Bridal Show Booth

We just finished our first Bridal Show.  It was the Tampa Bridal Showcase at A La Carte Pavilion.

You might be asking yourself, "I wonder why Booray has never done a bridal show before?"  (you probably aren't but for the purposes of this blog post, let's pretend that you are.).

The truth is that it takes a lot of work to build a booth.  You don't have to build a booth... they provide a table and chairs... but I'm of the opinion that you should "go large or go home" so I always knew that I would only do a show if I could build a nice booth.

So, that's what we did.

It took about a week to plan it out and put it together.  Most of that time was the painting and I have my fantastic wife to thank for that part.  I used un-finished doors for the walls and furniture from my house to fill it out.  My goal was to have a booth that didn't have anything that was a "trade show" item.  No big table, white tablecloth, event chairs, etc. When we were all done, it was pretty nice!

After the show I imediatly made changes to the booth.  Less furniture and more table space for album viewing.  Watching everyone else break-down their space in 10 minutes was a little depressing.

The show seemed fairly busy... not a crush of people but a constant stream.  There were a lot of photographers.  Someone told me they counted nine of us in all.

Two former brides, Jessica and Tabitha, came and worked the booth with me.  In my wildest dreams I could not have asked for better help.  They were fantastic to the point that I was embarassed to be standing there whenever I could hear them talking about me.

Will it get me business?  I have no idea.  With nine photographers in the hall, I imagine that there was a wide range of prices and styles for the brides to consider.  I'm not a high-end price but I'm not discount either.  The real test of this show, for me, will be learning what kind of brides go to these shows.  If it's bargain shoppers than I won't get much from it.  There is always someone who is willing to shoot for less.  I like to believe that I offer the best value of price/quality. 

I did get a few emails right after the show but they were all of the, "Send me a price list," variety. If you see your wedding photographer as just another person on your check-list that needs to be hired than I'm not the guy for you.  My brides tend to ask direct questions about lighting and style because they have thought about what they want and it's important to them.

So, we'll see!  If I get a client or two from the show then I'll be happy.  If I get five I'll be ecstatic.

Tampa Bay Wedding Photographer Booray Perry's website is here.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Last night was the monthly meeting of TAPPA (Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association) and I entered three prints in the monthly competition.

This image won 2nd place in the "Un-categorized" category:

This image won 1st place in the "Weddings and Events" category:

... and this image won 2nd place in the same category:

What's funny is that I thought that the couple kissing was my best shot at first place.  I included the image of the shoes because I really like it and was hoping it might get third.  Instead, the members of the guild decided that they like the shoe image best of all!  I didn't even vote for that image (you only cast one vote.)!

I'm not saying that the shoe image isn't good.  I love that image.  I wrote an entire blog post about that image.  I just didn't think that anyone else would love it as much as I do.  :)

I've been entering images into the monthly contests for a few months now and I still have no idea what the other members will pick.  It's actually kind of cool because every month is a surprise.

Booray Perry is an award-winning wedding photographer in Tampa Florida.Getting married on the beach? Here's how to have the perfect florida beach wedding!
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Panel Discussion at T.A.P.P.A.

At last month's meeting of T.A.P.P.A., we dispensed with the usual format of having a speaker and instead conducted a panel discussion.  A panel discussion is when several people take the stage and answer questions from the audience.

Imagine my surprise when I was asked to be on the panel.

First of all, I haven't been a member of TAPPA for that long, less than a year I think.  Several members of the panel were past presidents and one member pretty much founded the whole guild.  The second reason I was surprised to be asked is that I have never asked to be a part of anything like that in the past.  They asked me to participate and field any questions about social media that came along but I ended up talking about everything under the sun because I'm the type of person who wants to say something about everything!

There were a lot of different questions from the new photographers in attendance.  The biggest one was probably the, "Do you sell digital files" question.  Always a hot topic, it was interesting to hear how the rest of the panel handled this subject with their clients (all sell digital files).

I used the opportunity to ask a question myself and got a surprising answer.  My question was, "What do you consider to be the minimum number of lights necessary for a studio portrait session?"  The answers ranged from 1-5.  Further proof that there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to photography.

As it happenned, one of the other photographers on the panel wore the exact same shirt as me that night.  We had to sit at opposite ends of the panel.  We looked like bookends.

On another note, I managed to place a two prints in the print competition.  1st place in Events and 2nd place in Portraits.  I wrote about that here.

I really enjoy talking to fellow photographers.  It's a little one-sided sometimes as I am a very outgoing personality and many photographers are more introverted.  Also, everyone has an opinion and we don't always agree (as it is with all art forms) but I always look to learn something from everyone.  I've found that if you approach each person as a learning opportunity you will almost always discover something, even a small thing, that you can use to improve your work.  Sometimes it's just the satisfaction of discovering that someone else does things the same way that you do.

