ShooDotEdit

ShootDotEdit is the first choice color correction and post production solution for the pro wedding photographer, and everything they shoot. They provide turnaround time as fast as 48 hours. ShootDotEdit Customers now receive Extra, a complimentary gallery hosting and storage service designed to sell more prints for you with zero commissions.

12 Keywords You Should Be Using On Your Blog

March 24, 2017 by ShooDotEdit

12 Keywords To Use For Web Traffic In Your Blog

As a wedding photographer, your blog is a perfect tool to attract ideal clients to your photography business. When you incorporate keywords into your blog posts, you increase the chances your content will be placed in front of couples looking for a photographer. Wedding photo editing company ShootDotEdit publishes plenty of blog posts each year and understands the importance of featuring keywords in each post. Today, they have a few keywords to share, which you should use on your blog.

When you add keywords to your blog and images correctly with SEO techniques, it can rank as one of the top posts on search engines. These keywords can be featured in your blog posts (your images, title, and Yoast SEO). Including keywords into your blog that are specific gives you a larger chance of reaching ideal clients. How do you know which keywords will work for you? Here are 12 keywords you should be using in your blog to place your posts in front of your ideal clients.

The Specifics

In your blog posts, include keywords to share your specific specialty with searching couples. A couple who lives in New York City, and want to get married at Central Park, are more likely to enter keywords into search engines that relate to the specific location. A bride and groom who live in Northern California and desire to have an outdoor wedding will most likely search for keywords relating to the specific location. Use keywords, such as:

1. Denver Wedding Photographer: This describes a specific location where you shoot the majority of your weddings, so clients know to reach out to you if they are getting married in that location.

2. Destination Photographer: When you shoot destinations, this is a keyword you must use to attract ideal clients to your blog. Since you do not have one location that you shoot all the time, this keyword places you in front of clients who desire a destination wedding.

3. Wedding Photographer in Phoenix: To switch up the keywords you use in your blog posts, and on your images, think of what your ideal clients may type into a search engine. This keyword is likely one your clients will search for when looking for a photographer.

The Locations

As a couple searches for the perfect venue, they also look up locations where they want to get married. Looking online for images of wedding locations can include keywords which gives them an idea of how their wedding photos will look. Use keywords that describe the location where you shot the past wedding you are sharing, such as:

4. Town: Including the town’s name as part of your keywords is helpful for potential couples in the surrounding area, especially if it is a smaller town that may not have many search results on Google.

5. City: Because a city is larger than a town, using this keyword allows you to expand your reach in the location where you shot the wedding images you share.

6. State: When you add the state to the keywords you share in your blog, you continue expand your reach. Since the state is not very specific, be sure to also add in the city or town for your keywords. This helps your clients understand where you like to shoot within the state.

The Venues

Before booking or choosing a photographer, the couple wants to view the venue and envision their wedding day. Add in the venue name, and link out to it, of where you shot the wedding you are sharing in your post. Keywords for the venues could be:

7. Maui, Hawaii Wedding, Haiku Mill: Although couples may not directly search for this hotel and location, placing them together creates a larger chance your post will appear when either the hotel or location are typed into a search engine.

8. Rustic, Indoor Wedding, Union Hill Inn: When a couple knows what type of venue they want to get married at, they are more likely to use keywords that relate to it. If a bride and groom desire this type of wedding, your post (and the featured venue) will appear.

9. Romantic, Outdoor Wedding, Treehouse Point: Outdoor venues are popular for many couples. Adding that into your keywords can help you reach couples interested in this type of wedding photography.

The Descriptions

As clients search for a wedding photographer, they may simply look for the style of the wedding they desire. This is especially true if they are searching for the style before they book the location. Keywords that are description-based can include:

10. Rustic Wedding: For a past wedding on your blog that is the style of a rustic wedding, use this keyword in your blog posts to appeal to ideal clients who desire it for their day.

11. Black Tie Wedding: With this type of wedding, there is an overall mood that represents the shoot. Use this keyword to attract clients interested in this type of wedding photography.

12. Casual Wedding: When a couple knows they want to have a casual wedding, they may use this keyword in search engines. This keyword can help them look at images from a past wedding you shot, and get an idea of what it will look like for their day.

