I’ve got to admit… client meetings can sure feel a lot like blind dates. Drew and I always have this joke going that if we hadn’t have met each other we’d have to join eHarmony to find someone because we both stink at dating. By the time I meet up with my clients, we usually have already spent time corresponding through email about their wedding day, my approach, and all things in between. Most times I have never even seen a photo of their face prior to meeting, so I sit at my little table with my latte and nervously sip away waiting for them to arrive. A lot of times I will look around to see if any duos fit the bill of a bride and groom. I think the barista’s are starting to recognize me at the local Starbucks… they must either think I am somewhat popular to always be meeting up with all of these people or question why I always camp out and nervously look around while trying to spot “the” couple. I always joke when they arrive and we do the awkward exchange of handshakes or hugs when we finally recognize each other and find our seats with our lattes keeping our hands busy.
Here’s what my wanted ad would probably read: “Married white female seeks best friend forever for last-minute spa dates, reality television marathon nights, and general girl talk which could include wedding gab. I’m a Minnesota gal who somehow ended up in a small farm town in Wisconsin and is often left wondering how or why. By day I am a blogger and wedding photographer, by night I am a taco eating couch potato who goes on the occasional run or late night star gazing stroll. I post a lot of photos of my dogs and I will think you don’t have a soul if you aren’t a dog lover. I drink too much coffee and laugh at even the smallest of jokes. I will likely be an old wrinkly lady because I think smile lines are proof of a good life and are something you earn… I am too old to stay out too late past my bedtime, but too young to start a family and move far into the burbs. I love all things weddings and polka dancing and most of the time I have a camera glued to my eyeball… let’s be friends.”
I don’t run client meetings like other photographers, it just isn’t my style. I don’t want to talk at you while showing you album after album… actually, that’s the last thing I want to do. I want to sit down, be casual, talk like we are old friends… I don’t want to talk about pricing and packages, you’ve already read my pricing information, you are aware. I want to hear your story: how you met, fell in love, how he popped the question. I want to hear about your family, including your crazy aunt Betty, and your rambunctious cousins. I want to hear about the things you enjoy beyond wedding planning, like pizza date nights and kayaking. I want to connect on another level past the centerpieces and florals (which of course we will gab about like little school girls) but I want to know you. No worries if your foot hits mine and you worry I will think you were trying to play footsie with me on the first date – it happens. We can laugh if we get the one wobbly table in the joint, I always pick the duds.
I want to see if we are the perfect fit, if you want to spend your wedding day hanging out with me. I explain that I think your wedding day should be able being present in the moment, the here and now – not worrying about documenting every moment because you trust that my eyes are present and my camera is ready. I tell you that I will likely hit the dance floor with my camera in hand (likely doing a polka with your old Uncle Arnie) and that my goal is for every guest to see how passionate about my job – I want it to be clearly visible that I am in love with what I do. Sometimes the conversation can get awkward, every blind date has those moments of silence where you fiddle with anything close enough to grab and break eye contact. At times you wonder what the heck to talk about next and you nervously hope someone will come up with a topic of conversation. It’s normal, seriously.
If we luck out, we will totally hit it off. Things will flow, we will lose track of time, and our cheeks will hurt from smiling. We will begin to wonder how we made it through life without knowing one another prior to our meeting and we will excitedly make plans for hanging out soon. Afterwards, I will question myself if I should send a text message or email or if that is too forward. Like a true blind date, each move will be thought out, considered, and questioned. See, I told you meeting with clients for the first time is a heck of a lot like blind dating… I am just forever grateful that I don’t have to hop onto Christian Mingle and try to describe myself in 50 words or less… I am sure I would never get asked to go on a date.
There’s a social psychology theory out there called the familiarity principle stating: the more you see someone, the more you will like her. It kind of makes me want to camp out at Starbucks every day of the week hoping I’ll bump into my brides and we will laugh – although, I think that is called soliciting (or stalking, haha.) If’ we’re lucky, we will email, trade dates until we both happen to find open slots on our calendars amidst our tight work schedules, meetings, and workout classes. We could even become BFF’s, the kind that you invite to watch The Biggest Loser with on the couch while snacking on popcorn and not worrying about the crumbs… the sort of friendship that you send a last minute text saying “pedicure in a half hour” and you know they will show up. To me, that’s what BFFs do.
Related articles
