These are difficult times to be a wedding photographer. The issues of professionalism, competency and affordability have hit us hard whether we’re a seasoned professional or, as Missy McLamb described in her article The Seven Ironic Truths About Successful Wedding Photographers, a clueless newbie who can be asked to fetch some f-stops from the car.
But it’s not all gloom and doom. I think Missy and the guys at Photoshelter.com do a great job at exposing light on our industry. I, being the eternal optimist, do think things will turn around positively for those of us who care about the craft and serving our clients. I look at these times as just one more challenge in life of being a photographer. We at Zookbinders feel your pain too but see a bright light and opening at the end of the tunnel where we can all succeed in providing wonderful keepsakes and memories for our clients.
Most of us in the wedding business have seen the number of brides we’re working with drop over the past couple of years. 
Start by designing your collection of books. This will be based partly on the services you offer as well as how you package your products. With Zookbinders you have the choice of two photographically printed and leather bound album styles. The matted album and our flush mounted, all panoramic album, the Zook Book are our premium books. Next we have the PhotoBook and PhotoBook Plus. These more affordable, press printed books give your clients the option of leather in the Plus sizes along with great package combinations in the smaller sizes. And finally, we now have our Soft Cover Press Books. These very affordable, soft cover books make for great accompaniments to larger hard cover books, proof books, and sample books for marketing. You could even design a soft cover promotional book as a take home item from your party to promote your business. 
As you design your various collections, remember to show all of the different uses of these albums. Of course weddings and parent albums are the natural fit for any photo book or album, but don’t forget family session books, baby’s first year books, senior session books, engagement / guest books, Bar and Bat Mitzvah books and books from any type of event you photograph. Also remember to show various album sizes, formats and cover options so your clients can see the wide variety of ways in which they can package their images into an album. 
Sure it’s a bit of work and an investment in several samples but since you can’t sell what you don’t show you should have several samples already made and be designing new products to sell to your current clients anyway (of course we at Zookbinders do offer studio sample discounts). Finally, think of the great buzz you’ll create when you host a party and show off the beauty of photo books and albums. 