Keywords are a necessary part of your blog and SEO strategy. When your SEO strategy is properly used, your blog posts rank higher on search engines. How else can you optimize SEO for your business through your blog, social media channels, and website? Download our SEO Basics for the Wedding Photographer to find out!

11 Reception Tips To Help Your Wedding Photography

January 30, 2017 by ShooDotEdit

The wedding day shoot is full of crucial moments for you to capture. But, with unforeseen challenges with the timeline, lighting conditions, and other unknown elements, it can often be challenging to know exactly which images you need to document. The wedding reception is the perfect opportunity for you to capture candid moments and memorable images of your couple with their guests. To help you focus on the necessary images your couples will love, ShootDotEdit is sharing 11 reception tips to help your wedding photography.

1. Grand Entrance

During the cocktail hour, the guests anticipate the arrival of the newlyweds to the reception. This moment is the first time they will be introduced to their friends and family as husband and wife, which will result in some memorable images for the couple. Make sure you snap a ton of pictures of the excitement on the bride and groom’s faces, and if you have a second shooter, have them take photos of the guests’ faces as well.

2. First Dance

After they are introduced, the newlyweds will move into the first dance. The first dance is a special moment for the couple and represents the journey they took to get to this important day. While they dance, switch up the angles you shoot at to capture a variety of images. You can shoot through the perspective of the guests, get close-up document their expressions, and shoot from higher and lower angles to mix up the photos you share with the couple.

3. Reception Uplighting

During the reception, there may be additional options for lighting to help you create stunning images for your couple. Uplighting is commonly brought by the DJ or band to assist in creating a unique color, dimension, and texture for the walls at the reception. When shooting with reception uplighting, look for a smooth and light-colored wall to enhance the photos. This helps you highlight the uplighting your couple chose, and create images they will love.

4. Toasts

Although they may not be the most exciting images to capture, the wedding toasts are anticipated by your couple and those closest to them. Often times, challenges arise when shooting these images because of guests and their cell phones, or speakers who stand in front of the couple as they talk. Use this moment to showcase candid moments with the couple, as well as to highlight the speakers, and capture the celebratory moments with the couple and their guests.

5. Traditional Dances

From the father/daughter dance to the mother/son dance, to the money dance, there are several traditional dances your couple may choose to include during their reception. One of the easiest ways to capture the dances and expressions is to move along with them as they dance. Remember not to stand too close to them so they can be themselves and give you expressions that will make their images dynamic.

6. Cake Cutting

As the reception moves along, most couples take advantage of cutting the cake together. Before the couple cuts the cake, take a solo shot of it to highlight it and its unique details. Take another photo of your couple next to the cake to add variety. Shoot them as they grab the knife to slice the first piece of cake, and when they feed a piece to one another. These are all images your couple will love and will keep the memories with them for years to come.

7. Bouquet Toss

Once the traditional dances and cake cutting are over, there are still a few exciting traditions left to document. Discuss the shot beforehand with the bride, and ask her to slowly throw the bouquet so you can shoot her in action. If you have a second shooter, have them focus on the ladies while you work with the bride. This way, you both capture the anticipation and excitement on their faces during the bouquet toss.

8. Garter Toss

After the bouquet toss, it’s time for the groom to toss the garter to the single men. If time permits, ask the groom if you can take a posed shot of him before he actually throws the garter. Similar to the bride and the single ladies, document the excitement on the groom and guys’ faces (and don’t forget to get a few photos of the fight for the garter). These are moments your couple will want to remember, which is why it’s so important to include these photos from the reception.

9. Dancing

When the traditional reception activities are over, your couple and their guests are ready to celebrate. From the Cupid Shuffle to the YMCA, there are plenty of moments for you to capture. To capture the shots that matter, without getting in the way of the crowd and their dancing, use a longer lens. The longer lens makes it seem as if you are closer to your subjects and the background, which means your photos look like you are right in the center of the action.

