Nkauj Ntsuab Designs & Photography Blog

I attended the Montana Events Professional meeting tonight at Blossom’s Bed and Breakfasttonight and met some incredible people and also learned a couple of new things that I’d like to just blog away into the Internet universe.

We had this thing done called a “2 minute drill” and although it didn’t turn out the way it was meant to, we had a good time, a couple of laughs, and learned a bunch from it. The idea of the drill is that someone would pose a question and we’d all try and stay on topic and answer the question. Nicole Wickens of Green Door Photography posed the question: “Has any of your businesses seen an increase or decrease in activity because of the economic downturn and what are you doing about it?”

I thought it was pretty cool to hear from other professionals in he field had to say about this. Some noted that they put out specials and discounts that ran for a period of time. For myself, Nkauj Ntsuab Designs & Photography has been donating services to local non-profits in order to one: get recognized in the community but two: just help out those in need during this time. Then there were others who had creative ways of new social media marketing things thrown out there and more. Others who’ve been in the business longer noted that they didn’t change their prices because they believe in their worth, and it got me thinking about price changes because I’d been thinking for a while about lowering rates in order to get more action during this downturn but realized tha that they’re right! If someone really wants your business, they’ll know your worth.

I ran into a sticky situation a while back where I had a couple who wanted me to do their wedding photos with additional discounts on top of additional discounts and were just really unpleasant at our consultation. Being new to the game at that time, I was thinking that I’d take anything that I can get but it got near to the point where we were going to sign a contract however they were still hesitant and also wanted me to redraft my terms for them; so I didn’t know what to do. I thought it over and said to myself “what the heck… sure why not” but before I could contact them and say I’ll change my terms, I had a tenative wedding scheduled for the same date that finally confirmed, so I just told the couple that I will not be able to work with them because they never signed and I work on a first come first serve basis. So one very valuable thing I learned tonight is that wedding photographers must have deadlines too and that we must set limited dates for bookings, otherwise that bridezilla will attack!

lol. Laughing to myself now, but I also learned how to say Steve Begleiter’s name (of Steven Begleiter Photography) finaly, it’s not really important but very silly to mention. I keep seeing his photo studio off of Front street everytime I walk by it downtown and wonder. The way I’ve been pronoucing it up to this point has been something like “Bell-ti-ger” (don’t ask me how I sounded that out – I think I just never sounded it out before if that was the case. – I must’ve saw differen’t letters in my head and just said what I thought I saw!) Well – it’s pronounced like “leg bighter” with the “l” and “b” changing place. lol.

Also found out about something blue that a bride can have that hasn’t really been offered before. Jessica Rouse of The Grizzly Bare Waxing Studio shared with us about how one can get their “betty’s” dyed blue for that special occasion. She gets lots of regular waxings but the “blue betty” has become really popular recently she says. Check out her blog on “Something Bridal Blue”

We always get a little mix of everyone in the different fields to come out but tonight here are some other contacts that I met not included in the blog because it’s bed time (lol) are: Hohanna Rose Photography, CheyenneRivers Design, Luella Designs, Kristine Paulsen Photography, Logan Photography, Alchemy Mineral Blends.