iPad

As the days seem to get busier, I find less time to post on the blog, and in the [b] School discussion groups, so I sometimes double post. Today is a case. Apple introduced the iPad. Photographers are talking about how to use it. Will they use it to display images when they meet with potential customers? Will it replace the laptop or printed portfolio? Will they use it in their workflow… or to present slide shows at wedding receptions?

Some are thinking of providing albums, slide shows, video, and proofs to clients, on an iPad, but are wondering how to price this. If you are a wedding photographer, read on for my musings — realizing, of course, that the iPad was just announced, today, and none of us have actually seen one.

Regarding including a loaded iPad with what you deliver to your clients: I think you DON’T do this a la carte. Since I don’t offer packages, but do a pre-design, I believe this could be built in very easily — ‘above a certain price point’.

However, over the long term, I do think, even if you load your best 10,000 photos on an iPad, it is important to remember, for many people, that looking at lots of photos off someone else’s wedding is a bit like being forced to watch the neighbor’s slide show from their summer vacation. For the most part, the bride has already seen a lot of your work, before she decided to meet with you. At the face-to-face, it really is about establishing a rapport — developing an interpersonal relationship. In other words, they still need to like you and want to spend the most important day of their lives with you.

It is especially important, for anyone who is a little shy, or uncomfortable in a ‘sales’ situation, to not hide behind the technology. It is still you, and not your photos that seals the deal.

It is going to be very interesting to see how this plays out. I suspect that those who are booking now, will still be booking. And, those who can’t collect the check, will still have difficulty, iPad or not.