Table Shots at Wedding Reception © Vanessa Joy

10. Table Shots

Yes, it is very boring. But, table shots aren’t for you. They are often very meaningful to the couple. Table shots showcase the details the couple chose, and help share more about their style. Once guests are seated at the table, you can also take a few images of them as they socialize with one another. This is a great memory for your clients as they view their images. Plus, research has shown that table shots with guests are some of the most purchased prints in your online gallery.

11. Details

Before the wedding day, the bride and groom spent months on the specific details of the day. There are so many details that go into the wedding day, and this includes the details of the reception. Arrive early to the location to take an overall shot of the reception, and then capture the details up-close. Ensure you document the table tops, floral décor, the stage where the DJ or band will be, and any gift bags for the wedding guests.

The wedding reception is filled with memorable moments for you to document for the bride and groom. Do you know which images to capture throughout the wedding day? Our Guide, 127 Essential Wedding Images You Must Capture, provides you with a photography playbook to grab every important image. Grab your copy today!

4 Tax Items to Take Care of Before Year End

December 27, 2016 by ShooDotEdit

The end of the year brings with it the first thoughts of the upcoming tax season for small business owners. Tax season, in the early part of the year, brings with it a very unique paradox. By the time you sit down to look at your taxes for the year prior, it’s too late to do anything to better prepare your business for them.

I reached out to wedding photography editing company, ShootDotEdit, to share about this topic that sneaks up on business owners each year. Keep reading to learn a few important items to work on now to set yourself up for success once tax season is here.

At ShootDotEdit, we help wedding photographers with post production and share tips to assist in business growth. Some of the things you get to do as a photographer and business owner are thrilling and allow you to stretch your creative muscles. Other parts of your role as owner are unappealing for most, like the upcoming tax season. Taxes are probably the last thing you want to think about while you’re enjoying the holiday season, but they are a necessary part of your business. To make it as pain-free as possible, we’ve put together 4 tax items you should take care of before the year is over.

*Disclaimer: Tax laws very state by state. You should always consult a tax professional to get specific advice for your business.

1. Prepare for Estimated Tax Payments

One of the first items to take care of is to prepare for estimated tax payments. Since tax law varies, do your research to find out whether you need to make these payments, or if you are exempt. Most business owners must pay this, but knowing for sure can help in your planning. To prepare yourself, continue to research how much you will pay in estimated tax payments. This is one thing you do not want to be a surprise, so try to get as close as possible with the number you will owe.

2. Gather Contact Info

The next item to consider is to ensure you have accurate information for all contractors or employees. This includes their current address and phone number, so you can send them the proper documents when the time comes. Gather this information before the year is over, so you can avoid any complications or issues once tax season is here. Nothing is worse than having to worry about what to do when you accidentally send a 1099 form to the wrong address, especially when you have so much else on your plate.

3. Catch Up on Bookkeeping

Another item on your list to take care of is to catch up on bookkeeping. During busy season, it can be difficult to keep track of all paperwork, invoices, and other information from your clients. Catch up on bookkeeping now to avoid stress and headaches around tax time. If you have not started on your bookkeeping, set a deadline to keep yourself motivated. You could also hire someone to take care of your bookkeeping if it is something you do not want to handle.

4. Plan Ahead

A final item to prepare before the end of the year is to think and plan ahead for any big expenditures you need to make for your business. This can include new gear, remodeling of your studio, or taking on a separate business venture. Keep in mind, some items can be counted as a tax deduction for this year. If you plan to make a large purchase of new gear, consider buying it this year to take advantage of the deduction when you file your taxes. The more you plan ahead, the easier it will be to know what you owe (and what you can benefit from on your taxes).

When you start with these items, you will have an easier (and less stressful) time with your taxes next year. What else can you do to prepare your business for next year? Our Guide, How to Grow Your Wedding Photography Business, contains 50+ pages of actionable tips and tricks to help you focus on what’s most important to work on in your business.

Download your free copy today!

Which Social Media Platform Should You Focus On For Your Photography Business?

December 5, 2016 by ShooDotEdit

In the competitive world of wedding photography, social media is a fast and effective solution for you to find, attract, and book clients for your business. Because there are so many platforms available to you, which platform is best for you and your photography business? To help you discover which platform is best for you, I reached out to ShootDotEdit to provide insights into each social media platform.

