There’s something I was taught at my very first photography workshop that has really stuck with me through my short 3.5 years of business. It’s ok to say “no” to some couples to make room for my ideal clients. This was something that Justin & Mary really encouraged during their Spread the Love Tour and even though I was just in the very beginning stages of my business, I’m glad I heard it…and I’m glad they continue to remind me.

Justin & Mary’s blog post today is all about being willing to say “no” when it comes to couples that aren’t a good fit for you. They think it’s worth holding out for those clients who are a good fit for you because those clients are the ones who will help you produce your best work. And I totally agree. In the first couple of years of business, I’m not sure I knew who my ideal clients were. I thought back to the list of requirements and characteristics that I had unofficially made during Justin & Mary’s workshop often, but I was always a little unsure of how strict I really needed to be with that list.

As I worked through the 2012 wedding season, I was beginning to realize that I was in fact attracting more and more clients that are ideal for my style, personality and business practices. SCORE! I had moderately been filtering my inquiries and it was working. I was shooting more of the kinds of weddings I really enjoy and working with couples who use exclamation points in their emails (that’s one thing Justin & Mary look for in their emails and after they mentioned that at the workshop, I decided it was totally fitting for me, too!)…and we were producing awesome pictures together! SCORE again!

I was reminded of this ideal client practice again just a few days ago. One of my couples had to make some drastic changes to their wedding plans and no longer needs my full photography services. The bride was nervous to tell me because she assumed I had turned away other couples for the date and would now be out of work. But what she didn’t know is that, in my opinion, I’ve actually lost nothing in all of this…I’ve gained something. Because of the bride and the email conversations we had, I came to realize that I was continuing to be successful in attracting the right kind of clients for me. She and her fiance were absolutely the kind of couples that I want to work with and I was so thankful for our correspondence over the past couple of months. I also never received any other inquiries for their date after booking.

Justin & Mary, thanks for reminding me again that it’s ok to say “no”…because it feels good to make a good fit. 🙂

We go together
Like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong
Remembered forever
As shoobop sha wadda wadda yippity boom de boom
Chang chang changitty chang shoobop
That’s the way it should be, wha oooh, yeah