photographers:
1 is based on commission (around 20%),
2 you can sell the package to your customers (we can help you how to make it) and we can be the supplier for gowns & suits, and other services. We will give you a price and you can mark up in the package.

Hope this can help understand better of bridal boutiques' requirement. If you are keen to build up such collaboration with us, please email us at service@dolce2dolce.com.sg Thank you!

Thanks. haha. Will be glad to work with you as well wherever possible!