At ShootDotEdit, we love to help you eliminate the stress of post production from your wedding photography business. In the bigger picture, though, we are here to help you grow your business, including how to maximize your social media presence. Let’s be honest – social media can be a very effective way to grow your business, but it can take a lot of time. There are numerous social media platforms, ranging from Facebook and Twitter to Instagram and Snapchat. Below, we share tips on how to tell which social media platform is best for your business, so you can focus your efforts on which one will have the biggest impact for you!

Consider focusing on Facebook if…

You know your target audience.

Facebook is a great platform for you to use to attract ideal clients to your website and blog. Of the advanced features Facebook has for business owners, one of the top features is you can set custom audiences to place specific content in front of your target audience.

Image Compliments of Custom by Nicole Photography

In the Advertising tab, choose the objectives for your campaign, including your ideal client’s age, gender, relationships status, and connections. Set the qualifications for your target market based on what you know about them. For example, do you find a lot of your ideal clients get married at vineyards? You can target your posts toward people who are engaged and like the Facebook Page of various wineries in your area. Facebook also lets you retarget your posts toward people who have already visited your website and blog. So, when one of your couples shares their blog post images from their wedding with all of their friends and families, you can use this traffic in Facebook for a future audience.

Does using Facebook in this way involve a learning curve? Yes, no doubt. Understanding who you want to reach can help you effectively utilize Facebook, and help direct what content you share with your audience.

Consider focusing on Instagram if…

You have a unique and recognizable style.

Instagram is an entirely image-based platform, which naturally lends itself perfectly to wedding photographers. Instagram is best used to showcase your unique and recognizable style in front of specific audiences.

Image Compliments of Custom by Nicole Photography

Because Instagram is so image-focused, the unique attributes of your style are on full display. When you share images on Instagram, you show potential clients what type of work you do and who you are as a photographer. Ensure you share the best and most unique images from your engagement sessions and wedding shoots. These are photos that are consistent to your style, and showcase your skills as a photographer. Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags [http://shootdotedit.com/2016/02/19-hashtags-you-need-to-use-on-instagram/] to place your photos in front of clients who are perfect for you. Hashtags allow you to target your unique images to specific audiences.

Consider focusing on Snapchat if…

You incorporate your personal life into your brand.

Snapchat is ideal for the photographer that incorporates their lifestyle into their brand. The platform is built on ongoing video stories for high levels of engagement. For the busy wedding photographer, it is ideal. The reason for this is because it doesn’t require you to schedule anything out in advance or create a content calendar.

Unlike Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Snapchat can be used effectively at your convenience. You can send individual messages to your followers, and also build stories with your videos and images. When you build a story, your videos and images are available for view for at least a day, meaning many of your followers can view it and get to know you more. Use Snapchat to share about the things you do outside of your wedding photography business, but relate to your target market. Going back to our winery example above, Snapchat would be a great platform to share your wine tasting adventures with your ideal clients!

Consider focusing on Twitter if…

You probably shouldn’t focus on Twitter at all. :)

Twitter’s effectiveness to market personal service business’ like photography has always been questionable. It’s not that Twitter can’t work for your photography business, but more that it provides you less return for your time.

Image Compliments of Custom by Nicole Photography

If you use Twitter, make sure you link out to your other social platforms and (of course) your website and blog. With Twitter’s specific image requirements, it can be difficult to have your images displayed exactly how you envisioned.

Rather than including an image on your Tweets, link out to your Instagram or Facebook page for your followers to see the photo there. Not only do you give followers the chance to view your unique photography style, you also encourage them to follow you on those sites. Use this opportunity to also link out to your website and blog, so followers can see other examples of your past work.

There are benefits to each of the social media platforms, so it is important to focus on one that allows you to easily attract and create connections with ideal clients. Above all, focus on the platform where your potential clients are. If you receive the most interaction and bookings from Facebook, place the majority of your energy into the strategy for your Facebook business page. Or, if you notice most people visit your website and blog from Instagram, focus on a strategy to increase the number of bookings you receive from the platform. Discover additional ways to maximize social media for your business with our Comprehensive Guide to Social Media for Wedding Photographers!