Booray Perry is a Tampa Bay Portrait Photographer.

Living with the hams...

Last night I was training a new intern on how to set-up the Vogue Booth (www.tampa-photobooth.com ).  Naturally, it works better if you have someone to photograph so I grabbed my girls (like I always do) and made them stand for us. 

They proceeded to put on hats and glasses, etc, and have a good time when Mackie suddenly ran to her room.

When she returned, she grabbed two props from the table and jumped in front of the camera for a quick shot:

I crack up everytime I see this picture.  I understand going and getting the doll from her room but actually going to the trouble of getting a moustache for the doll?  Pure comic genius!

Sam (who's older) is an old master at posing for the booth and has no problem hamming-it-up for the camera:

I love my girls!

Feedback Needed Please!

I'm an idea man.  I got ideas coming at me all day... I couldn't even fight 'em off if I wanted.  (that's a quote from one of my favorite movies of all time...)

I was thinking the other day that I would like to do an event where I could meet people and possibly have some beer and pizza at the same time.  Who doesn't like beer, pizza and meeting people?

So, I'm going to run this idea by my ever faithful Facebook fans and see what they think because if there's one thing I've learned it's that my fans will speak up when asked.

What if I hosted a "Facebook Foto Night?"

I put the word out on Facebook that I will be taking great, professional headshots for your profile picture at a local watering hole (lights, backdrop, the whole deal).  No charge.  Just show up, get your picture taken and maybe have a beer and socialize a bit.  A few days later I post the images on Facebook and everyone can grab them for their profile picture. 

Do you think that my fans would show up for a free picture?  Would they bring a friend?  Are people willing to get off the couch for a great headshot and some beer?

That's my question to the faithful.  If I get enough people saying, "Yea, I'd show up!"  Then I'll set the whole thing up.  If everyone thinks it's a stupid idea then I'll pretend it was someone else's.  I have ideas like this all the time but never know if they're any good.

What do you think?  Feel free to post a comment on Facebook or here on the blog....

Thanks!

Headshots by Booray Perry Photography

Siesta Key Wedding Beach Photography

Last week we did something very rare here at Booray Perry Photography:  We went on vacation.  Our business is the sort that doesn't allow for much vacation time.  People get married all the time and so we usually only manage a day or two off every now and then.

Last week we took a whole week off and went to the beach with the girls.  It wasn't a complete vacation because I did manage to sneak one small wedding in on Thursday in Siesta Key.

Siesta Key is known for some of the best beaches in the world.  I didn't get a chance to see too many of them as I was only there for a couple of hours but what I did see was great.  Where we were there was a sea wall which I fell in love with.  We were also blessed with the best sunset of the entire week!

Angie and Lee came down for a few days to get married and have a small honeymoon before the school year begins (Angie is a teacher).  The wedding was short and simple with just the two of them, the officiante and me.  After, I had them for over an hour, all to myself and we got fantastic beach wedding pictures.

Siesta Key is beautiful and I would love to go back soon to work or play!

See more Siesta Key Beach Wedding photography at Boorayperry.com

Tampa Headshots and Professional Portraits

I decided to launch a new website this week:  http://www.headshottampa.com/.  It's just a one page site but it's dedicated to professional headshots.

I don't do that many headshots, to be honest, and I have no interest in going after the actor/model market.  So why launch a new website just for headshots?  Because I have a theory...

I personally believe that your headshot... the image that you use to represent yourself professionally.. is one of the most important business tools you have.  I also think that people don't take it seriously enough.  Too many people still view their professional portrait as just some stuffy picture that they have done for the "company."

It's so much more.

It's your first impression.  It's who you are to hundreds of people on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, your company website, business cards, etc...  and yet so many people have old, stodgy, boring headshots.  I know, I see them everyday online.

It doesn't have to be that way.  You can have a great picture, a portrait, that represents you exactly the way you see yourself.  If you think that the initial image that people see when looking you up on facebook or Google isn't important, consider that the typical magazine spends 8-10 hours of work to get one picture for the cover.  One.  That's how important that first impression is..

I started thinking about it this week after doing a few headshot portraits.  My wife, Bobbi needed one for her website (Perfect Florida Beach Wedding) and my friend Eileen over at Diva with a Fork needed one too (it's for her new website so it's not online yet).  They were both very happy with the results and I think it's because I come from a wedding/portrait background so I tend to want to use outdoor locations and great lighting to get portraits that are relaxed but still "portraits," (if that makes sense).

To be honest, I don't know that it will attract any business at all since I have no plans to really market it.  But it makes me feel good to know that it's out there.  My own little line in the sand that says, "Don't settle for the ordinary!"  I'm funny that way.  :)